Musnad Ahmad

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Salamah bin Akwa’ (may Allah be pleased with him) that on the occasion of the Battle of Khaybar, my uncle challenged Marhab the Jew to a duel. Marhab said, “Khaybar knows that I am Marhab, armed with weapons, brave, and experienced, when the fire of battle blazes.” My uncle ‘Amir also recited these poetic verses: “Khaybar knows that I am ‘Amir, armed with weapons and fearless, plunging into battle.” Sayyiduna Salamah says that ‘Amir and Marhab began to strike at each other in different ways. Marhab’s sword struck ‘Amir’s shield, and ‘Amir struck Marhab with his sword from below, but Sayyiduna ‘Amir’s own sword recoiled and struck himself, cutting his jugular vein, and as a result, he was martyred.

Sayyiduna Salamah says, “I came out and saw some of the noble Companions of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), and they were saying, ‘The deed of Sayyiduna ‘Amir has been wasted; he has killed himself.’” Sayyiduna Salamah says, “When I heard this, I came to the service of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) weeping and said, ‘O Messenger of Allah! Has ‘Amir’s deed been wasted?’ The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said, ‘Who said this?’ I replied, ‘Some people among your Companions have said so.’ He said, ‘Whoever said it, said wrong; rather, for ‘Amir there is double reward.’”

When ‘Amir set out with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) towards Khaybar, he began to recite poetic verses: “By Allah! If Allah had not helped us, we would not have been guided, nor would we have given charity, nor would we have prayed. These people intend to rebel against us, but whenever they intend any mischief, we refuse to be part of it. And (O Allah) we are not independent of Your bounty, and keep us steadfast when we meet the enemy, and (O Allah) send down tranquility upon us.” When these poetic verses were heard, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Who is this?” They replied, “O Messenger of Allah! It is ‘Amir.” The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “May your Lord forgive you.” The narrator says that whenever the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) specifically prayed for forgiveness for someone, that person would surely attain the rank of martyrdom.

Sayyiduna Salamah says that Sayyiduna ‘Umar bin Khattab was on his camel, and when he heard this, he called out in a loud voice, “O Prophet of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him)! Why did you not let us benefit from ‘Amir?” Then ‘Amir advanced and was martyred. Then the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) sent me to Sayyiduna ‘Ali. He said, “I will give the flag to a man who loves Allah and His Messenger, and Allah and His Messenger love him.” Sayyiduna Salamah says, “I brought ‘Ali (supporting him) to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) because ‘Ali’s eyes were sore. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) applied his saliva to Sayyiduna ‘Ali’s eyes, and they were cured at that very moment. He gave him the flag, and Marhab came out saying, ‘Khaybar knows that I am Marhab, armed with weapons, brave, and experienced, when the fire of battle blazes.’”

Then Sayyiduna ‘Ali replied, “I am the one whose mother named me Haidar, like the lion that is terrifying in the forests. I give people a measure greater than a sa’ in exchange.” Sayyiduna Salamah says, “Then Sayyiduna ‘Ali struck Marhab on the head, and he was killed, and Khaybar was conquered at the hands of Sayyiduna ‘Ali.”