The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) treated all people well, including the Jews. Allah, may He be glorified, enjoined fairness, kindness, good treatment and rendering back trusts with the Jews and others, as He, may He be glorified, said (interpretation of the meaning):
“Allah does not forbid you to deal justly and kindly with those who fought not against you on account of religion and did not drive you out of your homes. Verily, Allah loves those who deal with equity”
[al-Mumtahanah 60:8].
Examples of the kindness of the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) in his interactions with the Jews include the following:
(a) He used to visit their sick. Al-Bukhaari (1356) narrated from Anas ibn Maalik (may Allah be pleased with him) that a Jewish boy used to serve the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) and he fell sick. The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) came to visit him. He sat by his head and said: “Become Muslim.” The boy looked at his father, who was also by his head, and his father said to him: Obey Abu’l-Qaasim (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him). So he became Muslim, and the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) left, saying, “Praise be to Allah Who have saved him from the Fire.”.
(b) He (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) used to accept their gifts. Al-Bukhaari (2617) and Muslim (2190) narrated from Anas ibn Maalik (may Allah be pleased with him) that a Jewish woman brought some poisoned mutton to the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) and he ate some of it.
(c) The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) used to forgive their mistreatment, and he told the people not to kill that woman who had put the poison in the mutton. In the rest of the hadith mentioned above it says: She was brought to the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) and he asked her about that. She said: I wanted to kill you. He said: “Allah will never give you the power to do that.” Or he said: “to me.” They said: Shall we kill her? He said: “No.” In fact, in the hadith of Abu Hurayrah in
Saheeh al-Bukhaari (3169) it says that this was done with the knowledge of the Jews and that they admitted that they had tried to kill him with poison. Yet despite that he (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) did not issue orders that revenge be taken on his behalf, but after that he executed her for the death of the Sahaabi who had been with him (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) and had eaten some of the poisoned mutton; his name was Bishr ibn al-Bara’ (may Allah be pleased with him).
Similarly, when the Jew Labeed ibn al-Asamm bewitched him, and Allah healed him from that spell, he did not take revenge on him or issue orders that he be killed. Rather in
Sunan al-Nasaa’i (4080), in a report which was classed saheeh by al-Albaani, it is narrated that Zayd ibn Arqam said: He never mentioned that to that Jew and I never saw that reflected in his expression (if he met him).
(d) The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) used to enter into dealings with the Jews and would be sincere in his dealings with them. It was narrated that Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) gave Khaybar to the Jews on the basis that they would work and cultivate it, and they would have half of whatever it yielded. Narrated by al-Bukhaari (2165) and Muslim (1551).
It was narrated that ‘Aa’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said: The Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) bought some food on credit from a Jew, and he gave him a shield of his as collateral (rahn). Narrated by al-Bukhaari (1990) and Muslim (1603).
(e) When the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) first came to Madinah, he used to like to go along with some of the deeds and customs of the Jews, so as to soften their hearts towards Islam. But when he saw their stubbornness, denial and arrogance, he issued instructions to be different from them, and he forbade resembling them.
It was narrated from Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) used to let his hair hang over his forehead and the mushrikeen used to part their hair. The People of the Book used to let their hair hang over their foreheads and the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) liked to do the same as the People of the Book in matters concerning which he had received no command. Then (later on) the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) parted his hair. Narrated by al-Bukhaari (3728) and Muslim (2336).
(f) The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) did not refrain from debating with them; rather he was humble with them and he would answer their questions, even if their intention in asking him was to be stubborn and argue on the basis of falsehood.
It was narrated that ‘Abdullah ibn Mas‘ood (may Allah be pleased with him) said: Whilst I was walking with the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) in a field, and he was leaning on a stick, he passed by a group of Jews. They said to one another: Ask him about the soul. They said: Why do you want to ask him about it? He may give an answer that you dislike. They said: Ask him. So one of them stood up and asked him about the soul. The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) remained silent and did not give any answer, and I knew that Revelation was coming to him. I stayed where I was, and when the Revelation ended he said:
“And they ask you (O Muhammad (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him)) concerning the Rooh (the spirit). Say: “The Rooh (the spirit) is one of the things, the knowledge of which is only with my Lord. And of knowledge, you (mankind) have been given only a little” [al-Isra’ 17:85].. Narrated by al-Bukhaari (444) and Muslim (2794).
(g) He used to pray for them to be guided and set straight. It was narrated that Abu Moosa (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The Jews used to pretend to sneeze in the presence of the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) hoping that he would say to them, May Allah have mercy on you, so he would say: May Allah guide you and set you straight. Narrated by at-Tirmidhi (2739); he said: It is hasan saheeh. It was classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in
Saheeh at-Tirmidhi.
The Prophet’s interactions with the Jews - islamqa.info