The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) remained in Madinah for fifteen nights after returning from al-Hudaybiyah, he then ordered the Muslims to prepare for a raid on Khaybar provided that only those who had been with him at al- Hudaybiyah take part.
Before marching to al-Hudaybiyah, news was received that the Jews of Khaybar were secretly conspiring with the Quraysh to raid Madinah in an effort to exterminate the Muslims. Being aware of this, Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) opted for a peace plan with the Quraysh in order to secure a truce with them so that he could concentrate his efforts towards taking care of Khaybar. As soon as he (pbuh) had concluded his peace treaty, which isolated the Jews of Khaybar from the Quraysh, he turned to Jews of Khaybar and ordered the Muslims to prepare the army just days after his return from al-Hudaybiyah.
The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) marched at the head of 1,600 Muslims accompanied by 100 riders and all were assured of Allah’s support. They reached Khaybar after a march of three days and took the people of Khaybar by surprise. Although the Muslims spent the night just outside their forts. In the morning, the peasants of Khaybar came out with their spades and baskets and when they saw the army of the Muslims they turned and fled crying, “Muhammad with his force.” The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said, “Allahu Akbar! Khaybar is destroyed. When we arrive at a people’s area it is a bad morning for those who have been warned.”
The Jews were expecting Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) to attack them, for when they heard about the treaty of Hudaybiyah they considered it to be a let down by their allies, the Quraysh. In response to the new dangerous situation some of them suggested forming an alliance with the Jews of Wadi al-Qura and Tayma’ in order to raid Madinah. They would then be without the need to rely on the pockets of Arab tribes, especially now that the Quraysh had signed a treaty with the Messenger of Allah (pbuh). Others actually flirted with the idea of entering into a pact with the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) in the hope that this would efface the Muslims’ hatred towards them. They used to remind each other of this ever since they felt the danger nearing. They were aware that the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) had learned of their conspiracy with the Quraysh and that he (pbuh) was about to raid them, but they were caught by surprise before they could enact their plans and instead had to call on Ghatafan to help them. They attempted to fortify their positions and resist the attack, but the Muslim army was swift and their defensive lines crumbled.
Eventually, they became desperate and sought peace with the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) provided he spared their lives. The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) agreed and he allowed them to remain in their homes. Since their land and their vineyards became his under the law of conquest, he allowed them to work and live there provided they gave him half of their crops and fruits annually. They agreed to his (pbuh) terms. Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) then returned to Madinah and stayed there until he left for the ‘Umrah of Qada’.
By his abolition of Khaybar’s political authority and by making them submit to the authority of the Muslims, the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) neutralized the perilous northern path to al-Sham, as he had done likewise in the south after the Hudaybiyah treaty. This action paved the way for the Message of Islam to be spread within the Arabian Peninsula as well as abroad.