`Abdullah ibn Ubayy came to him and interceded on their behalf saying...

`Abdullah ibn Ubayy came to him and interceded on their behalf saying: "O Apostle of Allah, these are my allies and clients who have defended me against the black and the red (that is, against all kinds of people). They were three hundred armoured soldiers and four hundred without armour. Would you now cut them down all in one morning?

By Allah, I can then find no security; rather I dread the turns of fortunes!" The people of Banu Qaynuqa` were allies of the Khazraj tribe only, and not of the Aws. `Abdullah ibn Ubayy persisted in his entreaties until the Prophet relented and granted him their blood. But seeing the humiliation which they had suffered, the people of Banu Qaynuqa` left Medina altogether and settled in Adhri'at in Syria.

Then Allah sent down concerning `Abdullah ibn Ubayy and others of the Khazraj tribe: O you who have faith, take not the Jews or the Christians as patrons . . . [Qur'an. 5 : 51- 52] . The Battle Of Uhud Then the Battle of Uhud followed, a year after that of Badr. The leader of the Associators in that battle was Abu Sufyan ibn Harb. The of the Apostle of Allah were on that day seven hundred and the Associators numbered two thousand.

The Messenger of Allah set out for the battle after consulting with his . Although his own opinion was that the men should engage in street fighting, while those who were not strong enough for fighting should shoot arrows from the rooftops, yet they insisted on going out to meet the Quraysh in the battle. But on the way they changed their minds and asked to turn back.

He refused saying: It is not fit for a prophet to turn back once he has decided to set out to engage a group in the battle." They were actually a thousand men. On the way, however, `Abdullah ibn Ubayy deserted with a third of the men. They said in justification of their decision, "By Allah, we know not for what are we going to kill ourselves, while the enemy are his own people! " The men of Banu Harithah and Banu Salmah likewise were at the point of deserting.

However, Allah, be He exalted, restrained them, as He says: When two groups of you had nearly lost heart; yet Allah was their Master . . . [ Qur'an. 3 :123 ] . The Messenger of Allah woke up next morning ready for fighting. He charged 'Ali with the banner of the Immigrants, and that of the Ansar, Sa'd ibn `Ubadah. The Messenger of Allah joined the banner of the Ansar. He then went to inspect the archers, who were fifty men led by `Abdullah ibn Jubayr.