Battle of khyber
Meaning:
The word battle means “a voilent military fight between groups and
tribes in which they uses weapons”.
Khyber:Khyber means “forts”that are made for the safety against
opponents and enemies.
The battle of khyber is one of the most important and prominent
event occured in the history of islam and muslims.It refers to the war
and battle fought between muslums and jews.
Khyber is a place situated in Saudi Arabia where the battle was
fought.
Location:
It is 93 miles(150 k.m) away from madina north-western part of the
Arabian peninsula.It takes 8 hours on foit to reach the destination
from Madina.
Date:
May/June 628(7 Hijri).
Place:
Khyber is an oasis situated in S.Arabia.
Oasis:
A kind of fertile desert having some water,lush of palm and olive
trees,bushes and crops.
Residents of Khyber:
Jews were the inhabitants of the Khyber who were axile by the
Prophet (PBUH).
Background:
When the poeolpe who were axiled and kicked out of Madina by
the prophet (PBUH) due to immoral acts and mischief mongers.The
jews used to bore muslims and prouducing problems for the
muslims. So they were axiled and they came and start living in
khyber.
Commitment:
Jews were allowed to stay in khyber under a condition which
was,that the jews must hand over half of the product and profit of
the land to the muslims.
Jews tribes and forts:
Jews were divided into seven or eight groups/tribes and the most
strongest tribe was leading by Marhab.And they built some forts
here at khyber for theire accomodation.The strongest fort was Qila
Qamus among them.
Marhab:
Marhab was the leader of the strongest tribe of jews and he was
equal to 1000 warriors (100:1).He was a voilent and wild warrior and
fighter.
Causes of conquering Khyber:
Prophet (PBUH) decided to conquer Khyber because He (SAW)
wantsto waste muslim sultanat and to spread Islam in all over the
world.
Armies:
Muslim army was comprised of 1600_1800 men and there were
also some women and with 100_200 amount of horses.
Women’s job:
If a muslim warrior get injured or wounded during war womens
must retreat them and help them in carrying toward muslim
camp.Prophet (PBUH) wife Umm e Salma was also the part of the
war.
Jews were comprised of 8 thousand men and they have more horses
and other weapons compare to muslims.
Battle:
1st Day:
At first day Abubakar Sadiq (R.A) who took the banner and fought,
but was unable to succeed.So on first day there was no victory.
2nd Day:
On day 2nd Umar (R.A) charged and fought more vigorously but unable
to succeed.So no victory on day 2nd.
3rd Day:
That night Muhammad proclaimed, "By God, tomorrow I shall give it
[the banner] to a man who loves God and His Messenger, whom God
and His Messenger love. Allah will bestow victory upon him. That
morning, the Quraysh were wondering who should have the honor to
carry the banner, but Muhammad called out for Ali ibn Abi Țalib. All this
time, Ali, son-in-law and cousin of Muhammad, was ill and could not
participate in the failed attempts. Ali came to Muhammad, who cured
him of his ophthalmia, an inhibitive inflammation of the eyes, by applying
his saliva to Ali's eyes. The apostle sent him with his flag and Ali, with
new vigor, set out to meet the enemy, bearing the banner of
Muhammad. When he got near the fort the garrison came out and he
fought them. During the battle, a Jew struck him so that his shield fell
from his hand and Ali lost his shield. In need of a substitute, he picked
up a door and used it to defend himself. The door was said to be so
heavy that it took eight men to replace it on its hinges.in some sources it
is also said that, when the time came to breach the fortress, he threw the
door down as a bridge to allow his army to pass into the citadel and
conquer the final threshold.
Killing Marhab:
Historians have given different descriptions about the incident of
killing Marhab.
Ali and Marhab two soldiers struck at each other, and after the second
blow, Ali cleaved through Marhab's helmet, splitting his skull and landing
his sword in his opponent's teeth.Another narration described, "Ali struck
at the head of Mirhab and killed him”.
