26وَأَنزَلَ الَّذينَ ظاهَروهُم مِن أَهلِ الكِتابِ مِن صَياصيهِم وَقَذَفَ في قُلوبِهِمُ الرُّعبَ فَريقًا تَقتُلونَ وَتَأسِرونَ فَريقًاMuhammad Asadand He brought down from their strongholds those of the followers of earlier revelation who had aided the aggressors,1 and cast terror into their hearts: some you slew, and some you made captive;Lit., "them", i.e., the tribes allied against Muhammad and his community. The "followers of earlier revelation" (ahi al-kitab) referred to here were the Jews of the tribe of Banu Qurayzah, who despite their monotheistic faith had betrayed the Muslims and made common cause with the pagan Confederates. After the dismal rout of the latter, the Banu Qurayzah, anticipating the vengeance of the community which they had betrayed, withdrew to their fortresses in the vicinity of Medina. After a siege lasting twenty-five days they surrendered to the Muslims, forfeiting all that they possessed.