21 Vita vya Al-Ahzab - Ukhalifa wa Kiislamu | Quran Course

21 Vita vya Al-Ahzab - Ukhalifa wa Kiislamu | Quran Course

Ni Mayahudi wa Banu Nadir ndio waliojitahidi kuwachochea Waarabu dhidi ya Mtume wa Allah ﷺ ili walipize kisasi kwa kufukuzwa kutoka Madina. Baadhi yao walikuwa wameunda kundi dhidi ya Mtume wa Allah ﷺ, miongoni mwao wakiwa Huyayy ibn Akhtab, Salam ibn Abi al-Huqayq na Kinanah ibn Abi al-Huqayq, na kutoka Banu Wa’il walikuwa Haudhah ibn Qays na Abu ‘Ammar. Ndio kundi hili lililoenda kuwakaribia Quraysh huko Makka. Quraysh walimuuliza Huyayy kuhusu watu wake, naye akasema, “Niliwaacha kati ya Khaybar na Madina wakisita na wakingoja mtayeandamana nao dhidi ya Muhammad na Maswahaba wake.” Pia walimuuliza kuhusu Banu Quraydah, naye akasema, “Walibaki Madina ili kumdanganya Muhammad. Wanawasubiri ninyi mvamie Madina ili wawasaidie kutoka ndani.” Wakati huo Quraysh walikuwa wakisita, wasijue kama washambulie Madina au la. Waliona kwamba hapakuwa na mzozo kati yao na Muhammad ﷺ isipokuwa wito wake kwa Allah (SWT) na Uislamu. Kwa hiyo walijiuliza kama Muhammad ﷺ alikuwa yuko katika haki? Ili kupunguza shaka zao, Quraysh waliwauliza Mayahudi, “Enyi Mayahudi, ninyi ndio watu wa kwanza kupokea kitabu na mnajua asili ya mzozo wetu na Muhammad ﷺ. Je, Dini yetu ni bora au yake?” Mayahudi wakajibu, “Hakika Dini yenu ni bora kuliko yake, nanyi mna haki zaidi ya kuwa katika haki!”

It was the Jews of Banu Nadir who endeavored to incite the Arabs against the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) in order to exact their revenge for being expelled from Madinah. A number of them had formed a party against the Messenger of Allah (pbuh), among whom were Huyayy ibn Akhtab, Salam ibn Abi al-Huqayq and Kinanah ibn Abi al-Huqayq, and from Banu Wa’il were Haudhah ibn Qays and Abu ‘Ammar, and it was this party which approached the Quraysh in Makkah. The Quraysh asked Huyayy about his people and he said, “I left them between Khaybar and Madinah hesitating and waiting for you to march with them against Muhammad and his Companions.” They also asked him about Banu Quraydah and he said, “They remained in Madinah to deceive Muhammad. They are waiting for you to raid Madinah to help you from within.” At that stage the Quraysh were hesitant, not knowing whether to attack Madinah or not. They considered that there was no dispute between them and Muhammad (pbuh) except his (pbuh) call to Allah (swt) and Islam. They, therefore, wondered whether Muhammad (pbuh) was in the right? To lessen their doubts the Quraysh asked the Jews, “You, O Jews, are the first people to receive scripture and know the nature of our dispute with Muhammad. Is our Deen the best or is his ?” The Jews replied, “Certainly your Deen is better than his and you have a better claim to be in the right!”.

Kabila la Quraysh lilisonga mbele chini ya uongozi wa Abu Sufyan. Walikuwa takriban wapiganaji 4,000, wapanda farasi 300 na wapiganaji wengine 1,500 waliopanda ngamia. Banu Fazarah walisonga mbele chini ya uongozi wa ‘Uyayna ibn Hisn ibn Hudhayfah wakiwa na idadi kubwa ya wapiganaji na ngamia 1,000. Ashja’a walisonga mbele chini ya uongozi wa Mis’ar ibn Rakhaylah, na Murrah walisonga mbele chini ya uongozi wa al-Harith ibn ‘Auf wakiwa na wapiganaji 400. Salim na watu wa Bir Ma’una walisonga mbele wakiwa na takriban wapiganaji 700. Walipokwisha kukusanyika wote, walipata nyongeza zaidi kutoka Banu Sa’d na Banu Asad. Kwa jumla jeshi lilifikia takriban wanaume 10,000, na kikosi cha muungano kilisonga mbele chini ya uongozi wa Abu Sufyan. Habari zilipomfikia Mjumbe wa Allah ﷺ, aliamua kujihami ndani ya Madinah. Salman al-Farsi alipendekeza kuchimba handaki kuzunguka Madinah. Handaki lilichimbwa, na Mjumbe wa Allah ﷺ mwenyewe alifanya kazi humo, akiwahimiza Waislamu kwa matumaini ya thawabu peponi. Aliwasukuma waongeze juhudi mara mbili na zaidi, na hivyo handaki likakamilika ndani ya siku sita. Zaidi ya hayo, kuta za nyumba zinazoelekea adui ziliimarishwa, nyumba zilizokuwa nje ya handaki zikaachwa, na wanawake na watoto wakawekwa ndani ya nyumba zilizoimarishwa ndani ya Madinah. Mjumbe wa Allah ﷺ alianza safari pamoja na Waislamu elfu tatu, akiwa na bonde la Sal’ nyuma yake na handaki likimtenganisha na adui. Hapo alipiga kambi, na hema jekundu likasimikwa kwa ajili yake ﷺ.

The Quraysh marched under the leadership of Abu Sufyan. They numbered about 4,000 warriors, 300 cavalrymen and another 1,500 warriors riding on camels. Banu Fazarah marched under the leadership of ‘Uyayna ibn Hisn ibn Hudhayfah with a large number of warriors and 1,000 camels. Ashja’a marched under the leadership of Mis’ar ibn Rakhaylah, and Murrah marched under the leadership of al-Harith ibn ‘Auf with 400 warriors. Salim and Bir Ma’una’s people marched with about 700 warriors. When these had all gathered they were further reinforced by Banu Sa’d and Banu Asad. Altogether the army totaled about 10,000 men and the coalition force marched under the leadership of Abu Sufyan. When news reached the Messenger of Allah (pbuh), he decided to entrench himself inside Madinah. Salman al-Farsi recommended digging a trench around Madinah. The trench was dug and the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) worked at it himself encouraging the Muslims on with the hope of reward in Heaven. He (pbuh) prodded them to double and redouble their efforts and in this way the trench was completed in six days. In addition, the walls of the houses facing the enemy were fortified, the houses beyond (outside) the trench were then evacuated, and the women and children placed inside the fortified houses within Madinah. The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) set off with three thousand Muslims, he had his back to the valley of Sal’ and the trench dividing him from the enemy. There he (pbuh) encamped, and a red tent was pitched for him.

Quraysh na washirika wao walianza safari wakitumaini kukutana na Muhammad ﷺ huko Uhud, lakini haikuwa hivyo. Kisha Quraysh waliendelea kusonga mbele hadi wakafika Madina, na kwa mshangao wao waligundua njia yao imezuiwa na handaki. Ni wazi kwamba Quraysh na washirika wao hawakuwa wamezoea aina hii ya mkakati wa ulinzi, hivyo walilazimika kupiga kambi nje ya Madina, nje ya handaki, ili kufikiria hatua yao iliyofuata. Abu Sufyan na wale waliokuwa pamoja naye hivi karibuni walitambua kwamba walikuwa wanakabiliwa na kukaa kwa muda mrefu kando ya handaki, kwa kuwa hawakuweza kulivamia. Hali hii isiyo na mwisho ilileta matatizo kwa sababu ilikuwa msimu wa baridi, upepo ulikuwa mkali na baridi kali sana. Chini ya hali hizi watu walianza kukata tamaa, wakatamani wangeweza kurudi majumbani mwao. Huyayy ibn Akhtab alilijua hili, kwa hiyo alipendekeza kwamba Banu Quraydah washawishiwe kuvunja mkataba wa amani waliouweka na Waislamu, na kujiunga na muungano huo. Aliwaambia Quraysh na washirika wao kwamba Quraydah wakifanya hivyo, Waislamu watapoteza mawasiliano yao yote na ulimwengu wa nje, na njia ingefunguka ya kuivamia Madina.

The Quraysh and their allies set off, hoping to encounter Muhammad (pbuh) at Uhud, but it was not to be. The Quraysh then marched on until they reached Madinah and to their surprise they found their way barred by the trench. Clearly the Quraysh and her allies were not familiar with this kind of defensive strategy, they were forced to encamp outside Madinah beyond the trench to consider their next move. Abu Sufyan and those with him soon realized that they were in for a long stay by the trench because they were not able to storm it. This inconclusive situation proved troublesome as it was winter, the winds were fierce and biting cold. Under these conditions the people began to feel demoralized, they wished that they could return home. Huyayy ibn Akhtab was aware of this and so he suggested that Banu Quraydah should be talked into violating the peace treaty, which they had signed with Muslims, and join the coalition. He told the Quraysh and their allies that if the Quraydah did this the Muslims would lose all links with the outside world and the way would be open to invade Madinah.

Hivyo Ka'ab alivunja ahadi yake na kukata uhusiano uliokuwepo kati yake na Mjumbe wa Mwenyezi Mungu ﷺ. Basi Banu Quraydhah wakajiunga na Washirika bila ujuzi wa Mjumbe wa Mwenyezi Mungu ﷺ. Habari hizo zikamfikia Mjumbe wa Mwenyezi Mungu ﷺ na Maswahaba zake, na hili likawasababishia wasiwasi mkubwa. Waliogopa mabaya zaidi, na hivyo Mjumbe wa Mwenyezi Mungu ﷺ akawatuma Sa'd ibn Mu'adh, kiongozi wa 'Aus, na Sa'd ibn 'Ubadah, kiongozi wa al-Khazraj, pamoja na 'Abdullah ibn Rawahah na Khawwat ibn Jubayr, waende kuona kama habari hizo ni kweli au la. Akawaomba wampe ishara ambayo yeye peke yake angeweza kuielewa, ili kutovunja moyo wa watu, na kwamba kama Banu Quraydhah bado walikuwa waaminifu kwa makubaliano yao, wawe wazi mbele ya watu. Basi wakaenda na kukuta hali ikiwa mbaya zaidi kuliko walivyosikia mwanzoni. Walipojaribu kuwashawishi Banu Quraydhah wasivunje heshima ya makubaliano yao, Ka'ab alidai waruhusu ndugu zao Banu Nadhir warejee majumbani mwao. Sa'd ibn Mu'adh, ambaye alikuwa mshirika wa Banu Quraydhah, alijaribu kuwashawishi washikamane na makubaliano yao. Wakamzungumzia Mjumbe wa Mwenyezi Mungu ﷺ kwa dharau wakisema, "Mjumbe wa Mwenyezi Mungu ni nani? Hatuna makubaliano wala ahadi yoyote na Muhammad ﷺ." Wajumbe walirudi na kumweleza Mjumbe wa Mwenyezi Mungu ﷺ yale waliyoyaona. Hali ilikuwa wazi kuwa mbaya sana, na hofu ilikuwa kila mahali.

Thus Ka’ab broke his promise and cut loose from the bond that was between him and the Messenger of Allah (pbuh). The Quraydah, therefore, joined the Allies without the knowledge of Allah’s Messenger (pbuh). The news reached the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) and his Sahabah and this caused them a great deal of concern. They feared the worst, and thus, Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) sent Sa’d ibn Mu’adh, chief of the ‘Aus, and Sa’d ibn ‘Ubadah, chief of al-Khazraj, together with ‘Abdullah ibn Rawahah and Khawwat ibn Jubayr to go and see whether the report was true or not. He (pbuh) asked them to give him a sign which only he could understand so as not to undermine the peoples’ morale and that if the Quraydah were still loyal to their agreement they were to speak out openly before the people. So they went forth and found the situation even more deplorable than they had at first heard. When they tried to persuade the Quraydah not to dishonor their agreement, Ka’ab demanded that they allow their brothers Banu Nadir to return back to their homes. Sa’d ibn Mu’adh, who happened to be an ally of the Quraydah, attempted to persuade them to stick to their agreement. They spoke disparagingly of the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) saying, “Who is the Messenger of Allah? We have no agreement or undertaking with Muhammad.” The envoys returned and briefed Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) of their findings. The situation was obviously extremely serious and fear was everywhere.

‘Ali ibn Abi Talib alitoka pamoja na baadhi ya Waislamu kulinda pengo ambalo walilazimisha kupita kupitia humo. Wakati huo ‘Amr ibn Abdu Wudd alijitokeza baada ya kikosi chake kusimama, akawataka yeyote apigane naye. ‘Ali alikubali changamoto hiyo akamwambia, “Nakuomba ushuke kutoka farasi wako.” ‘Amr akajibu, “Ee mwana wa ndugu yangu, sitaki kukuua.” ‘Ali akasema, “Lakini mimi nataka kukuua.” Wakapigana, na ‘Ali akamuua. Wapanda farasi waliobaki walikimbia kwa haraka wakavuka mtaro. Hata hivyo, kushindwa huku hakukuvunja moyo wa Washirika; badala yake kuliwakasirisha na kuwafanya wawe na azma zaidi ya kuwatisha Waislamu. Wakati huo huo, wenye msimamo mkali wa Banu Quraydah walianza kuondoka kwenye ngome zao na kuingia Madinah, wakilenga kuwatisha nyumba zilizokuwa karibu. Mateso, wasiwasi na hofu viliongezeka ndani ya makazi ya Waislamu, lakini Mjumbe wa Allah ﷺ daima alikuwa na uhakika kwamba Allah (SWT) atampa ushindi. Msaada ulikuja kupitia Nu‘aym ibn Mas‘ud. Alikuwa tayari amesilimu, ingawa watu wake hawakujua, akamwendea Mjumbe wa Allah ﷺ. Nu‘aym alipendekeza kwa Mjumbe wa Allah ﷺ njia ambayo angeweza kuvuruga muungano huo. Hivyo Nu‘aym alienda kwa Banu Quraydah, ambao alikuwa rafiki yao wa karibu zamani za Jahiliyyah, akawakumbusha upendo wake na uhusiano wa pekee uliokuwepo kati yao.” Nu‘aym aliwaambia Banu Quraydah hatima yao itakuwa nini ikiwa Ghatafan na Quraysh wangewaacha wakabiliane peke yao na Muhammad ﷺ. Alisisitiza kwamba Quraysh na Ghatafan huenda wasiweze kusubiri kwa muda mrefu kwa sababu si wakazi wa eneo hilo. Aliwaambia kwamba wakiachwa wamkabili Muhammad ﷺ peke yao, hawataweza kufanya hivyo.

‘Ali ibn Abi Talib with some Muslims came out to hold the gap through which they had forced a passage. Now ‘Amr ibn Abdu Wudd went forth when his contingent had come to a halt and challenged anyone to fight him. ‘Ali accepted the challenge and said to him, “I call on you to dismount.” ‘Amr replied, “O son of my brother, I do not want to kill you.” ‘Ali said, “But I want to kill you.” So they fought and ‘Ali killed him. The remaining horsemen fled bursting headlong in flight across the trench. This upset, however, did not affect the Allies’ morale it actually enraged them and made them all the more determined to terrorize the Muslims. In the meantime the zealots of Banu Quraydah began to leave their forts and enter Madinah, this was with the aim of terrorizing nearby houses. Torment, anxiety and terror intensified within the Muslims’ quarters, but the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) was always confident that Allah (swt) would grant him victory. Relief came through Nu’aym ibn Mas’ud. He had already embraced Islam though his own people did not know it and he came to the Messenger of Allah (pbuh). Nu’aym proposed to the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) a way in which he could jeopardize the coalition. So Nu’aym went to Banu Quraydah, with whom he had been a close friend in the days of Jahilliyah, and reminded them of his affection and the special ties that existed between them.” Nu’aym told Banu Quraydah what their fate would be if Ghatafan and the Quraysh were to leave them to face Muhammad (pbuh) alone. He emphasized that the Quraysh and Ghatafan might not bear waiting for a long time because they were not inhabitants of that area. He told them that if they were left to face Muhammad on their own they would not be able to do so.

Chuki ya Waarabu dhidi ya Mayahudi iliongezeka, na Abu Sufyan akamtuma mtu amwite Ka'ab, akamwambia kwamba wamekuwa wakimzingira Muhammad ﷺ kwa muda mrefu, hivyo wanapaswa kujiandaa kwa vita siku iliyofuata. Ka'ab akajibu kwamba ilikuwa Jumamosi, siku ambayo hawafanyi chochote, hakuna kupigana wala kufanya kazi. Abu Sufyan alikasirika, akaanza kuamini kile Nu'aym alichomwambia. Akatuma mjumbe arudi kwa Banu Quraydhah kuwaambia wafanye Jumamosi nyingine badala ya hii, kwa kuwa ilikuwa lazima kupigana na Muhammad ﷺ siku iliyofuata. Mjumbe huyo pia aliwaambia Banu Quraydhah kwamba kama Quraysh na Ghatafan wangetoka kwenda kupigana peke yao, muungano wao ungevunjika, na hivyo wangeishia kupigana na Muhammad ﷺ peke yao. Banu Quraydhah walipozisikia kauli za Abu Sufyan, walisisitiza msimamo wao kwamba hawatavunja heshima ya Jumamosi, na wakataja mateka ambao wangewashikilia kama dhamana. Abu Sufyan aliposikia hayo, hakuwa tena na shaka kuhusu kile Nu'aym alichomwambia. Akaanza kufikiria mkakati mpya, akashauriana na Ghatafan, lakini akagundua kwamba nao pia walikuwa na mawazo ya pili kuhusu kupigana na Muhammad ﷺ.

The Arabs’ suspicion of the Jews grew and Abu Sufyan sent for Ka’ab informing him that they had been besieging Muhammad (pbuh) for a long time and that they should make ready for battle the next day. Ka’ab replied that it was the Sabbath, a day on which they did nothing, no fighting and no work. Abu Sufyan was enraged and he came to believe what Nu’aym had told him. He sent an envoy back to the Quraydah to tell them to make another Sabbath instead of this one for it was essential to fight Muhammad the next day. The envoy also told the Quraydah that if Quraysh and Ghatafan went out to fight alone, their coalition would be broken so they would end up fighting Muhammad alone. When the Quraydah heard Abu Sufyan’s comments they asserted their stand that they would not violate the Sabbath, and mentioned the hostages whom they should hold as security. When Abu Sufyan heard this he had no doubt left concerning what Nu’aym had told him. He began to think of a new strategy and he conferred with Ghatafan only to find out that they too had second thoughts about fighting Muhammad (pbuh).

Wakati Mtume wa Allah ﷺ alipoona hili, yeye pamoja na Waislamu waliondoka kwenye handaki na kurejea Madina. Allah (SWT) alikuwa amewaepusha Waislamu na vita. Sasa Mtume wa Allah ﷺ alipokuwa amewaondoa Maquraishi, aliamua kushughulika na Banu Quraydha mara moja kwa wote. Ni wao ndio waliokivunja makubaliano yao na kula njama pamoja na makundi washirika ili kuwaangamiza Waislamu, kwa hiyo Mtume wa Allah ﷺ aliamuru Mu'adhin (mwenye kuita kwenye sala) awatangazie watu kwamba yeyote aliye mtiifu asiswali sala ya alasiri mpaka afike mahali alipo Banu Quraydha. Mtume wa Allah ﷺ alimtuma 'Ali mbele pamoja na bendera yake, na Waislamu wakaharakisha kumfuata kwa furaha na bidii hadi walipofika kwa Banu Quraydha, ambapo wakawazingira kwa usiku ishirini na tano. Wayahudi walimwambia Mtume wa Allah ﷺ kwamba walitaka kufanya mazungumzo naye. Baada ya majadiliano mengi, walikubali upatanishi wa Sa'd ibn Mu'adh, naye akatoa hukumu kwamba, "Wanaume wauawe, mali igawanywe, na wanawake pamoja na watoto wachukuliwe kuwa Sabaya (watumwa)." Hukumu hiyo ilitekelezwa, na hivyo kabila hilo likakoma kuwepo, na Madina ikaondokana nao mara moja kwa wote.

When the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) saw this, he (pbuh) and the Muslims left the trench and returned to Madinah. Allah (swt) had spared the Muslims from fighting. Now that Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) had rid himself of the Quraysh he decided to deal with Banu Quraydah once and for all. It was they who had broken their agreement and had conspired with the allies to exterminate the Muslims, therefore Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) ordered the Mu’adhin (caller to the prayer) to inform to the people that whoever was obedient should not perform the afternoon prayer until he had reached the location where Banu Quraydah was. Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) sent ‘Ali forward with his banner and the Muslims hastened to it full of joy and zeal until they reached Banu Quraydah whereupon they besieged them for twenty-five nights. The Jews told the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) that they wanted to negotiate with him. After much negotiation they settled for the arbitration of Sa’d ibn Mu’adh and he gave judgment that, “The men should be killed, the property divided and the women and children taken as Sabaya (slaves).” The judgment was implemented, and thus the entity of the tribe ceased to exist and Madinah was rid of them once and for all.