With high hopes, Huyay sent word to his cousins, the tribe of Krayzah, and asked them to lend their support, for he was confident that they would not let him down, and at the same time he sent word to their allies, the tribe of Ghatafan, known for their hostility towards the Prophet (sa) to come to their aid. As soon as the messages had been sent, Huyay and his tribesmen stocked their fortresses with rocks, catapults, arrows and whatever weaponry they could lay their hands on in readiness.

Huyay was confident that his cousins and allies would arrived at any moment and sent his brother to the Prophet (sa) with a message that informed him they were prepared to fight. When the Prophet (sa) received the message he exclaimed: "Allah is Great," and his companions around him reiterated his exaltation -- the Prophet (sa) continued, "The Jews have declared war." Immediately, the Muslims rallied to the side of the Prophet (sa) who then handed the standard to Ali.

That afternoon the Prophet (sa) and his army marched until the fortresses of the Nadir were in sight and observed that the Jews had barricaded themselves within their walls and that the settlement was now completely deserted. After the prayer had been offered, the Prophet (sa) led his companions on toward the fortresses.

The Jews let loose a volley of arrows and arrows whistled through the air and so the hostilities continued up until nightfall. During the night hours, the number of the Prophet's companions increased as those who had only just learned of the Prophet's march joined them.

As their numbers swelled, the Muslims were soon able to surround the fortresses and this alarmed the Jews, however, they expected their kinsmen to arrive the next day which would ease the situation. After offering the night prayer, the Prophet (sa) entrusted Ali with the command of the army and together with ten of his companions they returned to Medina.

Throughout the night Ali led his brethren praising and exalting Allah, and the hours slipped away, soon the sky began to lighten, it was time to offer the Fajr prayer. There was still no sign of the help the Jews so confidently had relied upon. Unknown to Huyay and his tribe, their cousins from the tribe of Krayzah were not inclined to break their pact with the Prophet (sa).

As for ibn Ubayy, the circumstances were such that he felt unable to keep his promise, and so Huyay continued to wait in vain for their arrival together with the expected support from the tribe of Ghatafan. Later on that morning after the Prophet (sa) returned to his companions and fighting broke out once more. The days passed, and Huyay's hopes turned into fear. Ten days later, the Angel Gabriel brought the Prophet (sa) a new verse:

"Whatever palm-tree you cut down or left standing upon its roots, it is by the permission of Allah, so that He might humiliate the impious." (Koran 59:5)

whereupon he ordered the cutting down of several highly prized date palms belonging to the Nadir. Dates were a vital part of the Nadir's economy so when Huyay saw the trees being felled he was greatly dismayed. In the back of Huyay's mind he remembered the promise of the Koraysh to annihilate the Muslims one day and thought if he and his tribe were compelled to temporarily leave their homes they could return later, reclaim their palms and re-establish their settlement.

But now the trees were being felled and he knew it would take many years to replace them which would greatly affect their livelihood. With this harsh reality on his mind. Huyay begrudgingly sent word of surrender to the Prophet (sa). The Prophet (sa) accepted but told them that they were to be expelled from their land.

Even in such circumstances the mercy of the Prophet (sa) was manifested as he allowed them to take their camels and all that they could carry with the exception of weapons and armor. He was indeed generous and merciful to them for it was in his power to seize everything they owned and expel them with nothing except the clothes on their back but this was not his way. Huyay was ungrateful and not like the terms of surrender, he knew that their camels were incapable of carrying all their possessions, and then there was the matter of weapons and armor.

However, his tribesmen were not in a mood to listen to him and forced him to accept. The confrontation was over and the Nadir tribesmen left their fortresses and returned home to pack as much as they could onto their camels. Once the packing had been completed their women folk adorned themselves with all their jewelry then mounted their camels laden with rugs of the finest quality.

It had always been known that the tribe was extremely rich, however, it was not until that moment that the extent of their wealth was realized. With an air of defiance, in single file, the tribe of Nadir left Medina defiantly flaunting their wealth as they rode out accompanied by music.

Most of the tribe decided to resettle at Khybar where they owned land, however, others preferred to journey further afield to either Jericho or southern Syria. As for the many date palms still left standing, the Prophet (sa) received a new Revelation that said:

"(A share of the spoils shall also be given) to the poor emigrants who were expelled from their homes and their possessions, who seek the Favor and Pleasure of Allah, and help Allah and His Messenger. These are they that are truthful. And those before them who, had made their dwelling in the abode (the City of Medinah), and because of their belief love those who have emigrated to them; they do not find any (envy) in their chests for what they have been given and prefer them above themselves, even though they themselves have a need. Whosoever is saved from the greed of his own soul, They are the ones who win.” (Koran 59:8-9)

and so in compliance with the verse, the spoils were distributed among the new immigrants and Muhajir. When the Muhajir first arrived in Medina the Ansars had generously shared their groves with their new brothers, but now even though the Muhajir had been given the groves of the Nadir, the Ansar still wished them to keep the groves they had given them.

The End of the 3rd Year

The third year was drawing to a close, it was the year in which the Prophet (sa) had married Lady Hafsa, Omar's daughter and Lady Zaynab, daughter of Khuzaymah and Lady Umm Kulthum, the daughter of the Prophet (sa) had married Othman, Affan's son.

The encounter at Uhud had all but been lost on account of the disobedience of some of the companions who were later forgiven by Allah through their sincere repentance. After Uhud, Allah sent down verses that forbade alcohol. Now not only the consumption, production but its transportation was also forbidden. Then more recently, the treachery of the Jewish tribe of Nadir's attempt to poison the Prophet (sa) had been exposed that finally resulted in their expulsion from Medina.