The Battle of Banu Quraizah (Breach of Faith)

In the Glorious Qur’an, Allah, Most High, says,

“And Allah turned back the unbelievers for (all) their fury: no advantage did they gain; and enough is Allah for the believers in their fight. And Allah is Full of Strenght, Exalted in Might. And those of the people of the Book who aided them - Allah did take them down from their strongholds and cast terror into their hearts, (so that) some ye slew, and some ye made captives. And He made you heirs of their lands, their houses, and their goods, and of a land which ye had not frequented (before). And Allah has power over all things. (Al-Ahzab: 25-27)”

In Sahih Al-Bukhari, we read the following narrations regarding the battle of Quraizha:

Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) reported that when the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) returned from Al-Khandaq and laid down his arms and took a bath, Gabriel come and said (to the Prophet) “You have laid down you arms? By Allah, we angels have not laid the down yet. So set out for them.” The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “Where to go?” Gabriel said, “Towards this side.” pointing towards Banu Quraizah. So the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) went out to towards them.”

Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) said, “As if I am just now Looking at the dust rising the the street of Banu Ghanm (in Medina) because of the marching of Gbriel’s regiment when Allah’s Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) set out Banu Quraizah (to Attack)

Likewise, Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that on the day of Al-Ahzab the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said,

“None of you (Muslims) should offer the Asr Prayer but at Banu Quraizah’s place.”

The Asr Prayer became due for some of them in the way. Some of those said, “We will not offer it until we reach it place of Banu Quraizah.” while some others said, “No, we will pray at this spot, for the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) did not mean that for us.” Later on, it was mentioned to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and he did not berate any of the two groups. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) besieged them for twenty-five nights until they were sore pressed and Allah cast terror into their hearts. Consequently, they submitted to the Messenger’s Judgment. The tribe of Al-Aws leapt up and said, ‘O Messenger of Allah, they are our allies, not allies of Al-Khazrj, and you know how you recently treated the allies of our brethren (his pardon about Banu Qanuqa). Then the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said,

“O will you be satisfied, O Aws, if one of your own tribe pronounces judgment on them?“

When they agreed he said that Sa’d Ibn Mu’adh was that man.

Al-Bukhari narrated the authority of Abu Sa’id Al-Khudari (may Allah be pleased with him) who said that the people of Quraizha agreed to accept the verdict of Sa’ad Ibn Mu’ad. So the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) sent for Sa’d and the latter come (riding) a donkey and when he approached the Mosque, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said to the Ansar,

“Get up for your chief of for the best among you.”Then the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said to Sa’d, “These (Banu Quraizah) have agreed to accept your verdict.” Sa’d said, “Kill their (men) warriors and take their offspring as captives!” On that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “you have judged according to Allah’s judgment.” or said, “according to the King’s judgment.”

Moreover, Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said that, “sa’d was wounded on the day of Khandaq when a man from Quraish, called Hibban Ibn Al-Araqah hit him (with an arrow). The man was Hibban Ibn Qais from (the tribe of) Bani Mais Ibn Amir Ibn Lu’ai who shot an arrow as Sa’d’s medile arm vein) or main artery of the arm). The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) pitched a tent (for Sa’d) in the Mosque so that he might be bear to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) to visit. When the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) returned from the battle of Al-Khandaq and laid down his arms and took a bath Gabriel come to him while was shaking the dust off his head, and said, “You have laid down the arms?” By Allah, I have not laid them down. Go out to them.” The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “Where?” Gabriel pointed towards Banu Quraizha. So Allah’s Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) went to them. They then surrendered to the Prophet’s judgment but he directed them to sa’d to give his verdict concerning them. Sa’d said, ‘I give my judgment that their warriors should be killed, their women and children should be taken a captives, and their properties distributed.’

Hisham said, “My father informed me that Aishah said, Sa’d said, ‘O Allah! You know that there is nothing more beloved to me than to fight in Your Cause against those who disbelieved Your Messenger and turned him out of (Mecca). O Allah! I think you have put to an and the fight between us and them (Quraish infidels). And if there still remains any fight with the Quraish, then keep me alive until I fight against them for Your Sake. But if you have brought the war to an end, then let this wound burst and cause my death thereby.’ So blood gushed from the wound. There was a tent in the Mosque belonging to Banu Ghifar who were surprised by the blood flowing towards them. They said, ‘O people of the tent! What is this thing which is coming to us from your side? Behold was flowing profusely out of Sa’d wound. Sa’d then died because of that.’ “