Battle of Khaybar

The Battle of Khayber took place during the Islamic month of Muharram. According to one account, this event occurred in the seventh year after the Hijrah.

Khayber was the largest Jewish settlement in Arabia. Its inhabitants were wealthy, rich, and skilled in warfare. They had constructed numerous fortified forts, eight of which were particularly renowned. This collection of eight forts was collectively known as Khayber.

The Jews of Khayber had been at the forefront of the disbelievers who attacked Madinah in the Battle of the Trench, instigating and supporting the attack with financial assistance to the disbelievers of Makkah. Their defeat at the Battle of the Trench filled them with grieve and anger, they conspired with other tribes to launch another attack on Madinah.

Upon learning of their plot, the Beloved Prophet ﷺ led an army of 1,600 companions towards Khayber. They entered the vicinity of Khayber at night. It was his blessed habit that he would not attack any nation at night. He ﷺ entered the city after Fajr Salah. The Jews retreated into their forts and resisted the Muslim attack.

Gradually, all the forts were conquered. The strongest and largest fort, called Qamoos, was captured by Sayyiduna Ali رضي الله عنه.

In the battles of Khayber, 93 Jews were killed while 15 companions embraced martyrdom.

After their defeat, the Jews of Khayber requested that they not be expelled from their lands and that they be allowed to retain ownership of their farms, offering to pay half of their produce as tribute. The Beloved Prophet ﷺ accepted their request. When the harvest was ready, he ﷺ sent Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Rawahah رضي الله عنه to oversee the distribution. The harvest was divided equally into two parts, and the Jews were asked to take whichever portion they desired. Amazed by this just division, they exclaimed, "The earth and the sky exist due to this justice."

With the conquest of Khayber, many other areas also came under Muslim control, some through battle and others peacefully.

Khayber is located approximately 153 kilometers north of Madinah on the road to Tabuk. The region is known for its fertile land and abundant date palms. Once, the area was so full of orchards that the town was barely visible. The modern town is now located in a different place.

One of the conditions of the treaty of Hudaybiyah was that the Muslims would perform Umrah the next year and stay in Makkah for three days.

A year later, in the month of Dhul-Qa'dah of the seventh year after the Hijrah, the Beloved Prophet ﷺ announced: “All those who were present in Hudaybiyah last year should come.” All the companions, except the martyred ones, attained this privilege. The Beloved Prophet ﷺ, along with 2,000 Muslims and 60 sacrificial camels, set out for Makkah.

When the Beloved Prophet ﷺ entered the sacred sanctuary of Makkah, some disbelievers climbed nearby mountains to observe this scene. They remarked among themselves, "How will they perform Tawaf? Hunger and fever have weakened them." The Beloved Prophet ﷺ, upon reaching the Ka’bah, adjusted his shawl in a particular manner, revealing his right shoulder and arm (a practice known as Idtiba'). He ﷺ then said, "May Allah shower His mercy upon the one who shows his power before these disbelievers." Subsequently, the Beloved Prophet ﷺ along with his companions performed the first three rounds of Tawaf very firmly by moving his shoulders, and with a great pride (known as Raml), a Sunnah that still exists today and every Tawaf performing person acts upon it in the first three rounds.

Then the Beloved Prophet ﷺ then performed Sa'i of Safa and Marwah, and slaughtered the sacrificial animals. He ﷺ remained in Makkah for three days before returning to Madinah. Since this Umrah was due to the Umrah from previous year, that is why it is referred to as ‘Umrah-tul-Qada’.

Among the captives was also the noble lady, Sayyidah Safiyya رضی اﷲ تعالٰی عنہا. She was the daughter of Hayy bin Akhtab, the chief of the Banu Nadir, and her husband, Kinanah bin Abi al-Haqiq, was also a prominent leader of the Banu Nadir.

The Beloved Prophet ﷺ freed Sayyidah Safiyya رضی اﷲ تعالٰی عنہا and got in Nikah with her. For three days, he honored her in his tent at the place of Sahba. He also hosted a Valima feast for his companions رضي الله عنهم, offering them dates, ghee, and cheese.

During the same journey of Umrah-tul-Qada, the Beloved Prophet ﷺ got into Nikah with Sayyidah Maymunah رضی اﷲ تعالٰی عنہا. She was the sister of Umm Fadl, the wife of Sayyiduna Abbas رضي الله عنه. Upon returning from Umrah-tul-Qada and reaching the place of Sarf, the Beloved Prophet ﷺ placed her in his tent and honored her with his companionship. In a remarkable coincidence, forty-four years later, Sayyidah Maymunah رضی اﷲ تعالٰی عنہا passed away at the same place of Sarf, and her blessed grave is located there. The most accurate account places her passing in the year 51 AH. A more detailed account of her life, Insha'Allah, will be provided in the section about the purified women رضی اللہ تعالی عنہن.

During the battle of Khayber, near a place called Sahba, the Beloved Prophet ﷺ took a nap after the Asr Salah. He rested his head on the lap of Sayyiduna Ali رضي الله عنه. While the Beloved Prophet ﷺ was asleep, revelation began to descend upon him. Sayyiduna Ali رضي الله عنه, holding the Beloved Prophet's ﷺ head in his lap, remained seated until the sun set.

When the Beloved Prophet ﷺ realized that Sayyiduna Ali رضي الله عنه had missed the Asr Salah, he ﷺ prayed to Allah, saying, "O Allah Almighty! Surely, Ali was occupied with Your obedience and the obedience of Your Messenger. Therefore, please turn the sun back so that Ali can offer the Asr Salah."

Sayyidah Asma bint Umais رضی اﷲ تعالٰی عنہا reported that she witnessed with her own eyes the sun turning back, and its light spread over the mountains and the earth.