Huyayy ibn Akhtab was a highly educated Jewish rabbi, as well as the leader of the Banu Nadir tribe, a Medina tribe, and the staunchest enemy of Prophet Mohammad.
Biography[]
Huyayy ibn Akhtab ibn Sa'yah was born in Medina in the Jewish tribe of Banu Nadir. He became a famous rabbi within Medina, having the reputation of being an educated man. Huyayy married Barra bint Samawal from the Banu Qurayza tribe, who gave him 3 children.
When the Prophet Mohammad came to Medina. Huyayy ibn Akhtab and his brother Rabbi Abu Yassir went to meet him, and they asked him to let them see his shoulder, they saw the seal of the prophecy. So they began to question the Prophet Mohammad. The two men returned home, Huyayy said to his brother: "Is it him?" that is to say the prophet of the Torah, he says: "It is he". At first, Huyayy's opposition took the form of public debate with Muslims, but his opposition increasingly turned to hatred. The Banu Nadir tribe at its head Huyayy plotted to kill the Prophet Mohammad. It was ten that they wanted to kill him with a stone, but they failed. The prophet Mohammad then ended his alliance with this tribe and expelled them from Medina. Huyayy settled with his tribe in Khaybar, but he continued to plot by inciting the people of Khaybar to fight the Prophet Mohammad, alongside the Quraysh and Ghatafan, resulting in the battle of Khaybar.
Huyayy came to Medina and gave his support to Ka'b ibn As'ad, the leader of the banu Qurayza, but also to incite him to fight the prophet Mohammad. On May 6, 627, the fortress of Banu Qurayza was stormed by the Islamic army, during the fight Huyyay died.