15 Shawwal, 2 AH (per al-Waqidi) · 2 AH
In brief
Three and a half weeks after Badr the Banu Qaynuqa, the largest Jewish tribe in Madinah, answered the Prophet ﷺ's reminder of the Constitution with a taunt, and then a goldsmith in their market stripped an Ansari woman; a Muslim killed him and was killed in turn. The Prophet ﷺ declared the treaty ended, besieged their fortress for fifteen days, and bound the men when they surrendered. Ubadah ibn al-Samit renounced his old alliance with them; Abdullah ibn Ubayy seized the Prophet ﷺ by his armour and would not let go until their lives were promised. They were given three days to leave Madinah with what they could carry. Surah al-Ma'idah's verses on not taking Jews and Christians as protectors came down about it.
Outcome: The Banu Qaynuqa were expelled from Madinah after three days, leaving behind property that passed to the Muslims.
The first and least harsh of the punishments meted out to the three Jewish tribes of Madinah (Banu Nadir after Uhud, Banu Qurayza after al-Ahzab, being harsher still); Allah revealed Surah al-Ma'idah 5:51-56 concerning it, praising Ubadah ibn al-Samit and describing those, like Abdullah ibn Ubayy, whose hearts held sickness.
The Road to Badr·Chapter 14 of 16The Banu Qaynuqa
See the whole storyOther events recorded in 2 AH. Their order within the year is not established; use the storyline above for the sequence.
A reminder of the Constitution, a taunt, and a woman uncovered.
You protect us, we protect you; we are all going to be together against external enemies.
Reminding the Banu Qaynuqa, gathered at their souq, of their obligations under the Constitution of Madinah.
O Muhammad ﷺ, don't be fooled by your recent victory. You fought a bunch of nobodies. Had you really been fighting men (men like us), you would have seen what the result would have been.
Uncover your face for us.
The lecture itself is unsure of the exact mechanism ('perhaps... or perhaps...'): the goldsmith pressed her to uncover her face, and when she refused, arranged for her covering to fall.
Help me! They have exposed me!
In anger, I struck down the man who dishonored her.
He was then killed by the Banu Qaynuqa in retaliation.
Ubadah renounces them; Ibn Ubayy will not let go.
O Messenger of Allah ﷺ, I want to tell you that I am no longer their halif. My wali is Allah and His Messenger; and I have cut off my ties from the Banu Qaynuqa.
The besieged Banu Qaynuqa had appealed to Ubadah ibn al-Samit, their former ally from before Islam, for help.
Do it or I will.
Demanding that the guards release the bound Banu Qaynuqa prisoners.
If you dare do it, I will kill you.
Ya Muhammad ﷺ! Be generous with my hulafa!
Said three times to the Prophet ﷺ, who remained silent and turned away, until Abdullah ibn Ubayy seized his armor by the hand and would not let go.
Let go of me.
No, I'm not going to let go.
Woe to you, let go of me.
Said for the third time.
I swear by Allah, I will not let go until you promise you will treat my hulafa in a generous manner! These 700 men (300 armed, 400 unarmed) protected me from the white and the black, and now you think you will get rid of them in one day? By Allah, I am scared of al-dawa'ir happening to me if they are mistreated.
I give them to you.
Don't come to me. I wouldn't even have given you three days.
Said to the Banu Qaynuqa when they came pleading to him for more time to leave, after the Prophet ﷺ had given them three days.
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لَا تَتَّخِذُوا۟ ٱلْيَهُودَ وَٱلنَّصَـٰرَىٰٓ أَوْلِيَآءَ ۘ بَعْضُهُمْ أَوْلِيَآءُ بَعْضٍۢ ۚ وَمَن يَتَوَلَّهُم مِّنكُمْ فَإِنَّهُۥ مِنْهُمْ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يَهْدِى ٱلْقَوْمَ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ
“O believers! Take neither Jews nor Christians as awliya — they are awliya of each other. Whoever does so will be counted as one of them. Surely, Allah does not guide the wrongdoing people.”
This ayah (Q5:51, on not taking allies who betray the community's trust) reflects the concern behind expelling Banu Qaynuqa for their treachery, described at this event.
فَتَرَى ٱلَّذِينَ فِى قُلُوبِهِم مَّرَضٌۭ يُسَـٰرِعُونَ فِيهِمْ يَقُولُونَ نَخْشَىٰٓ أَن تُصِيبَنَا دَآئِرَةٌۭ ۚ فَعَسَى ٱللَّهُ أَن يَأْتِىَ بِٱلْفَتْحِ أَوْ أَمْرٍۢ مِّنْ عِندِهِۦ فَيُصْبِحُوا۟ عَلَىٰ مَآ أَسَرُّوا۟ فِىٓ أَنفُسِهِمْ نَـٰدِمِينَ
“You see those with sickness in their hearts racing for their guardianship, saying [in justification], "We fear a turn of fortune will strike us." But perhaps Allah will bring about [your] victory or another favor by His command, and they will regret what they have hidden in their hearts.”
Part of the same passage (Q5:52-56) following the warning against untrustworthy allies, in the context of Banu Qaynuqa's expulsion described at this event.
إِنَّمَا وَلِيُّكُمُ ٱللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُۥ وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱلَّذِينَ يُقِيمُونَ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَيُؤْتُونَ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ وَهُمْ رَٰكِعُونَ
“Your only guardians are Allah, His Messenger, and fellow believers — who establish prayer and pay zakat with humility.”
Part of the same passage (Q5:52-56) following the warning against untrustworthy allies, in the context of Banu Qaynuqa's expulsion described at this event.
وَمَن يَتَوَلَّ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥ وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ فَإِنَّ حِزْبَ ٱللَّهِ هُمُ ٱلْغَـٰلِبُونَ
“Whoever allies themselves with Allah, His Messenger, and fellow believers, then it is certainly Allah's party that will prevail.”
Part of the same passage (Q5:52-56) following the warning against untrustworthy allies, in the context of Banu Qaynuqa's expulsion described at this event.
وَإِمَّا تَخَافَنَّ مِن قَوْمٍ خِيَانَةًۭ فَٱنۢبِذْ إِلَيْهِمْ عَلَىٰ سَوَآءٍ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ ٱلْخَآئِنِينَ
“Indeed, the worst of all beings in the Sight of Allah are those who persist in disbelief, never to have faith — [namely] those with whom you [O Prophet] have entered into treaties, but they violate them every time, not fearing the consequences. If you ever encounter them in battle, make a fearsome example of them, so perhaps those who would follow them may be deterred. And if you [O Prophet] see signs of betrayal by a people, respond by openly terminating your treaty with them. Surely, Allah does not like those who betray.”
This ayah (Q8:58, on openly renouncing a treaty when treachery is feared) is the principle applied to expelling Banu Qaynuqa after they broke their covenant with the Prophet ﷺ, described at this event.