Rethinking Muhammad’s War with the Jews | A Conversation with Prof. Joel Hayward

In this episode of the Real Talk Podcast 🎙️ we sit down once again with Professor Joel Hayward to explore one of the most debated chapters in early Islamic history: the Prophet Muhammad’s engagement with the Jewish tribes of Medina. ✍️📜

Together we unpack the historical, political, and theological dimensions of these events, from the Constitution of Medina and early cooperation 🤝 to the conflicts with Banu Qaynuqa, Banu Nadir, and Banu Qurayza, and finally the siege of Khaybar ⚔️🏰.

Prof. Hayward also addresses modern misreadings of these events — including claims of intolerance and misconceptions about the Prophet’s motivations and methods of governance 🕊️.

📚 Topics Discussed:
🕌 Medina before the Prophet’s arrival: social and tribal dynamics
📜 The Constitution of Medina and early Jewish–Muslim relations
⚖️ Contextualizing the conflicts with Banu Qaynuqa, Nadir, and Qurayza
🗡️ Khaybar, strategy, and the Prophet’s leadership
🧠 Modern interpretations and historical reassessments

📖 Guest Book:
🔗 The Warrior Prophet: Muhammad and War — https://www.amazon.co.uk/Warrior-Prop...

💬 Join the conversation:
What are your thoughts on the Prophet’s leadership in Medina and how these events have been interpreted today? Drop your insights and questions below! 🗣️👇

👍 Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe for more deep-dive interviews with leading scholars in Islamic Studies and Late Antiquity. 🌍🎧

🎧 Real Talk Podcast
Hosted by Terron Poole & Roxanna Irani
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