8/7/2019 Battle of Khaibar

1/4

Battle Of Khaibar

The Jews of Madina after their banishment were now settled in Khaiber, a stronghold ofthe Jews of Arabia. But they had neither forgiven nor forgotten the Prophet (S.A.W) for

their ouster. Their anger and hatred of him was more because of their disappointment

they got from him. When the Prophet (S.A.W) came to Madina they saw him and hisfollowers offering their prayers facing Palestine. They thought that his preachings were

another form of Judaism and the Prophet (S.A.W) was actually one of them and that they

can make best use of him. But when they realized that his teachings had broken their

monopolies in business and that his preachings were against capitalism their basic creedand the Prophet (S.A.W) asking the Muslims neither to pay interest or take interest which

means their losing the control on the economy of Madina, they began fearing him, and

when they saw that he has even changed the direction of their prayers from Palestine to

Mecca they started hating him and wanted to kill him. And for this cause they had thesupport of even many rich Muslims of Madina who had lost their distinctions because of

the teaching of equality and brotherhood by the Prophet (S.A.W). At the time ofembracing Islam they had never thought that this religion will make them sit and pray

with humble slaves and poor people. But were now helpless as the Muslims were now a

bigger force which could not be easily dispensed with. So they began to conspire with theJews to annihilate the Muslims completely.

Khaiber is a place some eighty miles from Madina and an old Jewish settlement. Here the

Jews from Palestine and other places had settled after their banishments. And gradually

this thickly populated settlement had developed into a big market. The place was also

considered safe because it was surrounded by six strongly built forts. The strongest andthe biggest being Kamoos. (Khaiber in Hebrew means fort). They thought that being in

Khaiber they were very secured and they could do any harm to the Muslims from there

for which they cannot be punished. They occasionally raided the outskirts of Madina,looting and plundering the fruit trees and carrying away their cattles.

One day when they killed the son of Abu Zar-e-Ghaffari who was looking after the cattle

of the Prophet (S.A.W), the Prophet (S.A.W) sent Abdulla Bin Rawaha to warn them fordoing such crimes.

But they refused to listen to Abdullah and Abdullah returned disappointed. The Prophet

(S.A.W) also got the news that the Jewish tribes of Bani Ghaftan, Bani Asad and BaniKanana had again regrouped under the command of Marhab, the famous Jew warrior ofKhaibar. The Prophet (S.A.W) who was very much involved in dealing with the

hypocrites of Madina did not want to fight on two fronts. But when he saw that the Jews

of Khaibar would not allow him to live in peace and would attack any moment, he

decided to counter attack them at Khaiber itself before they could attempt to over runMadina. Taking some fourteen hundred people the Prophet (S.A.W) marched towards

Khaiber.

8/7/2019 Battle of Khaibar

2/4

The Prophet (S.A.W) on reaching Khaiber got an attack of migraine, he had to confine

himself to his tent, and due to severity of the pain could not do anything. Ali (A.S.) too

was suffering from conjunctivitis and was lying in his tent. Umar ibn Khattab withoutconsulting the Prophet (S.A.W) took the flag of Islam himself and went to attack the

enemies but could not face the onslaught of the enemies and soon returned without any

fight. Next day the Prophet (S.A.W) gave the flag to Abu Bakr but he too ran awaywithout giving any fight disappointing the Prophet (S.A.W). Third day Umar again took

courage and asked for the flag but soon came back from the battle field. When the

Prophet (S.A.W) questioned him, he blamed the soldiers for not standing by him andcalled them cowards. And when the Prophet (S.A.W) questioned the soldiers about their

flight from the battlefield they blamed Umar and called him impotent.

The Prophet (S.A.W) was pained to see the state of affairs of the Muslims and their

defeat for three consecutive days. Now the victory of the Muslims had become anecessity because the Prophet (S.A.W) feared that the hypocrites of Madina may also

raise their heads on hearing the news of these defeats. Addressing the Muslims that

evening the Prophet (S.A.W) said, "Tomorrow I shall give the banner to a person, who isbrave, who will attack and not run away from the battlefield. He is the lover of Allah andHis Prophet (S.A.W) and Allah and His Prophet (S.A.W) also love him. This person will

not return from the battlefield without achieving victory." [Bukhari, Vol. 3, Page 33] This

prediction of the Prophet (S.A.W) became the cause of sleepless nights for many. Victorywas now certain and guaranteed, who ever carries the flag will not die, and return

victorious. So why not have it. Next morning, when the Prophet (S.A.W) rose to speak to

the Muslims, many of them who had desired to be "that lucky person" sat erect so that theProphet (S.A.W) may not overlook him. Umar speaking of his own feelings on that night

said, "That was the day when I desired to be that man the Prophet (S.A.W) had predicted,

and it was on that day that I dreamt of becoming the Amir (ruler)." [Izalatul Khefah, Vol.

2, Page 49] When Ali (A.S.) was told about the Prophet (S.A.W)s prediction he said, "OAllah if you do not want to oblige anyone, no one can, and when you want to oblige

anyone, who can stop You."

Next morning the Prophet (S.A.W) summoned Ali (A.S.) from his sick bed, and aftercuring his conjunctivitis by applying his saliva, gave him the flag of Islam and ordered

him to proceed to the battlefront. Ali (A.S.) asked, "Have I to fight till they embrace

Islam?" The Prophet (S.A.W) replied, "No teach them Islam and show them their duties

towards Allah. If they dont agree ask them to have peace. By Allah if you succeed inconverting even one Jew to Islam, it will be more than finding a red camel, which I am

sure you will sacrifice it in the name of Allah."

Ali (A.S.) wearing a red gown, went near the fort of the Jews and posted his flag on astone. A Jew priest watching Ali (A.S.) from the fort asked, "O Flag bearer who are you

and what is your name." When Ali (A.S.) gave his name he declared to his people,

"Beware I swear on Torat that you will be conquered." [Mir Dariyun Naboowa, Vol. 2,

Page 30] Haris Judah brother of Marhab rushed out of the fort and killed some Muslims.Ali (A.S.) challenged him and finished him then and there. Seeing his brother dead

Marhab himself came out of the fort with his crack force and began to speak of his

8/7/2019 Battle of Khaibar

3/4

8/7/2019 Battle of Khaibar

4/4