LESSON 8
FAILURE OF PERSUASION

Muhammad assembled the Qaynuqâ` Jews in their market and said, "Watch out that God does not take revenge on you as he did on the Meccans. Become Muslims, since you know that I am a prophet that has been sent. You will find that in your Scripture and God's covenant with you." They answered, "Muhammad, do you think that we are your people? Do not be deceived because you took advantage of a people who do not know how to make war. If we fight you, you will recognize that we are men." This reply, given by Ibn-Ishâq, was taken as an act of aggression and breach of their treaty with Muhammad, but Ibn-Hishâm gives another occasion of the hostility:

An Arab woman came and sold a vessel in the Qaynuqâ` market, then sat down at a goldsmith's shop. The men wanted to see her face, but she refused. So the goldsmith surreptitiously tied the hem of her garment to her back, so that when she stood up her shame was exposed. They laughed at her, and she cried out. A Muslim man rushed to the Jewish goldsmith and killed him, whereupon the Jews attacked the Muslim and killed him. The friends of the Muslim then roused the other Muslims, who were angered, so that they and the Qaynuqâ` became enemies.

Muhammad besieged the Qaynuqâ` for 15 days until they surrendered. Yet, at the insistence of `Abdallâh ibn-Ubayy (leader of the Hypocrites), he did not kill them, but merely confiscated their possessions, keeping one fifth for himself and dividing the rest among his companions. Against the protests of `Abdallâh ibn-Ubayy, the Qaynuqâ` were exiled to Syria.

Ka`b ibn-al-Ashraf, whose mother was a Jew, was writing poems insulting Muslims and bewailing their victory at Badr. So Muhammad said, "Who will get rid of Ibn-Ashraf for me?" Ibn-Maslama answered, "I will, Messenger of God. I will kill him." He said, "Then do so if you can." Ibn-Maslama waited three days, fasting all the while. Muhammad asked him why. He explained that it was in compensation for breaking a promise, since "I will not be able to avoid telling lies." He said, "Say whatever seems best to you. Lying is permitted."

So, conspiring with some companions, he sent Silkân to Ka`b ibn-al-Ashraf. Silkân spoke with him for some time, and they recited poetry to one another. Then he said, "Ibn-Ashraf, I came to tell you about a matter I wish you to keep secret." He said, "All right." He said, "The coming of this man is a great trial for us. The nomads are united against us and have blockaded us, so that we and our families are in want, privation and distress." Ka`b answered, "I kept warning you that this would happen." Silkân said, "Please sell us food and we will give you a good pledge of security... We will give you weapons as a pledge." Silkân wanted him not to be alarmed when they brought weapons in. Ka`b answered, "Weapons can be your security." So Silkân went to his friends and ordered them to take their weapons. Then they went away and met with Muhammad, who sent them off saying, "Go in the name of God. God help you."

There was moonlight, and they journeyed on to Ka`b's castle. Silkân called him and he came down and they talked. Then Silkân said, "Would you like to walk with us so that we can talk for the rest of the night?" He said, "As you like." As they walked, Silkân ran his hand through Ka`b's hair. He smelt his hand and said, "I have never smelt a scent finer than this. After some time Silkân did the same thing, putting Ka`b at ease. The third time he grabbed him by the hair and shouted, "Strike the enemy of God'" They did so... and the enemy of God fell... As a result, the Jews were in a panic and every one of them feared for his life.

Muhammad then married `Umar ibn-al-Khattâb's daughter afa (n.4). She had lost her husband at Badr. To find her another husband, `Umar first approached `Uthmân ibn-`Affân, who had just lost Ruqayya, Muhammad's daughter. `Uthmân was not interested; so `Umar approached Abû-Bakr, who also refused. `Umar complained to Muhammad about the treatment he had received from these men. Muhammad replied, "Shall I lead you to a better son-in-law than `Uthmân, and lead `Uthmân to a better father-in-law than you?" "Do so, indeed," answered `Umar. "I will marry your daughter, and `Uthmân shall marry mine." `Uthmân was given Umm-Kulthûm.

Not long after their defeat at Badr, the Meccans, led by Abû-Sufyân, planned a counter attack. The Muslims learned of this and made their own preparations. They met the enemy at Uhud. The battle was difficult at first, and many Muslims were killed, including Muhammad's favourite warrior, Hamza. Then the Muslims gained the upper hand, but began going after booty, exposing their rear to a Meccan attack. Muhammad was wounded, and rumoured to have been killed. By desperate fighting the Muslims saved the situation, having lost 70, against 22 Meccans.

On this battle, the Qur'ân comments that divine help and angelic protection is assured if the Muslims fight with dedication and perseverance (3:164-5). The misfortunes suffered at Uhud were a test to determine who was really serious about the cause of God, and was willing to die for it (3:141-3). Muhammad will die like any mortal, and the Muslims should not lose heart over what might happen to him (3:144-6). The archers are blamed for abandoning their positions to go after booty, but God will forgive them (3:152-3). Critics who said that the Muslims should never have left Medina to fight are answered: God is master of life and death, and to die for his sake is a privilege (3:155-160). God permitted the Muslims to suffer because of their sins, also to test them and sift out the hypocrites from the believers (3:165-8). The martyrs are praised; their reward with God is greater than anything anyone could have on earth; riches are only a temptation from the lasting rewards that God promises (Q 3:169 ff).

Desiring the nomad tribes as allies against Mecca, Muhammad twice sent missionaries to preach to different tribes; in each case they were killed. Thereafter Muhammad used war, not preaching, to win the nomads.

After all these reverses the mood of the Muslims was low. They found encouragement in expelling the Banû-Nadîr, one of the larger clans of Jews in Medina (Q 59). Muhammad went to them asking for financial help. As he sat against a wall waiting for them to bring it, "information came to him from heaven" that the Jews were planning to drop a stone on him from the roof; so he got up and went back to Medina and commanded his men to prepare for war. After a siege, the Banû-Nadîr asked Muhammad to spare their lives and deport them, letting them take whatever property their camels could carry except for their weapons. He agreed; so most settled at Khaybar, while some went on to Syria. Yet two Nadîr men became Muslims in order to keep their property.

After this, Muhammad married Zaynab bint-Khuzayma (n.5; he also had a daughter and a later wife by that name). Twice a widow, she died abut eight months after her marriage to Muhammad. A month later, in March 626, he married the widow Umm-Salama = Hind bint-abî-Umayya (n.6). At first she objected: "None of my people is here to consult with." Muhammad answered that none of them would object. "I am advanced in age and have orphaned children." "As for your age, I am older than you, and as for your orphans, they shall be the responsibility of God and his Messenger." "But I am an exceedingly jealous woman, and you, Messenger of God, acquire many women." "As for that, I shall pray God to uproot jealousy from your heart." `Â'isha, however, was very jealous of her. This marriage was the beginning of a political split among Muhammad's wives. `Â'isha and afa sympathized with their fathers Abû-Bakr and `Umar, who were the senior counsellors of Muhammad. Umm-Salama sympathized with Muhammad's daughter Fatima and her husband `Alî who led an opposition faction after Muhammad's death.

Muhammad then married Zaynab bint-Jash (n.7), who was previously married to Zayd ibn-âritha, a former slave of Khadîja and now a client and adopted son of Muhammad. Once Muhammad went to look for Zayd but did not find him at home. Instead, he saw Zaynab and was struck by her beauty and remarked, "Praised be God who transforms hearts." Zaynab told this to Zayd, who went to Muhammad and offered to divorce his wife and let Muhammad marry her. Muhammad sent him away and said, "Keep your wife and fear God." But the marriage was already shaken; Zaynab set her ambition on getting Muhammad, and before long Zayd divorced her. Muhammad hesitated to marry her because it was against Arabian customary law. But a Qur'ân instruction told him to go ahead (33:37). His prophetic role had gradually developed from a mere "warner" and "reminder" of obvious truths to an oracle for any occasion. Whatever he said in the name of God stood, no matter how extraordinary. So this action had the effect of demanding more faith and increasing his authority among his followers. Politically, because Zaynab was from a well-connected Meccan family, this marriage put pressure on the Meccans eventually to accept the authority of Muhammad.

Around this time came a clampdown on visitors to Muhammad's house, who were increasingly becoming a nuisance (Q 33:53):

Believers, do not enter the Prophet's apartments unless you are invited to eat, and do not come before time. But if you are invited, enter, and when you have been fed go away without hanging around to talk. That annoys the Prophet and makes him ashamed of you. But God is not ashamed of what is right. If you ask his wives for something, speak to them from behind the curtain. That is purer for your hearts and theirs. It is not permitted for you to offend the Messenger of God or ever to marry his wives after him. That would be a great sin before God.

Other regulations followed:

Prophet, tell your wives and daughters and the wives of the believers to keep their veils closely drawn. That way they can be better recognized and not offended (Q 3:59).

Tell the woman believers to lower their eyes and guard their private parts and not show their adornments except what sticks out. They should cross their veils in front of them and not show their adornments except to their husbands, fathers, fathers-in-law, sons, sons of their husbands, brothers, sons of their brothers or sisters, their women, slaves, eunuchs or children who have had no experience of women's private parts. They should not shake their legs so that their hidden ornaments can be known. (Q 24:31)

QUESTIONS

1. Discuss the motives, procedure and effect on Muslims of the action against the Qaynuqâ` and Nadîr Jews.
2. Discuss the ethical assumptions in the killing of Ka`b ibn-al-Ashraf.
3. Show how Muhammad's marriages helped his political and prophetic authority.
4. Describe the lessons of the battle of Uud.

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West Africa and Islam

Lesson 9—»