by Huyay ibn Akhtab (Arabic: حيي بن أخطب; Hebrew: חי בן אחיטוב various transliterations include Huyayy, Huyai) was the owner of the fortress of Al-Qamoos and the chief of the Khaibar Jewish tribe of Medina Banu Nadir.[1]
Huyay’s View of Islam
Huyay held a treaty with the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), while secretly committing treason by encouraging and supporting the Quraish in their month long siege of Medina as well as trying to incite Ka’b ibn As’ad, the chief of the Banu Quraydhah, to go to war with the Prophet (ﷺ).[2] When the attack failed he continued to encourage further attacks until his death.[3]
Plot to Kill Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ)
One of the agree treaty agreements for those in Medina was that it was community responsibility to aid in paying blood money for incidents such as manslaughter. When the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and a small number of Companions approached Banu Nadir to help pay what was owed. They welcomed him (ﷺ) to discuss the situation but privately Huyay suggested because of the small group it was a perfect opportunity to rid themselves of the Prophet (ﷺ). Many of Huyay’s associates agreed and began to take action. They angel Jibril warned the Prophet (ﷺ) who quietly stood and left leaving his Companions behind. The plot was a treasonous violation of the pact between Banu Nadir and the Prophet Muhammad. As punishment Banu Nadir was expelled from Medina.[4]
Huyay’s Death
Huyay was killed along with the members of Banu Quraydhah. In a narration that is good in chain, Abdullah ibn Umar narrates how Huyay’s wealth including a quantity of leather was then hidden in an attempt to keep it from the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ). It remained hidden for years until after some searching and after Huyay’s uncle, Sa’yah revealed it’s location in a pile of ruins.[5][6][7]
Narrations: Hasan (Good)
Chapter: What Has Been Related About The Ruling On The Land Of Khaibar
باب مَا جَاءَ فِي حُكْمِ أَرْضِ خَيْبَرَ
Narrated Abdullah Ibn Umar: The Prophet fought with the people of Khaybar, and captured their palm-trees and land, and forced them to remain confined to their fortresses. So they concluded a treaty of peace providing that gold, silver and weapons would go to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), and whatever they took away on their camels would belong to them, on condition that they would not hide and carry away anything. If they did (so), there would be no protection for them and no treaty (with Muslims). They carried away a purse of Huyayy ibn Akhtab who was killed before (the battle of) Khaybar. He took away the ornaments of Banu an-Nadir when they were expelled. The Prophet (ﷺ) asked Sa’yah: Where is the purse of Huyayy ibn Akhtab? He replied: The contents of this purse were spent on battles and other expenses. (Later on) they found the purse. So he killed Ibn AbulHuqayq, captured their women and children, and intended to deport them. They said: Muhammad, leave us to work on this land; we shall have half (of the produce) as you wish, and you will have half. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to make a contribution of eighty wasqs of dates and twenty wasqs of wheat to each of his wives.[8]
حَدَّثَنَا هَارُونُ بْنُ زَيْدِ بْنِ أَبِي الزَّرْقَاءِ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي، حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادُ بْنُ سَلَمَةَ، عَنْ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُمَرَ، قَالَ – أَحْسِبُهُ – عَنْ نَافِعٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَاتَلَ أَهْلَ خَيْبَرَ فَغَلَبَ عَلَى النَّخْلِ وَالأَرْضِ وَأَلْجَأَهُمْ إِلَى قَصْرِهِمْ فَصَالَحُوهُ عَلَى أَنَّ لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم الصَّفْرَاءَ وَالْبَيْضَاءَ وَالْحَلْقَةَ وَلَهُمْ مَا حَمَلَتْ رِكَابُهُمْ عَلَى أَنْ لاَ يَكْتُمُوا وَلاَ يُغَيِّبُوا شَيْئًا فَإِنْ فَعَلُوا فَلاَ ذِمَّةَ لَهُمْ وَلاَ عَهْدَ فَغَيَّبُوا مَسْكًا لِحُيَىِّ بْنِ أَخْطَبَ وَقَدْ كَانَ قُتِلَ قَبْلَ خَيْبَرَ كَانَ احْتَمَلَهُ مَعَهُ يَوْمَ بَنِي النَّضِيرِ حِينَ أُجْلِيَتِ النَّضِيرُ فِيهِ حُلِيُّهُمْ قَالَ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم لِسَعْيَةَ “ أَيْنَ مَسْكُ حُيَىِّ بْنِ أَخْطَبَ ” . قَالَ أَذْهَبَتْهُ الْحُرُوبُ وَالنَّفَقَاتُ . فَوَجَدُوا الْمَسْكَ فَقَتَلَ ابْنَ أَبِي الْحُقَيْقِ وَسَبَى نِسَاءَهُمْ وَذَرَارِيَّهُمْ وَأَرَادَ أَنْ يُجْلِيَهُمْ فَقَالُوا يَا مُحَمَّدُ دَعْنَا نَعْمَلْ فِي هَذِهِ الأَرْضِ وَلَنَا الشَّطْرُ مَا بَدَا لَكَ وَلَكُمُ الشَّطْرُ . وَكَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يُعْطِي كُلَّ امْرَأَةٍ مِنْ نِسَائِهِ ثَمَانِينَ وَسْقًا مِنْ تَمْرٍ وَعِشْرِينَ وَسْقًا مِنْ شَعِيرٍ
Notes
- Jump up↑ The Noble Life of the Prophet by Dr. Ali Muhammad As-Salabi. Vol.3, Ch. The Battle of Khaibar, pg.1599
- Jump up↑ Ibn Hisham full citation needed
- Jump up↑ The Noble Life of the Prophet by Dr. Ali Muhammad As-Salabi. Vol.3, Ch. The Battle of Khaibar, pg.1597
- Jump up↑ Ali Qutb, Muhammad. “The Prophet’s Wives (Mothers of the Faithful): Safiyah bint Huyay Ibn Akhtab.” Nisāʼ ḥawla Al-Rasūl (Women Around the Messenger.) New Revised English Edition 2 ed. Riyadh: International Islamic Publishing House, 2008. 363. Print. pg.97
- Jump up↑ Hasan in chain (Al-Albani) Sunan Abi Dawud 3006: Book 20, Hadith 79: The Book of Tribute, Spoils, and Rulership (Kitab Al-Kharaj, Wal-Fai’ Wal-Imarah) – كتاب الخراج والإمارة والفىء
- Jump up↑ The Noble Life of the Prophet by Dr. Ali Muhammad As-Salabi. Vol.3, Ch. The Battle of Khaibar, pg.1598
- Jump up↑ As-Syaasah Ash Shar.iyyah Fee Uslaa Ar-Raa’ee War Ra-eeah by ibn Taimiyyah; Taareek Al-Islam by Adh-Dhahabee; Al-Maghaazee, by Al-Waaqidee pg.424
- Jump up↑ Hasan in chain (Al-Albani) Sunan Abi Dawud 3006: Book 20, Hadith 79: The Book of Tribute, Spoils, and Rulership (Kitab Al-Kharaj, Wal-Fai’ Wal-Imarah) – كتاب الخراج والإمارة والفىء