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If Mohammad, peace and blessings be upon him, empathized the rights of neighbors why did he exile or kill the Jews who were his neighbors in Medina..?

Before we answer this question we have to give a brief historical account of the situation in Medina before and after the advent of our Noble Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, which can be simply summarized in the following points:

1. Judaism was already well established in Medina before the arrival of our Noble Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him. Although influential, the Jews did not rule the oasis. Rather, they were clients of two large Arab tribes there, the Khazraj and the Aws Allah, who protected them in return for loyalty. Medina's Jews were expert jewelers, and weapons and armor makers. There were many Jewish clans of which three were prominent-the Banu Nadir, the Banu Qaynuqa, and the Banu Qurayza.
2. When the Holy Prophet proclaimed his prophethood in Makkah, and the news traveled to Yathrib, Jews confirmed that according to their sacred books that was the time for the advent of a prophet. When the Holy Prophet came to Yathrib (Medina's ealier name), the Jews found in him all the signs of prophethood that had been foretold in their books. The Jews regarded themselves as the chosen people of God, and that made them think that all Prophets must necessarily belong to their race. When Jesus Christ who was not a Jew proclaimed his prophethood, the Jews denied his prophethood and had him executed. The Jews of Yathrib had thought that the Prophet of Arabia would be subservient to them.
3. After his migration to Medina from his home-town of Mecca, he established an agreement known as the Constitution of Medina between the major Medinan factions, including the Jewish tribes of Banu Qaynuqa, Banu Nadir, and Banu Qurayza that secured equal rights for both Non-Muslims and Muslims as long as Jews remained politically supportive.
4. In the Constitution of Medina, the Jews were guaranteed freedom to worship without any interference. It was undertaken that the whole community would live on terms of mutual friendship, in any attack on the Muslims, the Jews were to help the Muslims. Some of the rights given to Non-Muslims in this constitution were:
   • The security of God is equal for all groups
   • Non-Muslim members have equal political and cultural rights as Muslims. They will have autonomy and freedom of religion.
   • Non-Muslims will take up arms against the enemy of the Ummah (nation) and share the cost of war. There is to be no treachery between the two.
   • Non-Muslims will not be obliged to take part in religious wars of the Muslims.

5. The Prophet enjoined the Muslims to spend in the way of Allah. The amounts thus were to be a loan against Allah who would repay it many times the original amount. Islam forbade the charging of interest. That adversely affected the interests of the Jews. Most of the Quraish emigrants who were traders in Makkah undertook trading activities in Madina as well. That broke the monopoly of the Jews in trade. Finhas a Jewish rabbi held out that the God of the Muslims was poor who asked of loan from the people, but the God of the Jews was rich Who needed no loan and who had made the Jews rich. He maintained that they did not need God, but God needed them. He observed that the dependence of God on the Jews was manifest from the fact that He had given interest to the Jews, but had denied it to the Muslims.
6. Banu Qainuqa
   After the Battle of Badr, A Muslim lady visited a goldsmith's shop in the Banu Qainuqa quarters. A Jew rogue crept up behind her, and pinned her skirt to her bodice. When the lady after the disposal of her business in the shop walked unwittingly into the street, her skirt fell exposing her nakedness. Some Jews collected and began to jeer at the Muslim lady. A Muslim came that way and he fell upon the Jews with his sword. He killed the rogue who had done the mischief. He was on the point of killing another Jew when he himself was killed.

   When the Holy Prophet came to know of the happening, he asked the Bani Qainuqa to pay compensation for the wrong done by them, and give adequate assurance of good conduct in the future. Banu Qainuqa defied the warning, and prepared for war. This exhausted the patience of the Holy Prophet, and he ordered punitive action against Banu Qainuqa. The Holy Prophet gave the flag to Ali, and a Muslim force led by Ali marched to the quarters of Bani Qainuqa, the Jews shut themselves in their stronghold, and the Muslims besieged the stronghold. Ali blocked all routes from where any help could come to Bani Qainuqa from outside. Thereafter the Muslims tightened the siege. Despairing of any help, Bani Qainuqa surrendered after a fortnight. Under the Jewish law all males among the Bani Qainuqa could be beheaded, and their females and children could be sold as slaves. The Holy Prophet took a lenient view, and merely ordered their expulsion from Madina.

7. Banu Nadeer
   In 625 C.E., one of the chiefs of the tribe of Kilab, Abu Bara Aamir requested the Holy Prophet to send Muslim missionaries to propagate Islam among the tribe. The Holy Prophet sent seventy Muslim missionaries with the chief. The party halted at a place Bir Maunah, and sent a Muslim, Haram ibn Mathan, along with the letter of the Holy Prophet to Aamir ibn Tufail, the principal chief of the tribe of Kilab. Aamir ibn Tufail killed Haram, and marched with an army to Bir Maunah. He assassinated all the Muslim missionaries except one, Amr ibn Umayyah by name. Aamir ibn Tufail released Amr ibn Umayyah according to his mother's vow to free a slave. On his way back to Madina, Amr ibn Umayyah killed two persons belonging to the tribe of Banu Amar considering them to be enemies. As a matter of fact, the Holy Prophet had given the tribe amnesty. When the case was brought to the notice of Holy Prophet, he agreed to pay indemnity to the tribe for its murdered persons.

   According to the terms of the treaty that the Muslims had made with Banu Nadeer, they had to pay a share of the indemnity. In order to collect such share, the Holy Prophet with ten companions including Abu Bakr, Umar and Ali went to the settlement of Banu Nadeer. The Jews received the Holy Prophet with due courtesy and asked him to sit while they would bring their contribution. The Jews secretly contrived one of them to climb the wall, and from there throw a big stone on the Holy Prophet. The Holy Prophet perceived their game. He got up from the place, and returned to Madina without bothering to collect the share due from Banu Nadeer.

   At the treacherous conduct of Banu Nadeer, the Holy Prophet sent an ultimatum to them that as they had violated their agreement with the Muslims, they should evacuate their settlement within ten days. The Banu Nadeer were incited by other Jewish tribes, and the hypocrites in Madina to accept the challenge of the Muslims and give them a fight. After the expiry of the period of ultimatum, Holy Prophet led a force to the Jewish settlement. The Jews shut themselves in their citadel and the Muslim camp was set up outside the fort. The Jews archers shot arrows which struck the Holy Prophet's camp. The camp was shifted to a safer place, and the safety arrangements were tightened by Muslims. The Holy Prophet appointed Ali on intelligence duty. One day Ali received the intelligence that a party of the Jews led by Urwa ibn Anis, a renowned warrior among the Jews was to fall on the Muslims that night. Their plan was to steal into the Holy Prophet's camp, and pierce him with arrows. Ali kept the watch hidden in a safe place. When at nightfall the party appeared Ali foil on them and sliced off Urwa's head.

   The Banu Nadeer had expected help from other Jews and the hypocrites of Madina. The Holy Prophet blocked all ways from which any help could reach the beleaguered Jews. The siege dragged on for eleven days, and when no help came from outside, the Banu Nadeer lost heart and surrendered. According to the Jewish law, all male members of the Jews could be killed and their women and children could be enslaved. The Holy Prophet took a lenient view. They were required to evacuate the settlement and migrate to Syria or elsewhere. They could carry movable property with them except arms. The Jews accepted these terms and they migrated to Syria.

8. Banu Quraitha…high treason
   They assured the Muslims of their loyalty, and entered into a fresh agreement whereunder they bound themselves to help the Muslims in the event of any attack on Madina. When the Battle of the Ditch began, they assured the Muslims that they would stand by them. They, however, avoided active assistance on one pretext or the other. Banu Quraizah were heavily bribed by the Quraish and they undertook to assist the confederates in their action against the Muslims.

   The Banu Quraizah had expected the Battle of the Ditch would end in the defeat of the Muslims, and that they would be duly rewarded by the confederates for the services rendered to their cause. When the Battle of the Ditch ended in the defeat of the Quraish and their allies, the Banu Quraizah felt themselves stranded and exposed to the wrath of the Muslims.

   Soon after the Battle of the Ditch, the Holy Prophet sent a small force under the command of Ali to the Jewish quarter. Ali contacted the leader of the Jews Ka'b b Asad, and brought home to him the point that as they had violated the terms of their agreement with the Muslims, and were guilty of high treason they could no longer be allowed to live in Madina. They were advised that they should lay down arms and migrate elsewhere. The Jews ridiculed the proposal and abused the Holy Prophet and the Muslims.

   The Holy Prophet thereupon ordered a military operation against the Jews. The Holy Prophet handed the war banner to Ali and the Muslim force-marched to the quarter of the Jews under the command of Ali. The Jews shut themselves in their citadel and the Muslim force besieged them. Banu Quraizah had expected that the Quraish and the Jews of Khyber would come to their assistance, but as the days passed on no help came, and things became difficult for them with the prolongation of the siege.

   The siege lasted for twenty-five days. On the last day, Ali carried the citadel by assault. All Jews were taken captive. In spite of their defeat the Holy Prophet was inclined to offer the Jews easy terms, more or less the terms which had been previously offered to Banu Qainuqa and Banu Nadir.

   The Jews, however, desired that Sa'ad ibn Muadh the leader of the Banu Aus be appointed as the arbitrator. The Holy Prophet accepted the proposal, and Saad was asked to suggest terms that should be offered to the Jews. Sa'ad asked the Jews whether they would like the terms to be offered to them under the Islamic law or the Jewish law. They said that as they were Jews and not Muslims, they would like the Jewish law to be applied to their case. Sa'ad consulted the Jewish rabbis, and asked of them the question, "If in a battle against the Muslims you would have won, and taken the Muslim men and woman captive, how would you have treated the captives under the Jews law?" They said that in that case they would have killed the men and sold the women and children as slaves. Thereupon Sa'ad gave his verdict that all male adults of the Banu Quraizah should be killed and their women and children should be sold as slaves. On hearing this verdict, the Jews were stunned and a pall of mourning fell upon them. It was a harsh sentence, but for all that happened the Jews were themselves to blame. They were guilty to high treason, and they had to face the consequences of their misconduct.

   Now some people nowadays refuse this verdict and claim it shouldn't have been done and that our Noble Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, should have forgiven them…Let's think of the following:

   1. What if the battle ended by the victory of Quraish and Banu Quraiza as they were both planning and hoping, wouldn't they kill all the Muslims in Medina? Notice that Banu Quraiza would never have considered allying with Quraish unless they were sure that once they won they would make sure the whole Islamic structure in Medina would be terminated.
   2. According to the Old testament: Deuteronomy: Chapter 20
      20:10 When thou comest nigh unto a city to fight against it, then proclaim peace unto it.

      20:11 And it shall be, if it make thee answer of peace, and open unto thee, then it shall be, that all the people that is found therein shall be tributaries unto thee, and they shall serve thee.

      20:12 And if it will make no peace with thee, but will make war against thee, then thou shalt besiege it: 20:13 And when the LORD thy God hath delivered it into thine hands, thou shalt smite every male thereof with the edge of the sword: 20:14 But the women, and the little ones, and the cattle, and all that is in the city, even all the spoil thereof, shalt thou take unto thyself; and thou shalt eat the spoil of thine enemies, which the LORD thy God hath given thee.

      20:15 Thus shalt thou do unto all the cities which are very far off from thee, which are not of the cities of these nations.

      20:16 But of the cities of these people, which the LORD thy God doth give thee for an inheritance, thou shalt save alive nothing that breatheth: 20:17 But thou shalt utterly destroy them; namely, the Hittites, and the Amorites, the Canaanites, and the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites; as the LORD thy God hath commanded thee: 20:18 That they teach you not to do after all their abominations, which they have done unto their gods; so should ye sin against the LORD your God.
      RhymeZone

      So actually Saad judged according to the Old Testament to kill all men and enslave all women and children. Criticizing this harsh punishment is in fact a criticism to the Old Testament not Islam because if they had chosen to judgment of Islam they would have been banished as the other two tribes Banu Nadeer and Banu Qainuqa. It is a proof that a more merciful legislation is needed.

   3. Jews had been treated with kindness as long as they respected their treaty with the Muslims. To prove this we narrate here the story when Huyi Ibn Akhtab –The prominent Jewish leader- went to Kaab Ibn Asaad –The leader of Banu Quraiza- to seduce him to betray Muslims he replied that he had never known Mohammed except truth and trustfulness yet later on he accepted treason.
   4. Any country today punishes anyone accused of high treason with the death penalty due to it's tremendous danger on society. Banu Quraiza actually committed 4 crimes:
      • Fighting with the enemy against your government
      • Facilitating the enemy's invasion of the country
      • Conspiring with the enemy and plotting against your own country
      
      Please tell me what country in the world can possibly have mercy in such case.
   5. Some people claim that our Noble Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, should have been more merciful and treat them as war prisoners who surrendered. Here we have to clearify that Banu Quraiza were not war prisoners and were not at war with Muslims, in fact they were allied neighbors who signed a treaty of mutual defense with Muslims, were treated with kindness and respect, were allowed to perform their religious rituals without any interference from the Muslims and who deliberately betrayed the treaty hoping to get rid of all Muslims in Medina. This is very different from Banu Nadeer and Banu Qaynaka who molested Muslims and even tried to kill our Noble Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, while Banu Quraiza conspired with an enemy during war time to defeat their alley and get rid of him…What could that be but high treason punished by death.

   To summerize things we can answer all the Myths that surrounded that story as follows:
   From the web site BismikAllahuma:Myths & Facts About the Banu Qurayzah

   • MYTH 1:
   The Banu Qurayza are innocent victims who perished under the sword of Muhammad(P)

   FACT:
   Not true at all. On the contrary, the Banu Qurayzah prior to the incident of their so-called "massacre" attempted to betray the Muslims by openly aligning themselves with the Confederate armies (consisting of the pagan Quraysh and their allies) during the beseiging of the city of Madinah, known in history as the "War of the Confederates" (al-Harb al-Adzhaab). This is a significant act of treason, because they had earlier pledged to uphold the Madinan Covenent with the Muslims, which stipulates cooperation and an alliance if the Muslims in Madinah were attacked by a foreign force.

   • MYTH2:
   The Prophet(P)ordered this punishment of the Banu Qurayza.

   FACT:
   Wrong. It was a Companion of the Prophet(P) by the name Saad ibn Muaz(R), an Ansar and the ally of the Banu Quraizah, who did that after the Banu Qurayzah leaders met with him and agreed to submit to whatever his judgement would be for their crimes against the Muslims.

   • MYTH3:
     
   The "massacre" was ordered on Muhammad’s says-so. This is because Muhammad feared the Jews and recognised that they were a threat to his political dominance.

   FACT:
   The claim is of no substance apart from being a blasphemous lie. It is clear that Saad ibn Muaz(R) have administered the punishment in accordance with Jewish law as found in the Torah. The law is:
   "When the Lord thy God hath delivered it unto thy hands, thou shalt smite every male therein with the edge of the sword: but the women, and the little ones and the cattle, and all that is in the city, even all the spoil thereof, shalt thou take unto thyself." (Deuteronomy 20:12)

   It is therefore clear that Muslims are not to be blamed for administering a Law that is found within the Jewish scripture itself upon the Jews who had earlier agreed to submit to Saad ibn Muaz’s judgement.

   • MYTH4:
     
   The Prophet (P) allowed this Law to be passed because he was inhuman and unmerciful.

   FACT:
   The reason why the Prophet (P) allowed judgement according to Jewish law was because the Banu Qurayzah were Jews, and in their initial agreement with the Prophet(P), they were allowed their own system of law according to the Torah. The Prophet(P) neither influenced the decision nor was he involved in any stage of the decision-making, as the representatives of Banu Qurayzah did not seek his judgement.

   One final word on the subject:
   I'll here represent a comment said by a man that no one from the Jews doubt about his faith and trust. He is the Jewish professor " Israel Wilfinson", where in his book:" The Jews' History In the Arab World", page 123 he says: "The thing that causes pain to any believer either he is a Jew or a Muslim is that conversation held between some Jews and the polytheists of Quraish, where those Jews preferred Quraish's religion on that of the leader of the ISLAMIC MESSAGE."
   Then he says: "Normally wars allow nations to use all means of ruses, lies, tricks and misinforming to defeat the enemies, but those Jews had no right to get involved in such a raffish mistake, and never announce in front of Quraish's leaders that their religion "in worshipping status" is better than the ISLAMIC UNIFICATION. Because the Jews were holding the banner of MONOTHEISM in the world for centuries against polytheism in the name of their old fathers.

   In addition to that, they faced uncountable catastrophes like killing, kicking out, expropriations, torturing, and oppressing because of their faith in ONE GOD during different eras (ages) in history….their duty was to sacrifice their lives to desert the polytheists. But Instead of that they took the side of the disbelievers and so they offended themselves before offending others, and showed themselves in a way that made even friends repulse from them…

   So, to be fair we have to say that our Noble Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, banished the Jews from Madienah instead of applying the rules of the of the Old Testament "Al Taurah" upon them; he didn't kill Banu Qainuqa or Banu Nadeer and killed those of Banu Quraitha of "treason" because they insisted on applying the Jewish law. If this case was presented under the Man-Made laws that are applied in any country, then the judgment would have been severe and hard. They would have been convicted with "high treason". And proofing conspiration with enemies against the country deserves the penalty of execution!

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