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*AR-RAHĪQ AL-MAKHTOUM (The Pure Nectar). A Treaties On Prophet Muhammad's Biography.*
*Part 181*
*THE BATTLE OF KHAIBAR continues*
*PREPARATIONS FOR THE CONQUEST*
On the eve of of the battle, the Prophet (Blessings and Peace of Allāh be upon him) said: "I will give tomorrow the banner to someone who loves Allāh and His Messenger and they (Allāh and His Messenger) love him." All Muslims came to the Prophet (Blessings and Peace of Allāh be upon him) in the following morning, hoping to be granted the honour of carrying the banner. The Prophet (Blessings and Peace of Allāh be upon him) said: "Where is 'Ali Ibn Abū Tālib?" The Companions said: "O Prophet, his eyes hurt him." The Prophet (Blessings and Peace of Allāh be upon him) spitted on his eyes and invoke Allāh to cure him. Immediately, he was healed and the Prophet (Blessings and Peace of Allāh be upon him) handed him the banner. The Prophet (Blessings and Peace of Allāh be upon him) said: "O 'Ali, take things easy, invite them to Islam and tell them their duties towards Allāh. For by Allāh, if only one is guided by you, that will surely outweigh the best of red camels."
When the Jews saw the Muslim army, they fled to their forts and prepared themselves to the battle. The Muslim army marched and the first fort they attacked was Nā'im, the enemies' first strategic military line.
When 'Ali reached this fort, he invited the Jews to embrace Islam. However, they rejected his invitation. It has been narrated that Salamah Ibn Al-Akwa said: "When we came to Khaibar, their leader Marhab came out, saying: "Khaibar knows that I am Marhab, a fully armed and veteran warrior." They fought against each other and eventually Marhab killed 'Amir. The Prophet (Blessings and Peace of Allāh be upon him) later said: "He ('Amir) will be granted a double reward in the Hereafter (combining two of his fingers together)." Afterwards, Marhab asked for another one to meet him in combat. 'Ali Ibn Abu Tālib dueled with him and finally managed to kill him.
When 'Ali approached their forts, a Jew asked him: "Who are you?" He replied: "I am 'Ali Ibn Abu Tālib." The Jews said: "I know (that you are 'Ali), by what has been revealed to Moses." Yāsir, the son of Marhab, came out, asking for a dueler. Without fear, Az-Zubayr accepted the challenge and killed him. His mother Safiyya asked the Messenger of Allāh (Blessings and Peace of Allāh be upon him): "Will my son be killed?" The Messenger of Allāh (Blessings and Peace of Allāh be upon him) relieved the mother's warrior, saying: "Your son will kill him."
Na'im fortress witnessed a severe fighting between the Muslims and Jews. The Jews failed to resist the Muslim attack and a huge number of their leaders were killed. According to authenticated sources, the Jews resisted the attack for several days; yet, they gave up hope and the Muslims infiltrated into As-Sa'b fortress.
OCCUPYING AS-SA'B IBN MU'ĀDH FORTRESS
As-Sa'b Ibn Mu'ādh was the second invincible fortress after Na'im. The Muslims, under the leadership of Al-Hubāb Ibn Al-Mundhir Al-Ansary, attacked this fortress. They besieged it for three days. On the third day, the Messenger of Allāh (Blessings and Peace of Allāh be upon him) asked his Companions to capture it.
Ibn Is'hāq said that the Messenger of Allāh (Blessings and Peace of Allāh be upon him) invoked Allāh (Glory be to Him) to help Banu Aslam occupy the fortress, saying: "O Allāh, you know that they are helpless and I cannot help them. O Allāh, help them conquer this fortress." Thus, the victory came before sunset and they found several mangonels and tankers.
Because of suffering hunger, the Muslims slaughtered donkeys and cooked them. When the Prophet (Blessings and Peace of Allāh be upon him) knew what happened, he prohibited them from eating them.
OCCUPYING AZ-ZUBAYR CASTLE
The Jews moved to Az-Zubayr; an inaccessible fort located on a peak. The Messenger of Allāh (Blessings and Peace of Allāh be upon him) laid siege to it for three days. A Jewish spy came to the Prophet (Blessings and Peace of Allāh be upon him) and told him that the Jews had underground springs and suggested hindering them from reaching their water resources. The Prophet (Blessings and Peace of Allāh be upon him), accordingly, welcomed his idea. The Jews engaged with the Muslims in a fierce fighting that was ended with the Conquest of the fort.
CAPTURING UBAYY CITADEL
The Muslims then attacked Ubayy citadel to which the Jews fled. Two of the Jews leaders were killed after fighting a duel with Muslims. One of them was killed by Abu Dujānah Simāk Ibn Kharashah Al-Ansary, the famous hero who used to wear a red headband. Eventually, Muslims broke into the citadel despite strong resistance. The enemies fled to An-Nizār; the last fort in the first part.
CONQUERING AN-NIZĀR
An-Nizār was an invulnerable fort because of being located on a hilltop. The Jews believed that the Muslims could not break into it and deemed it a safe place for their children and women. The Muslims besieged it and accordingly they were showered with arrows and stones.
Finding it difficult to drive into the fortress, the Prophet (Blessings and Peace of Allāh be upon him) ordered his troops to use the catapult which proved effective and caused fissures in the walls. The Muslims consequently managed to rush into the fort and the Jews run for their lives, leaving behind their children and women. The Jews then moved to the other part of Khaibar.
OCCUPYING THE OTHER PART OF KHAIBAR
The Prophet (Blessings and Peace of Allāh be upon him) and his army marched to Al-Katibah that included Al-Qamus; the fortress of Banu Abu Al-Huqaiq from Banu An-Nadir, in addition to the fortresses of Al-Watih and As-Sulalim. The people of this part were informed that the fortresses of An-Nattāh and Ash-Shaq were captured by the Muslims, therefore, they made adequate preparations.
Historians differed over whether fighting was carried out in one of the three forts. Ibn Is'hāq held the view that Al-Qamus was conquered by force. Al-Wafidy is of the opinion that the three fortresses were taken through negotiations. The Muslims might have conquered Al-Qamus by force and the two other ones through negotiations.
The Prophet (Blessings and Peace of Allāh be upon him) blockaded this division of Khaibar for fourteen days. When they knew that the Muslim army would use the ballista in combating them, they resorted to parley.
*{To be continued In-sha-Allāh (If Allāh Wills)...}*
*"And keep reminding, because reminding benefits the believers."* (Qur-ān 51:55)
*AR-RAHĪQ AL-MAKHTOUM (The Pure Nectar). A Treaties On Prophet Muhammad's Biography.*
*Part 181*
*THE BATTLE OF KHAIBAR continues*
*PREPARATIONS FOR THE CONQUEST*
On the eve of of the battle, the Prophet (Blessings and Peace of Allāh be upon him) said: "I will give tomorrow the banner to someone who loves Allāh and His Messenger and they (Allāh and His Messenger) love him." All Muslims came to the Prophet (Blessings and Peace of Allāh be upon him) in the following morning, hoping to be granted the honour of carrying the banner. The Prophet (Blessings and Peace of Allāh be upon him) said: "Where is 'Ali Ibn Abū Tālib?" The Companions said: "O Prophet, his eyes hurt him." The Prophet (Blessings and Peace of Allāh be upon him) spitted on his eyes and invoke Allāh to cure him. Immediately, he was healed and the Prophet (Blessings and Peace of Allāh be upon him) handed him the banner. The Prophet (Blessings and Peace of Allāh be upon him) said: "O 'Ali, take things easy, invite them to Islam and tell them their duties towards Allāh. For by Allāh, if only one is guided by you, that will surely outweigh the best of red camels."
When the Jews saw the Muslim army, they fled to their forts and prepared themselves to the battle. The Muslim army marched and the first fort they attacked was Nā'im, the enemies' first strategic military line.
When 'Ali reached this fort, he invited the Jews to embrace Islam. However, they rejected his invitation. It has been narrated that Salamah Ibn Al-Akwa said: "When we came to Khaibar, their leader Marhab came out, saying: "Khaibar knows that I am Marhab, a fully armed and veteran warrior." They fought against each other and eventually Marhab killed 'Amir. The Prophet (Blessings and Peace of Allāh be upon him) later said: "He ('Amir) will be granted a double reward in the Hereafter (combining two of his fingers together)." Afterwards, Marhab asked for another one to meet him in combat. 'Ali Ibn Abu Tālib dueled with him and finally managed to kill him.
When 'Ali approached their forts, a Jew asked him: "Who are you?" He replied: "I am 'Ali Ibn Abu Tālib." The Jews said: "I know (that you are 'Ali), by what has been revealed to Moses." Yāsir, the son of Marhab, came out, asking for a dueler. Without fear, Az-Zubayr accepted the challenge and killed him. His mother Safiyya asked the Messenger of Allāh (Blessings and Peace of Allāh be upon him): "Will my son be killed?" The Messenger of Allāh (Blessings and Peace of Allāh be upon him) relieved the mother's warrior, saying: "Your son will kill him."
Na'im fortress witnessed a severe fighting between the Muslims and Jews. The Jews failed to resist the Muslim attack and a huge number of their leaders were killed. According to authenticated sources, the Jews resisted the attack for several days; yet, they gave up hope and the Muslims infiltrated into As-Sa'b fortress.
OCCUPYING AS-SA'B IBN MU'ĀDH FORTRESS
As-Sa'b Ibn Mu'ādh was the second invincible fortress after Na'im. The Muslims, under the leadership of Al-Hubāb Ibn Al-Mundhir Al-Ansary, attacked this fortress. They besieged it for three days. On the third day, the Messenger of Allāh (Blessings and Peace of Allāh be upon him) asked his Companions to capture it.
Ibn Is'hāq said that the Messenger of Allāh (Blessings and Peace of Allāh be upon him) invoked Allāh (Glory be to Him) to help Banu Aslam occupy the fortress, saying: "O Allāh, you know that they are helpless and I cannot help them. O Allāh, help them conquer this fortress." Thus, the victory came before sunset and they found several mangonels and tankers.
Because of suffering hunger, the Muslims slaughtered donkeys and cooked them. When the Prophet (Blessings and Peace of Allāh be upon him) knew what happened, he prohibited them from eating them.
OCCUPYING AZ-ZUBAYR CASTLE
The Jews moved to Az-Zubayr; an inaccessible fort located on a peak. The Messenger of Allāh (Blessings and Peace of Allāh be upon him) laid siege to it for three days. A Jewish spy came to the Prophet (Blessings and Peace of Allāh be upon him) and told him that the Jews had underground springs and suggested hindering them from reaching their water resources. The Prophet (Blessings and Peace of Allāh be upon him), accordingly, welcomed his idea. The Jews engaged with the Muslims in a fierce fighting that was ended with the Conquest of the fort.
CAPTURING UBAYY CITADEL
The Muslims then attacked Ubayy citadel to which the Jews fled. Two of the Jews leaders were killed after fighting a duel with Muslims. One of them was killed by Abu Dujānah Simāk Ibn Kharashah Al-Ansary, the famous hero who used to wear a red headband. Eventually, Muslims broke into the citadel despite strong resistance. The enemies fled to An-Nizār; the last fort in the first part.
CONQUERING AN-NIZĀR
An-Nizār was an invulnerable fort because of being located on a hilltop. The Jews believed that the Muslims could not break into it and deemed it a safe place for their children and women. The Muslims besieged it and accordingly they were showered with arrows and stones.
Finding it difficult to drive into the fortress, the Prophet (Blessings and Peace of Allāh be upon him) ordered his troops to use the catapult which proved effective and caused fissures in the walls. The Muslims consequently managed to rush into the fort and the Jews run for their lives, leaving behind their children and women. The Jews then moved to the other part of Khaibar.
OCCUPYING THE OTHER PART OF KHAIBAR
The Prophet (Blessings and Peace of Allāh be upon him) and his army marched to Al-Katibah that included Al-Qamus; the fortress of Banu Abu Al-Huqaiq from Banu An-Nadir, in addition to the fortresses of Al-Watih and As-Sulalim. The people of this part were informed that the fortresses of An-Nattāh and Ash-Shaq were captured by the Muslims, therefore, they made adequate preparations.
Historians differed over whether fighting was carried out in one of the three forts. Ibn Is'hāq held the view that Al-Qamus was conquered by force. Al-Wafidy is of the opinion that the three fortresses were taken through negotiations. The Muslims might have conquered Al-Qamus by force and the two other ones through negotiations.
The Prophet (Blessings and Peace of Allāh be upon him) blockaded this division of Khaibar for fourteen days. When they knew that the Muslim army would use the ballista in combating them, they resorted to parley.
*{To be continued In-sha-Allāh (If Allāh Wills)...}*
*"And keep reminding, because reminding benefits the believers."* (Qur-ān 51:55)
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