Safiyyah, a Victim of Muhammad’s Brutality

The Battle of Khaybar and Prophet Muhammad’s taking of Safiyyah as a concubine and engaging in sex with her on the same day

Immediately after the Battle of Khaybar ended, when the Muslim jihadist army was preparing to rest, Prophet Muhammad announced that the angel Gabriel had instructed him to attack and conquer another prosperous Jewish fortress and settlement in Khaybar.

The Prophet, along with his jihadist forces, launched a surprise attack and took control of Khaybar. Jewish warriors were killed in the battle. Women and children were taken captive. Among them was the extraordinarily beautiful Safiyyah bint Huyayy, the daughter of Khaybar’s chief leader Huyayy ibn Akhtab and the fiancée of Kinana ibn al-Rabi.

Kinana was brutally tortured to reveal the location of hidden wealth and was later killed. During the division of war booty (ghanimah), Safiyyah fell into the share of a Muslim warrior named Dihya al-Kalbi, who received her as a sexual slave.

However, news of Safiyyah’s remarkable beauty spread quickly, and Muslim companions began praising her. When this news reached the Prophet, he summoned Dihya along with Safiyyah before him. Upon seeing her, the Prophet became eager and told Dihya, “Take any other captive in exchange for her.” Dihya hesitated at first, being captivated by Safiyyah’s beauty, but the Prophet then offered him seven female war captives in exchange for Safiyyah and took her for himself. The Prophet was said to be so overwhelmed by Safiyyah’s appearance that he could no longer wait to be with her.

That very night, shortly after the killing of Safiyyah’s father, brother, and fiancé, the Prophet established a physical relationship with her. At that time, Safiyyah was only about 16–17 years old.

Islamists claim that Safiyyah herself fell in love with the Prophet and willingly went to his bed that very night. But is it possible that a person who witnessed the killing of her father, brother, fiancé, and relatives would go to bed with the very person responsible on the same day? What do you think? Safiyyah later said that she initially hated the Prophet because he had killed her future husband, father, and brother.

References:

Sahih Muslim 1365: “The Messenger of Allah ﷺ got her in exchange for seven captives, and then handed her over to Umm Sulaym so that she could prepare her and make her ready for him.” (https://sunnah.com/muslim:1365e)

Sunan Ibn Majah 2272: Narrated from Anas (RA) – “The Prophet ﷺ exchanged Safiyyah for seven female slaves.” (https://sunnah.com/ibnmajah:2272)

Sahih Ibn Hibban 5199: “…The Messenger of Allah ﷺ was the most disliked among people to me, because he killed my husband, my father, and my brother…” (https://sunnah.com/urn/6653120)