Detailed Account

The Banu Nadir, one of Madinah's three major Jewish tribes, violated their treaty with Muslims through two major breaches: collaborating with Quraysh after Uhud and attempting to assassinate the Prophet ﷺ. The assassination plot occurred when the Prophet ﷺ, accompanied by Abu Bakr, Umar, and Ali, visited their quarter seeking their contribution to blood money for the two men mistakenly killed by Amr ibn Umayyah. While sitting beside a wall, they plotted to kill him by dropping a millstone on his head. Amr ibn Jihash volunteered for this task, but Salam ibn Mishkam advised against it. The Prophet ﷺ received divine warning through revelation, abruptly left without explanation to his companions, and returned to Madinah. He then dispatched Muhammad ibn Maslamah to Banu Nadir with an ultimatum: leave Madinah within ten days or face war. The tribe initially prepared to leave, but Abdullah ibn Ubayy (leader of the hypocrites) encouraged them to resist, promising support from his faction and other Jewish tribes. Emboldened, they fortified themselves in their strongholds and challenged the Muslims: 'We will not leave our properties. Do what you will.' The Prophet ﷺ led the Muslims in besieging their fortresses for 15-21 days, during which promised support from hypocrites and other Jewish tribes never materialized. The siege strategy included cutting down date palms surrounding their fortresses (an uncommon practice authorized specifically for this situation in Quran 59:5). Unable to withstand the siege and realizing their isolation, they negotiated surrender terms allowing each family to take one camel-load of possessions (except weapons) before leaving. Most relocated to Khaybar, with leaders like Huyayy ibn Akhtab and Salam ibn Abi al-Huqayq continuing to incite hostility against Muslims. Their properties and weapons became war booty distributed primarily to poor Muhajiroon. The Quran dedicates much of Surah Al-Hashr (59) to this event, highlighting the significance of the expulsion in weakening Madinah's internal opposition and strengthening the economic position of emigrants.