Khaybar

Khaybar (Arabic,خيبر) is the name of an oasis some 95 miles to the north of Medina (ancient Yathrib), Saudi Arabia. It was inhabited by Jews before the rise of Islam, and was conquered by Muhammad in 628 A.D.

History

Khaybar in the 7th century

In the 7th century, Khaybar was inhabited by Jews, who pioneered the cultivation of the oasis and made their living growing date palm trees, as well as through commerce and craftsmanship, accumulating considerable wealth. Some objects found by the Muslims when they entered Khaybar — a siege-engine, 20 bales of Yemenite cloth, and 500 cloaks — point out to an intense trade carried out by the Jews. While in the past some scholars attempted to explain the presence of a siege-engine, suggesting that it was used for settling quarrels among the families of the community, nowadays the common opinion among academics is that it was stored in a depôt for future sale, in the same way that swords, lances, shields, and other weaponry had been sold by the Jews to Arabs. Equally, the cloth and the cloaks must have been intended for sale, as it is not conceivable that such a quantity of luxury goods was kept for the exclusive use of the Jews.Fact|date=February 2008

The oasis was divided into three regions: al-Natat, al-Shikk, and al-Katiba, probably separated by natural diversions, such as the desert, lava drifts, and swamps. Each of these regions contained several fortresses or redoubts containing homes, storehouses and stables. Each fortress was occupied by a separate family and surrounded by cultivated fields and palm-groves. In order to improve their defensive capabilities, the fortresses were raised up on hills or basalt rocks.

Aftermath

Jews continued to live in the oasis for several more years afterwards until they were finally expelled by caliph Umar. The imposition of tribute upon the conquered Jews of the Khaybar Fortress served as a precedent for provisions in Islamic law requiring the exaction of tribute known as jizya from dhimmis, i.e. non-Muslims under Muslim rule, and confiscation of land belonging to non-Muslims into the collective property of the Muslim community.

For many centuries, the oasis at Khaybar was an important caravan stopping place. The center developed around a series of ancient dams that were built to hold back run-off water from the rain. Around the water catchements date palms grew, and soon Khaybar became an important date producing center.

Battle of Khaybar

Expulsion of the Jews from Khaybar

The Jews were exiled from Khaybar in reign of caliph Umar (634-644) for betrayal during the battle of Khaybar. During his caliphate, the Muslims conquered vast territories in the Middle East, bringing to the Arabia large numbers of workers, and the Jewish labor force was no longer necessary. The Jews of Khaybar settled in many areas throughout the Middle East, and they maintained a distinctive identity until the 12th century.Fact|date=February 2008

The journey of Benjamin of Tudela

Benjamin was a Jew from Tudela in Spain. He travelled to Persia and Arabia in the 12th century. He visited and described Khaybar and neighboring Tayma some time around 1170.

Chant

In modern times, Khaybar has inspired an Arabic chant commonly used in demonstrations against Israel. The chant essentially goes, "Khaybar Khaybar ya Yahud, jaysh Muhammad saya‘ud", and the translation is "Khaybar, Khaybar o Jews, the army of Muhammad will return". Another version is "Khaybar, Khaybar ya Sahyun, Hizbullah qadimun" "Khaybar, Khaybar you Zionists, Hizbullah is coming". [cite web
last = Goldberg
first = Jeffery
year = 2001
url = http://www.newyorker.com/archive/content/articles/060109fr_archive02
title = Arafat’s Gift
work = The New Yorker - From the Archive
publisher = CondéNet
accessdate = 2006-09-29] [cite web
last = Alagha
first = Joseph Elie
year = 2006
url = https://dare.ubvu.vu.nl/bitstream/1871/10197/1/6746.pdf#search=%22%22Joseph%20Elie%20Alagha%22%22
title = The Shifts in Hizbullah’s Ideology
format = pdf
work = ISIM Dissertations
publisher = Amsterdam University Press
accessdate = 2006-09-29] [cite news
first = Carol
last = Lin
coauthors = Wolf Blitzer
title = War in the Middle East
work = CNN Saturday Night 10:00 PM EST
format = transcript 072901CN.V88
publisher = Cable News Network
date = July 29, 2006 Saturday
accessdate = 2006-09-29]

ee also

* Fadak
* Battle of Khaybar
* Safiyya bint Huyayy

References