Some incidents relating to the Prophet�s marriages with SafIyya (3325-3329) and Zainab hint Jahsh are mentioned (3330-3336).

SAFIYYA

Muhammad�s wars and raids not only fed his coffers, they also swelled his harem.  SafIyya, a beautiful girl of seventeen years, was the wife of the chief of a Jewish clan inhabiting Khaibar.  Muhammad�s custom was to make surprise attacks.  Khaibar was invaded in the same fashion.  Anas narrates: �We encountered the people at sunrise when they had come out with their axes, spades and strings driving their cattle along.  They shouted in surprise: Muhammad has come along with his force!  The Messenger of Allah said: Khaibar shall face destruction� (4438).  There is even a QurAnic verse relating to Muhammad�s sudden sweep on the valley and the fate of its people: �But when it descends [nazala] into the open space, before them evil will be the morning for those who were warned� (QurAn 37:177).  

In any case, many people were butchered, and many others were taken prisoners.  �We took Khaibar by force, and there were gathered the prisoners of war,� according to Anas.  SafIyya, the daughter of Huyayy b. Akhtab, the chief of the Quraiza and al-NazIr, was one of them.  Her husband, KinAna, was put to a cruel death (3325).

Anas continues: �She first fell to the lot of Dihya in the spoils of war.� (Incidentally, Dihya was strikingly handsome.  Muhammad used to see Gabriel in his form.) But Anas adds that people �praised her in the presence of Allah�s Messenger and said: �We have not seen the like of her among the captives of war� � (3329).  Muhammad took her away from Dihya, Gabriel or no Gabriel, and even took her to his bed the same night her husband was killed, in violation of his own command, which enjoined the believers to wait until the beginning of the next menstrual cycle in their captive women.

author : ram swarup