Sallam ibn Mishkam

Sallam ibn Mishkam (died 628) was a Jewish warrior, rabbi and poet who lived in Medina, Arabia, in the early seventh century.

Family and early life Sallam ibn Mishkam ibn Al-Hakam ibn Haritha ibn Al-Khazraj ibn Kaab ibn Khazraj was a member of the Nadir tribe. He was a distant cousin of the tribal chief, Huyayy ibn Akhtab, and he was also related to the Abu’l-Huqayq branch of the tribe. His house bordered on the territory of the Qurayza tribe, and Sallam, who had many friends among the local pagans as well as the Jews, was apparently on good terms with the Qurayza tavern-keeper next door.

At some stage, Sallam married Safiyya bint Huyayy, but they were later divorced. It is possible that the whole family changed their minds about this match amicably and early, before Sallam and Safiyya actually lived together.

Debate with Muhammad When Muhammad arrived in Medina in 622, he was eager to convince the local Jewish tribes that he was a prophet like the ones in their own Scriptures. Two Muslim converts, Muadh ibn Jabal and Bishr ibn al-Baraa, urged Sallam to become a Muslim: "When we were pagans, you used to pray for the Prophet’s help to defeat us and warn us that he was coming, and you described him to us." Sallam was unimpressed by Muhammad’s claims. He replied that Muhammad "has brought us nothing we recognize and he is not the one about whom we used to tell you". If the plot was real, it is interesting that Sallam should have suddenly tried to protect Muhammad; and if the plot was a fabrication, it is equally interesting that the Muslim sources should wish to exonerate Sallam.

Following this assassination accusation, Muhammad demanded that the Nadir leave their ancestral homes in Medina. Sallam urged Huyayy to accept the safe-conduct out of the city because he did not believe they had a realistic hope of successfully defying Muhammad. Huyayy argued that the Nadir fortresses were prepared a twelve months’ siege and that, since neighbouring tribes had promised to relieve them, they would soon call Muhammad’s bluff. However, when the relief failed to materialise, Salla However, al-Waqidi names the sons of Sallam as 'Amr, born not later than spring 627, and al-Hakam, born by summer 628. and of another kinsman, Usayr ibn Zarim, for imprecisely defined offences. Sallam must have expected that Muhammad would eventually launch an attack against Khaybar.

The Siege of Khaybar Early in June 628 Muslim armies entered Khaybar at dawn for a surprise attack. The workmen in the fields fled to the fortresses, screaming: "Muhammad – with his army!" Sallam, who was ill at the time, nevertheless exerted himself to organise the defence in a hurry. Since the Muslims were attacking from the Natat area, he directed the Jews to hide their wealth and families in the fortresses of al-Khatiba then to move their fighting men and ammunition to Natat. He urged: "Fight the foe courageously, for it is better to be killed in battle than to wail in abject captivity!" and the Jews then charged from Natat to engage the invading army.

In the course of the battle, the archers of Khaybar wounded fifty Muslims. Jewish casualties were not precisely tallied, but very heavy; and Sallam ibn Mishkam was one of those who died in the battle.