The Jews did not amount to a serious challenge in front of the Islamic State. What presented major challenges to his (pbuh) authority were the Arabs in general and the Quraysh in particular. Therefore, he (pbuh) signed treaties with the Jews stipulating that they would submit to his authority and that they would not enter into an alliance with any of his (pbuh) enemies. However, as the Jews watched the Islamic State grow stronger by the day and the authority of the Muslims expand, they began defaming and slandering the Muslims. They became further alarmed after the sweeping victory of the Muslims over the Quraysh in the Battle of Badr, increasing their libeling of the Muslims and began to plotting against the Messenger of Allah (pbuh).
News reached the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) and the Muslims about the mischief that the Jews were up to. This led to animosity and hatred between the Muslims and the Jews and subsequently both camps began to lie in wait for each other. The arrogance of the Jews continued to increase. Abu ‘Afak, one of Banu ‘Umar ibn ‘Auf, would recite poems insulting Muhammad (pbuh) and the Muslims; ‘Asma’ bint Marwan would defame Islam and ridicule Allah’s Messenger r; Ka’ab ibn al-Ashraf would intercept Muslim women and use abusive language on them, and would also travel to Makkah to recite incendiary poems against the Messenger of Allah (pbuh). The Muslims could bear it no longer and they killed them in the hope that this would deter the Jews. Despite this, the Jews intensified their campaign of hatred and abuse.
The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) warned them of the consequences if they did not refrain from insulting and harming the Muslims, but the Jews did not take his (pbuh) warning seriously and they arrogantly repulsed him with the following rebuke, “O Muhammad! You seem to think that we are your people. Do not deceive yourself because you encountered a people with no knowledge of war and got the better of them, for by Allah if we fight you, you will find that we are the real men.”
At that point the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) was left with no recourse but to fight the Jews of Madinah. The Muslims went to Banu Qaynuqa’ and besieged them in their quarters for fifteen days, not allowing anyone in or out, preventing anyone from taking them any food. The Jews had no choice but to submit to the authority and rule of Muhammad (pbuh). He (pbuh) allowed them in his (pbuh) mercy to evacuate Madinah with their possessions. This they did and they went out of the city until they reached Wadi al-Qura where they remained for awhile. Then they traveled further north until they reached Adhra’at on the frontiers of al- Sham. With their expulsion, the backbone of the Jews was broken and those who remained submitted to the Muslims for fear of reprisal. When they had regained their strength they resorted to their habits of old. Their hatred flared up once again after the defeat of the Muslims in the battle of Uhud. They began plotting against the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) and they eventually conspired to kill him.
The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) sensed their true intentions so he (pbuh) decided to take the initiative in order to be aware of their scheme. One day he (pbuh) together with ten of his rSahabah, among whom were Abu Bakr, ‘Umar and ‘Ali, went to Banu Nadir on business. The Jews pronounced their insincere joy and goodwill towards Allah’s Messenger (pbuh), however, he (pbuh) soon felt that they were plotting something. One of the Jews was seen going to one side, another was spotted entering the house from where the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) was sitting. Fearing their treachery he (pbuh) arose from his position and left at once implying he (pbuh) would return, pausing only to ask his (pbuh) Sahabah to wait until he (pbuh) returned.
The Jews did not know what to do and they became confused as they tried to establish a conciliatory atmosphere with the Muslims. The Sahabah waited for a while, and then decided to go outside and look for Allah’s Messenger (pbuh). They found him (pbuh) in the Masjid in Madinah and were informed of the treachery of the Jews by the Prophet (pbuh). Thereby, the Prophet (pbuh) sent Muhammad ibn Maslamah back to Banu Nadir with orders for them to leave the country. Banu Nadir were given ten days to comply with these instructions, then he (pbuh) besieged them until they too gave up hope and departed. Some of them stopped at Khaybar and others went on until they reached Adhra’at in al-Sham.
Madinah was, therefore, free from the Jewish mischief and only one major Jewish tribe, Banu Quraydah, remained there. Since they did not violate their treaty, Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) did not interfere with them.
This state of affairs persisted only temporarily. Because Banu Quraydah had witnessed what had happened to Banu Qaynuqa’ and Banu Nadir, and, fearing the might of the Muslims, they maintained a low profile. However, they too soon changed their spots when they listened to Huyayy ibn Akhtab and were persuaded to side with the Ahzab (allies) who had come to exterminate the Muslims during the Battle of the Trench (Khandaq). They violated their treaty when they prepared to join in on the extermination of the Muslims. Once again they showed the worst malice and treachery for a covenant. As soon as the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) had rid himself of the threat of the Allies, he (pbuh) turned to Banu Quraydah and besieged them for twenty-five nights. The Jews would not leave their forts and they became sore pressed. Allah (swt) cast terror into their hearts.
Eventually, they sent to the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) saying, “Send us Abu Lubabah that we may consult him.” Abu Lubabah was from the tribe of Aus, their previous allies. When they saw him they arose to meet him. The women and children came to him weeping in his face and he felt sorry for them. They said, “O Abu Lubabah, do you think that we should submit to Muhammad’s judgment ?” He replied, “Yes,” and pointed with his hand to his throat, signifying slaughter if they did not comply. Then he left them. Ka’ab ibn Asad made a few suggestions which they refused and he said to them, “You have no other choice but to submit to Muhammad’s judgment.” The Jews sent word to the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) that they wished to be allowed to leave for Adhra’at without their possessions. He (pbuh) refused insisting that they submit to the judgment.
In the light of this they asked their former allies the Aus to intercede on their behalf. The Aws came to the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) and he said to them, “Will you be satisfied, O Aus, if one of your own number pronounces judgment on them?” They replied, “Yes.” Whereupon he (pbuh) said, “Tell them to choose whoever they wish.”
The Jews chose Sa’d ibn Mu’adh. Sa’d took an oath from both parties that they would accept his judgment. Having done so, Sa’d ordered Banu Quraydah to come out and lay down their weapons, which they did. Then he pronounced the judgment that the men should be killed, their property divided and their women and children taken as captives. When the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) heard this he exclaimed, “By Him in Whose hand is the soul of Muhammad, Allah and the Muslims approved of your judgment and on my turn I shall execute it.” Then the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) went to the market in Madinah and ordered trenches to be dug there. The Jews were sent for in batches, their necks were struck and their bodies buried there. He (pbuh) divided the possessions of the Jews, their women and their children among the Muslims, and took a fifth for himself. He (pbuh) saved some of the booty and gave it to Sa’d ibn Zayd al- Ansari to go to Najd and buy horses and weapons to strengthen the Muslim army and increase its arsenal.
Thus, Banu Quraydah were exterminated. However, other Jewish tribes were still lurking nearby. The most strong of these were those of Khaybar and they declined to enter into a treaty with the Messenger of Allah (pbuh). The Jews of Khaybar had conspired with the Quraysh against the Muslims before the treaty of al-Hudaybiyah. Their presence remained a constant threat to the Islamic State. As soon as the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) had concluded the treaty of al-Hudaybiyah, he (pbuh) ordered his army to prepare for the conquest of Khaybar. The Muslims set off with 1,700 Mujahideen, 100 of whom were mounted, confident of Allah’s victory. They went to Khaybar and stood outside the fortresses ready to storm them. Inside, the Jews conferred amongst themselves, Salam ibn Mashkam suggested that they shelter their families and their property in the forts of al-Watih and al-Salalim and store their ammunition in the fort of Na’im. The Jewish fighters then dug themselves inside the fort of Natat with Salam ibn Mashkam there egging them on.
The two sides first clashed near the fort of Natat and a fierce battle ensued. It was reported that fifty Muslim fighters were injured that day. On the Jewish side, Salam ibn Mashkam was killed and al-Harith ibn Abi Zaynab had to take command. He ventured boldly out of the fort of Na’im to chal- lenge the Muslims, but the Khazraj forced him back inside.
The Muslims intensified their siege of Khaybar and the Jews resisted with all their force. The days went by and the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) sent Abu Bakr to storm the fort of Na’im. He fought hard and returned empty handed. The next day, he (pbuh) sent ‘Umar and he too returned without any gain. Finally, the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) called ‘Ali and said to him, “Take this banner and go with it until Allah gives victory to you.” ‘Ali went off with it and when he neared the fort some people came out and fought with him. A Jew struck him so that his shield fell from his hand, ‘Ali grabbed hold of a door by the fort and used it as a shield. He kept it in his hand until he had stormed the fort. Then he used the door as a makeshift bridge which the rest of the Muslims used to enter the stronghold.
Once the fortress of Na’im was captured the Muslims turned on the other forts and proceeded to storm them one after the other until they reached the last two forts of al-Watih and al-Salalim. By this stage the Jews despaired and capitulated. They sought peace provided that the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) spared their lives. Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) agreed and he allowed them to remain in their land, which became the property of the Muslims after its conquest, on condition that they handed over half their fruits and crops in exchange for their labor. Khaybar then yielded. The Jews of Fadak heard of Khaybar’s collapse and they feared for their lives, so they sought peace in exchange for half of their assets. The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) prepared to return to Madinah via Wadi al- Qura. On his (pbuh) way the Jews of Tayma’ agreed to pay the Jizyah without a fight.
This marked the end of any Jewish authority within the Arabian Peninsula. Thus, the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) achieved stability at home by spreading his (pbuh) authority all over the Peninsula.