Tsofia bat Chai
The life story of Safyia, the Jewish woman, is undeniably tragic. She was abducted by Muhammed after his fighters tortured her husband, Kenana to death, and killed her father and brother. But let’s start with the history.
Mohammed was facing financial ruin in Medina and was trying to get money in all kinds of ways. The Jewish tribes in Medina had no intention of lending him money. The Rabbi of the Banu Nadir said: “We do not need Allah, but Allah needs us.” Witty, but bad news for the prophet. As his following grew, he demanded protection money from this tribe. There was no danger to speak of, so they ignored his demand. Muhammad received a verse in which Gabriel told him that men of the Banu Nadir were planning to drop a large stone on his head. Why Gabriel couldn’t prevent this is a mystery. Muhammad had the tribe’s date palms cut down and besieged them until they were forced to surrender.
Mohammed demanded their leave allowing them to take everything they could carry on a camel. The Banu Nadir established an oasis near Khaybar. Despite promises, Mohammed did not leave them alone and attacked the tribe again, in Khaybar after Gabriel allegedly ordered him to do so. The prophet was obviously after gold and money. It was a robbery. However, the treasurer of the Banu Nadir, named Kenana, refused to reveal where they had hidden their riches. Kenana was Safiya’s husband.
Mohammed had Kenana tortured with red-hot rods. When he refused to speak the prophet had him beheaded. A battle ensued in which the Muslims took possession of some of the gold. Afterwards, the spoils of war were distributed to captured women: in the Koran they were called the ‘right hand possess’. According to the ancient war law of Mecca, unmarried women and widows fell to the victor. These women could become sexual property without mutual consent.
The fighters asked Muhammad what they were allowed to do. The Quran revealed in 4:24 that married women were forbidden but that possession of the right hand is free, which is a term that includes slaves and the spoils of war. I presume that Safiya understood that a barbaric future awaited her. Safiya was assigned to one of the fighters. When Muhammad heard of her beauty, he wanted her for himself and traded her for seven other captive women. The story goes that Mohammed showed her the corpses of the Banu Nadir and, crying in fear, despair and anger, she threw sand over her head. Muhammad threw his cloak over her to signify that she was now his property.
Muslims believe that Safiya became the wife of Mohammed and that she converted to Islam. This is naïve thinking of course, after what he had done. According to the Koran (4:24), he did not have to marry her at all. There is also no mention of a marriage ceremony in the hadith. Mohammed took her to his tent. And took possession of her.
Safiya, like the other women in Medina, was given a private room. She died in 672, leaving the proceeds of her property to her aunt from her Jewish tribe.
10. The wifes of the prophet: Safiya