Accusation No.5

“A Ruthless Torturer”

The person Ali Sina is referring to over here (the person who was tortured), is Kinana al-Rabi, who was allegedly tortured in
Khaibar because the Holy Prophet (S), wanted to know where the treasury was. Refuting this baseless story, Allama Shibli Nu’
Mani writes:

“While describing the battle of Khaibar, the history writers have committed a serious blunder in reporting a totally baseless
report, which has become a common place. It is said that the Prophet (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) had granted
amnesty to the Jews on condition that they would not hide anything. When Kinana Ibn Rabi' refused to give any clue to the
hidden treasures, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) ordered Zubair to adopt stern measures to force a
disclosure. Zubair branded his chest with a hot flint again and again, till he was on the point of death. At last he ordered
Kinana to be put to death and all the Jews were made slaves.

The whole truth in the story is that Kinana was put to death. But it was not for his refusal to give a clue to the
hidden treasure. He was put to death because he had killed Mahmud Ibn Maslama (also Muslima). Tabari had reported it in
unambiguous words: “Then the Holy Prophet (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) gave Kinana to Muhammad Ibn
Maslama (Muslima), " and he put him to death in retaliation of the murder of his own brother, Mahmud Ibn Maslama (Muslima)."

In the rest of the report, both Tabari and Ibn Hisham have quoted it from Ibn Ishaq, but Ibn Ishaq does not name
any narrator. Traditionalists, in books on Rijal, have explicitly stated that Ibn Ishaq used to borrow from the Jews
stories concerning the battle of the Prophet (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). As Ibn Ishaq does not
mention the name of any narrator whatsoever in this case, there is every likelihood of the story of having been
passed on by the Jews.

That a man should be tortured with burns on his chest by the sparks of a flint is too heinous a deed for a Prophet (Peace and
blessings of Allah be upon him) who had earned for himself the title of Rahma'lil Alamin (Mercy for all the worlds). After all, did
he not let the woman who had sought to poison him go scot free? Who would expect such a soul to order human body to be
so burnt for the sake of a few coins.

As a matter of fact, Kinana Ibn Rabi Ibn al-Huquaiq had been granted his life on the condition that he would never break faith
or make false statements. He had also given his word, according to one of the reports, that if he did anything to the contrary,
he could be put to death. Kinana played false, and the immunity granted to him was withdrawn. He killed Mahmud Ibn Maslama
(Muslima) and had, therefore to suffer for it, as we have already stated on the authority of Tabari."

(Source: Sirat Un Nabi by Allama Shibli Nu’Mani rendered into English by M. Tayyib Bakhsh Budayuni, Vol. II, p. 173-174, Kazi
Publications Lahore Pakistan)


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