Poisoning of the Holy Prophet (p.b.u.h.)

The economic defeat of the Jews was an important factor that made them plan the assassination of the Holy Prophet (p.b.u.h.).

It is written in the book ‘Payambar (s.a.w.s.) wa Yahood e Hejaz’ that:

          ‘The case of the poisoning of Prophet (p.b.u.h.) by the Jews is so evident in the historical sources that it does not leave any point of doubt or skepticism. Zainab, the daughter of Harith and the wife of Sallam bin Mushkam, who lost some of her relatives in the battle of Khaibar[1], poisoned a portion of sheep’s meat, which the Holy Prophet (p.b.u.h.) liked eating, and brought to him. He began to eat it with his companions but just when he was about to swallow the first bite, he said, “This food seems to be poisonous”. Bushr bin Baraa, who had swallowed the first bite, was martyred because of it. At the time of his demise, Prophet (p.b.u.h.) said to Bushr’s mother, “This illness was caused due to the food we ate with your son in Khaibar” [2].

          When his holiness asked the reason behind this act, Zainab said: As you had killed my relatives, I thought that if you were a Prophet, you will become aware of the poison and if not, I will be relieved by your death.

          There is a difference of opinion between the historians regarding this case about whether the Prophet had asked for the death of this woman or freed her. Suhaili says, “the collective conclusion that can be derived from both these narrations is that at first, the Holy Prophet did not take revenge from this lady and released her; but after the demise of Barra, he took the revenge of his death from the lady[3].’’[4]

          In history, there are accounts of several other incidences where others have tried to poison the Holy Prophet and it resulted in his martyrdom.