The Battle of Khaybar
Allah had promised a great reward to all those who had, at Hudaybiyah, sworn allegiance to the Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) which was known as Bai’atur-Rizwan or the oath of Paradise. Having submitted to the will of God and His Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) in that hour of crisis, Allah foretold them of the coming victory as well as the booty they were to win shortly.
“Allah was well pleased with the believers when they swore allegiance unto thee beneath the tree, and He knew what was in their hearts, and He sent down peace of reassurance on them, and hath rewarded them with a near victory. And much booty that they will capture, Allah is ever Mighty, Wise.” [Qur'an 48:18-19]
The Conquest of Khaybar was to serve as a prelude to the subsequent victories that followed in its path. Khaybar was a Jewish colony(20) comprising several citadels, some of which were built on hill tops and were virtually impregnable. It was, thus, the last but formidable Jewish stronghold in Arabia. Anxious to confront the Muslims for the plight of their brothers in Madeenah, the Jews of Khaybar were willing to spend their wealth in pursuit of stirring agitation from the neighbouring Arab tribes to wage war against the Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam). At the time when the expedition to Khaybar was undertaken, the Jews of the place were in league with the tribe of Ghatfan with whom they were hatching up an agreed plot against the Muslims.(21) The Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) thus found a good reason to act against the Jews of Khaybar. He decided that the time had come to get rid of their intrigues once and for all so that he might be able to divert his attention to other pressing matters. Khaybar was situated at a distance of 112-Km northeast of Madeenah