The Battle of Khaybar

[الملتقى]

THE DIVINE REWARD
Allah had promised a great reward to all those who had, at Hudaybiyah, sworn allegiance to the Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) which was known as Bai’atur-Rizwan or the oath of Paradise. Having submitted to the will of God and His Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) in that hour of crisis, Allah foretold them of the coming victory as well as the booty they were to win shortly.
“Allah was well pleased with the believers when they swore allegiance unto thee beneath the tree, and He knew what was in their hearts, and He sent down peace of reassurance on them, and hath rewarded them with a near victory. And much booty that they will capture, Allah is ever Mighty, Wise.” [Qur'an 48:18-19]
The Conquest of Khaybar was to serve as a prelude to the subsequent victories that followed in its path. Khaybar was a Jewish colony(20) comprising several citadels, some of which were built on hill tops and were virtually impregnable. It was, thus, the last but formidable Jewish stronghold in Arabia. Anxious to confront the Muslims for the plight of their brothers in Madeenah, the Jews of Khaybar were willing to spend their wealth in pursuit of stirring agitation from the neighbouring Arab tribes to wage war against the Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam). At the time when the expedition to Khaybar was undertaken, the Jews of the place were in league with the tribe of Ghatfan with whom they were hatching up an agreed plot against the Muslims.(21) The Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) thus found a good reason to act against the Jews of Khaybar. He decided that the time had come to get rid of their intrigues once and for all so that he might be able to divert his attention to other pressing matters. Khaybar was situated at a distance of 112-Km northeast of Madeenah.

THE PROPHET (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) LEADS THE ARMY
After his return from Hudaybiyah, the Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) stayed in Madeenah during Dhul-Hijjah and a part of the month of Muharram. Thereafter he marched towards Khaybar.
One of the companions of the Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) by the name of ‘Amr b. al-Akhw’a (radiallahu 'anhu), accompanied the Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) on this expedition. He recited the following verses given here while he rode with the army.
“We’d have not been guided, but for Allah, nor given alms, nor chanted Glory, We are the people, when attacked or treated unjustly, we resist. Send down Sakinah upon us, Against the enemy make us firm.(22)
The combatants who marched against Khaybar numbered 1,400 including 200 cavalries, and all those who had lagged behind on the occasion of Hudaybiyah were refused permission to go on this expedition. Twenty women also went along with the force so as to look after the sick and the wounded as well as to prepare food for the men.
In order to cut the communications between the two allies, the Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) halted at Raj’i, a wadi between Khaybar and the Ghatfan. The Jews had other confederate tribes as well but the Prophet's (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) stay at Raj’i forced all of them to remain in their homes instead of trying to reinforce the Jews. The road to Khaybar was thus left open to the Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) .
The Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) ordered to procure food for the army but nothing except parched corn was available.(23) When the Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) approached Khaybar, he raised his hand to invoke and pray to God for the conquest of the colony and sought the Lord’s refuge from the evil of its people. The Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) never took the offensive during the night but rather delayed it till the crack of dawn and if the call for prayer was given, he first performed it. Here, too, he endured the night and ordered to march ahead before the call for prayer was given. The Muslims met the workers of Khaybar coming out with spades and basket. As soon as they saw the Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) and the army, they turned on their heels shouting, “Muhammad and his force.” The Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) said, “God is Great. Khaybar is destroyed. When we fall upon a people the morning is cruel enough for those who have already been warned.” (Ibn Hisham, Vol. III, pp. 229-30)

THE VICTORIOUS COMMANDER
The Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) came at the fortresses and started overpowering them one by one. Marhab, the well-known Jewish warlord, held one of these citadels. It was a fortified stronghold at which the initial delegation was denied success for 'Ali (radiallahu 'anhu) was suffering from ophthalmia. After a few unsuccessful charges, the Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) said, “Tomorrow I will give the flag to the man who loves Allah and His Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) and he will conquer the fort.” Every companion waited in suspense, hoping to be given the emblem. The Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) summoned ‘'Ali (radiallahu 'anhu), blew into his eyes with his saliva and prayed for his success. The eyes of ‘'Ali (radiallahu 'anhu) were cured in due time afterwhich he was then given the insignia(24) and ordered to fight the Jews until he prevailed over them. The Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) said to ‘Ali (radiallahu 'anhu), “Go ahead and encompass them. First invite them to accept Islam and explain the obligations they owe to God. I swear to God that even if only one man is guided to the right path trough you, this would be better for you than the red camels.(25)

'ALI (radiallahu 'anhu) FACES THE JEWISH WARRIOR
When ‘Ali (radiallahu 'anhu) came near the fort, Marhab, the Jew appeared on his horse protected by armor and shield, reciting a poem about his valor. ‘Ali (radiallahu 'anhu) imposed himself upon Marhab and both fell upon each other swinging their scimitars. ‘Ali's (radiallahu 'anhu) sword plunged first into Marhab slicing through his helmet and head until his face was divided into two equal parts. ‘Ali (radiallahu 'anhu) had succeeded in reducing the fort.(26)
Muhammad b. Maslama (radiallahu 'anhu) also fought bravely at Khaybar and killed a number of well-known Jewish warriors.

AN EASY REWARD
The slave of Khaybar had been hired to watch over the flocks of his master. When he saw the Jews taking up arms in order to give Muslims a fight, he asked, “Why do you really have to go?” The Jews replied that they were going to fight the man who had laid a claim to Prophethood. The slave’s curiosity brought him to the Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) whom he asked. The Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) replied, “I call you to Islam, that is, you bear witness that there is no deity save God and that I am the Prophet of God, and you serve not no one except God.”
“If I bear witness as you say,” inquired the slave, “and have faith in God, what shall I get in return?”
The Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) replied, “If you die with faith, you will enter paradise.”
The slave accepted Islam and then asked the Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam). “What should I do with this flock? I hold it in trust.”
The Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) told him to abandon the goats in the field near the fort and God would cause them to reach their owner. The man did as he had been told and true enough, the goats found their way back to their master. The Jew also came to know that his slave has gone over to the fold of the Muslims.
Before the encounter started between the Muslims and the Jews, the Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) urged his men to fight for the sake of God. The slave also advanced with the Muslims and was killed in the battlefield. When the Muslims brought his dead body, the Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) tried to look at him and turning to his companions, he said, “Allah blessed this man and brought him to Khaybar. I saw him for two hours doing that as I was standing by his side although he never prostrated to God.” (Zad al-Ma’ad, Vol. I, p. 393.)

DEVOID OF ULTERIOR MOTIVES
A bedouin came to the Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) and after accepting Islam expressed his wish to accompany him in the expedition. The Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) asked some of his companions to take care of him and settle his needs. When the Muslims captured one of the forts and won a large booty, the man had taken out a herd of cattle for grazing. The spoils were distributed among the combatants apportioning the Bedouin also of his share. When he was given his part, he took it to the Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) and asked, “What is this?” The Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) explained that it was his share of the booty of war, but he said, “I didn’t come to you for it.” Then pointing to his throat he continued, “I followed you hoping that I would be hit by an arrow, entitling me of Paradise.” The Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) replied, “If you desire it so, God will do likewise.”
Then, in a subsequent battle at Khaybar the Bedouin was among those killed in the encounter. The Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) asked, “Is it the same man?” When the companions replied in the affirmative, the Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) remarked, “He was true to God and God made his wish come true.” The Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) shrouded his corpse with his own mantle and recited the funeral service for him. Thereafter, he said, “O Allah, thy servant had come to migrate in Thy way and was killed for Thy sake. I bear witness to it.” (Zad al-Ma’ad, Vol. I, p. 394)
The people of Khaybar were beleaguered in their forts which began to fall one by one. The Jews, unable to stand the siege any longer, asked for a peace pact. The Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) wanted to displace the Jews from Khaybar, but they bargained if they could be allowed to live in their homes and to cultivate the fields. They pleaded that they were better farmers and knew more about it than others. The Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) did not want his companions to till the soil since it would have required them to settle there and lay themselves out in farming. Therefore, he allowed the Jews to retain their farmhouses on the condition that the Muslims would get half of the produce of their fields and groves. Another condition imposed was that the Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) could unilaterally abolish the agreement. (Zad al-Ma’ad, Vol. pp. 394-95. For details see Sinan Abu Dawud)
The Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) delegated the production sharing to ‘Abdallah b. Rawaha who used to divide the produce into two equal parts, and then ask the Jews to choose one of them. The Jews often remarked on his even-handed justice: “This is on which stand the heavens and the earth.” (Balahuri: Futuh-ul-Buldan, Leiden, 1886, p. 34)

RELIGIOUS TOLERANCE
The booty collected by the Muslims in the battle of Khaybar included not a few copies of the Jewish scripture. The Jews requested the Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) for their retrieval to which the Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) acceded and ordered that they should be given back to them. (Tarikh al-Khamis, Vol. II, p. 60)
A Jewish scholar, Dr. Israel Welphenson, reviewing the conquest of Khaybar, refers to the magnanimous treatment of the Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) towards the Jews in these words:
“The event shows what a high regard the Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) had for their scriptures. His tolerant and considerate behavior impressed the Jews who could never forget that the Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) did nothing to degrade their sacred scriptures. The Jews knew how the Romans had, when they captured Jerusalem in 70 B.C., burnt their scriptures and trampled them underfoot. The fanatic Christians persecuting the Jews in Spain had likewise consigned their scriptures to fire. This is the great difference we find between these conquerors and the Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) of Islam.”(Al-Yahud fi Balad il’-‘Arab, p. 170)

ARRIVAL OF J’AFAR IBN ABI TALIB (radiallahu 'anhu)
J’afar b. Abi Talib, the cousin of the Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) and other emigrants returned from Abyssinia while the Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) was still in Khaybar. The Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) was so pleased to see him that he kissed the forehead of J’afar and said, “By God, I don’t know which gives me the greater pleasure – the conquest of Khaybar or the arrival of J’afar!” (Zad al-Ma’ad, Vol. p. 397)

ANOTHER JEWISH CONSPIRACY
It was during the Khaybar expedition that an attempt was made to poison the Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam). Zaynab bint al-Harith, the wife of Salam b. Mishkam presented a roasted kid to the Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam), having first inquired what part he preferred. Recognizing that the Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) relished the shoulder, she put a lot of poison in it and offered it to him. The Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) tasted a morsel of it but quickly threw it out realizing that it was poisoned.
The Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) summoned the Jews and inquired from them, “Will you be truthful, if I ask something from you?” They said, “Yes”. The Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) again asked them, “Did you poison the kid?” When they again replied in the affirmative, the Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) queried what had made them to do that. They replied, “We thought that if you were a pretender, we would get rid of you but if you were really a Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam), the poison would be ineffective.” Zaynab bint Al-Harith was then produced before the Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam). She confessed her guilt, saying, “I wanted to kill you.” The Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) replied, “God would not allow you to gain power over me.” Some of the companions asked permission to punish the woman for her crime, but the Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) forbade them. Zainab was set free, but when Bishr b. Al-Bara who had taken the roasted lamb with the Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) died a painful death owing to such cause, Zaynab was slain. (Al-Bukhaari)

EFFECT OF THE CONQUEST OF KHAYBAR
The magnificent victory won by the Muslims at Khaybar was of far-reaching importance to them, especially against the tribes, which have yet to accept Islam. They were aware of the wealth and prowess of the Jews of Khaybar, their impregnable strongholds and valor of the well-known warriors like Marhab and Harith Abi Zaynab. They considered its capture to be virtually impossible but their estimate of the nascent power of Madeenah had proved to be futile enough. For they now realized that the Muslims’ strength is implicitly irresistible.
Discussing the effect of the victory gained at Khaybar on the subsequent history of Islam, Dr. Israel Welphenson says:
“There is not the least doubt that the conquest of Khaybar occupies an important place in the history of the subsequent conquests of Islam. All the Arab tribes were anxiously watching for the outcome of the saber rattling between the Ansaar and the Jews. The enemies of the Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) spread over many cities and the desert had pinned down their hopes upon this battle.” (Al-Yahud Fi Balad il-'Arab, p. 162)

THE SPOILS OF KHAYBAR
Having finished with Khaybar, the Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) directed his attention to Fadak(27), which was the principal town, fertile and populous, in the northern part of Hijaz, with strong fortifications. (Ibn Hisham, Vol. II, p. 38) The Jews of Fadak sent an offer of peace to the Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam), on the condition that they should be allowed to keep half of their produce. The Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) who used to spend the income from Fadak on the welfare of the Muslims accepted the terms. (Ibn Hisham, Vol. II, p. 38)
The Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) then moved on with the army to the Wadi’l Qura(28), a colony founded by the Jews during the pre-Islamic period. Lying midway between Khaybar and Taima, it had become a flourishing town with the settlement of a number of Arab tribes in it. The Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) invited the Arabs of Wadi Al-Qura to accept Islam. He told them that if they acceded to Islam, their life and property would be safe and they would have a goodly return from the Lord.
The Jews decided to fight, but the heroic assault led by Zubayr b. al-‘Awwam made them surrender the very next day. A great deal of property fell into the hands of the Muslims. The Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) distributed the spoils among his troops but left the groves of date-palm to the Jews.
When the Jews of Taima(29) learnt about the fall of Khaybar, Fadak and Wadil-Qura and the terms on which they had made peace with the Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam), they hastened to send him an offer of peace. The Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) accepted their proposal and allowed them to retain the possession of their land and property. Thereafter the Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) returned to Madeenah. (Zad al-Ma'ad, Vol. I, p. 405)

LARGEHEARTEDNESS OF THE MUHAJIRUN
The Ansaar of Madeenah had shared their possessions with the emigrants when they had come from Makkah. Now, well-provided with the spoils of Khaybar, the Muhajirun returned the property shared earlier by their Ansaar brethren. Umm Sulaym, the mother of Anas b. Malik, had presented a few date-palm trees to the Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam), who had given them out to his freed slave-woman Umm Ayman. After the Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) got the groves of Fadak, he returned the date-palm trees of Umm Sulaym and compensated Umm Ayman with ten trees of Fadak for every date-palm given earlier to her. (Zad al-Ma'ad, Vol. I, p. 406)
The Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) sent forth a number of raiding parties under eminent companions against some of the contumacious desert tribes. Some of these detachments had to put up a fight against them while others returned without any contest. (Zad al-Ma'ad, Vol. I, p. 409-410)

THE MISSED PILGRIMAGE
The following year, in 7 A.H., the Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) and his followers took the road to Makkah for performing the lesser pilgrimage missed by them earlier. The Quraysh thought it best to lock their house and retire to the heights of Jabl Qa’yqa’an overlooking the valley.(30) The Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) stayed for three days in the holy city and made the circuit of the holy house. Referring to the joyous event, the Qur’an says:
“Allah hath fulfilled the vision(31) for his Messenger in very truth. Ye shall indeed enter the Inviolable Place of Worship, if Allah will, secure, (having your hair) shaven and cut, not fearing. But He knoweth that which ye know not, and hath given you a near victory beforehand.” [Qur'an 48:27]

RIGHTS OF WOMEN RESTORED
Islam had changed the hearts and elevated the mentality of the Arabs. The custom which prevailed in the pre-Islamic days of burying female infants alive, so as to save the honor of the family, was not only given up but the daughters came to be so dearly loved that the people vied with one another in lavishing their affection to them. All Muslims, men and women, were equal, none-possessing any privilege over another; only he was superior who was better in morals and piety. When the Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) left Makkah after performing the ‘Umra, the little daughter of Hamza known as Umama, followed him calling “Uncle, Uncle.” Ali (radiallahu 'anhu) took her and asked Fatima to look after the girl. Now Zayd and J’afar also claimed the guardianship of the child. ‘Ali (radiallahu 'anhu) laid claim overr her since accordingly, she was the daughter of his uncle. J’afar on the other hand reasoned out that she was the daughter of his uncle and her maternal aunt was his wife. Zayd, too, wanted to have the child for all the Muslims were brothers and he could very well look after the daughter of a deceased brother. The matter was brought to the attention of the Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) who decided that the maternal aunt being in the position of the mother of the girl should be given priority and thus the girl was finally entrusted to J’afar. To appease ‘Ali, the Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) consoled him, “You are mine and I am yours.” He then reassured J’afar by saying, “You resemble me in your looks and conduct.” Zayd was also comforted with words, “You are my brother and client.” (Al-Bukhaari)

Footnotes
[20] The forts of Na’im, Qamus and Ash-Shiqq were some of the famous forts of Khaybar. Yaqubi says that Khaybar then had 25, 000 able-bodied warriors. (Vol. 2, p. 56, cited from Mujib Ullah Nadwi, Sahabah was Tabi’yin, Azamgarh)
[21] With the Jews straining every nerve to bring about the destruction of Muslims, as Montgomery Watt says in his book, Muhammad – Prophet and Stateman (p. 189), the action against Khaybar could not have been posponed any longer. Montgomery writes: The Jews of Khaybar, especially the leaders of the clan of an-Nadir exiled from Madina, were still incensed at Muhammad. They made lavish, though no doubt judicious, use of their wealth to induce the neighbouringward reason for attacking Khaybar.
[22] Ibn Kathi, Vol. III, pp. 344-45, Muslim, Chap. Ghawaz Khaybar.
[23] Ibn Kathi, Vol. III, pp. 345-46, Muslim, Chap. Ghawaz Khaybar.
[24] Bukhari and Muslim, Chap. Gazwah Khaybar
[25] Bukhari, Chap. Gazwah Khaybar, Muslim, Nasa'i
[26] Bukhari, Chap. Ghazwah Khaybar, Muslim, Naza’i. 3. The encounter between ‘Ali and marhabah has been reported by different persons – some say they fought for the fort of Na’im while other relate it connextion with the forth of Qamus. Bukhari has given different portions of the story but has not mentioned the name forth. Ibn Hisham relates that Marhab killed by Muhammad B. Maslama but report in the Sahi Muslim mentions ‘Ali while some verse by ‘Ali leave no doubt that he fought and killed Marhab. (Musli, Kitab-ul-Jihad, tradition No. 1807).
[27] The population of Fadak consisted of the Jews belonging to Bani Murrah and Bani S’ad b. Bakr (Nihayatul ‘Arab, Vol XVII, p. 209).
[28] Wadi l-Qura was valley with large number of village and towns, populated by Arab and Jewish tribes. It had a fertile land with numerous wells and springs.
[29] Taima is further away from Wadi-Qura in the north near the confined of Syria. The noted Jewish poet, Sama’al b. ‘Adiya lived here in a castle called al-Ablaq al-Fard
[30] Bukahri, Chap. ‘Umratul Qada.
[31] The Prophet had a vision that he was entering the Sanctuary at Makkah in peace and safety.

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The Battle of Khaybar

[محمد نصر]

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