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

IMAM ABD AL-FIDA' ISMA'IL IBN KATH~R 245
many of which we referred in our explanation of this verse in our Tafiir (Exegesis).
And to God is due all praise and credit.
It was during this year that Muslim women were forbidden to polytheists.
This was an exception to the general rule established by the truce agreed upon
at alaudaybiyya that year, namely that members of Quraysh were to be returned
to them even if wishing to accept Islam. And so the words of the Almighty
were revealed, 'LO you who believe! If believing women should come to you as
emigrants, then test them. God knows best about their faith. If you ascertain
them to be believers, then do not return them to the unbelievers. These women
are not permitted for marriage to those men, nor are those men permitted for
marriage to those women" (siirat al-Mumtahana; LX, v.10).
That year also there was the expedition to al-MuraysiC, during which the &at
al-zjZ, the calumnious report, arose which ultimately resulted in the Revelation
telling of the innocence of the umm al-mu'mmin, the mother of the believers,
'A'isha, as was related above.
The 'umra to al-Hudaybiyya occurred that year too, along with the blockade
made by the polytheists against the Messenger of God (SAAS). Ultimately
there resulted peace between them lasting ten years, during which time people
lived in security with one another on the understanding that there should be
neither fetters used nor swords drawn. Reference is made at length in the
appropriate places heretofore; and to God belong all praise and credit. That year
the polytheists had control of the pilgrimage.
Al-Waqidi stated, "In Dhn al-Hijja of that year, the Messenger of God (SAAS)
sent forth six men in the company of Hafib b. Abn Balta'a to al-Muqawqis, the
governor of Alexandria. He also dispatched Shujac b. Wahb b. Asad b. Judhayma,
who was present at Badr, to al-H&th b. Aba Shammar al-Ghassmi, the king of
the Christian Arabs, that is. Also he sent Dihya b. Khalifa al-Kalbi to Caesar, he
being Heraclius, emperor of Rome. And he dispatched 'Abd Allah b. Hudhafa
al-Sahmi to Chosroe, king of the Persians. Also he sent Salir b. 'Amr al-'Amiri
to Hawdha b. 'Ali al-Hanafi, and 'Amr b. Umayya al-Damri to the Negus, king
of the Christians of Abyssinia, his name being Ashama b. al-Hurr."
THE YEAR 7 AH. THE EXPEDITION AGAINST KHA YBAR,
EARLY THAT YEAR.
Shu'ba stated, from al-H&im, who quoted 'Abd al-Rahman b. Aba Lay12 as
having said that the words, "and He rewarded them with a near victory" (siirat
al-Fath; XLVIII, v.18), referred to Khaybar.
Mnsa b. Wqba stated, "When the Messenger of God (SAAS) returned (to
Medina) from al-Hudaybiyya, he remained for some 20 days and then went forth
to Khaybar; this was what God had promised to hi."
Mnsa narrated, from al-Zuhri, that the conquest of Khaybar was in 6 AH;
what is correct is that this occurred early in 7 AH, as stated above.