blood-money and asked him and his Companions Abu Bakr, ‘Umar, ‘Ali and others to sit under a wall  of  their houses and wait. The Jews held a short private meeting and conspired to kill the Prophet (Peace  be upon him). The most wicked among them, ‘Amr bin Jahsh, volunteered to climb up the wall and  drop  a large millstone on his head. One of them, Salam bin Mashkam, cautioned them against perpetrating  such a crime, predicting that Allâh would divulge their plot to him, and added that such an act would  constitute a manifest violation of the pact concluded with the Muslims.
In fact, Gabriel did come down to reveal to the Prophet (Peace be upon him) their wicked criminal  intention, so he, with his Companions, hurried off back to Madinah. On their way, he told his
Companions of the Divine Revelation.
Soon after, the Prophet (Peace be upon him) delegated Muhammad bin Maslamah to communicate an  ultimatum to Bani Nadeer to the effect that they should evacuate Madinah within ten days, otherwise,  their heads would be cut off. The chief of the hypocrites, ‘Abdullah bin Ubai, urged the Jews not to pay  heed to the Prophet ’s words and to stay in their habitations, offering to run to their support with two  thousands of his followers, and assuring them of help to come from Quraizah tribe and former allies
Banu Ghatfan. In this regards, Allâh says:
“If you are expelled, we (too) indeed will go out with you, and we shall never obey anyone  against you, and if you are attacked (in fight), we shall indeed help you.” 59:11
The Jews regained their confidence and were determined to fight. Their chief Huyai bin Akhtab relied  hopefully on what the chief of the hypocrites said. So he sent to the Messenger of Allâh (Peace be  upon  him) saying: “We will not leave our houses. Do whatever you like to do.”
Undoubtedly the situation was awkward for the Muslims. Launching a war against their opponents at  this critical stage could entail terrible far reaching ramifications in the light of the unfavourable  conditions they were passing through, besides the hostile environment growing in power and hatred  around them, the harbinger of which assumed the form of killing the Muslim missions, as it has been  already introduced.
The Jews of Bani Nadeer were also a power to count for, and the prospects of inflicting a military  defeat  on them was precarious; consequently forcing them into war engagement would be attended with  unpredictable risks. On the other hand, the continual state of repeated assassinations and acts of  treachery carried out against the Muslims individually and collectively brought about unbearable  headache to Muhammad ’s followers. Having judged all the prevalent status quo in this perspective,  and  in the light of the disgraceful attempt on thlife of the Prophet (Peace be upon him), the Muslims made  the decisive decisions of taking up arms whatever turn the consequences could assume.
When the Messenger of Allâh (Peace be upon him) received the reply of Huyai bin Akhtab he said:
“Allâhu Akbar, Allâhu Akbar.” (Allâh is the Greatest of all) and his Companions repeated after him.
Then  he set out to fight them after appointing Ibn Umm Maktum to dispose the affairs of Madinah during his  absence. The standard was entrusted to ‘Ali bin Abi Talib. He laid siege to their forts for six nights — in  another version, fifteen.
Banu Nadeer resorted to their castles, mounted them and started shooting arrows and pelting stones  at  the Muslims enjoying the strategic advantage that their thick fields of palm trees provided. The
Muslims  were therefore ordered to fell and burn those trees. In this respect, Allâh, the All-Mighty, states in the
Qur’ân:
“What you (O Muslims) cut down of the palm-trees (of the enemy), or you left them standing on  their stems, it was by leave of Allâh.” 59:5
Quraizah tribe remained neutral, and the hypocrite ‘Abdullah bin Ubai as well as Ghatfan failed to keep  their promises of support. In this regard Allâh says:
“(Their allies deceived them) like Satan, when he says to man: ‘Disbelieve in Allâh.’ But when
(man) disbelieves in Allâh, Satan says: ‘I am free of you.’” 59:16
The siege did not last long for Allâh, the All-Mighty, cast horror into the hearts of the Jews, and they  willingly offered to comply with the Prophet ’s order and leave Madinah. The Prophet (Peace be upon  him) accepted their request and allowed them to carry as much luggage as their camels could lift,  arms