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1.
Ibn Hisham: Vol. 2, p. 221; Waqidi:
Maghazi
p. 292.
2.
Ibn Hisham: Vol. 2, p. 228.
Page 7
The Prophet now decided to use diplomacy to achieve results which were not attainable
by force of arms. He started secret negotiations with Uyaina, the commander of the
Ghatfan contingent. (Uyaina was a brave and simple soul. A one?eyed man possessing
more brawn than brain, he was to earn from the Prophet the nickname of 'the willing fool'
1
). The aim of the negotiations was to create a rift between the two major Allies, the
Ghatfan and the Quraish-by drawing the Ghatfan away from the siege. If this were
achieved, other tribes might also pull away from the Quraish; but even if they did not, the
absence of the powerful Ghatfan contingent of 2,000 warriors would reduce the Allied
strength to manageable proportions, where after military action could be taken to drive
the Allies away from Madinah.
"If the Ghatfan secede from the alliance and return to their homes, they shall be given
one?third of the date produce of Madinah"
, were the terms offered by the Prophet. This
offer was accepted by Uyaina who had by now lost all hope of military victory. The pact
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was drawn up, but before it could be signed and sealed (without which it would not be
binding), the Prophet decided to mention the matter to some of the Muslim leaders. These
Muslims protested vehemently.
"Dates!"
they exclaimed.
"Let the infidels get nothing
from us but the sword!"
2
This disagreement with the Prophet was so general and so
strong that he decided to submit to the wishes of the Muslims, and the negotiations were
dropped.
These stout hearted Believers could not understand the seriousness of the military
situation or the intricacies of diplomacy as well as the Prophet did. He knew that the only
solution to the problem lay in breaking the siege by diplomatic manoeuvre, and he now
began to look about for another opening. Soon an opening presented itself. Among the
Ghatfan was a man by the name of Nuaim bin Masud who had become a Muslim but had
kept his conversion a secret. A prominent figure in the region, he was well known to all
the three major partners in the alliance-the Quraish, the Ghatfan and the Jews of Bani
Quraizah. He was also a very capable man.
Nuaim left the Ghatfan camp one night and slipped into Madinah. He came to the
Prophet, explained his position and expressed his desire to be of service to the Muslims.
"Send me where you will"
, he said
3
. This was just the opportunity for which the Prophet
had prayed. In a conference with Nuaim the Prophet went over the entire situation and
laid down the course of action which Nuaim was to take.
The same night Nuaim stole into the settlement of the Bani Quraizah and visited Kab. He
outlined the dangers of the situation as they applied to the Jews.
"Your situation is not
like the situation of the Quraish and the Ghatfan"
, he explained.
"You have your families
and your homes here, while their homes and families are at a safe distance from
Madinah. They have no great stake in this battle. If they do not succeed in defeating
Muhammad, they will return to their homes and leave you to face the wrath of the
Muslims. You must take no action in collaboration with them unless they give you
hostages from their best families. Thus you will have an assurance of their good faith."
Nuaim next went to the Quraish and spoke to Abu Sufyan, who knew him well and had
respect for his judgement.
"You have made a pact"
, he said,
"with a people who are
treacherous and unreliable. I have come to know through friends in Madinah that the
Bani Quraizah have repented and entered into a fresh pact with Muhammad. To prove
their loyalty to Muhammad, they are going to ask you for hostages from your best
families, whom they will promptly hand over to Muhammad, who will put them to death.
The Jews will then openly come out as allies of the Muslims and both will make a joint
attack against us. On no account must you give hostages to the Jews!"
He then went to the Ghatfan where he painted the same picture. By the time Nuaim had
finished, the seeds of doubt and discord had been firmly planted in the minds of the
Allies.
The uncertainty began to tell on Abu Sufyan, who had relied unquestioningly on the
alliance with the Jews. He decided to hasten the course of battle and put the intentions of
the Jews to test. During the night of Friday, March 14, following the visit of Nuaim, he
sent a delegation headed by Ikrimah to the Bani Quraizah.
"This is a terrible situation"
,
explained Ikrimah.
"This cannot be allowed to continue any longer. We attack tomorrow.
You have a pact with us against Muhammad. You must join in the attack from the
direction of your settlement."
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