Sariyyah of Ḥaḍrat ‘Alī(ra) to Fadak - Sha‘bān 6 A.H.

The devastation which had befallen the Jewish people in Madīnah on account of their treachery and mischief-making, was like a rankling thorn in the heart of the Jews of Arabia. Furthermore, after the Ghazwah of Banū Quraiẓah which ruined the Jews of Madīnah, the village of Khaibar which was the largest centre for the Jews of Ḥijāz, became a headquarters for secret conspiracies against Islām. Moreover, the Jews of this place, who had habitually proven to be very revengeful, jealous and cruel, were committed to their endeavours of expunging Islām and annihilating the Muslims. Consequently, these very circumstances became the cause of the Battle of Khaibar, which occurred in the beginning of 7 A.H., due to which the entire region of Khaibar joined the Islāmic government. Now, the occurrence which we are about to mention is also attached to this chain of events.

In Sha‘bān 6 A.H., the Holy Prophet(sa) received intelligence that secret talks were mutually under way between the Banū Sa‘d bin Bakr tribe and the Jews of Khaibar and that the Banū Sa‘d were mustering their forces with the assistance of the people of Khaibar.1 Upon receiving this news, the Holy Prophet(sa) dispatched an army of companions under the command of Ḥaḍrat ‘Ali(ra), who hiding at day and travelling by night, reached near Fadak, close to where these people were gathering. The Muslims found a Bedouin man who was a spy of the Banū Sa‘d. Ḥaḍrat ‘Ali(ra) imprisoned him and inquired of him as to the situation of the Banū Sa‘d and the people of Khaibar. At first he expressed a complete lack of knowledge and of having no relations whatsoever. However eventually, he told everything after attaining a promise of forgiveness. Then, the Muslim people made him their guide and moved towards the place where the Banū Sa‘d were gathering, whereafter they launched a sudden attack. Due to this sudden attack, the Banū Sa‘d were confounded and fled from the field of Battle. Ḥaḍrat ‘Ali(ra) took the wealth of spoils and returned to Madīnah and in this manner, this threat was temporarily deferred.2