The Valley of Khayber, a fertile region, was located to the north of Madina. 20,000 Jews who were proficient in farming and combat lived in the region. To defend themselves against any invasion, they had erected seven formidable forts at Khayber.
Some of the Jewish Bani Qaynqaa and Bani Nuzayr clans relocated to Khayber after being driven out of Madina for their anti-Islamic plans. Here, they kept up their old habits by promoting and aiding the Arab tribes in their efforts to undermine the Islamic State.
The Jews continued to pose a threat to the Muslims even after they had lost the Battle of Ahzab to the Muslims. Furthermore, the Holy Prophet (PBUH) had written to a number of regional authorities because he was concerned that those leaders who had disapproved of Islam might band together with the Khayberi Jews to pose a threat to Muslims.
The Holy Prophet (PBUH) knew he would have no trouble from the Quraish since he had just signed a peace treaty with them, so he could focus on eliminating the threat to Islam in Khayber. As a result, he gave the Muslims the command to prepare to take over the final Jewish stronghold in Arabia.
There were 1,600 men in the Muslim army, 200 of whom rode horses. The troops advanced while carrying the Imam Ali flag (A.S).
The Holy Prophet (PBUH) first marched toward the tribes of Bani Ghatfaan and Bani Fazarah to cause them to leave their homes in order to prevent them from aiding their Jewish allies. When the Holy Prophet (PBUH) adjusted his course for Khayber, it was too late for the two tribes to aid their allies because they had already realized that the Jews were the real target.
Na’im, Qamus, Katibah, Nastaat, Shiq, Watih, and Sulaalim were the names of the seven forts in Khayber. To keep an eye out for any problems, sentries were stationed in watchtowers at each of the forts. The forts were built specifically to defend the entire region, and to repel an enemy attack, the walls were fortified with weaponry like enormous catapults.
After arriving in the Khayber region, the Muslim army assessed the situation and took control of all the key access routes to prevent the Jews from fleeing.
Unnoticed by the farmers, the Muslims arrived, and when they emerged from the forts the following morning, they were startled to see an army standing before them. Back in the forts, the Jews convened meetings to plan their response to the crisis. In the end, it was decided to transport the food to one fort and the women and children to another. Due to the forts’ underground tunnel connections, this was possible. The best soldiers from each fort would subsequently be used by the Jews to fight the Muslims.
Muslims were also preparing for war at the same time. Na’im was the first Khayber fort to be captured by Muslims. Some Muslims were murdered and numerous more were injured during the capture of this fort. These soldiers were brought to a makeshift hospital where the Bani Ghifar tribe’s female members attended to their wounds.
Qamus was the next fort to come under attack. This fort was likewise taken after a fight. One of the two women detained within the fort was Safiyah, Hay bin Akhtab’s daughter. Later, this woman married the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H). The Muslims’ confidence grew significantly as a result of taking control of the two forts, while the Jews experienced immense distress and fear.
The Muslims were compelled to eat horse meat, which is Makruh but not Haraam to consume, as they ran out of food as the siege of the forts went on.
One shepherd who looked after Jewish sheep approached the Holy Prophet during this trying time (P.B.U.H). After some debates, he decided to believe in Islam and converted to it. In front of hundreds of hungry troops, the Holy Prophet (PBUH) gave him precise instructions on what to do with the sheep he was in charge of “One of the worst crimes in my faith is betraying trust. Bring the sheep to the fort’s entrance and deliver them to their owners “.
The shepherd followed instructions, took part in the conflict, and died as a martyr.
By his deed, the Holy Prophet (PBUH) made it very obvious that he was not in Khayber to seize wealth and land, but rather to eliminate the Jews’ danger to Islam. He refused to allow the unauthorized use of the enemy’s property despite his men’s needs and instead prayed to Allah to grant the Muslims victory over the fort where food was kept.
Fort after fort fell into the Muslim hands as the days went by. The heroes of Islam repeatedly displayed their valor and spirit of self-sacrifice in order to win Allah’s blessings.
The Muslims focused on the forts of Watih and Sulaalim after taking control of the forts of Na’im and Qamus. The Muslims attempted to take control of these forts for ten days, but they were fiercely defended.
The Holy Prophet (PBUH) then delivered a well-known message. He said, “A person who loves Allah and the Prophet and is loved by Allah and the Prophet will get the standard from me tomorrow, and Allah will use him to conquer this fort. He is a man who never retreats from combat or turns his back on his adversaries “.
The following morning, the soldiers gathered around the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H.) to see who would be picked to command the troops since they were all interested in finding out who it would be. Where is Ali, the Holy Prophet (PBUH) inquired?
He was told that Imam Ali (A.S) had an eye infection so bad it was impairing his vision. Imam Ali (A.S) was taken to the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H.) at his request. The Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H) rubbed his eyes and prayed for Imam Ali (A.S) to become better when he arrived. Imam Ali’s eyes were instantly healed, and he never experienced eye problems again.
Imam Ali (A.S) was then instructed by the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H) to march against the foe. He instructed him to request the fort leaders’ acceptance of Islam. In the event that they resisted, he was to demand that they give themselves up, live in freedom under Muslim rule, and pay taxes to the Muslim state. He should fight if this offer was likewise rejected.
Imam Ali (A.S) made his way toward the forts while holding Zulfiqar, his twin-tongued sword.
Harith the brother of Marhab, one of the Jews’ strongest warriors, was dispatched to battle the Muslims. The sight of the mighty Harith moving closer to the Islamic soldiers terrified them. Harith was killed on the ground after a brief struggle when Imam Ali (A.S.) accepted his challenge.
Marhab was furious at his brother’s passing. He emerged from the fort fully armed and in a murderous frame of mind. He was clad in a thick suit of armor and had a stone cap on his head that was protected by a helmet. He delivered his war poetry and challenged the Muslims, saying, “I am Marhab, as attested by the walls of Khayber. I am the best warrior, and the blood of those who stand in my way on the battlefield is stained with their own.”
Stepping up, Imam Ali (A.S) delivered his own poem and said, “I am the one whose mother gave him the wild lion’s name Haidar. In combat, I defeat my opponents easily.”
Imam Ali’s (A.S.) remarks were deliberately chosen. He was aware that Marhab had been experiencing nightmares lately about being torn apart by a lion, thus his statements surprised and alarmed Marhab. Marhab, however, moved forward in a horrible rage, ready to use all of his abilities to exact revenge on his murdered brother.
The two warriors’ punches instilled fear in the hearts of everyone watching. Marhab suddenly pushed his three-pronged lance in the direction of Imam Ali, who dodged the thrust and delivered a strong blow to Marhab’s head. Marhab’s head, stone cap, and helmet were all cut off by the sword of Imam Ali (A.S.), which ultimately came to rest at his teeth.
As the Jews saw their champion die in disbelief, there was a moment of quiet. Imam Ali (A.S) was encircled by several skilled Jewish troops as he triumphantly screamed “Allahu Akbar!” They couldn’t compete with his talent, though, and soon they were dead.
Imam Ali (A.S) was injured during the battle, destroying his shield. He went to the fort’s gate, yanked it from its hinges, and used it as a shield. Even ten Muslims were unable to lift it when he eventually flung it away. Later, Imam Ali (A.S) remarked that he had lifted the gate with the strength Allah had given him because of his unshakable belief in the Day of Judgment.
Imam Ali (A.S.) showed great bravery in taking the fort, and soon the Muslims controlled all forts. In this conflict, the Jews lost 93 men while the Muslims lost 20. The Jews had been taught to understand by the Holy Prophet (PBUH) how pointless it was to plan the destruction of the Muslims. After winning, he gave them back all of their lands with instructions to give the Muslims half of their agricultural profits in exchange for safety.
But the Jews never forgot how the Muslims had treated them with contempt. A Jewish woman by the name of Zainab brought some lamb meat to the Holy Prophet as a gift following their defeat (P.B.U.H). The Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H) consumed only a small amount of the poisoned meat, but it had a long-term impact on his health. When he was near death a few years later, he claimed that his illness was partially brought on by the poison he had received at Khayber.
The Muslims who had relocated from Makka to Abyssinia on the day of the triumph went back to their own homes. The Holy Prophet (PBUH) was happy and remarked that he was unsure whether the Khayber victory or his cousin Ja’far bin Abu Talib’s return from Abyssinia carrying the Muslims pleased him more.
