"Banu Qurayza: Jews Who Surrendered to Muslims" is a work of historical fiction which brings light to one of the most controversial yet overlooked chapters of early Islamic history. This novel reconstructs the downfall of Banu Qurayza, a Jewish tribe of Madina, from their perspective and their human stories rather than distant chronicles. By weaving historical details with emotional depth, it explores what happens when fragile alliances collapse and faith is used to justify unthinkable acts.
Set in 7th-century Madina, the narrative follows the last surviving Jewish tribe after their kin, Banu Qaynuqa and Banu Nadir, were expelled from their century-old house back to back in just two years, over flimsy accusations. Banu Qurayza, who were last left, found themselves accused of betrayal in the aftermath of the Battle of the Trench. They were besieged, abandoned by allies and were left with only two choices. Either resist and face annihilation or surrender and pray for mercy. They chose to surrender, but mercy never came.
Through intimate and harrowing portraits, the novel takes readers inside the walls of the Banu Qurayza fortress in their final days of fear, faith and fading hope. Days when fathers were whispering courage to their sons and mothers cradling their children against the unknown. Elders were negotiating to save their honor, and children were struggling to grasp the unravelling of their world. This novel brings their voices into focus, not as statistics but as broken families, erased dreams and the extinguishing of a century-old community.
More than just a historical retelling, the tragedy of Banu Qurayza is a meditation on power and morality. It asks: How does power redefine justice? What happens when faith gets weaponized by politics? And what is the cost of survival under tyranny? This book will appeal to readers of historical fiction, controversial religious history and those who seek to understand the deeper roots of Jewish-Muslim relations. It resonates especially in today's geopolitical climate, where the question of faith, conflict and identity dominates global conversations. Its boldness and historical grounding will position this book as an appeal to audience who are not afraid of controversy and have a hunger for stories that uncover silenced histories.