Question:
AssalamuAlaykum Respected Scholars,
Shaytan is using this topic to affect my Iman. What I fear most is doubts about my faith.
My question is regarding the Banu Qurayzah. I understand the punishment was meant for for those who were treacherous, but the following hadith is bothering me:
Narrated Atiyyah al-Qurazi: I was among the captives of Banu Qurayzah. They (the Companions) examined us, and those who had begun to grow hair (pubes) were killed, and those who had not were not killed. I was among those who had not grown hair. [Abu Dawud]
Is this hadith authentic? Doesn’t this indicate that all the men were killed? What if there were men loyal to the treaty? What if children had pubic hair but had nothing to do with the treachery? I know the Prophet (S) is a Mercy and I really don’t want any doubts about it. JazakAllahKhair
Answer:
Alaykum Salam,
The judgment of execution on the Banu Qurayza for their treachery fell on all the male fighters, but when it came to boys the fighters were spared, unless they were pubescent. Al-Bayhaqi said that after that year the criterion of admissible fighting age for Muslim boys was 15 years. (Suyuti, Mirqat al-Su`ud 3:1123). See also here.
Yes, the Prophet, upon him blessings and peace, is a mercy but neither he nor Sayyidina `Isa could force their enemies not to betray them.
Hajj Gibril Haddad
