In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful.
Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.
An Abridgement of the Prophetic Biography (Seerah),
Authored by Sheikh Musa Rashid Al-Azimi,
May Allah preserve him.
The Expedition of Khaybar.
The expedition of Khaybar took place three nights after the expedition of Dhi Qarad,
In the month of Muharram in the seventh year after the Hijrah.
Imam Muslim recorded in his Sahih
On the authority of Salamah Ibn al-Akwa' (may Allah be pleased with him) who said:
"By Allah, we stayed only three nights
Before marching out to Khaybar with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him)."
Al-Hafiz said in al-Talkhis al-Habir:
"As for the expedition of Khaybar occurring in the seventh year,
It is the well-known view held by the vast majority of scholars of the military expeditions."
The Cause of this Expedition.
Khaybar had become a hotbed of intrigue and conspiracies against the Muslims,
Inhabited exclusively by Jews.
They were the ones who mobilized the allied confederates to eradicate the Muslims in the Battle of the Trench;
They incited the Jewish tribe of Banu Qurayzah to break their treaty with the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) during the Battle of the Trench;
They attempted to assassinate the Prophet (peace be upon him);
And they actively supplied Quraysh with funds and weapons in their military campaigns against the Muslims.
Thus, it was imperative to eliminate this malignant thorn,
Which was one of the prime causes behind the loss of safety, security, and stability
Around the Prophet's city of Madinah and throughout the entire region.
The Divine Promise of the Conquest of Khaybar.
Allah, Glorified be He, promised His Messenger (peace be upon him) and the believers the conquest of Khaybar in His Noble Book,
And He designated its spoils exclusively for the attendees of al-Hudaybiyyah.
Glorified and Exalted be He, He said:
“Allah promiseth you much booty that ye will capture, and hath given you this in advance, and hath withheld men's hands from you, that it may be a token for the believers, and that He may guide you on a right path.” (48:20)
"And He has hastened this for you."
Mujahid said:
"Regarding His words, Exalted be He:
'And He has hastened this for you,'
It means: He has hastened Khaybar for you."
In his Tafsir of this verse, Imam Ibn Jarir al-Tabari said,
After citing the various scholarly opinions regarding it:
"And the most correct of these opinions in its interpretation
Is the view stated by Mujahid,
Namely that what Allah rewarded them with from that march of theirs, alongside the imminent conquest,
Was the abundant spoils from the spoils of Khaybar.
For the Muslims had not gained any spoils after al-Hudaybiyyah,
Nor had they accomplished any conquest closer in time to their pledge to the Prophet (peace be upon him)
At al-Hudaybiyyah
Than the conquest of Khaybar and its spoils."
And He, Glorified and Exalted be He, said:
"Those who remained behind will say,
When you set out to take the spoils:
'Allow us to follow you.'
“Those who were left behind will say, when ye set forth to capture booty: Let us go with you. They fain would change the verdict of Allah. Say (unto them, O Muhammad): Ye shall not go with us. Thus hath Allah said beforehand. Then they will say: Ye are envious of us. Nay, but they understand not, save a little.” (48:15)
Say: 'You shall not follow us;
Thus has Allah declared beforehand.'
Then they will say: 'Rather, you envy us.'"
“Those who were left behind will say, when ye set forth to capture booty: Let us go with you. They fain would change the verdict of Allah. Say (unto them, O Muhammad): Ye shall not go with us. Thus hath Allah said beforehand. Then they will say: Ye are envious of us. Nay, but they understand not, save a little.” (48:15)
Al-Hafiz Ibn Kathir said:
"The Exalted reveals concerning the bedouins who stayed behind and failed to join the Prophet (peace be upon him)
During the expedition of al-Hudaybiyyah,
That when the Prophet (peace be upon him) and his Companions set out to conquer Khaybar,
They asked to accompany them merely to gain the spoils,
Even though they had abandoned the duty of fighting, battling, and persevering against the enemies.
So Allah commanded His Messenger (peace be upon him) not to grant them permission to do so,
As a penalty fitting the nature of their sin.
For Allah Almighty promised the spoils of Khaybar exclusively to the attendees of al-Hudaybiyyah,
Allowing none of those bedouins who stayed behind to share in them,
So that nothing contrary to that could occur, both by divine law and by divine decree.
That is why He said:
“Those who were left behind will say, when ye set forth to capture booty: Let us go with you. They fain would change the verdict of Allah. Say (unto them, O Muhammad): Ye shall not go with us. Thus hath Allah said beforehand. Then they will say: Ye are envious of us. Nay, but they understand not, save a little.” (48:15)
Mujahid, Qatadah, and Juwaybir said:
'It refers to the promise which He made to the attendees of al-Hudaybiyyah,'
And this was the view chosen by Ibn Jarir."
The Prophet's Departure for Khaybar.
There marched out with the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) on this expedition
Everyone who had participated with him in the expedition of al-Hudaybiyyah,
Except those among them who had passed away, may Allah be pleased with them all.
He appointed Siba' Ibn 'Urfutah al-Ghifari (may Allah be pleased with him) in charge of Madinah.
Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) arrived in Madinah as an emigrant
Just after the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) had set out for Khaybar.
He arrived in the presence of Siba' Ibn 'Urfutah during the Fajr prayer.
Imam Ahmad in his Musnad and al-Hakim in his Mustadrak recorded with an authentic chain
On the authority of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) who said:
"When the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) departed for Khaybar,
He left Siba' Ibn 'Urfutah al-Ghifari in charge.
We arrived and joined him in the Fajr prayer;
In the first rak'ah he recited Surah Maryam,
And in the second, Surah al-Mutaffifin.
So I said to myself: 'Woe to so-and-so's father!
He has two measuring vessels: one with which he demands full measure, and another with which he gives less!'
We then went to Siba' Ibn 'Urfutah,
Who provided us with provisions, and we caught up with the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him)
A day before the conquest, or a day after it."
The Prophet's March to Khaybar.
The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) set forth with his army toward Khaybar,
And several incidents occurred while they were en route.
Among them was his praying while mounted upon his riding beast.
Imam Muslim and Imam Ahmad narrated from Ibn 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) who said:
"I saw the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) praying atop a donkey
While he was heading toward Khaybar."
Imam al-Qurtubi said:
"Scholars are unanimous that it is unlawful for a healthy person to offer an obligatory prayer except on the ground,
Save in the specific situation of intense fear during combat."
Second: The Chanted Verses of 'Amir Ibn al-Akwa' (may Allah be pleased with him).
The two Shaykhs recorded in their Sahihs on the authority of Salamah Ibn al-Akwa' who said:
"We went out with the Prophet (peace be upon him) to Khaybar,
And we journeyed during the night.
A man from the group said to 'Amir:
'O 'Amir! Will you not let us hear some of your poetry?'
Meaning his rhythmic camel-driving chants.
And 'Amir was a poet.
So he dismounted and began chanting for the company,
Saying:
'O Allah! Were it not for You, we would not have been guided,
Nor given zakat, nor prayed.
So forgive—may we be sacrificed for Your cause—what we have committed,
And make our feet firm when we meet the enemy.
And send down tranquility upon us,
For indeed, if they shout out against us in aggression, we refuse to yield,
Even if they summon all their allies against us.'
The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) asked:
'Who is this camel driver?'
They replied: ''Amir Ibn al-Akwa'.'
The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:
'May Allah have mercy upon him.'
A man from among the people said:
'Martyrdom has become certain for him, O Prophet of Allah!
If only you had let us enjoy his companionship longer!'
Imam Muslim added in his Sahih:
Salamah said:
'And whenever he (peace be upon him) prayed for forgiveness
For a person specifically,
That person was invariably martyred.'"
An Abridgement of the Prophetic Biography (Seerah).
Though yearning among creation for one another may endure,
The yearning for you knows no bound or measure.
May Allah send blessings upon you as long as dew ascends,
And as long as lips move with the praise that ever remains.