الفتح الربانی
Fath al-Rabbani
أهم أحداث السنة السابعة للهجرةMost Important Events of the Seventh Year of Hijrah
بَابُ مَا جَاءَ فِي مَقْتَل مَرْحَبِ الْيَهُودِئُ بَطْلٍ يَهُودِ وَمَنْ قَتَلَهُ وَفِيهِ مُعْجِزَةٌ لِلنَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَمَنقَبَةٌ عَظِيمَةٌ لِلإِمَامِ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ رضي الله عنه وَكَرَّمَ اللَّهُ وَجْهَهُ
Chapter on What Has Been Reported Regarding the Killing of Marhab the Jewish Hero, Who Killed Him, the Miracle for the Prophet ﷺ, and the Great Merit of Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (may Allah honor his face)
Hadith 10812
حَدَّثَنَا عِكْرِمَةُ قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي إِيَاسُ بْنُ سَلَمَةَ قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي أَبِي قَالَ بَارَزَ عَمِّي يَوْمَ خَيْبَرَ مَرْحَبٌ الْيَهُودِيُّ فَقَالَ مَرْحَبٌ قَدْ عَلِمَتْ خَيْبَرُ أَنِّي مَرْحَبُ شَاكِي السِّلَاحِ بَطَلٌ مُجَرَّبُ إِذَا الْحُرُوبُ أَقْبَلَتْ تَلَهَّبُ فَقَالَ عَمِّي عَامِرٌ قَدْ عَلِمَتْ خَيْبَرُ أَنِّي عَامِرُ شَاكِي السِّلَاحِ بَطَلٌ مُغَامِرُ فَاخْتَلَفَا ضَرْبَتَيْنِ فَوَقَعَ سَيْفُ مَرْحَبٍ فِي تُرْسِ عَامِرٍ وَذَهَبَ يَسْفُلُ لَهُ فَرَجَعَ السَّيْفُ عَلَى سَاقِهِ قَطَعَ أَكْحَلَهُ فَكَانَتْ فِيهَا نَفْسُهُ قَالَ سَلَمَةُ بْنُ الْأَكْوَعِ لَقِيتُ نَاسًا مِنْ صَحَابَةِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَقَالُوا بَطَلَ عَمَلُ عَامِرٍ قَتَلَ نَفْسَهُ قَالَ سَلَمَةُ فَجِئْتُ إِلَى نَبِيِّ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَبْكِي قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ بَطَلَ عَمَلُ عَامِرٍ قَالَ مَنْ قَالَ ذَاكَ قُلْتُ نَاسٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِكَ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ كَذَبَ مَنْ قَالَ ذَاكَ بَلْ لَهُ أَجْرُهُ مَرَّتَيْنِ إِنَّهُ حِينَ خَرَجَ إِلَى خَيْبَرَ جَعَلَ يَرْجُزُ بِأَصْحَابِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَفِيهِمُ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَسُوقُ الرِّكَابَ وَهُوَ يَقُولُ تَاللَّهِ لَوْلَا اللَّهُ مَا اهْتَدَيْنَا وَلَا تَصَدَّقْنَا وَلَا صَلَّيْنَا إِنَّ الَّذِينَ قَدْ بَغَوْا عَلَيْنَا إِذَا أَرَادُوا فِتْنَةً أَبَيْنَا وَنَحْنُ عَنْ فَضْلِكَ مَا اسْتَغْنَيْنَا فَثَبِّتِ الْأَقْدَامَ إِنْ لَاقَيْنَا وَأَنْزِلَنْ سَكِينَةً عَلَيْنَا فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ مَنْ هَذَا قَالَ عَامِرٌ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ غَفَرَ لَكَ رَبُّكَ قَالَ وَمَا اسْتَغْفَرَ لِإِنْسَانٍ قَطُّ يَخُصُّهُ إِلَّا اسْتُشْهِدَ فَلَمَّا سَمِعَ ذَلِكَ عُمَرُ بْنُ الْخَطَّابِ قَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ لَوْ مَتَّعْتَنَا بِعَامِرٍ فَقَدِمَ فَاسْتُشْهِدَ قَالَ سَلَمَةُ ثُمَّ إِنَّ نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَرْسَلَنِي إِلَى عَلِيٍّ فَقَالَ لَأُعْطِيَنَّ الرَّايَةَ الْيَوْمَ رَجُلًا يُحِبُّ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ أَوْ يُحِبُّهُ اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ قَالَ فَجِئْتُ بِهِ أَقُودُهُ أَرْمَدَ فَبَصَقَ نَبِيُّ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ فِي عَيْنَيْهِ ثُمَّ أَعْطَاهُ الرَّايَةَ فَخَرَجَ مَرْحَبٌ يَخْطِرُ بِسَيْفِهِ فَقَالَ قَدْ عَلِمَتْ خَيْبَرُ أَنِّي مَرْحَبُ شَاكِي السِّلَاحِ بَطَلٌ مُجَرَّبُ إِذَا الْحُرُوبُ أَقْبَلَتْ تَلَهَّبُ فَقَالَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ أَبِي طَالِبٍ كَرَّمَ اللَّهُ وَجْهَهُ أَنَا الَّذِي سَمَّتْنِي أُمِّي حَيْدَرَةَ كَلَيْثِ غَابَاتٍ كَرِيهِ الْمَنْظَرَةِ أُوفِيهِمْ بِالصَّاعِ كَيْلَ السَّنْدَرَةِ فَفَلَقَ رَأْسَ مَرْحَبٍ بِالسَّيْفِ وَكَانَ الْفَتْحُ عَلَى يَدَيْهِ
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Salamah bin Akwa’ (may Allah be pleased with him) that Marhab, the Jew, on the day of Khaybar, challenged my uncle (Sayyiduna ‘Amir) to single combat, saying:
“Qad ‘alimat Khaybaru anni Marhabun
Shaki as-silahi batalun mujarrabun
Idha al-hurubu aqbalat talahhabu”
Khaybar knows well that I am Marhab,
Armed, a warrior, and experienced.
When battles flare up, I turn towards them.
My uncle ‘Amir (may Allah be pleased with him) came out to face him and said:
“Qad ‘alimat Khaybaru anni ‘Amirun
Shaki as-silahi batalun mughāmirun”
Khaybar knows well that I am ‘Amir,
Fully prepared, brave, and one who risks his life.
Both struck at each other once; Marhab’s sword hit ‘Amir’s shield, and ‘Amir (may Allah be pleased with him) bent down and attacked him, but his own shield struck the large vein of his own leg, cutting the vein, and due to this he passed away. Salamah bin Akwa’ (may Allah be pleased with him) says: I met some people who said that ‘Amir’s deeds have been wasted, he has committed suicide. Hearing this, I came weeping to the service of the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and said: O Messenger of Allah! Have ‘Amir’s deeds been wasted? The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Who said this? I replied: Some of your companions, O Messenger of Allah. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Whoever said this, said wrong; rather, for him there is double reward. (Salamah, may Allah be pleased with him, says that) when ‘Amir (may Allah be pleased with him) set out towards Khaybar, he would recite rajaz poetry along with the Companions of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), and the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was also with them, and ‘Amir (may Allah be pleased with him) was chanting as follows:
“By Allah! If it were not for Allah, we would not have been guided,
Nor would we have given charity, nor prayed.
Indeed, those who have transgressed against us,
When they intend mischief, we refuse it.
And we are not independent of Your bounty.
So make our feet firm if we meet (the enemy),
And send down tranquility upon us.”
Upon hearing this, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Who is this? He said: O Messenger of Allah! I am ‘Amir. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: May your Lord forgive you. Sayyiduna Salamah (may Allah be pleased with him) says: Whenever the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) specifically prayed for someone’s forgiveness on such occasions, that person was certainly martyred. Sayyiduna ‘Umar bin Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) heard the Prophet’s words and said: O Messenger of Allah! If only you had let us benefit from ‘Amir for a little longer; he advanced and attained martyrdom. Salamah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates: Then the Prophet of Allah sent me to Sayyiduna ‘Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) and said: Today I will give this flag to a man who loves Allah and His Messenger, and Allah and His Messenger love him. His eyes were sore; I brought him along, and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) applied his blessed saliva to his eyes, and they were cured at once. Then the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) handed him the flag. Marhab, the Jew, came forward, brandishing his sword and reciting this rajaz:
“Faqad ‘alimat Khaybaru anni Marhabun
Shaki as-silahi batalun mujarrabun
Idha al-hurubu aqbalat talahhabu”
Khaybar knows well that I am Marhab,
I am armed, a warrior, and experienced.
When battles flare up, I turn towards them.
In response, Sayyiduna ‘Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) said:
“Ana alladhi sammatni ummi Haydara
Kalaythi ghabatin karihi al-manzara
Ufiihim bis-sa’i kayla as-sandara”
I am the one whom my mother named Haydar (lion),
A lion of the forests, fierce in appearance,
I will repay them with the measure of the spear.
So he struck Marhab’s head with his sword and, by his hand, Khaybar was conquered.
“Qad ‘alimat Khaybaru anni Marhabun
Shaki as-silahi batalun mujarrabun
Idha al-hurubu aqbalat talahhabu”
Khaybar knows well that I am Marhab,
Armed, a warrior, and experienced.
When battles flare up, I turn towards them.
My uncle ‘Amir (may Allah be pleased with him) came out to face him and said:
“Qad ‘alimat Khaybaru anni ‘Amirun
Shaki as-silahi batalun mughāmirun”
Khaybar knows well that I am ‘Amir,
Fully prepared, brave, and one who risks his life.
Both struck at each other once; Marhab’s sword hit ‘Amir’s shield, and ‘Amir (may Allah be pleased with him) bent down and attacked him, but his own shield struck the large vein of his own leg, cutting the vein, and due to this he passed away. Salamah bin Akwa’ (may Allah be pleased with him) says: I met some people who said that ‘Amir’s deeds have been wasted, he has committed suicide. Hearing this, I came weeping to the service of the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and said: O Messenger of Allah! Have ‘Amir’s deeds been wasted? The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Who said this? I replied: Some of your companions, O Messenger of Allah. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Whoever said this, said wrong; rather, for him there is double reward. (Salamah, may Allah be pleased with him, says that) when ‘Amir (may Allah be pleased with him) set out towards Khaybar, he would recite rajaz poetry along with the Companions of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), and the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was also with them, and ‘Amir (may Allah be pleased with him) was chanting as follows:
“By Allah! If it were not for Allah, we would not have been guided,
Nor would we have given charity, nor prayed.
Indeed, those who have transgressed against us,
When they intend mischief, we refuse it.
And we are not independent of Your bounty.
So make our feet firm if we meet (the enemy),
And send down tranquility upon us.”
Upon hearing this, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Who is this? He said: O Messenger of Allah! I am ‘Amir. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: May your Lord forgive you. Sayyiduna Salamah (may Allah be pleased with him) says: Whenever the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) specifically prayed for someone’s forgiveness on such occasions, that person was certainly martyred. Sayyiduna ‘Umar bin Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) heard the Prophet’s words and said: O Messenger of Allah! If only you had let us benefit from ‘Amir for a little longer; he advanced and attained martyrdom. Salamah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates: Then the Prophet of Allah sent me to Sayyiduna ‘Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) and said: Today I will give this flag to a man who loves Allah and His Messenger, and Allah and His Messenger love him. His eyes were sore; I brought him along, and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) applied his blessed saliva to his eyes, and they were cured at once. Then the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) handed him the flag. Marhab, the Jew, came forward, brandishing his sword and reciting this rajaz:
“Faqad ‘alimat Khaybaru anni Marhabun
Shaki as-silahi batalun mujarrabun
Idha al-hurubu aqbalat talahhabu”
Khaybar knows well that I am Marhab,
I am armed, a warrior, and experienced.
When battles flare up, I turn towards them.
In response, Sayyiduna ‘Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) said:
“Ana alladhi sammatni ummi Haydara
Kalaythi ghabatin karihi al-manzara
Ufiihim bis-sa’i kayla as-sandara”
I am the one whom my mother named Haydar (lion),
A lion of the forests, fierce in appearance,
I will repay them with the measure of the spear.
So he struck Marhab’s head with his sword and, by his hand, Khaybar was conquered.
Hadith 10813
عَنْ أَبِيهِ بُرَيْدَةَ الْأَسْلَمِيِّ قَالَ لَمَّا نَزَلَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ بِحِصْنِ أَهْلِ خَيْبَرَ أَعْطَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ اللِّوَاءَ عُمَرَ بْنَ الْخَطَّابِ وَنَهَضَ مَعَهُ مَنْ نَهَضَ مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ فَلَقُوا أَهْلَ خَيْبَرَ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ لَأُعْطِيَنَّ اللِّوَاءَ غَدًا رَجُلًا يُحِبُّ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ وَيُحِبُّهُ اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ فَلَمَّا كَانَ الْغَدُ دَعَا عَلِيًّا وَهُوَ أَرْمَدُ فَتَفَلَ فِي عَيْنَيْهِ وَأَعْطَاهُ اللِّوَاءَ وَنَهَضَ النَّاسُ مَعَهُ فَلَقِيَ أَهْلَ خَيْبَرَ وَإِذَا مَرْحَبٌ يَرْتَجِزُ بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَهُوَ يَقُولُ لَقَدْ عَلِمَتْ خَيْبَرُ أَنِّي مَرْحَبُ شَاكِي السِّلَاحِ بَطَلٌ مُجَرَّبُ أَطْعَنُ أَحْيَانًا وَحِينًا أَضْرِبُ إِذَا اللُّيُوثُ أَقْبَلَتْ تَلَهَّبُ قَالَ فَاخْتَلَفَ هُوَ وَعَلِيٌّ ضَرْبَتَيْنِ فَضَرَبَهُ عَلَى هَامَتِهِ حَتَّى عَضَّ السَّيْفُ مِنْهَا بِأَضْرَاسِهِ وَسَمِعَ أَهْلُ الْعَسْكَرِ صَوْتَ ضَرْبَتِهِ قَالَ وَمَا تَتَامَّ آخِرُ النَّاسِ مَعَ عَلِيٍّ حَتَّى فُتِحَ لَهُ وَلَهُمْ
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Buraidah Aslami (may Allah be pleased with him) that when the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) camped near the fort of Khaybar, he (peace and blessings be upon him) gave the flag into the hand of Sayyiduna Umar ibn Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him). Some Muslims also went with him. They fought with the people of Khaybar, but nothing resulted from it. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Tomorrow I will give this flag to a man who loves Allah and His Messenger, and Allah and His Messenger love him." When the next day came, he (peace and blessings be upon him) called for Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him). His eyes were hurting, so the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) applied his blessed saliva to his eyes and handed him the flag. People also went with him, and they fought with the people of Khaybar. Marhab, the Jew, came forward reciting this rajaz:
Indeed, Khaybar knows that I am Marhab,
Armed with weapons, a valiant and experienced warrior,
Sometimes I thrust with the spear, sometimes I strike,
When wars flare up, I am attentive.
Khaybar knows well that I am Marhab,
I am armed, a warrior, and experienced,
Sometimes I strike with the spear, sometimes with the sword,
When battles ignite, I turn my attention to them.
Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) and he exchanged a blow each. Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) struck his sword on his skull so that the sword split his head and reached his jaws, and the entire army heard the intensity of that blow. Before everyone could reach Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him), Allah Almighty had already granted him victory.
Indeed, Khaybar knows that I am Marhab,
Armed with weapons, a valiant and experienced warrior,
Sometimes I thrust with the spear, sometimes I strike,
When wars flare up, I am attentive.
Khaybar knows well that I am Marhab,
I am armed, a warrior, and experienced,
Sometimes I strike with the spear, sometimes with the sword,
When battles ignite, I turn my attention to them.
Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) and he exchanged a blow each. Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) struck his sword on his skull so that the sword split his head and reached his jaws, and the entire army heard the intensity of that blow. Before everyone could reach Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him), Allah Almighty had already granted him victory.
Hadith 10814
عَنْ أَبِي رَافِعٍ مَوْلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ خَرَجْنَا مَعَ عَلِيٍّ حِينَ بَعَثَهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ بِرَايَتِهِ فَلَمَّا دَنَا مِنَ الْحِصْنِ خَرَجَ إِلَيْهِ أَهْلُهُ فَقَاتَلَهُمْ فَضَرَبَهُ رَجُلٌ مِنْ يَهُودَ فَطَرَحَ تُرْسَهُ مِنْ يَدِهِ فَتَنَاوَلَ عَلِيٌّ بَابًا كَانَ عِنْدَ الْحِصْنِ فَتَرَّسَ بِهِ نَفْسَهُ فَلَمْ يَزَلْ فِي يَدِهِ وَهُوَ يُقَاتِلُ حَتَّى فَتَحَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ ثُمَّ أَلْقَاهُ مِنْ يَدِهِ حِينَ فَرَغَ فَلَقَدْ رَأَيْتُنِي فِي نَفَرٍ مَعِي سَبْعَةٌ أَنَا ثَامِنُهُمْ نَجْهَدُ عَلَى أَنْ نَقْلِبَ ذَلِكَ الْبَابَ فَمَا نَقْلِبُهُ
Mawla of the Messenger, Sayyiduna Abu Rafi’ (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates: He says, when the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) sent Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) by giving him his flag, we also went along with him. When he reached near the fort, the people of the fort came out to confront him. Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) fought with them. A Jew also attacked him, and it so happened that Sayyiduna Ali’s (may Allah be pleased with him) shield fell from his hand. Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) grabbed a door lying near the fort and made it his shield. He continued to fight the Jews with it until victory was achieved, and after finishing the battle, he threw it away with his own hand. It was so heavy that when eight of us tried to turn it over, we could not even turn it.
Hadith 10815
عَنْ عَلِيٍّ قَالَ لَمَّا قَتَلْتُ مَرْحَبًا جِئْتُ بِرَأْسِهِ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him), he says: When I killed Marhab, I brought his head to the service of the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him).
Hadith 10816
عَنْ جَابِرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ الْأَنْصَارِيِّ قَالَ خَرَجَ مَرْحَبٌ الْيَهُودِيُّ مِنْ حِصْنِهِمْ قَدْ جَمَعَ سِلَاحَهُ يَرْتَجِزُ وَيَقُولُ قَدْ عَلِمَتْ خَيْبَرُ أَنِّي مَرْحَبُ شَاكِي السِّلَاحِ بَطَلٌ مُجَرَّبُ أَطْعَنُ أَحْيَانًا وَحِينًا أَضْرِبُ إِذَا اللُّيُوثُ أَقْبَلَتْ تَلَهَّبُ كَانَ حِمَايَ لَحْمِي لَا يُقْرَبُ وَهُوَ يَقُولُ مَنْ مُبَارِزٌ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ مَنْ لِهَذَا فَقَالَ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ مَسْلَمَةَ أَنَا لَهُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ وَأَنَا وَاللَّهِ الْمَوْتُورُ الثَّائِرُ قَتَلُوا أَخِي بِالْأَمْسِ قَالَ فَقُمْ إِلَيْهِ اللَّهُمَّ أَعِنْهُ عَلَيْهِ فَلَمَّا دَنَا أَحَدُهُمَا مِنْ صَاحِبِهِ دَخَلَتْ بَيْنَهُمَا شَجَرَةٌ عُمْرِيَّةٌ مِنْ شَجَرِ الْعُشَرِ فَجَعَلَ أَحَدُهُمَا يَلُوذُ بِهَا مِنْ صَاحِبِهِ كُلَّمَا لَاذَ بِهَا مِنْهُ اقْتَطَعَ بِسَيْفِهِ مَا دُونَهُ حَتَّى بَرَزَ كُلُّ وَاحِدٍ مِنْهُمَا لِصَاحِبِهِ وَصَارَتْ بَيْنَهُمَا كَالرَّجُلِ الْقَائِمِ مَا فِيهَا فَنَنٌ ثُمَّ حَمَلَ مَرْحَبٌ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ فَضَرَبَهُ فَاتَّقَى بِالدَّرَقَةِ فَوَقَعَ سَيْفُهُ فِيهَا فَعَضَّتْ بِهِ فَأَمْسَكَتْهُ وَضَرَبَهُ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ مَسْلَمَةَ حَتَّى قَتَلَهُ
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Jabir bin Abdullah Ansari (may Allah be pleased with him) that Marhab, the Jew, came out of the fortress armed with weapons, reciting this rajaz (war poetry):
So Khaybar knows well that I am Marhab,
Armed with weapons, a tried and tested warrior.
Sometimes I thrust with the spear, sometimes I strike,
When wars flare up, I turn my attention to them.
My defense is for those who do not even dare to come near me.
And he was coming forward, issuing a challenge: "Is there anyone to face me?" The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Who will go out to face him?" Sayyiduna Muhammad bin Maslamah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "O Messenger of Allah! I am ready to go out to face him. By Allah! I desire to take revenge on him, for yesterday he killed my brother." The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Then you go forth. O Allah! Help him against his opponent."
When the two of them came close to each other, a very old and large tree full of gum came between them. Each of them would take cover behind the tree to avoid the other’s attack. When one of them would be behind the tree, the other would strike with his sword and cut its branches, until they came face to face with each other. The tree stood between them as if a man were standing, and there was no branch left on it.
Then Marhab attacked Muhammad bin Maslamah (may Allah be pleased with him) and struck with his sword. Sayyiduna Muhammad (may Allah be pleased with him) blocked the blow with his shield, and Marhab’s sword struck the shield and got stuck in it. Then Muhammad bin Maslamah (may Allah be pleased with him) struck him and killed him.
So Khaybar knows well that I am Marhab,
Armed with weapons, a tried and tested warrior.
Sometimes I thrust with the spear, sometimes I strike,
When wars flare up, I turn my attention to them.
My defense is for those who do not even dare to come near me.
And he was coming forward, issuing a challenge: "Is there anyone to face me?" The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Who will go out to face him?" Sayyiduna Muhammad bin Maslamah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "O Messenger of Allah! I am ready to go out to face him. By Allah! I desire to take revenge on him, for yesterday he killed my brother." The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Then you go forth. O Allah! Help him against his opponent."
When the two of them came close to each other, a very old and large tree full of gum came between them. Each of them would take cover behind the tree to avoid the other’s attack. When one of them would be behind the tree, the other would strike with his sword and cut its branches, until they came face to face with each other. The tree stood between them as if a man were standing, and there was no branch left on it.
Then Marhab attacked Muhammad bin Maslamah (may Allah be pleased with him) and struck with his sword. Sayyiduna Muhammad (may Allah be pleased with him) blocked the blow with his shield, and Marhab’s sword struck the shield and got stuck in it. Then Muhammad bin Maslamah (may Allah be pleased with him) struck him and killed him.
Hadith 10817
عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ مُغَفَّلٍ قَالَ كُنَّا مُحَاصِرِينَ قَصْرَ خَيْبَرَ فَأَلْقَى إِلَيْنَا رَجُلٌ جِرَابًا فِيهِ شَحْمٌ فَذَهَبْتُ آخُذُهُ فَرَأَيْتُ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَاسْتَحْيَيْتُ
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Mughaffal (may Allah be pleased with him), he says: We were besieging Khaybar when a man threw a waterskin filled with fat towards us. I began to pick it up, but when my gaze fell upon the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), I felt ashamed.
