Life-of-Muhammad

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Life of Muhammad sa
for the enemy to make any sudden attack on any part of
the town. The enemy commanders took counsel together
and decided that it was necessary to try to wean the
Banu Quraiza, the Jewish tribe, still living in Medina,
from their alliance with the Muslims and ask them to
join the Arab confederates in this critical onslaught
against Medina. Only the Banu Quraiza could give them
a way to the town. At last Abu Sufyan ra selected Huyai
bin Akhtab, chief of the banished tribe of Banu Nadir
and principal instigator of Arab tribes against Medina,
and appointed him to negotiate with the Banu Quraiza
for facilities to attack the town from the rear. Huyai bin
Akhtab went to the Jewish fortress to see the leader of
the Banu Quraiza. At first they refused to see him. But
when he explained that this was a very opportune
moment to defeat the Muslims, he succeeded in winning
over one of the Quraizites, Ka‘b. He explained that all
Arabia had turned out to attack and destroy the
Muslims. The army which stood at the other side of the
ditch was not an army, but an ocean of able-bodied men
whom the Muslims could not possibly resist. Ultimately
it was agreed that as soon as the army of disbelievers
succeeded in forcing the ditch the Banu Quraiza would
attack that part of Medina to which the Holy Prophet sa
had sent all the women and children for safety. This
plan, it was believed, would smash the Muslim
resistance, and prove a death-trap for their entire
population—men, women and children. If this plan had
met with even partial success, it would have cost the
Muslims dear and made things very difficult for them.
They would have had no escape from this death-trap.
TREACHERY OF BANU QURAIZA
The Banu Quraiza, as we have said, were in alliance
with the Muslims. Even if they had not joined the battle
on the Muslim side, it was expected that they would at
least bar the way of the enemy on their side. The