Satan, the stoned and cursed, threw the seeds of discord among the Muslims who had but a few hours before fought as one against a common enemy -- now a dispute over the distribution of the spoils of war started to fester. Some of the Muslims who had stood guard around the Prophet (sa) during the hostilities claimed that although they had not fought, they were entitled to a share of the prisoners, weapons, coats of mail and rides. When the Messenger of Allah (sa) heard the arguing he immediately ordered all the spoils to be brought before him and it was during this time that a new Revelation was sent down that called them back to the remembrance of Allah, whereupon they felt ashamed of their actions.

"They ask you about the spoils (of war), Say: 'The spoils belong to Allah and the Messenger. Therefore, have fear of Allah, and set things right between you. Obey Allah and His Messenger, if you are believers.’ Indeed the believers are those whose hearts quake at the mention of Allah, and when His verses are recited to them it increased them in faith. They are those who put their trust in their Lord. Those who pray steadfastly, and spend of that which We have provided them, Those are, in truth, the believers. They shall have degrees with their Lord and forgiveness, and a generous provision.” (Koran 8:1-4)

After the Prophet (sa) received the new Revelation he appointed Abdullah, Ka'bs son, to take charge of the spoils. It was now time to set off on the return journey to Medina and so the companions, together with their prisoners made ready, but before they set off the Prophet (sa), knowing that his followers that had remained behind in Medina would be anxious for news of them, sent Abdullah, Rawaha's son on ahead of them to Medina, and Zayd to its suburbs to convey the news of their blessed victory.

The Treatment of Prisoners

Before Islam, when feuding Arabs were taken captive, they knew they could expect little or no mercy from their captors. When the unbelievers learned that the Prophet (sa) had given instructions that they should be bound but treated well they were surprised and heartened still further upon learning that they were not to go hungry but to share their captors food.

Amongst the prisoners were several members of the Prophet's own family including Suhail, the chief of Amir, cousin and former brother-in-law of Lady Swaydah, the Prophet's wife. Other family members were the Prophet's uncle, Abbas, who inclined to Islam, but feared that if the Koraysh learned about his inclination they would refuse to repay the vast sums of money owed to him. Then, there was Abd Al As, husband of the Prophet's daughter, Lady Zaynab, with two of his cousins, Nawfal and Akil, who were also nephews of Abbas. Earlier on that day Musab discovered that his brother Abu Aziz had been taken captive by one of the Ansar.

When he saw him, he turned to the Ansar saying, "Bind him well, his mother is rich and she might be prepared to pay handsomely for him!" When Abu Aziz heard his brother's remark he exclaimed, "Brother, is this how you speak of me to others?" Musab replied, "He is my brother in your stead." Musab proved to be right, his mother offered 4,000 dirhams for her son's release.

However, Abu Aziz never forgot how well the Ansar treated him and would often speak of it in the years to come. That night as the companions prepared themselves to sleep the Prophet (sa) was restless. He disliked the thought of his uncle being bound so he sent word for him to be untied.

Nadr and Ukba

Amongst their captives, the companions succeeded in taking two of their most hostile enemies -- Nadr, from the tribe of Ad Dharr and Ukba, from the tribe of Shams. The Prophet (sa) contemplated on whether or not to let them live, for he knew that if they were to remain alive they would, no doubt, continued to incite further hostilities against them. However, there was the chance that the events of the encounter had caused them to reflect and thereby convert to Islam.

With this in mind, the Prophet (sa) patiently decided to observe their attitude and actions before taking any further steps. By the time they had reached their first halt, the Prophet (sa) had chance to assess Nadr and Ukba and found them both as resolute as they had always been, nothing had changed, so he ordered Ali to put Nadr to death and an Ansar to put Ukba to death. Three days before reaching Medina, the Prophet (sa) halted his army and divided the prisoners and spoils of war between them so that each companion received an equal share.

Reactions in Medina

When Zayd and Abdullah reached Medina, the news of the Prophet's victory spread like wild-fire throughout the City, whereupon the Muslims rejoiced and gave thanks to Allah. Zayd now made his way to Afra's house to break the news that her two sons Awf and Muawwidh had both been martyred at Badr. It was indeed a great loss for Afra, but deep down she knew that her sons had been honored with the death of martyrdom.

From Afra's house Zayd visited Haritha's mother and told her that her son had been one of the first to be mortally wounded at the onset of the hostilities. A few days after the Prophet's return Haritha's mother went to him and asked, "O Messenger of Allah (sa), tell me about Haritha. If he is in Paradise I can endure it with patience, but if not I shall weep." The Messenger of Allah (sa) compassionately consoled her with the words, "O mother of Haritha, there are many ranks in Paradise and your son has achieved the best -- Firdous!"

The heart of Haritha's mother was now at rest, and she gave thanks to Allah, she could not have wished for more than this for her beloved son. As for the hypocrites, and Jewish tribes of Nadir, Krayzah and Kaynuka their hopes were dashed. All had all hoped for the destruction of the Prophet (sa) and his followers so that their way of life might return to how it had been before his arrival in Medina.

Ka'b, the Son of Ashraf

Such was the disregard for their faith, that many Jews had taken to marrying pagan Arabs, even though Judaism forbade it. Ka'b, Ashraf's son had been born of a Jewish mother and an idol worshipping Arab from the tribe of Tayy but on account of his mother being a Jewess, the Jews accepted him as one of their own into her tribe of Nadir. Ka'b was wealthy and known for his poetry, and over the years had become an influential Nadir tribesman.

When he heard the news of the Koraysh defeat, with the demise of so many if its chieftains, he could not accept it and his tongue revealed his innermost thoughts as he exclaimed, "By Allah, if Muhammad has killed these, can the depths of the earth be better than its surface!" Ka'b could not accept the news to be true so he questioned those whom he knew to be reliable, but to his dismay all confirmed the same account.

Despondent, yet angered Ka'b rode off for Mecca with the intention of inciting the Koraysh to revenge themselves by riding against the Prophet (sa) again, but, this time to fight him in Yathrib. To add fuel to the fire he composed an impassioned poem in honor of the lamented Koraysh chieftains and their fallen tribes which he knew would kindle the emotions of everyone in Mecca.