When Banū al-Naḍīr had departed, ʿAmr ibn Saʿdā came and walked around their former dwellings. Seeing them in ruins, he reflected for a while and then returned to Banū Qurayẓah. He found them in the synagogue, blew their horn, and they gathered.
Zubayr ibn Bāṭā said, “Abū Saʿīd, where have you been all day?”—for ʿAmr was rarely away from the synagogue and was deeply devoted to Judaism. He answered:
“Today I have witnessed a lesson we must heed. I saw our brothers’ homes deserted—after all the power, resolve, noble standing, and keen intellect they once possessed. They have abandoned their wealth; others now own it, and they left in disgrace. By the Torah, such a calamity has never been visited upon a people for whom God still intends any good. Before this, Muhammad struck down Ibn al-Ashraf, the pillar of their prestige, killing him in his own house while he felt secure; he struck Ibn Sunayna, their chief; and he attacked Banū Qaynuqāʿ, expelling them—though they were the very backbone of the Jews, people of equipment, arms, and valor. He besieged them until not a man among them dared raise his head, then took them captive; only after intercession did he allow them to leave Yathrib. My people, you have seen what I have seen. Obey me and let us follow Muhammad. By Allah, you know that he is a prophet. Ibn al-Haybān and Ibn Jawās—both the most learned of the Jews—gave us glad tidings of him and his mission. They came to us from Jerusalem, eagerly awaiting his appearance, commanded us to follow him, and told us to convey their greetings to him. They then died upon their faith.”
The people fell silent. He repeated his words, warning them of war, captivity, and exile.
Ibn Bāṭā said, “By the Torah, I have read his description in what was revealed to Moses—not in the later writings we ourselves devised.”
Kaʿb ibn Asad asked, “What, Abū ʿAbd al-Raḥmān, prevents you from following him?”
He replied, “You.”
Kaʿb said, “Why? By the Torah, I have never stood between you and him.”
Zubayr replied, “You are the guardian of our covenant; if you follow him, we will follow him, and if you refuse, we will refuse.”
ʿAmr ibn Saʿdā then turned to Kaʿb, recounting what had been said, until Kaʿb finally declared, “I have no other view of him than what I have already stated: my soul cannot be content in the role of a follower.”