The Life of the Prophet Muhammad by Ibn Kathir - Volume 3 of 4

108 THE LIFE OF THE PROPHET MUHAMMAD
This is derived in similar terms in various lines of transmission from
Mu'tamir.
God Almighty then stated that blame was due the hypocrites who were
secretly sympathetic towards Banii al-Nadir, as we have mentioned above,
promising them victory, though none came. In fact they abandoned them
completely, having misled them about themselves. And so God stated, "(Have
you not) seen those who were hypocritical, telling their disbelieving brethren
from among the people of the scriptures, 'If you are driven out, we will go forth
with you. We will never obey anyone concerning you. If you are attacked, we
will certainly assist you.' But God bears witness that they are liars. If they were
expelled, these people would not leave with them. If they were attacked, these
would not help them. Even if they did help them, they would then turn their
backs. Then they will not he helped."
The Almighty condemned them for their cowardice, ignorance and foolishness.
He then drew an ugly and awful comparison regarding them and Satan, "... who
says to mankind, 'Disbelieve!' But when they disbelieve, he (Satan) tells them, 'I
am innocent of (responsibility for) you! I fear God, the Lord of the worlds.' And
the outcome for them both is to enter hell-fire, to live therein forever. That is the
reward of the unjust" (siirat al-Hashr; LIX, v. 16, 17).
The Story of 'Am b. Su'da al-Qurqi.
He passed by the homes of Banii &Nadir and found them laid to waste and
completely abandoned. The fact that Banii &Nadir had been of higher status
than (his own) Banii Qurayza stimulated his interest in Islam and he brought
forth a description of the Messenger of God (SAAS), from the Old Testament.
Al-Wiiqidi quoted Ibmhim b. Jacfar as stating that his father said, "When
Banii al-Nadir left Medina, 'Amr b. Su'da arrived and when he viewed their
houses and saw their destruction, he went into deep thought. When he returned
to Banii Qurayza, he found them assembled in the temple. He blew on their horn
and when they had gathered together, al-Zubayr b. Bx@ asked him, 'Ahii Sacid,
where were you? You've never been away before this.' 'Amr used never to leave
the temple and absolutely worshipped Judaism.
"He replied, 'Today, I have seen things that should be a lesson for us. I have
seen our brothers' houses empty that before were places of honour, comfort, great
virtue, prestige and intellectuality. They have abandoned their possessions, given
them away to others, and gone into humiliating exile. By the Torah, the fact is
that God never before gave such power to a people with whom He was dissatisfied.
Previously, he had been in dispute with Ibn d-Ashraf, their respected leader,
and then had kept him secure in his house. He was also at odds with their chief,
Ibn Sunayna, and with Banii Qaynuq~'. These people, of the greatest prestige
among the Jews, he expelled, even though they were possessed of much arms
and equipment and support. Then he besieged them, taking prisoner any one of