The Expulsion of Banu Qaynuqa'
إجلاء بني قينقاع
Summary
Banu Qaynuqa' were the first of the three major Jewish tribes of Madinah to break their covenant with the Prophet. They were goldsmiths and metalworkers who occupied a fortified quarter within Madinah. After the Muslim victory at Badr, they grew openly hostile and eventually violated the treaty, leading to a siege and their subsequent expulsion from Madinah.
Details
Following the Constitution of Madinah, the Jewish tribes had entered into a pact of mutual defence and non-aggression with the Muslims. After the decisive Muslim victory at Badr, Banu Qaynuqa' became increasingly provocative and hostile, openly expressing their enmity. The immediate cause of the conflict was an incident in the marketplace of Banu Qaynuqa', where a Muslim woman was humiliated by a Jewish goldsmith who pinned her garment such that she was exposed when she stood. A Muslim man killed the goldsmith in retaliation and was in turn killed by members of the tribe. The Prophet gathered the tribe and reminded them of their treaty obligations, but they responded defiantly, saying: 'O Muhammad, do not be deluded by the fact that you fought a people who had no knowledge of war. If you fight us, you will know that we are the real men of war.' The Prophet then besieged their fortress for fifteen days until they surrendered unconditionally. Abdullah ibn Ubayy ibn Salul, the chief hypocrite who was their pre-Islamic ally, interceded persistently on their behalf. The Prophet allowed them to depart with their families and movable property, but their weapons and tools of war were confiscated. They relocated northward to Wadi al-Qura and eventually to Adhri'at in al-Sham. The incident is referenced in Surah Al Imran (3:12–13).