The Jews’ Attitude Toward the Prophet ﷺ The Prophet ﷺ had now moved from the Meccan period to the beginning of the Medinan period. The Prophetic biography was taking on a new character, for he ﷺ had become the foremost authority in Madinah. He was its spiritual leader because he was its Prophet, and its political leader because he was the one who commanded, prohibited, and legislated within it. After settling in Madinah, he ﷺ continued calling people to Allah, including the Jews. The Jews, in turn, approached him, seeking to verify whether he was truly the Prophet they had been awaiting or not. When they saw him for the first time, they recognized him. Yet they became angry with Allah because He had chosen him from among the Arabs (a descendant of Ishmael) rather than from among the Jews, as had been the case with many previous prophets. They had long been awaiting the Prophet of the End Times, whose characteristics they knew in great detail. They knew his description as well as they knew their own sons—indeed, even more clearly. However, they expected him to descend from Isaac and Jacob, from among the Children of Israel. This expectation was one reason they had chosen Madinah as a place to settle, bringing with them the three tribes of Qurayzah, Qaynuqaʿ, and Nadir. The Jews studied their scriptures carefully and learned of his birthplace and the place to which he would migrate. Since they could not settle permanently in Makkah, they settled in Madinah because they knew it would be the land of his migration. A few of their leading men even lived in the valley of Makkah, hoping that the awaited prophet would emerge from among them. Instead, he was born among the Arabs. The Jews were aware of the Prophet’s coming from the very time of his birth. Their rabbis were able to identify the night of his birth and knew that he had been born on that very night. When they realized that he was not from the lineage of Israel but from among the Arabs, they understood who he was. They were even able to identify his grandfather, ʿAbd al-Muṭṭalib, and they informed their people, saying that the star of Ahmad had appeared that night. When he migrated, their rabbis came to him, observed him, spoke with him, and became certain that he was indeed the awaited Prophet. ⸻ In this context, we recall the story of one of their great leaders, Ḥuyayy ibn Akhṭab, the chief of the Jews of Banu Nadir and their principal authority. When the Prophet ﷺ later conquered Khaybar and the Jews of Banu Nadir were defeated, the outcome was that the Prophet ﷺ married Ṣafiyyah bint Ḥuyayy, who accepted Islam. After faith settled firmly in her heart and she became one of the Prophet’s wives, she spoke about her father, Ḥuyayy ibn Akhṭab, and her uncle. Ṣafiyyah bint Ḥuyayy, Mother of the Believers, related: My father was one of the fiercest enemies of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. My uncle, Abu Yasir, was one of the Jewish rabbis. She said: When they heard of your mission, great concern overtook them. They continued to follow your news closely until you arrived at Quba’. When they heard of your arrival, they went out to see you early in the morning. She described herself as being among the most beloved of their children. She continued: They left on the morning of your arrival at Quba’, and they did not return until sunset. They came back exhausted, weary, and dejected, even though all they had done was go to examine the descriptions of the Prophet after his arrival and then return. She said: I heard my uncle Abu Yasir ask my father Ḥuyayy ibn Akhṭab: “Is he the one?” “Are you certain he is the one we find described in our books?” Ḥuyayy replied: “Yes, by Allah, he is. By the Lord of Moses and Jesus, he is the very one we have been waiting for.” Abu Yasir asked: “Did you recognize him by his characteristics?” Ḥuyayy answered: “More certainly than I recognize this daughter of mine.” Ṣafiyyah said: And he pointed toward me with his finger. Abu Yasir then asked: “So what do you feel toward him now?” Ḥuyayy replied: “Enmity—so long as I live.” Ṣafiyyah continued: My uncle Abu Yasir took my father’s hand and said: “My brother, obey me in this matter and disobey me in whatever else you wish. Do not oppose this man so long as he is a Prophet and Messenger, lest Allah destroy us.” But Ḥuyayy shouted: “No! No! I will oppose him as long as I live.” They disliked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ because he had been sent from among the Arabs rather than from among the Jews. They were displeased with Allah’s choice. This is what the Mother of the Believers Ṣafiyyah related concerning her Jewish father’s attitude toward the Prophet ﷺ. The Jews knew the Prophet ﷺ more clearly than they knew their own sons. Yet when the one they recognized came to them, they rejected him. Despite all of this, the Prophet ﷺ still sought to invite them to Islam. Only a small number believed, while the majority remained unbelievers. Despite their disbelief, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ did not treat them as enemies. Instead, he established a treaty with them. He drafted an agreement that united the believing Aws and Khazraj on one side and the three neighboring Jewish tribes on the other. The Prophet ﷺ entered into a covenant with the Jews. In summary, the treaty granted them the right to live in Madinah as full residents without restrictions. They could buy and sell, practice their religion as they wished, and enjoy rights while also bearing responsibilities. Among their rights was that they would live in safety alongside the Muslims. Among their obligations was that if Madinah were attacked by an enemy, they would help defend the city just as the Muslims would. If bloodshed occurred between them and a Muslim, judgment would belong to Allah’s law: intentional murder would be punished by execution, while accidental killing would require payment of blood money. The same law applied equally to Muslims if they committed such acts. Yet, according to the narrative, the Jews did not remain faithful to these agreements. The Prophet ﷺ fulfilled his covenants with them in a manner pleasing to Allah. There was no one more faithful to treaties, nobler in character, broader in patience, or more forbearing than the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. Nevertheless, they did not uphold the terms of the agreements made with him.