Muhammad, the Qur'an and Islam
Sura 48Sura 48Sura 48Sura 48 opens with the statement that Muhammad has been given victory
(v. 1), and says that his former and later sins have been forgiven (v. 2). The
v. 4 claims that the Shechinah is in the hearts of the believers, v. 5 says that
the believers will be sent to Paradise, and v. 6 concludes that the hypocrites
and polytheists will be sent to Hell. The v. 8 describes Muhammad as
having been sent as a witness, bringer of good tidings and a warner, so that
others may believe God and Muhammad, etc. and praise God mornings and
evenings. The vv. 10f encourage to keep covenant, show that some did not
go up with the Muslims (to Hudaybiya), and give a reproof of them. The^115
v. 13 states that whoever does not believe God and Muhammad will be sent
to Hell, and v. 14 says that God forgives and punishes whom He will. The
vv. 15f return to the subject of the Arab allies who did not go up (to
Hudaybiya) with the Muslims, and the v. 17 dictates that those^116 who obey
Allah and Muhammad will be sent to Paradise, but those who turn their
backs on them will be punished in Hell. The fragment v. 18a seems to refer
to Hudaybiya, as the Muslims took an oath before they thought they would
have to fight the Meccans, and the vv. 18f are thought to have been
composed after the battle at Khaybar.^117
After the treaty of Hudaybiya, Muhammad is reported to have begun
sending out messengers to the various Arab tribes and the kings of nearby
countries in order to invite them to accept Islam.^118
In the 75th month after the Hijra, Muhammad assembled a force^119 of 1400
and marched on Khaybar. After deploying between Khaybar and the
Ghatafan, the Muslims began attacking the Jews, taking fortress by fortress
(some captured Jews are said to have told the Muslims how the fortresses
could be entered). In the end, some 93 Jews and 15 Muslims are sa^120 id to
have been killed. After the battle, a Jewish woman prepared a meal for
Muhammad and some of his followers, and put poison in the lamb which
was to be eaten. Bishr b. al-Bara ate some of the meat and died, and
Muhammad, who had a piece of the lamb in his mouth, quickly spit it
out. Muhammad had the woman executed. The remaining Jews ask^121122 ed
Muhammad to spare their lives, and then surrendered. Muhammad took
their property and is said to have enslaved their women. The^123 Jews were
allowed to work their land and the palm trees, and were allowed to keep
one half of the harvest. The consumption of donkey meat is said to have
been forbidden at Khaybar. Of the women captives, Muhammad mar^124 ried
Safiya bt. Huyayy. Among the spoils from Khaybar were the bo^125 oks of the
Torah, which were returned to the Jews at their own request.^126