They reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “That was Gabriel.” The Prophet ﷺ used to remark that Dihyah al-Kalbī looked like Gabriel. He then said, “Catch up with Banū Qurayẓah and perform the ʿAṣr prayer in their midst.” Thereupon he rose, and those Muslims whom Allah willed accompanied him toward Banū Qurayẓah. While they were still on the road the time for ʿAṣr arrived, so they discussed the matter. Some said to the others, “Do you not know that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ ordered you to pray ʿAṣr only when you reach Banū Qurayẓah?” Others replied, “The prayer is the prayer.” Thus one group prayed immediately, whereas another delayed the prayer until they offered it at Banū Qurayẓah after sunset. When they later informed the Messenger of Allah ﷺ of what each party had done—those who prayed on the way and those who postponed it—it is related that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ did not reproach either group.
When ʿAlī ibn Abī Ṭālib saw the Messenger of Allah ﷺ drawing near, he went out to meet him and said, “Turn back, O Messenger of Allah, for Allah is sufficient for you against the Jews.” ʿAlī had overheard them uttering foul words about the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and his wives—may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him—and he disliked that the Prophet should hear such speech. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ asked, “Why do you bid me turn back?” ʿAlī concealed what he had heard, so the Prophet said, “I think you heard them reviling me. Go on; for had the enemies of Allah seen me, they would not have said any of what you heard.”
When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ reached their fortress, whose occupants had taken the higher ground, he called out at the top of his voice to a number of their leaders until they could all hear him, saying, “Respond, O assembly of Jews, O brothers of the apes! The disgrace of Allah has fallen upon you.” The Messenger of Allah ﷺ then besieged them with the Muslim battalions for several—about ten—nights. Allah turned Ḥuyayy ibn Akhṭab back until he entered the fortress of Banū Qurayẓah, and Allah cast terror into their hearts. The siege became intense, so they called for Abū Lubābah ibn ʿAbd al-Munḏir, who had been their ally among the Anṣār.
Abū Lubābah said, “I will not go to them until the Messenger of Allah ﷺ grants me leave.” The Prophet ﷺ said, “I have given you leave.” Abū Lubābah went to them, and they burst into tears before him, saying, “O Abū Lubābah, what do you think? What do you advise us? We have no strength left for fighting.” Abū Lubābah passed his hand across his throat, drawing his fingers over it to show them that death—meaning execution—awaited them. When he left, he realized that he had fallen into a great trial and said, “By Allah, I shall not look upon the face of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ until I have made for Allah a sincere repentance that He will know from me.” He returned to Madīnah and tied his hands to one of the pillars of the mosque. They say he remained bound for nearly twenty nights.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ, as mentioned (1), when Abū Lubābah delayed so long (2), said, “Has Abū Lubābah finished with his allies yet?” They replied, “O Messenger of Allah, he has, by Allah, left the fortress, but we do not know where he went.” The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “Something has befallen Abū Lubābah that was never upon him before.” Then a man came from the mosque and said, “O Messenger of Allah, I have seen Abū Lubābah tied with a rope to one of the pillars of the mosque.” The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “A trial has overtaken him after he left me. Had he come to me, I would have sought forgiveness for him; but now that he has done this, I shall not release him from his place until Allah decrees concerning him what He wills.”
This has likewise been transmitted by Ibn Luhayʿah (3), from Abū al-Aswad, from ʿUrwah.