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 Mohammad in 628 A.D.

Contents

History

Khaybar in the 7th century

Aftermath

Battle of Khaybar

Expulsion of the Jews from Khaybar

The Jews of Khaybar in Arabic folklore

Chant

See also

References

History

Khaybar in the 7th century

In the 7th century, Khaybar was inhabited by the 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.
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

Main articles: 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.

The Jews of Khaybar in Arabic folklore

In later times, the Jews of Khaybar became popular figures in Arabic folklore. One of the stories went that on the road to Mecca many Jewish tent-dwellers lived in the desert in the neighborhood of many Arabs who robbed everybody passing by. The Jews and the Arabs then had an equal share in the booty. Legends such as this one persisted well into the modern times.^[1]

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 sawfa ya‘ud'', and the translation is "Khaybar, Khaybar oh Jews, the army of Muhammad will return". Another version is ''Khaybar, Khaybar ya Sahyun, Hizbullah qadimun'' "Khaybar, Khaybar you Zionists, Hizbullah is coming".^[2]
[3]
[4]

See also

★ Fadak

★ Battle of Khaybar

★ Safiyya bint Huyayy

References

1. Stillman (1979), p. 290
2. Arafat’s Gift
3. The Shifts in Hizbullah’s Ideology
4. War in the Middle East Carol Lin