Tarikh (al-Tabari) 1219
The Expedition of al-Khandaq (the Confederates)
وَرَوَى مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عُمَرَ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَاصِمٍ الْأَشْجَعِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، وَأَبُو نُعَيْمٍ عَنْ عُرْوَةَ وَابْنِ شِهَابٍ: أَنَّ نُعَيْمَ بْنَ مَسْعُودٍ كَانَ صَدِيقًا لِبَنِي قُرَيْظَةَ، فَلَمَّا سَارَتِ الْأَحْزَابُ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ، سَارَ مَعَ قَوْمِهِ وَهُوَ عَلَى دِينِهِمْ، فَأَقَامَتِ الْأَحْزَابُ مَا أَقَامَتْ، حَتَّى أَجْدَبَ الْجَنَابُ، وَهَلَكَ الْخُفُّ وَالْكُرَاعُ، فَقَذَفَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى فِي قَلْبِهِ الْإِسْلَامَ وَكَتَمَ قَوْمَهُ إِسْلَامَهُ، فَخَرَجَ حَتَّى أَتَى رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ، بَيْنَ الْمَغْرِبِ وَالْعِشَاءِ، فَوَجَدَهُ يُصَلِّي، فَلَمَّا رَآهُ جَلَسَ، ثُمَّ قَالَ: «مَا جَاءَ بِكَ يَا نُعَيْمُ ؟ » قَالَ: جِئْتُ أُصَدِّقُكَ، وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مَا جِئْتَ بِهِ حَقٌّ، فَأَسْلَمَ ، وَأَخْبَرَهُ أَنَّ قُرَيْشًا تَحَزَّبُوا عَلَيْهِ، وَأَنَّهُمْ بَعَثُوا إِلَى قُرَيْظَةَ: أَنَّهُ قَدْ طَالَ ثُوَاؤُنَا وَأَجْدَبَ مَا حَوْلَنَا، وَقَدْ جِئْنَا لِنُقَاتِلَ مُحَمَّدًا وَأَصْحَابَهُ، فَنَسْتَرِيحُ مِنْهُ، فَأَرْسَلَتْ إِلَيْهِمْ قُرَيْظَةُ: نِعْمَ مَا رَأَيْتُمْ فَإِذَا شِئْتُمْ، فَابْعَثُوا بِالرَّهْنِ، ثُمَّ لَا يَحْبِسُكُمْ إِلَّا أَنْفُسُكُمْ. فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ، لِنُعَيْمٍ: «فَإِنَّهُمْ قَدْ أَرْسَلُوا إِلَيَّ يَدْعُونَنِي إِلَى الصُّلْحِ، وَأَرُدُّ بَنِي النَّضِيرِ إِلَى دِيَارِهِمْ وَأَمْوَالِهِمْ»، فَقَالَ نُعَيْمٌ: يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ فَمُرْنِي بِمَا شِئْتَ، وَاللَّهِ لَا تَأْمُرُنِي بِأَمْرٍ إِلَّا مَضَيْتُ لَهُ، قَالَ: وَقَوْمِي لَا يَعْلَمُونَ بِإِسْلَامِي وَلَا غَيْرُهُمْ، فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ: «إِنَّمَا أَنْتَ فِينَا رَجُلٌ وَاحِدٌ فَخَذِّلْ عَنَّا النَّاسَ مَا اسْتَطَعْتَ، فَإِنَّ الْحَرْبَ خُدْعَةٌ». قَالَ: أَفْعَلُ، وَلَكِنْ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنِّي أَقُولُ فَأْذَنْ لِي فَأَقُولُ، قَالَ: «قُلْ مَا بَدَا لَكَ، فَأَنْتَ فِي حِلٍّ». قَالَ: فَذَهَبْتُ حَتَّى جِئْتُ بَنِي قُرَيْظَةَ فَلَمَّا رَأَوْنِي رَحَّبُوا بِي وَأَكْرَمُونِي، وَعَرَضُوا عَلَيَّ الطَّعَامَ وَالشَّرَابَ، فَقُلْتُ: إِنِّي لَمْ آتِ لِطَعَامٍ وَشَرَابٍ، إِنَّمَا جِئْتُكُمْ نَصْبًا بِأَمْرِكُمْ وَتَخَوُّفًا عَلَيْكُمْ، لِأُشِيرَ عَلَيْكُمْ بِرَأْيٍ، وَقَالَ: قَدْ عَرَفْتُمْ وُدِّي إِيَّاكُمْ وَخَاصَّةً مَا بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَكُمْ، فَقَالُوا: قَدْ عَرَفْنَا وَلَسْتَ عِنْدَنَا بِمُتَّهَمٍ، وَأَنْتَ عِنْدَنَا عَلَى مَا نُحِبُّ مِنَ الصِّدْقِ وَالْبَرِّ، قَالَ: فَاكْتُمُوا عَنِّي. قَالُوا: نَفْعَلُ. قَالَ: إِنَّ أَمْرَ هَذَا الرَّجُلِ بَلَاءٌ- يَعْنِي رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ - صَنَعَ مَا رَأَيْتُمْ بِبَنِي قَيْنُقَاعَ وَبَنِي النَّضِيرِ، وَأَجْلَاهُمْ عَنْ بِلَادِهِمْ بَعْدَ قَبْضِ الْأَمْوَالِ، وَإِنَّ ابْنَ أَبِي الْحَقِيقِ قَدْ سَارَ فِينَا، فَاجْتَمَعْنَا مَعَهُ لِنَنْصُرَكُمْ، وَأَرَى الْأَمْرَ قَدْ تَطَاوَلَ كَمَا تَرَوْنَ، وَإِنَّكُمْ وَاللَّهِ مَا أَنْتُمْ وَقُرَيْشٌ وَغَطَفَانُ مِنْ مُحَمَّدٍ بِمَنْزِلَةٍ وَاحِدَةٍ، أَمَّا قُرَيْشٌ وَغَطَفَانُ فَإِنَّهُمْ قَوْمٌ جَاءُوا سَيَّارَةً حَتَّى نَزَلُوا حَيْثُ رَأَيْتُمْ، فَإِنْ وَجَدُوا فُرْصَةً انْتَهَزُوهَا، وَإِنْ كَانَتِ الْحَرْبُ فَأَصَابَهُمْ مَا يَكْرَهُونَ انْشَمَرُوا إِلَى بِلَادِهِمْ، وَأَنْتُمْ لَا تَقْدِرُونَ عَلَى ذَلِكَ، الْبَلَدُ بَلَدُكُمْ فِيهِ أَمْوَالُكُمْ وَأَبْنَاؤُكُمْ وَنِسَاؤُكُمْ، وَقَدْ كَبُرَ عَلَيْهِمْ جَانِبُ مُحَمَّدٍ، أَجْلَبُوا عَلَيْهِ بِالْأَمْسِ إِلَى اللَّيْلِ، فَقُتِلَ رَأْسُهُمْ عَمْرُو بْنُ عَبْدِ وُدٍّ، وَهَرَبُوا مِنْهُ مَجْرُوحِينَ، لَا غِنَى بِهِمْ عَنْكُمْ، لِمَا يَعْرِفُونَ عِنْدَكُمْ، فَلَا تُقَاتِلُوا مَعَ قُرَيْشٍ وَلَا غَطَفَانَ حَتَّى تَأْخُذُوا مِنْهُمْ رَهْنًا مِنْ أَشْرَافِهِمْ، تَسْتَوْثِقُونَ بِهِ مِنْهُمْ أَلَّا يَبْرَحُوا حَتَّى يُنَاجِزُوا مُحَمَّدًا. قَالُوا: أَشَرْتَ عَلَيْنَا بِالرَّأْيِ وَالنُّصْحِ، وَدَعَوْا لَهُ وَشَكَرُوهُ، وَقَالُوا: نَحْنُ فَاعِلُونَ. قَالَ: وَلَكِنِ اكْتُمُوا عَلَيَّ، قَالُوا: نَفْعَلُ. ثُمَّ أَتَى نُعَيْمٌ أَبَا سُفْيَانَ بْنَ حَرْبٍ فِي رِجَالٍ مِنْ قُرَيْشٍ. فَقَالَ: أَبَا سُفْيَانَ جِئْتُكَ بِنَصِيحَةٍ، فَاكْتُمْ عَلَيَّ. قَالَ: أَجَلْ. قَالَ: تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ بَنِي قُرَيْظَةَ قَدْ نَدِمُوا عَلَى مَا فَعَلُوا فِيمَا بَيْنَهُمْ وَبَيْنَ مُحَمَّدٍ، فَأَرَادُوا إِصْلَاحَهُ وَمُرَاجَعَتَهُ، أَرْسِلُوا إِلَيْهِ وَأَنَا عِنْدَهُمْ، إِنَّا سَنَأْخُذُ مِنْ قُرَيْشٍ وَغَطَفَانَ مِنْ أَشْرَافِهِمْ سَبْعِينَ رَجُلًا، نُسَلِّمُهُمْ إِلَيْكَ تَضْرِبُ أَعْنَاقَهُمْ، وَتَرُدُّ جَنَاحَنَا الَّذِي كَسَرْتَ إِلَى دِيَارِهِمْ- يَعْنُونَ بَنِي النَّضِيرِ - وَنَكُونُ مَعَكَ عَلَى قُرَيْشٍ حَتَّى نَرُدَّهُمْ عَنْكَ. فَإِنْ بَعَثُوا إِلَيْكُمْ يَسْأَلُونَكُمْ رَهْنًا فَلَا تَدْفَعُوا إِلَيْهِمْ شَيْئًا، وَاحْذَرُوهُمْ عَلَى أَشْرَافِكُمْ، وَلَكِنِ اكْتُمُوا عَلَيَّ، وَلَا تَذْكُرُوا مِنْ هَذَا حَرْفًا، قَالُوا: لَا نَذْكُرُهُ. ثُمَّ أَتَى إِلَى غَطَفَانَ. فَقَالَ: يَا مَعْشَرَ غَطَفَانَ، قَدْ عَرَفْتُمْ أَنِّي رَجُلٌ مِنْكُمْ فَاكْتُمُوا عَلَيَّ، وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّ بَنِي قُرَيْظَةَ بَعَثُوا إِلَى مُحَمَّدٍ- وَقَالَ لَهُمْ مِثْلَ مَا قَالَ لِأَبِي سُفْيَانَ- فَاحْذَرُوا أَنْ تَدْفَعُوا إِلَيْهِمْ أَحَدًا مِنْ رِجَالِكُمْ. فَصَدَّقُوهُ. وَأَرْسَلَتْ يَهُودُ عَزَّالَ- وَهُوَ بِعَيْنٍ مُهْمَلَةٍ فَزَايٍ مُشَدَّدَةٍ- ابْنَ سَمَوْأَلٍ إِلَى قُرَيْشٍ: إِنَّ ثُوَاءَكُمْ قَدْ طَالَ، وَلَمْ تَصْنَعُوا شَيْئًا، فَلَيْسَ الَّذِي تَصْنَعُونَ بِرَأْيٍ، إِنَّكُمْ لَوْ وَعَدْتُمُونَا يَوْمًا تَزْحَفُونَ فِيهِ إِلَى مُحَمَّدٍ، فَتَأْتُونَ مِنْ وَجْهٍ، وَتَأْتِي غَطَفَانُ مِنْ وَجْهٍ، وَنَخْرُجُ نَحْنُ مِنْ وَجْهٍ آخَرَ، لَمْ يُفْلِتْ مُحَمَّدٌ مِنْ بَعْضِنَا، وَلَكِنْ لَا نَخْرُجُ مَعَكُمْ حَتَّى تُرْسِلُوا إِلَيْنَا بِرِهَانٍ مِنْ أَشْرَافِكُمْ، لِيَكُونُوا عِنْدَنَا، فَإِنَّنَا نَخَافُ إِنْ مَسَّتَكُمُ الْحَرْبُ أَوْ أَصَابَكُمْ مَا تَكْرَهُونَ أَنْ تُشَمِّرُوا إِلَى بِلَادِكُمْ، وَتَتْرُكُونَا فِي عُقْرِ دَارِنَا، وَقَدْ نَابَذْنَا مُحَمَّدًا بِالْعَدَاوَةِ. فَلَمَّا جَاءَ الرَّسُولُ لَمْ يَرْجِعْ إِلَيْهِ أَبُو سُفْيَانَ بِشَيْءٍ، وَقَالَ- بَعْدَ أَنْ ذَهَبَ-: هَذَا مَا قَالَ نُعَيْمٌ. وَخَرَجَ نُعَيْمٌ إِلَى بَنِي قُرَيْظَةَ، فَقَالَ: يَا مَعْشَرَ بَنِي قُرَيْظَةَ بَيْنَا أَنَا عِنْدَ أَبِي سُفْيَانَ إِذْ جَاءَ رَسُولُكُمْ إِلَيْهِمْ يَطْلُبُ مِنْهُ الرِّهَانَ، فَلَمْ يَرُدَّ عَلَيْهِ شَيْئًا، فَلَمَّا وَلَّى قَالَ: لَوْ طَلَبُوا مِنِّي عَنَاقًا مَا رَهَنْتُهَا، أَنَا أَرْهَنُهُمْ سَرَاةَ أَصْحَابِي يَدْفَعُونَهُمْ إِلَى مُحَمَّدٍ يَقْتُلُهُمْ، فَارْتَأُوا رَأْيَكُمْ، وَلَا تُقَاتِلُوا مَعَ أَبِي سُفْيَانَ وَأَصْحَابِهِ حَتَّى تَأْخُذُوا الرَّهْنَ، فَإِنَّكُمْ إِنْ لَمْ تُقَاتِلُوا مُحَمَّدًا، وَانْصَرَفَ أَبُو سُفْيَانَ، تَكُونُوا عَلَى مُوَاعَدَتِكُمُ الْأُولَى. قَالُوا: نَرْجُو ذَلِكَ يَا نُعَيْمُ. وَقَالَ كَعْبُ بْنُ أَسَدٍ: أَنَا وَاللَّهِ لَا أُقَاتِلُهُ، لَقَدْ كُنْتُ لِهَذَا كَارِهًا، وَلَكِنَّ حُيَيًّا رَجُلٌ مَشْؤُومٌ. قَالَ الزُّبَيْرُ بْنُ بَاطَا: إِنِ انْكَشَفَتْ قُرَيْشٌ وَغَطَفَانُ عَنْ مُحَمَّدٍ لَمْ يَقْبَلْ مِنَّا إِلَّا السَّيْفَ، لَنَخْرُجَنَّ إِلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَلَا تَطْلُبُوا رَهْنًا مِنْ قُرَيْشٍ، فَإِنَّهَا لَا تُعْطِينَا رَهْنًا أَبَدًا، وَعَلَى أَيِّ وَجْهٍ تُعْطِينَا قُرَيْشٌ الرَّهْنَ وَعَدَدُهُمْ أَكْثَرُ مِنْ عَدَدِنَا، وَمَعَهُمُ الْكُرَاعُ وَلَا كَرَاعَ مَعَنَا ؟ وَهُمْ يَقْدِرُونَ عَلَى الْهَرَبِ، وَنَحْنُ لَا نَقْدِرُ عَلَيْهِ، وَهَذِهِ غَطَفَانُ تَطْلُبُ إِلَى مُحَمَّدٍ أَنْ يُعْطِيَهَا بَعْضَ ثِمَارِ الْمَدِينَةِ فَأَبَى أَنْ يُعْطِيَهُمْ إِلَّا السَّيْفَ، فَهُمْ يَنْصَرِفُونَ مِنْ غَيْرِ شَيْءٍ. فَلَمْ يُوَافِقِ الزُّبَيْرَ غَيْرُهُ مِنْ قَوْمِهِ عَلَى مُسَاعَدَةِ قُرَيْشٍ إِلَّا بِرَهْنٍ. فَلَمَّا كَانَ لَيْلَةُ السَّبْتِ أَرْسَلَ أَبُو سُفْيَانَ وَرُؤُوسُ غَطَفَانَ إِلَى بَنِي قُرَيْظَةَ عِكْرِمَةَ بْنَ أَبِي جَهْلٍ وَنَفَرًا مِنْ قُرَيْشٍ وَغَطَفَانَ، فَقَالُوا لَهُمْ: إِنَّا لَسْنَا بِدَارِ مُقَامٍ، قَدْ هَلَكَ الْخُفُّ وَالْحَافِرُ، فَأَعِدُّوا لِلْقِتَالِ حَتَّى نُنَاجِزَ مُحَمَّدًا، وَنَفْرَغَ مِمَّا بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَهُ، فَأَرْسِلُوا إِلَيْهِمْ: إِنَّ الْيَوْمَ يَوْمُ السَّبْتِ وَهُوَ يَوْمٌ لَا نَعْمَلُ فِيهِ شَيْئًا، وَقَدْ كَانَ أَحْدَثَ فِيهِ بَعْضُنَا حَدَثًا فَأَصَابَهُ مَا لَمْ يَخْفَ عَلَيْكُمْ، وَإِنَّا لَسْنَا مَعَ ذَلِكَ بِالَّذِينِ نُقَاتِلُ مَعَكُمْ مُحَمَّدًا حَتَّى تُعْطُونَا رَهْنًا مِنْ رِجَالِكُمْ، يَكُونُونَ بِأَيْدِينَا، ثِقَةً لَنَا، حَتَّى نُنَاجِزَ مُحَمَّدًا، فَإِنَّا نَخْشَى أَنْ ضَرْبَتَكُمُ الْحَرْبُ، وَاشْتَدَّ عَلَيْكُمُ الْقِتَالُ، أَنْ تُشَمِّرُوا إِلَى بِلَادِكُمْ وَتَتْرُكُونَا، وَالرَّجُلُ فِي بِلَادِنَا، فَلَا طَاقَةَ لَنَا بِذَلِكَ مِنْهُ. فَلَمَّا رَجَعَتْ إِلَيْهِمُ الرُّسُلُ بِمَا قَالَتْ بَنُو قُرَيْظَةَ، قَالَتْ قُرَيْشٌ وَغَطَفَانُ: إِنَّ الَّذِي ذَكَرَ نُعَيْمٌ لَحَقٌّ فَأَرْسِلُوا إِلَى بَنِي قُرَيْظَةَ: إِنَّا وَاللَّهِ مَا نَدْفَعُ إِلَيْكُمْ رَجُلًا وَاحِدًا مِنْ رِجَالِنَا، فَإِنْ كُنْتُمْ تُرِيدُونَ الْقِتَالَ فَاخْرُجُوا فَقَاتِلُوا. فَقَالَتْ بَنُو قُرَيْظَةَ لَمَّا سَمِعُوا ذَلِكَ: إِنَّ الَّذِي ذَكَرَ لَكُمْ نُعَيْمٌ لَحَقٌّ، مَا يُرِيدُ الْقَوْمُ إِلَّا أَنْ يُقَاتِلُوا، فَإِنْ رَأَوْا فُرْصَةً انْتَهَزُوهَا، وَإِنْ كَانَ غَيْرَ ذَلِكَ انْشَمَرُوا إِلَى بِلَادِهِمْ، وَخَلُّوا بَيْنَكُمْ وَبَيْنَ الرَّجُلِ فِي بَلَدِكُمْ. وَتَكَرَّرَتْ رُسُلُ قُرَيْشٌ وَغَطَفَانُ إِلَى بَنِي قُرَيْظَةَ، وَهُمْ يَرُدُّونَ عَلَيْهِمْ بِمَا تَقَدَّمَ، فَيَئِسَ هَؤُلَاءِ مِنْ نَصْرِ هَؤُلَاءِ، فَاخْتَلَفَ أَمْرُهُمْ، وَخَذَّلَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى بَيْنَهُمْ عَلَى يَدِ نُعَيْمِ بْنِ مَسْعُودٍ ؓ.
Translation
✧ Muhammad b. ʿUmar related from ʿAbd Allāh b. ʿĀṣim al-Ashjaʿī, from his father, and Abū Nuʿaym from ʿUrwah and Ibn Shihāb: that Nuʿaym b. Masʿūd was a friend of the Banū Qurayẓah. When the confederates marched against the Messenger of God ﷺ, he marched with his people while still upon their religion. The confederates remained as long as they remained, until the surrounding pasture became barren and the camels and horses perished. Then God (exalted is He) cast Islam into his heart, and he concealed his Islam from his people. He went out until he came to the Messenger of God ﷺ, between sunset and evening prayer, and found him praying. When he saw him, he sat down. Then he said, 'What has brought you, O Nuʿaym?' He said, 'I have come to affirm you and to bear witness that what you have brought is the truth.' So he became Muslim, and informed him that Quraysh had formed a coalition against him, and that they had sent to Qurayẓah: 'Our stay has grown long, and what surrounds us has become barren. We have come to fight Muhammad and his companions, so that we may have rest from him.' Qurayẓah sent back to them: 'Excellent is what you have decided. So when you wish, send hostages, and then nothing will hold you back but yourselves.' The Messenger of God ﷺ said to Nuʿaym: 'They have sent to me, inviting me to peace, and that I return the Banū al-Naḍīr to their homes and their properties.' Nuʿaym said: 'O Messenger of God, command me with whatever you wish. By God, you will not command me with any matter but that I carry it out.' He said: 'My people do not know of my Islam, nor do others.' The Messenger of God ﷺ said: 'You are but one man among us. So sow dissension among the people on our behalf as much as you are able, for war is deception.' He said: 'I will do it. But, O Messenger of God, I will speak; so permit me to speak.' He said: 'Say whatever occurs to you, for you are absolved.' He said: I went until I came to the Banū Qurayẓah. When they saw me, they welcomed me and honored me, and offered me food and drink. I said: 'I have not come for food and drink. I have come to you as one concerned for your affair and fearful for you, to counsel you with an opinion.' He said: 'You know my affection for you and especially what is between me and you.' They said: 'We know, and you are not suspect among us. You are among us as we love, in truthfulness and kindness.' He said: 'Then keep my visit secret.' They said: 'We will.' He said: 'The affair of this man is a calamity – meaning the Messenger of God ﷺ – he did to the Banū Qaynuqāʿ and the Banū al-Naḍīr what you have seen, and expelled them from their lands after seizing their properties. And Ibn Abī al-Ḥuqayq has marched among us, and we gathered with him to support you. I see that the matter has grown prolonged as you see. By God, you are not, you and Quraysh and Ghaṭafān, in the same position with regard to Muhammad. As for Quraysh and Ghaṭafān, they are a people who came as travelers until they encamped where you see. If they find an opportunity, they seize it. And if war occurs and what they dislike befalls them, they withdraw to their lands. But you are not able to do that. The land is your land; in it are your wealth, your sons, and your women. And the side of Muhammad has become formidable to them. They made a raid on him yesterday until nightfall, and their chief ʿAmr b. ʿAbd Wudd was killed, and they fled from him wounded. They have no need of you because of what they know is with you. So do not fight alongside Quraysh and Ghaṭafān until you take from them hostages from their nobles, by which you secure from them that they will not depart until they engage Muhammad in battle.' They said: 'You have counseled us with sound opinion and sincere advice.' And they prayed for him and thanked him, and said: 'We will do it.' He said: 'But keep my visit secret.' They said: 'We will.' Then Nuʿaym came to Abū Sufyān b. Ḥarb among men of Quraysh. He said: 'O Abū Sufyān, I have come to you with sincere counsel, so keep my visit secret.' He said: 'Yes.' He said: 'You know that the Banū Qurayẓah have regretted what they did between themselves and Muhammad, and they wish to make peace with him and return to him. They sent to him while I was with them: "We will take from Quraysh and Ghaṭafān seventy men from their nobles, and we will hand them over to you, and you will strike their necks. Then return our flank that you broke to their homes" – meaning the Banū al-Naḍīr – "and we will be with you against Quraysh until we drive them away from you." So if they send to you asking for hostages, do not give them anything. Beware of them concerning your nobles. But keep my visit secret, and do not mention a single letter of this.' They said: 'We will not mention it.' Then he came to Ghaṭafān. He said: 'O assembly of Ghaṭafān, you know that I am a man of yours, so keep my visit secret. Know that the Banū Qurayẓah have sent to Muhammad' – and he said to them the like of what he said to Abū Sufyān – 'so beware of handing over any of your men to them.' And they believed him. The Jews sent ʿAzzāl – spelled with an unpointed ʿayn and a doubled zāy – b. Samawʾal to Quraysh: 'Your stay has grown long, and you have accomplished nothing. What you are doing is not sound judgment. If you would promise us a day on which you march against Muhammad, then you would come from one direction, Ghaṭafān would come from another direction, and we would come out from yet another direction, Muhammad would not escape from any of us. But we will not come out with you until you send us hostages from your nobles, to be with us. For we fear that if war touches you or what you dislike befalls you, you will withdraw to your lands and leave us in the midst of our abode, while we have declared enmity to Muhammad.' When the messenger came, Abū Sufyān did not return any answer to him. And after he left, he said: 'This is what Nuʿaym said.' Nuʿaym went out to the Banū Qurayẓah and said: 'O assembly of Banū Qurayẓah, while I was with Abū Sufyān, your messenger came to them seeking hostages from him, and he did not answer him at all. When he turned away, he said: "If they asked me for a single she-goat, I would not give it as a hostage. Should I give them as hostages the leading men of my companions to hand them over to Muhammad to kill them?" So consider your situation, and do not fight alongside Abū Sufyān and his companions until you take the hostages. For if you do not fight Muhammad, and Abū Sufyān departs, you will remain upon your original agreement.' They said: 'We hope for that, O Nuʿaym.' And Kaʿb b. Asad said: 'By God, I will not fight him. I was averse to this, but Ḥuyayy is an ill-omened man.' Al-Zubayr b. Bāṭā said: 'If Quraysh and Ghaṭafān withdraw from Muhammad, he will accept nothing from us but the sword. We must go out to Muhammad, and do not seek hostages from Quraysh, for they will never give us hostages. And on what basis would Quraysh give us hostages when their number is greater than ours, and with them are horses, while no horses are with us? They are able to flee, and we are not able to. And here is Ghaṭafān asking Muhammad to give them some of the fruits of Madinah, and he refused to give them anything but the sword. So they will depart with nothing.' None of his people agreed with al-Zubayr on assisting Quraysh except with hostages. When Saturday night came, Abū Sufyān and the chiefs of Ghaṭafān sent to the Banū Qurayẓah ʿIkrimah b. Abī Jahl and a group from Quraysh and Ghaṭafān. They said to them: 'We are not in a place of permanent residence. Camels and horses have perished. So prepare for battle so that we may engage Muhammad and finish what is between us and him.' They sent back to them: 'Today is Saturday, and it is a day on which we do no work. Some of us had previously introduced an innovation on it, and what befell him is not hidden from you. Yet with that, we are not among those who will fight Muhammad alongside you until you give us hostages from your men, to be in our hands as security for us, until we engage Muhammad in battle. For we fear that if war strikes you and fighting becomes severe upon you, you will withdraw to your lands and leave us, while the man is in our lands. We have no strength against that from him.' When the messengers returned to them with what the Banū Qurayẓah said, Quraysh and Ghaṭafān said: 'What Nuʿaym mentioned is true.' So they sent to the Banū Qurayẓah: 'By God, we will not hand over to you a single man of our men. If you want to fight, then come out and fight.' The Banū Qurayẓah said when they heard that: 'What Nuʿaym mentioned to you is true. The people intend nothing but to fight. If they see an opportunity, they seize it. And if it is otherwise, they will withdraw to their lands and leave you and the man in your land.' The messengers of Quraysh and Ghaṭafān continued to go back and forth to the Banū Qurayẓah, and they kept responding to them with what has preceded. So these despaired of the support of those. Their affair became confused, and God (exalted is He) sowed dissension among them at the hand of Nuʿaym b. Masʿūd ؓ.
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