Unfortunately, we have no contemporary Jewish sources regarding the Jewish community in the Hagiz (known today as Saudia Arabia) during the period of the establishment of Islam and Mohammad’s relationship to the Jews. Whatever we know is based on non-Jewish sources, the majority of them Arabic and even these date to the century after the death of Mohammad.
It is for this reason, most Jews are unaware of the story which took place circa 624 C.E. of a young Jewish poetess, a mother of five young boys including a nursing baby, who incurred the terrible wrath of Mohammad, and was murdered at his request when he perceived her as a threat to his new religion.
The Jewish poetess known as Sarah of Yemen, or Asmah bint Marwan in Arabic is mentioned in no less than four eighth and ninth century Arabic sources: Abu Dawud, who came from Persia (today Iran) was a collector of stories on Muhammad ; Al Waquidi born in Medina (today Saudia Arabia) an early historian and biographer of Mohammad of which only one of his works has survived “Book of History and Campaigns” which describes the raids made by Muhammad while he was ruling in Medina. Ibn Hisham edited the biography of Muhammad written by Ibn Ishaq, whose work is lost and is now only known by the revisions of Ibn Hisham. Ibn Hisham grew up in Basra, today Iraq, but moved afterwards to Egypt, Ibn Sa’ad, another historian lived in Basra Iraq and later moved to Baghdad.
According to these sources, Asmah was murdered on the fifth day of Ramadan by an Arab called Umayr Ibn Adi. He crept into her tent and murdered her while her five children were sleeping around her and her baby was snuggled to her breast. She had angered Mohammad because “she composed poetry, denigrating Islam, offending the prophet and riling people against him.”
In order to understand why Mohammad was so angry at her and instigated her murder let us review the background of the establishment of Islam.
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The Arab people have been in existence for four thousand years, more than 2500 years before Islam was established. By the sixth century C.E. they occupied the Arabian peninsula, as well as neighboring countries, Persia, Iraq, Syria and Egypt. Arab tribes spoke different Arabic dialects and had their own cults and worshipped their own idols.
Arab nomads were merchants and engaged in commercial activities with caravan traders. The Arabian Peninsula was for the most part arid and volcanic, making agriculture difficult except near springs. As a result the landscape was dotted with towns and cities, including Mecca and Medina. Medina served more as an agricultural settlement, while Mecca was an important financial center for many surrounding tribes.
In order to survive desert conditions and the harsh environment, the Arab people needed support and grouped themselves in tribes or clans usually based on blood kinship.
Nomadic Arabs were constantly traveling, seeking water and pasture for their flocks, often raiding caravans, while the sedentary tribes settled and focused on trade and agriculture.
In pre-Islamic Arabia, the spirits of gods or goddesses who were viewed as protectors of individual tribes, were associated with holy trees, stones, springs and wells.
The Kaaba, (meaning “cube” -its shape) or shrine in Mecca at the time housed hundreds of statues of idols. It was a great center of worship. On the other hand there were those Arabs called “hanifs” (upright people) who believed in monotheism.
It was in Mecca in the year 570 C.E. that Mohammad is believed to have been born. His father Abdallah ibn Abd al-Muttalib had predeceased his birth and his mother Amina, passed away when he was only six years old. Both his parents belonged to the Hashim clan of the dominant Kuraish tribe.
Mohammad’s uncle, Abu Talib raised him.
Since Mecca was` a trading post situated along the caravan route linking Yemen in the south with Egypt and Syria to the northwest, the young Muhammad would socialize with many Jews and Christians who passed through Mecca. He became known as the trusted one and at age 25 married a wealthy forty year old woman, Khadija, whose business he had managed.
Only when Mohammad himself turned forty, in 610 C.E. did he begin to meditate in the cave of Mt. Hira, north of Mecca, where he claimed that Allah, was revealed to him. He insisted he was a prophet and that people should submit themselves to him.
Mohammad’s pronouncements angered many of the Arabs, especially those in Mecca because much of the city’s economy was based on the Kaabah and its pagan shrine. They made life miserable for Mohammad who fled to the city of Yathrib, which name was later changed to Medina, This flight known in Arabic as Hejirah took place in 622 C.E. and marks the beginning of the Islamic calendar.
It is not certain when Jews first settled in Hijaz (the area in Arabia where Yathrib was located) but after the sack of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar. (586 B.C.E.) and following the destruction of the Second Temple (70 C.E) by Titus, it is probable that they came in successive colonies,
The Jews associated themselves with large Arab tribes, who protected them in return for feudal loyalty. They were expert jewelers and makers of weapons and armor. Records indicate that there were more than twenty Jewish clans, the most prominent of them were Banu (sons of) Kunayka, Banu Kurayza and Banu Naydir. Banu Kainuka who were very powerful lived in the north of Yathrib, where they possessed a market named after them; the Banu al-Naydir, were their neighbors, and the Banu Ḳuraiza, occupied the eastern suburbs. The last two tribes claimed their descent from the family of Aaron, and therefore were known as Al-Kahinan (Kohanim or priests). Besides building villages, all three tribes constructed a number of forts, which afforded them protection during the numerous feuds of the Arab tribe
To the north of Yathrib, was an area called Chaibar which total population was Jewish. These Jews claimed descent from Yonadav the son of Rachav mentioned in the book of Joshua.
Mohammad had a cousin through his wife Khadija who had converted to Judaism. This cousin’s name was Warak Ibn Nauful; he knew Hebrew well and had a great influence on Mohammad.
The Jews at the time observed Kashruth, the Yomim Tovim including Yom Kippur: their observance of Shabbos precluded them from using their swords. They waited daily for Mashiach and during their prayers faced Jerusalem.
Mohammad became very interested in Judaism and the religion he founded was based on many of its doctrines. Mohammad figured it would be easy to convince Jews to follow his path. He preached monotheism – there is no god but Allah — and instituted the day of rest as Sabbath, praying towards Jerusalem, Yom Kippur and the observance of many dietary laws.
But many of the Jews complained. Why was Mohammad permitting the eating of camels which were not kosher. If he were a prophet why wasn’t he appearing in Jerusalem?
One of his chief opponents was Pinchas Ibn Azurra, a very witty person.
When Mohammad invited the Jews to accept Islam he used the words, ” Lend yourselves unto G-d as a beautiful pledge,”
Pinchas responded with “G-d is so poor that he borrows from us!?!”
Disappointed and angry the Jews weren’t adhering to his religion, Mohammad decided to change some of the original laws he established. He switched the day of rest from Saturday to Friday, the direction of prayer from Jerusalem to Mecca, and the fast of Yom Kippur was converted into Ramadan which took place during 40 days, the night of which were permitted feasting.
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A 120 year old Jewish poet by the name of Abu Afak composed poetry against Mohammad, discouraging Jews from abandoning Judaism to follow the new religion. This infuriated Mohammad as well as his adherents.
One follower of Islam, Salim Ibn Umayr vowed to kill Abu Afak to appease Mohammad. He waited for an opportunity to do so. One night when it was boiling hot, and Abu Afak slept outside. Salim Ibn Umya took advantage of Abu Afak’s vulnerability and murdered him with his sword. The 120 year old Jew was interred right away by the Jewish community.
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Asmah bint Marwan was devastated by the murder of her coreligionist, the Jew Abu Afak. Not much of her poetry remains but we have here a loose English translation of the original Arabic. Both the rhyme and the metric rhythm of the Arabic poetry are lost in the translation. She criticizes Mohammad through her poem, that Mohammad murders for booty …”
……You obey a stranger who encourages you to murder for booty
You are greedy men. Is there no honor among you…
Do you expect good from him after the killing of your chiefs
Like a hungry man waiting for a cook’s broth?
Is there no man of pride who would attack him by surprise
and cut off the hopes of those who expect aught from him?”
Mohammad was furious and said: “Who will rid me of Marwan’s daughter?” Umayr who was with him heard him and that very night went to her house and killed her. In the morning he came to Muhammad and told him what he had done and Muhammad said, “You have helped G-d and His apostle, O Umayr! When he asked if he would have to bear any evil consequences the apostle said, “Two goats won’t butt their heads about her,”
In other words, Asma Bint Marwan was not significant enough for anyone to care two bits about her.
Some Muslims who are embarrassed of the role their prophet played in the killing of an old 120 year old man and a nursing mother try to deny the authenticity of these sources and claim they were fabricated. Others justify their killings by claiming the honor of their prophet was debased by these Jews’ poems.
Hopefully, one day we will be fortunate enough to discover a treasure trove of sources such as those of the Dead Sea Scrolls and the Cairo Genizah which will shed more light on the Jewish community during the establishment of Islam. Till then it is interesting to know that a Jewish young mother played an important enough role that she has attained immortality in Arabic sources.