Mohammed’s Pogram Against the Jews

Accordingly, he decreed that all the men, in number between six and seven hundred, should be put to the sword, the women and children sold for slaves and their goods given to the soldiers for a prey.

Continuing Mohammed,
our selection from The History of the Saracens by Simon Ockley published in1718. The selection is presented in 10.5 easy 5 minute installments. For works benefiting from the latest research see the “More information” section at the bottom of these pages.

Previously in Mohammed.

Time: February, 627
Place: Medina

Nawfal, however, in leaping the ditch, got a fall and being overwhelmed with a shower of stones, cried out, “I had rather die by the sword than thus.” Ali hearing him, leaped into the ditch and dispatched him. He then pursued after Acrema and having wounded him with a spear, drove him and his companions back to the army. Here they related what had happened; which put the rest in such fear that they were ready to retreat; and when some of their tents had been overthrown by a storm and discord had arisen among the allies, the Koreishites, finding themselves forsaken by their auxiliaries, returned to Mecca. Mohammed made a miracle of this retreat; and published upon it this verse of the Koran, “God sent a storm and legions of angels, which you did not see.”

Upon the prophet’s return into the town, while he was laying by his armor and washing himself, Gabriel came and asked him, “Have you laid by your arms? we have not laid by ours; go and attack them,” pointing to the Koraidites, a Jewish tribe confederated against him. Whereupon Mohammed went immediately and besieged them so closely in their castles that after twenty-five days they surrendered at discretion. He referred the settlement of the conditions to Saad, son of Moad; who being wounded by an arrow at the ditch, had wished he might only live to be revenged. Accordingly, he decreed that all the men, in number between six and seven hundred, should be put to the sword, the women and children sold for slaves and their goods given to the soldiers for a prey. Mohammed extolled the justice of this sentence, as a divine direction sent down from the seventh heaven and had it punctually executed. Saad, dying of his wound presently after, Mohammed performed his funeral obsequies and made a harangue in praise of him.

One Salam, a Jew, having been very strenuous in stirring up the people against the prophet, some zealous Casregites desired leave to go and assassinate him. Permission being readily granted, away they went to the Jew’s house and being let in by his wife, upon their pretending they were come to buy provisions, they murdered him in his bed and made their escape.

Toward the end of this year Mohammed, going into the house of Zaid, did not find him at home but happened to espy his wife Zainab so much in dishabille as to discover beauties enough to touch a heart so amorous as his was. He could not conceal the impression made upon him but cried out, “Praised be God, who turneth men’s hearts as he pleases!” Zainab heard him and told it to her husband when he came home. Zaid, who had been greatly obliged to Mohammed, was very desirous to gratify him and offered to divorce his wife. Mohammed pretended to dissuade him from it but Zaid easily perceiving how little he was in earnest, actually divorced her. Mohammed thereupon took her to wife and celebrated the nuptials with extraordinary magnificence, keeping open house upon the occasion. Notwithstanding, this step gave great offence to many who could not bring themselves to brook that a prophet should marry his son’s wife; for he had before adopted Zaid for his son. To salve the affair, therefore, he had recourse to his usual expedient: Gabriel brought him a revelation from heaven, in which God commands him to take the wife of his adopted son, on purpose that forever after believers might have no scruple in marrying the divorced wives or widows of their adopted sons; which the Arabs had before looked upon as unlawful. The apostle is even reproved for fearing men in this affair, whereas he ought to fear God. (Koran, chapter xxxiii.)

In the sixth year he subdued several tribes of the Arabs. Among the captives was a woman of great beauty, named Juweira, whom Mohammed took to wife and, by way of dowry, released all her kindred that were taken prisoners.

When Mohammed went upon any expedition, it was generally determined by lots which of his wives should go with him; at this time it fell to Ayesha’s lot to accompany him. Upon their return to Medina, Ayesha was accused of intriguing with one of the officers of the army and was in great disgrace for about a month. The prophet was exceedingly chagrined to have his best-beloved wife accused of adultery; but his fondness for her prevailed over his resentment and she was restored to his favor, upon her own protestation of her innocence. This, however, did not quite satisfy the world, nor, indeed, was the prophet’s mind perfectly at ease on the subject, until Gabriel brought him a revelation, wherein Ayesha is declared innocent of the crime laid to her charge; while those who accuse believers of any crime, without proof, are severely reproved and a command given, that whosoever accuses chaste women and cannot produce four eye-witnesses in support of the charge, shall receive eighty stripes. (Koran, chapter xxiv.) In obedience to this command, all those who had raised this report upon Ayesha were publicly scourged, except Abdallah, son of Abu Solul, who was too considerable a man to be so dealt with, notwithstanding he had been particularly industrious in spreading the scandal. *

[* The following elucidation of the above circumstance is given by Sale: “Mohammed having undertaken an expedition against the tribe of Mostalek, in the sixth year of the Hegira, took his wife Ayesha with him. On their return, when they were not far from Medina, the army removing by night, Ayesha, on the road, alighted from her camel and stepped aside on a private occasion; but on her return, perceiving she had dropped her necklace, which was of onyxes of Dhafar, she went back to look for it; and in the meantime her attendants, taking it for granted that she was got into her pavilion, set it again on the camel and led it away. When she came back to the road and saw her camel was gone, she sat down there, expecting that when she was missed some would be sent back to fetch her; and in a little time she fell asleep. Early in the morning, Safwan Ebu al Moattel, who had stayed behind to rest himself, coming by, perceived somebody asleep and found it was Ayesha; upon which he awoke her, by twice pronouncing with a low voice these words, ‘We are God’s and unto him must we return.’ Ayesha immediately covered herself with her veil; and Safwan set her on his own camel and led her after the army, which they overtook by noon, as they were resting. This accident had like to have ruined Ayesha, whose reputation was publicly called in question, as if she had been guilty of adultery with Safwan.” — Sale’s Koran, xxiv. note.}

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