when the Jews threw a stone at him and killed him. Then he conquered al-Qamus, the fortress of Ibn Abi al-Huqayq, and took captives from it, including Safiyyah bint Huyayy ibn Akhtab. Bilal brought her and another woman with her, passing them by some slain Jews. When the woman accompanying Safiyyah saw them, she cried out, struck her face, and scattered dust over her head. When the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, saw her, he said, “Keep this she-devil away from me.” He ordered that Safiyyah be set apart behind him and cast his cloak over her. The Muslims then knew that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, had chosen her for himself.

When the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, saw what he saw from that Jewish woman, he said to Bilal, “Has mercy been stripped from you, Bilal, that you pass two women by the slain bodies of their men?”

Safiyyah had seen in a dream, while she was newly married to Kinanah ibn al-Rabi ibn Abi al-Huqayq, that a moon had fallen into her lap. She told her husband of this vision, and he said, “This can only mean that you desire Muhammad, the king of the Hijaz.” He then struck her face a blow that left her eye badly bruised. When she was brought to the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, she still bore its mark. He asked her about it, and she told him this account.

The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, then brought her husband, Kinanah ibn al-Rabi, before him. Kinanah had the treasure of Banu al-Nadir in his possession, so he questioned him about it, but Kinanah denied knowing where it was. Then a Jewish man was brought before the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, and he said, “I saw Kinanah circling around these ruins every morning.” The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said to Kinanah, “Tell me: if we find it in your possession, shall we kill you?” He replied, “Yes.” The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, ordered that the ruins be excavated, and some of their treasure was brought out from them. He then asked Kinanah about what remained, but he refused to surrender it. So the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, commanded al-Zubayr ibn al-Awwam, saying, “Torture him until you extract all that he has.” Al-Zubayr kindled fire upon his chest with a fire-stick until he was at the point of death. Then the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, handed him over to Muhammad ibn Maslamah, who struck off his head in retaliation for his brother Mahmud ibn Maslamah. (1)

Abd al-Wahid al-Mulayhi informed us; Ahmad ibn Abd Allah al-Na‘imi informed us; Muhammad ibn Yusuf informed us; Muhammad ibn Isma‘il related to us; Ya‘qub ibn Ibrahim related to us; Ibn Ulayyah related to us; Abd al-Aziz ibn Suhayb related to us from Anas that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, went on campaign against Khaybar. We prayed the dawn prayer near it in the early darkness. Then the Prophet of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, mounted, Abu Talhah mounted, and I rode behind Abu Talhah. The Prophet of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, urged his mount at speed through an alley of Khaybar, and my knee was touching the thigh of the Prophet of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him. Then his lower garment slipped from his thigh, until I could see the whiteness of the thigh of the Prophet of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him.

When he entered the town, he said, “Allah is the Greatest! Khaybar is ruined! When We descend upon the territory of a people, evil is the morning of those who have been warned.” He said this three times. The people came out to their work and said, “Muhammad!” Abd al-Aziz said: Some of our companions said, “Muhammad and the khamis,” meaning, the army. He said: We took it by force. He gathered the captives, and Dihyah came and said, “O Prophet of Allah, [give me a slave-girl from among the captives.” He said, “Go and take a slave-girl.” So he took Safiyyah bint Huyayy. Then a man came to the Prophet of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, and said, “O Prophet of Allah,] (2) you have given Dihyah Safiyyah bint Huyayy, the lady of Qurayzah and al-Nadir. She is fit for none but you.” He said, “Call him with her.” So he brought her. When the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, looked at her, he said, “Take another slave-girl from among the captives instead.” Then the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, set her free and married her,