The battle of Khaybar (غَزْوَة خَيْبَر) was fought in early 628 CE (7 AH) between the early Muslims, led by Muhammad, and the Arabian Jews living in Khaybar, an oasis located from the city of Medina. The Jewish tribes had reportedly arrived in the Hejaz in the wake of the Jewish–Roman wars and introduced agriculture, putting them in a dominant position culturally, economically, and politically. According to Islamic sources, the Jews at Khaybar had barricaded themselves in forts after breaching an agreement with the Muslims, following which Muhammad led an army to capture the oasis.
Islamic sources accuse the Jews of Khaybar of having plotted to unite with other Jewish tribes from Banu Wadi Qurra, Tayma and Fadak as well as with the Ghatafan (an Arab tribe) to mount an attack on Medina. Scottish historian William M. Watt notes the presence in Khaybar of the Banu Nadir, who were working with neighboring Arab tribes to protect themselves from Medina's Muslim community, who had earlier attacked and exiled Jewish tribes, accusing them of violating the Charter of Medina and (based on prophetic vision) of conspiring to kill Muhammad. Orientalist Laura V. Vaglieri claims other motives for the Muslim offensive might have included the prestige that the engagement would confer upon Muhammad among his followers, as well as the loot which could be used to supplement future campaigns.
The battle ended with the surrender of the Khaybar Jews, who were then allowed to continue living in the region on the condition that they would give one-half of their produce to the Muslims. The Jews of Khaybar continued to live on the oasis for several more years, until they were expelled by the second Rashidun Caliph, Umar. The imposition of tribute by the Muslims onto the Jews served as a precedent for provisions in Islamic law, which requires the regular exaction of tribute—known as jizya—from dhimmi non-Muslim subjects living in areas under Muslim rule, as well as the confiscation of land belonging to non-Muslims to merge into the collective property of the Muslim community (Ummah).