The Quran declares, “Because of that, We decreed upon the Children of Israel that whoever kills a soul unless for a soul or for corruption [done] in the land – it is as if he had slain mankind entirely. And whoever saves one – it is as if he had saved mankind entirely.” (5:32)
This is the sanctity of life.
Anyone interested in knowing in detail about the Muslim confrontation with Banu Qurayzah should read the seminal book “Muhammad and the Jews” (1979) by Indian diplomat and scholar Barakat Ahmad. In this book, Barakat Ahmad has strongly argued that the source for the alleged “massacre” is based on an account of a person of dubious motivation 120 years after the Prophet’s time. He also highlights that Jewish sources are silent about the alleged killing of hundreds of Jewish men.
Following facts of the punishment of Banu Qurayzah must be kept in mind:
(i) Muslims had a treaty with the Banu Qurayzah that they will defend Medina from aggression as per Misaq-i-Medina. Banu Qurayzah broke the pact and conspired to side with a 10,000-strong tribal force campaigning to annihilate Muslims. After the Arab confederates left, Muslims besieged the Banu Qurayzah in their fortresses.
(ii) Had Bau Qurazah succeeded, Muslim men would have been killed and their children and women would have been enslaved.
(iii) The punishment of the Banu Qurayzah was not given by the Prophet (pbuh) but by Sa’ad bin Muadh (ra) who had been the Jewish tribe’s ally.
(iv) The punishment was for the crime of treachery and was based on Israelite scripture. See, for example, the Torah verses in Deuteronomy 20:14 and Deuteronomy 21:10-14 on the Jewish war code.
(v) Banu Qurayzah submitted to this punishment even though they were still armed and could carry on a fight.
(vi) Some Muslims who had Jewish friends asked for clemency from the Prophet (pbuh) who did pardon individuals. Even he himself asked the tribe’s leader to seek forgiveness at the last minute who did not seem interested.
(vii) Numerous accounts by the members of Banu Qurayzah attest that they felt guilt for treason, and even when offered clemency, they refused and went along with the punishment.
(viii) Banu Qurayzah’s women and children were later passed on to another Arab tribe that happened to be their (Banu Qurayza's) ally and who had been part of the invading confederate army.
