Mukhayriq

Mukhayriq ibn al-Nadir (Arabic: مخيريق بن النضير, romanized: Mukhayrīq ibn al-Naḍīr) was an Arabian Jewish rabbi who belonged to the Banu Tha'laba tribe of Medina and fought alongside Islamic prophet Muhammad in the Battle of Uhud on 19 March 625.

Story

Mukhayriq was a wealthy, learned and well-respected rabbi. He was also a leader of the Banu Tha'labah, a notable Arabian Jewish tribe in Medina.^[1]

According to Omid Safi, Muhammad's biographer Ibn Ishaq was "perhaps deliberately ambiguous on the question whether Mukhayriq formally became Muslim, or whether he was a righteous Jew who had affection for Mohamed."^[2] According to Norman A. Stillman, Ibn Ishaq says that Mukhayriq "recognized the Apostle of Allah — may Allah bless him and grant him peace — by his description and by what he found in his scholarship. However, he was accustomed to his own religion, and this held him back, until the Battle of Uhud (625) which fell upon the Sabbath."^[3]

The Battle of Uhud was fought between a force from the Muslim community of Medina, led by Muhammad, and a force led by Abu Sufyan ibn Harb from Mecca on March 19, 625. The battle happened to fall on Shabbat, a day of rest in Judaism. In spite of the required observance of Shabbat, Mukhayriq decided he had to fight alongside Muhammad. He then asked his tribesmen to join the battle too. Some agreed, but others reminded the rabbi about the Sabbath.^[2] To that, Mukhayriq answered, "You have no Sabbath,"^[3] and severely censured his tribesmen for not understanding the hidden meaning of the Sabbath. He commanded that if he were killed in the battle all his wealth including date palms should go to Muhammad.^[4]

Mukhayriq was killed in the battle. As Muqtedar Khan puts it, Mukhayriq became "the first Jewish martyr of Islam." When a severely wounded Muhammad was told about the heroic death of Mukhayriq, Muhammad said: "He was the best of Jews."^[5][6][7]

The seven gardens and the other wealth Muhammad inherited from the rabbi were used for the establishment of a waqf, the first ever "charitable endowment of Islam."^[5]

Aftermath

In 622 CE, Muhammad and the different tribes that lived in Medina, including Jews of Tha'labah, signed the Constitution of Medina. In accordance with this constitution, all tribes living in Medina entered one nation, called an Ummah, and were obligated to help each other, to fight their common enemies and each to bear their own expenses.^[5]

Two Jewish tribes that were allied with Mecca in the Battle of Uhud were expelled from Medina soon after the battle. Two years later, after another battle, the men from the Jewish tribe of Qurayzah were executed.^[8]

References

1. Ṭabarī, William Montgomery Watt, Michael V. McDonald (1987). The foundation of the community. State University of New York Press. p. 136. ISBN 978-0-88706-344-2.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
2. Omid Safi (November 2, 2010). Memories of Muhammad: Why the Prophet Matters. HarperOne. p. 134. ISBN 978-0-06-123135-3.
3. Norman A. Stillman (October 15, 1979). The Jews of Arab lands: a history and source book. Jewish Publication Society. p. 121. ISBN 978-0-06-123135-3. However, he was accustomed to his own religion, and this held him back,.
4. Maller, Allen (2023-01-21). "Why Some Jews Supported Prophet Muhammad While Others Didn't". The Muslim Vibe. Retrieved 2024-04-06.
5. Muqtedar Khan (4 Dec 2009). "Mukhayriq 'the best of the Jews'". Slash News.
6. Akram Ḍiyāʼ ʻUmarī (1991). Madīnan Society at the Time of the Prophet: Its characteristics and organization. IIIT. pp. 62–. ISBN 978-0-912463-36-0.
7. Haggai Mazuz (3 July 2014). The Religious and Spiritual Life of the Jews of Medina. BRILL. pp. 16–. ISBN 978-90-04-26609-4.
8. Stephen Suleyman Schwartz (September 9, 2003). The two faces of Islam: Saudi fundamentalism and its role in terrorism. Anchor. ISBN 978-1-4000-3045-3.