There are many false statements regarding the marriage of Sayyida Safiya رضي الله عنها, which have no connection to the truth, some of which are as follows.
① Sayyida Safiya رضي الله عنها was not willing to marry
This is a lie because the Hadith clarifies that the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ gave Sayyida Safiya رضي الله عنها the choice that she could either go to her family or be set free, and the Prophet ﷺ would marry her. Sayyida Safiya رضي الله عنها chose this option.
Reference: (Sahih Ibn Hibban: 4628)
② This marriage took place before her 'Iddah was completed
This objection is also based on a false statement, and before knowing the answer, it should be understood that the 'Iddah of a captive woman is one menstrual cycle (نكاح كے ليے تيار ہونا), not three menstrual cycles. And Sayyida Safiya رضي الله عنها had completed the specified days on the way, as mentioned in Sahih Bukhari "حَلَّت” (یعنی حیض كى مدت پورى كرچکی تھیں).
Reference: (Sahih Bukhari: 3974)
③ Sayyida Safiyyah (may Allah be pleased with her) did not like the Holy Prophet ﷺ
(معاذاللہ) This is also against the truth and an outright lie because traveling closely with the Holy Prophet ﷺ during journeys
Reference: (Sahih Bukhari: 3974)
, Sayyida Safiyyah (may Allah be pleased with her) had such a relationship with the Holy Prophet ﷺ that even during I'tikaf (spiritual retreat), she would come to see the Messenger of Allah ﷺ
Reference: (Sahih Bukhari: 3281)
. On one occasion, when Sayyida Safiyyah (may Allah be pleased with her) thought that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was upset and it was her turn, she gave her turn to Sayyida Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) saying that she could not even think of selling her turn, but she was gifting it to her so that she could please the Messenger of Allah ﷺ on her behalf.
Reference: (Musnad Ahmad: 26866)
④ This marriage happened merely because of Sayyida Safiyyah’s (may Allah be pleased with her) beauty
This is also far from the truth. It is in Sahih Muslim that when the Prophet ﷺ distributed the captives, Sayyida Safiyyah رضي الله عنها came to Dihyah al-Kalbi رضي الله عنه. However, upon the attention of some companions that Sayyida Safiyyah رضي الله عنها was the daughter of Huyayy ibn Akhtab, the chief of Banu Qurayza and Banu Nadir, and considering her family status, it would be better for her to be married to the Prophet ﷺ. Then the Prophet ﷺ liked this opinion, freed Sayyida Safiyyah رضي الله عنها, and married her.
Reference: (Sahih Muslim: 1365)
⑤ Some people's claim that the Prophet ﷺ killed Sayyida Safiyyah رضي الله عنها's father and husband and then married Sayyida Safiyyah رضي الله عنها
This objection is also impartial, because the attitude of the Jews towards the Muslims was very conspiratorial; they were always hostile to the Muslims and never missed an opportunity for conspiracy. Their continuous such behavior led to a series of betrayals in various battles, examples of which are the battles of Raji' and Mu'awiyah, etc. They also continued to support the polytheists of Mecca behind the scenes. They even planned to assassinate the Prophet ﷺ. Thus, when the Prophet ﷺ came to Banu Nadir with a few companions to provide assistance for a blood-money payment, they conspired among themselves to kill the Prophet ﷺ by dropping a millstone on him from above. Allah Almighty informed the Prophet through revelation. So, without informing anyone, he immediately left from there and later decided to exile Banu Nadir. The chief of Banu Nadir, Huyayy ibn Akhtab, declared opposition on the basis of support from Abdullah ibn Abi and alliance with Banu Qurayzah, and a battle ensued during which date palm trees were burned. These trees had been a means of protection for these Jews during the battle, under whose cover they were attacking the Muslims. The siege did not last long, only six nights... or according to some, fifteen nights, during which Allah Almighty instilled fear in their hearts. Their morale broke, they agreed to surrender, and sent a delegation to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ saying they were ready to leave Medina. The Prophet accepted their offer of exile and also agreed that they could take all their belongings except weapons, loading them onto camels along with their children. After this approval, Banu Nadir surrendered their weapons, destroyed their own houses, loaded six hundred camels, and departed. Most of the Jews and their leaders, such as Huyayy ibn Akhtab and Salam ibn Abi al-Huqaiq, headed towards Khaybar. One group went to the land of Syria, and only two men, namely Yamin ibn Amr and Abu Sa'id ibn Wahb, accepted Islam. Therefore, their property was not seized.
Even after going to Khyber, the behavior of the Jews remained the same, which is why the Battle of Khyber took place. Kinana, who had also broken his promise and had hidden the treasure of Banu Nadir, and Mahmood bin Muslima, who was sitting under the wall of the fortress of Na'im to seek shade, this person crushed them under a millstone and killed them. Therefore, when Kinana was handed over to Muhammad bin Muslima by the Prophet ﷺ, he killed him in revenge for Mahmood bin Muslima.
And the same was the reason for the killing of Hayy bin Akhtab. In fact, after the Battle of Khyber, when the prisoners were distributed, the Prophet ﷺ had also handed over Safiya bint Hayy, may Allah be pleased with her, to Dihyah. Upon people's attention that she was a noble lady of Banu Nadir and Banu Qurayza and thus befitting of you, you ﷺ freed her and married her. In summary, the reason for the killing of her father and husband was their betrayal, not the marriage to Lady Safiya, may Allah be pleased with her.
