In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful.
Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.
The Abridgment of the Prophetic biography (Seerah),
Authored by Sheikh Musa ibn Rashid al-Azimi,
May Allah preserve him.
The Expedition of Banu Qurayzah.
It took place on a Wednesday,
With seven nights remaining in Dhu al-Qi'dah,
In the fifth year of the Hijrah.
We mentioned in the Battle of the Trench
Banu Qurayzah's breach of the covenant with the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him,
And their conspiracy with the confederates to wage war against the Muslims.
Thereupon, Gabriel, peace be upon him, came to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him)
And commanded him to fight the Jews of Banu Qurayzah.
Al-Hafiz Ibn Kathir said:
"A section on the Expedition of Banu Qurayzah,
And the severe punishment Allah Almighty unleashed upon them,
Along with the painful torment Allah has prepared for them in the Hereafter.
That was because of their disbelief,
Their breach of the covenants that existed between them and the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him),
And their aiding of the confederates against him.
Yet that availed them nothing,
And they incurred the wrath of Allah and His Messenger,
Ending in a losing bargain in this world and the Hereafter."
The two Sheikhs recorded in their Sahih collections
On the authority of 'A'ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, who said:
When the Prophet (peace be upon him) returned from the Trench,
Laid down his arms, and bathed,
Gabriel, peace be upon him, came to him and said:
"Have you laid down your arms? By Allah, we have not laid them down.
Go out against them!"
The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) asked:
"To where?"
He replied: "Here,"
Pointing toward Qurayzah.
So the Prophet (peace be upon him) set out against them.
Imam Ahmad recorded in his Musnad with an authentic chain of transmission
On the authority of 'A'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) that she said:
When the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) finished with the confederates,
He entered the washroom to perform a ritual bath.
Then Gabriel, peace be upon him, came and said:
"Have you already laid down your arms?
We have not laid down our weapons yet.
March against Banu Qurayzah!"
That is, advance against Banu Qurayzah.
'A'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said:
"It is as if I am still looking at Gabriel (peace be upon him) through the chinks of the door,
With dust clinging to his head wrap."
Al-Hakim recorded in al-Mustadrak with a good chain of transmission
On the authority of 'A'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) who said:
While the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) was with her,
A man greeted us with peace while we were inside the house.
The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) stood up in alarm,
So I followed after him,
And behold, he was in the form of Dihyah al-Kalbi.
He (peace be upon him) said:
"This is Gabriel,
Ordering me to march against Banu Qurayzah."
The Departure of the Prophet (peace be upon him) to Banu Qurayzah.
The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) set out with three thousand of his Companions,
Heading toward Banu Qurayzah.
He handed the banner to 'Ali ibn Abi Talib, may Allah be pleased with him,
And dispatched Bilal (may Allah be pleased with him) to call out among the people:
"The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him,
Commands you not to pray 'Asr except at Banu Qurayzah."
Al-Hakim recorded in al-Mustadrak with a good chain of transmission
On the authority of 'A'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) who said:
The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said to his Companions:
"I resolve upon you not to pray the 'Asr prayer
Until you reach Banu Qurayzah."
Imam al-Bukhari recorded in his Sahih
On the authority of Ibn 'Umar, may Allah be pleased with both of them, who said:
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said to us when he returned from the confederates:
"None of you should pray 'Asr except at Banu Qurayzah."
The time for 'Asr overtook some of them on the way,
So some said: "We will not pray until we reach it,"
While others said: "Rather, we will pray,
For he did not intend that for us."
That was mentioned to the Prophet (peace be upon him),
And he did not rebuke either of the two groups.
In the narration of al-Hakim in his Mustadrak with a good chain of transmission,
'A'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said:
"The sun set before they reached them.
A group of the Muslims said:
'The Prophet (peace be upon him) did not intend for us to abandon the prayer,'
So they prayed.
Another group said:
'We abide strictly by the firm resolve of the Prophet (peace be upon him),
And no sin falls upon us.'
Thus, one group prayed out of faith and seeking reward,
And the other group withheld out of faith and seeking reward,
And the Prophet (peace be upon him) blamed neither of the two parties."
Imam Ibn Hazm said:
"And Allah Almighty knows that had we been there,
We would not have prayed 'Asr on that day except at Banu Qurayzah,
Even if it were after several days."
Al-Hafiz Ibn Kathir said:
"It is evident that those who prayed 'Asr at its proper time
Were closer to hitting upon the truth in actual fact,
Even though the others were also excused.
The justification here for excusing their delay of the prayer
Was for the sake of jihad and hastening to besiege the covenant-breakers of that accursed band."
The Siege of Banu Qurayzah.
Allah, Mighty and Majestic, sent Gabriel, peace be upon him, to Banu Qurayzah
To shake them and cast terror into their hearts.
Al-Hakim recorded in al-Mustadrak with a good chain of transmission
On the authority of 'A'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) who said:
The Prophet (peace be upon him) went forth
And passed by gatherings between him and Qurayzah,
Asking: "Has anyone passed by you?"
They replied: "Dihyah al-Kalbi passed by us on a white mule,
Beneath him a saddle blanket of fine brocade."
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
"That was not Dihyah,
But Gabriel, peace be upon him,
Sent to Banu Qurayzah
To shake them and cast terror into their hearts."
Imam al-Bukhari recorded in his Sahih
On the authority of Anas, may Allah be pleased with him, who said:
"It is as if I am still looking at the dust rising in the alley of Banu Ghanm
From the procession of Gabriel
When the Messenger of Allah marched to Banu Qurayzah."
The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) arrived,
Under the protection and care of Allah, at the dwellings of Banu Qurayzah.
When they saw him, they fortified themselves in their strongholds,
Whereupon the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) called out to them,
Saying:
"O brothers of apes and swine!"
He then imposed a siege upon them,
And the siege lasted for twenty-five nights,
Until conditions became dire for them
And Allah cast terror into their hearts.
So they submitted and agreed to abide by the judgment of Sa'd ibn Mu'adh, may Allah be pleased with him,
As they had been his confederates.
In the narration of Ibn Ishaq,
They surrendered to the judgment of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him,
Whereupon the Aws leaped up
And said: "O Messenger of Allah,
They are our confederates, not those of the Khazraj,
And you have previously done regarding the confederates of our brethren what you well know,"
Referring to the Jews of Banu Qaynuqa',
The allies of the Khazraj,
When the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him)
Left the judgment concerning them in the hands of 'Abdullah ibn Ubayy ibn Salul,
And that was during the Expedition of Banu Qaynuqa'.
The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:
"Would you be pleased, O gathering of the Aws,
If a man from among you were to judge concerning them?"
They said: "Yes!"
The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:
"Then that shall be Sa'd ibn Mu'adh."
Imam Ahmad recorded in his Musnad and Ibn Hibban in his Sahih with a good chain of transmission
On the authority of 'A'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) who said:
When their siege intensified and the affliction became severe,
It was said to them:
"Surrender to the judgment of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him."
So they consulted Abu Lubabah ibn 'Abd al-Mundhir,
Who gestured to his throat that it would mean slaughter.
They then said: "We will surrender to the judgment of Sa'd ibn Mu'adh."
Thereupon the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:
"Surrender to the judgment of Sa'd ibn Mu'adh."
The Abridgment
Of the Prophetic biography (Seerah).