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

164 THE LIFE OF THE PROPHET MUHAMMAD
"He did dispatch Aba Lubiiba and when they saw him, the men arose to
meet hi. The women and children broke into sobs before him. He felt very
sorry for them; they asked him whether they should submit to Muhammad's
judgement. He said that they should. He then gestured with his hand across his
neck, indicating that execution was coming.
"Aha Lubaba (later) commented, 'I swear by God, my feet had not left that
place before I knew I had betrayed God and His messenger.
"Aba Lubaba then left hurriedly. He did not, however, return to the Messenger
of God (SAAS), but tied himself to one of the supports of the mosque, saying, 'I
will not leave here until God forgives me for what I have done. I swear to God
that I will never again go to Bana Qurayza, nor ever be seen again in any place
where I have betrayed God and His messenger!"'
Ibn Hishb stated, "According to Sufyan b. Wyayna, quoting Ismn'il b. Aba
Khalid and 'Abd All& b. Abn Qatada, God revealed concerning this, '0 you
who believe, do not betray God and His messenger; (and do not) knowingly
break your trust"' (stirat al-Anfzl; VIII, v.27).
Ibn Hishian also stated, "He remained tied there for six days. His wife would
come to him at each prayer time and untied hi so that he could perform the
ablutions and pray. He would then be tied up again. Eventually forgiveness did
come down for him, in the Almighty's words, 'And others confessed their sins,
having mixed good deeds with bad; God may well forgive them. God is indeed
forgiving, merciful"' (stirat al-Tawba or al-Barzla; IX, v.102).
According to Miisa b. Wqba he remained bound for 20 days. But God knows
best.
Ibn Ishaq related that God revealed His forgiveness to His messenger at the
very end of the night, while he was in the home of Umm Salama. He began to
smile and when Umm Salama asked him why, he told her that God had forgiven
Aba Lubaba. She asked his permission to leave to inform him. He agreed, and
she went and told him the good news. People crowded around hi joyfully,
wishing to untie him from his bonds. But he said, "No one but the Messenger of
God (SAAS) shall untie me." When the Messenger of God (SAAS) came out
to perform the dawn prayer, be did untie him, may God be pleased with him.
Ibn Ishiiq stated, "Thereafter Tha'laba b. Sa'ya, Usayd b. Sa'ya and Asad b.
Wbayd, all of Banii Hadal and not from either Qurayva or &Nadir, their own
pedigree being superior to that, they being Banii 'Amm al-Qawm, accepted
Islam that night during which Qurayqa had come under the control of the
Messenger of God (SAAS).
"Also that night 'Amr b. Su'da al-Qurqi came out and passed by the guard of
the Messenger of God (SAAS); Muhammad b. Maslama was in charge of them
that night and when he saw 'Amr, he called out and asked him his name, which
he gave. 'Amr had refused to participate in Banii Qurayza treachery towards the
Messenger of God (SAAS), having said, 'I will never betray Muhammad!' When