CHAPTER V
Fadak
The capitulation of Fadak. As the Prophet departed from Khaibar, he sent to the people of Fadak[1] Muḥaiyiṣah ibn-Masʿûd al-Anṣâri inviting them to Islam. Their chief was one of their number named Yûshaʾ ibn-Nûn the Jew. They made terms with the Prophet, agreeing to give up one-half of the land with its soil.[2] The Prophet accepted. Thus one-half was assigned wholly to the Prophet because the Moslems "pressed not against it with horse or camel."[3] The Prophet used to spend the income on the wayfarers.
ʿUmar expels the inhabitants. The inhabitants of Fadak remained in it until ʿUmar ibn-al-Khaṭṭâb became caliph and expelled the Jews of al-Ḥijâz. On that occasion he sent abu-l-Haitham Mâlik ibn-at-Taiyihân (some say an-Naiyihân), Sahl ibn-abi-Ḥaithamah al-Anṣâri, and Zaid ibn-Thâbit al-Anṣâri, who estimated justly the value of one-half of its soil. This value ʿUmar paid to the Jews and expelled them to Syria.
Saʿîd ibn-Sulaimân from Yaḥya ibn-Saʿîd:—The people of Fadak made terms with the Prophet agreeing to give one-half of the land and the palm-trees. When ʿUmar expelled them, he sent some one to estimate their share in land and palm-trees and he gave them their value.
50
