Battle of Khaybar

The Battle of Khaybar ( ar, غَزْوَة خَيْبَر, label=Arabic) was fought in 628 CE between the early Muslims led by Muhammad and Jews living in Khaybar, an oasis located 150 km from Medina in the northwestern Arabian Peninsula (present-day Saudi Arabia), as part of the early Muslim conquests. Jewish tribes reportedly arrived in the Hejaz region in the wake of the Jewish–Roman wars and introduced agriculture, putting them in a culturally, economically and politically dominant position. According to Islamic sources, Muslim troops marched on Khaybar and engaged the Jews, who had barricaded themselves in forts after breaching an agreement with the Muslims.

History

Islamic sources accuse the Jews of Khaybar of having plotted to unite with other Jewish tribes from Banu Wadi Qurra, Tayma and Fadak as well as with the Ghatafan (an Arab tribe) to mount an attack on Medina. Scottish historian William M. Watt notes the presence in Khaybar of the Banu Nadir, who were working with neighboring Arab tribes to protect themselves from Medina's Muslim community, who had earlier attacked and exiled Jewish tribes, accusing them of violating the Charter of Medina and (based on prophetic vision) of conspiring to kill Muhammad. Orientalist Laura V. Vaglieri claims other motives for the Muslim offensive might have included the prestige that the engagement would confer upon Muhammad among his followers, as well as the loot which could be used to supplement future campaigns.Veccia Vaglieri, L. "Khaybar", Encyclopaedia of IslamStillman 19.

The battle ended with the surrender of the Khaybar Jews, who were then allowed to continue living in the region on the condition that they would give one-half of their produce to the Muslims. The Jews of Khaybar continued to live on the oasis for several more years, until they were expelled by the second Rashidun Caliph, Umar. The imposition of tribute by the Muslims onto the Jews served as a precedent for provisions in Islamic law, which requires the regular exaction of tribute—known as ''jizya''—from ''dhimmi'' non-Muslim subjects living in areas under Muslim rule, as well as the confiscation of land belonging to non-Muslims to merge into the collective property of the Muslim community ('' Ummah'').Stillman 18–19.Lewis 10.

Background

Khaybar in the 7th century

In the seventh century, Khaybar was inhabited by Jews. The inhabitants had stored in a redoubt at Khaybar a siege-engine, swords, lances, shields and other weaponry. In the past some scholars attempted to explain the presence of the weapons, suggesting that they were used for settling quarrels among the families of the community. Vaglieri suggests that it is more logical to assume that the weapons were stored in a depôt for future sale. Similarly the Jews kept 20 bales of cloth and 500 cloaks for sale, and other luxury goods. These commercial activities as a cause of hostility, Vaglieri argues, are similar to the economic causes behind persecutions in many other countries throughout history.

The oasis was divided into three regions: al-Natat, al-Shikk, and al-Katiba, probably separated by natural divisions, such as the desert, lava drifts, and swamps. Each of these regions contained several fortresses or redoubts including homes, storehouses and stables. Each fortress was occupied by a separate family and surrounded by cultivated fields and palm-groves. In order to improve their defensive capabilities, the fortresses were raised up on hills or basalt rocks.

Ali al-Sallabi