Far removed from the painful personal feelings experienced by Muslims in the city due to the Jews; after Muhammad, the Messenger of God (peace be upon him), had made a treaty with them; when they tried once to assault the honor of a Muslim woman in their markets (2 AH), and at another time conspired to kill the Messenger himself (4 AH), and a third time committed a major collective betrayal against the Muslims during the hardship of the Battle of the Trench (the Banu Qurayza in the year 5 AH).

The Perpetual Cold War

Beyond all these betrayals, and the "perpetual cold war in collusion with the polytheists of the Arabian Peninsula," which contradicts the constitution...

Opening a New Page of Peace

Aside from all that; Muslims opened a new page of peace with the Jews; so that the future does not continue to pay the price for the mistakes of the past.

The Siege of the Polytheists

The Islamic nation had miraculously survived extermination during the siege of the polytheists of the city in the Battle of the Trench in the fifth year of Hijra, and the Banu Qurayza (the Jews) were close to destroying the city, after their betrayal of the constitution, which obligated them—as citizens—to protect the city alongside the Muslims.

The Consequences of Releasing the Banu Qurayza

Had Muhammad released them, they would have worked to increase the opposition of the Jews in Khaybar and organized another attack against the city; since there was no guarantee that fortune would favor the Muslims again, the bloody battle for survival would continue indefinitely, leading to ongoing suffering and death. The death sentences against the major treason of the Banu Qurayza Jews had left the required impact in the souls of the enemies of Islam, and it appeared that no one was particularly shocked by the massacre (because it was justice by all laws), in addition to the fact that the Qurayzites themselves seemed to have anticipated its inevitability; they knew the significance of the crime they committed.

The Tragic Beginning and Muslim Tolerance

However, it is important to note—as Katherine Armstrong states—that this tragic beginning did not permanently affect the Muslim position toward the Jews; as soon as Muslims established their own global empire and developed an advanced system in their Shari’ah, they founded a system of tolerance that prevailed in the civilized parts of the Arab East for a long time; where religious communities coexisted side by side. Anti-Semitism is a Western Christian sin, not an Islamic sin, and this should be present in our minds so that we do not yield to the pressures of generalizations.

Religious Freedom Under the Islamic Empire

During the era of the Islamic Empire, Jews, like Christians, enjoyed complete religious freedom and lived peacefully in the region until the establishment of the State of Israel in 1947. Jews under Islam never experienced the suffering they endured under Christianity.

European Anti-Semitic Myths

The European anti-Semitic myths, however, arrived in the Arab East at the end of the last century, brought by Christian missionary missions, and the masses usually met them with disdain.

Muslims' Tolerance of Jewish Betrayals

It is worth mentioning that Muslims' tolerance of the serious abuses inflicted upon them by Jews throughout history, and their overlooking of the Jews' betrayal of the constitution that the Messenger of Islam established, which granted them full citizenship rights in Medina (their homeland), despite the fact that they betrayed the constitution and the homeland during a severe hardship, in which Muslims were nearly exterminated—were it not for God's protection—underscores that Muslims view war as a distasteful and exceptional matter.

The Ethics of War in Islam

Muslims believe that they should not initiate hostilities; just wars are those waged for self-defense only. However, once they enter a war, they must fight with absolute ethical commitment to bring the conflict to an end as quickly as possible. As Armstrong Kathryn states, if the enemy proposes a truce or shows readiness for peace, the Quran instructs Muslims that the terms of peace should not be unethical or disgraceful. Yet, the Quran also emphasizes that ending military conflict is sacred, and that they must confront their enemy resolutely, avoiding any hesitation; as such hesitation means that the conflict will continue indefinitely.

The Goal of War in Islam

The goal of any war in Islam is to establish peace and reconciliation as quickly as possible. This is what Armstrong Kathryn concluded and confirmed. We believe this is what Muslims did with Jews; they quickly engaged them and employed them in significant roles, even opening the palaces of the caliphs to them, and enlisting their help in various fields (translation, medicine, economics, etc.).

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(1) Armstrong Kathryn: Muhammad, 2nd ed., 1988, Matbo’a, Egypt, p. 308.

(2) Armstrong Kathryn: Muhammad, 2nd ed., 1988, Matbo’a Publishing, Egypt, p. 309.

(3) Previous reference, p. 310.

Source: Official website of Dr. Abdul Halim Oweis.

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