Visionary discourse

According to Abdur Rehman Ibn Lillah, the following

Quranic verse refers to Khaibar:
“And He rewarded them with a speedy victory” (Surah Al-Fath 48:18)

Khaibar is an agricultural oasis situated approximately 160 KM the north of

Madina. Some scholars say that the battle of Khaibar took place in the 6th
year of Hijrah (migration of Muslims from Makkah to Madina), approx. 628
CE. However, according to the majority of scholars, it took place in the 7th
year of Hijrah. 

Before the conquest, Khaibar was inhabited by a mixture of Arabs and

Jews. The number of Jews increased after the expulsion of the Jews from
Madina at the time of the Prophet (S.A.W.).

Background of Battle:
The leaders of Jews had been deeply hurt by their expulsion from their
homes. These leaders, who settled in Khyber, were Salam ibn Abu al Haqiq,
Kinanah ibn Abu al Haqiq, and Huyayy ibn Akhtab. The leadership of these
three men was enough to drag the Jews of Khaibar into conflict aimed at
retaliation against the Muslims. They were driven by an inner hatred and
strong desire to return to their homes in Madina.
    
Their first move against the Muslims came in the Battle of the Trench,
when the Jews of Khaibar, led by the leaders of Banu Al-Nadir, played a
significant role in the incitement of Quriesh and the desert Arabs against
the Muslims, and spent their own money for that purpose. Then they
succeeded in persuading Banu Qurayzah to betray the Muslims and
cooperate with their enemies.

After Allah had aided the Muslims in defending Madina and defeating the
tribes, the Messenger (S.A.W.) felt that it was important to deal with the

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situation in Khaibar, which had become a source of great danger for the
Muslims.

Ibn Ishaq reports with an ‘Isnad’ (the chain of authorities attesting to the
historical authenticity of a particular Hadith) that the Messenger (S.A.W.)
sent a letter to them, calling them to Islam but the Jews did not accept his
invitation, nor did they apologize for inciting the enemies of the Muslims.
The Messenger (S.A.W.), therefore, decided to deal with their leaders who
had played a part in the incitement against him, including Salam ibn Abd al
Haqiq. The Messenger sent Abdullah ibn Atik (R.A.) but they killed him.

Date and Route of the Campaign:

Ibn Ishaq suggested that the battle took place in the month of Muharram, 7th A.H. Ibn
Ishaq also said when the Messenger of Allah (S.A.W.) marched from Madina to Khaibar,
he went by way of a place called ‘Isr’ and a mosque was built for him there; then by way
of Al Sahbih. Then he (S.A.W.) went forward with the army until he hatted in a valley
called ‘Al-Raji, halting between the men of Khaibar and Ghatafan tribe so as to prevent
the latter reinforcing Khaibar, for they were on their side against the Messenger of Allah
(S.A.W.). 

In his Sahih, Al-Bukhari narrated the following narrations that shed light on the battle of
Khaibar:
Suwaid Ibn An-Numan (R.A.) narrated:
“In the year of the conquest of Khaibar I went with Allah's Messenger (S.A.W.) till we
reached Sahba, a place near Khaibar, where Allah's Messenger (S.A.W.) offered the `Asr’
prayer and asked for food. Nothing but ‘saweeq’ (Arabic name for Barley's roasted flour)
was brought. He ordered it to be moistened with water. He and all of us ate it and the
Prophet (S.A.W.) got up for the evening prayer (Maghrib prayer), rinsed his mouth with
water and we did the same, and he then prayed without repeating the ablution." (Sahih
Bukhari: 209)

Prophet (S.A.W.) reached Khaibar:

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Messenger of Allah (S.A.W.) reached Khaibar before dawn and prayed Fajr
in its vicinity. Then he attacked it before the sun rose. The Jewish peasants
who came out to work with their cattle, hoes and baskets were surprised to
see the Muslims there and exclaimed: “Mohammad and his army!” The
Messenger answered: “Allah-u-Akbar! Khaibar is destroyed. When we
descend into the open space of people, evil will be the morning for those
who were warned (and heeded not)!

Anas (R.A.) narrated:

‘The Prophet (S.A.W.) set out for Khaibar and reached it at night. He used
not to attack if he reached the people at night, till the day broke. So, when
the day dawned, the Jews came out with their bags and spades. When they
saw the Prophet; they said, "Mohammad and his army!" The Prophet
(S.A.W.) said, Allah-u-Akbar! (Allah is Greater) and Khaibar is ruined, for
whenever we approach a nation (i.e. enemy to fight) then it will be a
miserable morning for those who have been warned." (Sahih Bukhari: 2945)

Anas Ibn Malik (R.A.) also said:

‘We reached Khaibar early in the morning and the inhabitants of Khaibar
came out carrying their spades, and when they saw the Prophet (S.A.W.)
they said, "Mohammad! By Allah! Mohammad and his army!" The Prophet
(S.A.W.) said, "Allah-u-Akbar! Khaibar is destroyed, for whenever we
approach a (hostile) nation (to fight) then evil will be the morning for those
who have been warned." We then got the meat of donkeys (and intended to
eat it), but an announcement was made by the announcer of the Prophet,
"Allah and His Apostle forbid you to eat the meat of donkeys as it is an
impure thing." (Sahih Bukhari: 4198)

Narrated by Anas Ibn Malik (R.A.):

‘The Prophet (S.A.W.) offered the Fajr Prayer near Khaibar when it was still
dark and then said, "Allah-u-Akbar! Khaibar is destroyed, for whenever we
approach a (hostile) nation (to fight), then evil will be the morning for those
who have been warned." 
Then the inhabitants of Khaibar came out running on the roads. The
Prophet (S.A.W.) had their warriors killed, their offspring and woman taken

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as captives. Safiya was amongst the captives, she first came in the share
of Dahya Alkali but later on she belonged to the Prophet (S.A.W.). The
Prophet (S.A.W.) made her manumission as her 'Mahr' (dowry).’ (Sahih
Bukhari: 4200)

Failure of Banu Ghatafan:

The Jews took refuge in their strongholds and the Muslims besieged the
stronghold of al Naim. Tribe of Ghatafan quickly came to the aid of the
Jews of Khaibar who were their allies but they did not join in the fighting for
fear that the Muslims might attack their homes. Ibn Ishaq states that they
returned to their homes before reaching Khaibar.
Ibn Ishaq suggested that When Ghatafan heard about the Messenger's
(S.A.W.) attack on Khaibar, they gathered together and marched out to help
the Jews against him. But after a day's journey, they heard rumors that their
families and properties had been attacked during their absence, so they
went back on their tracks and left the way to Khaibar open to the
Messenger of Allah (S.A.W.).

Ali ibn Talib (R.A.): Carrier of Flag of Muslim’s Army:

Abu Bakr Siddiq (R.A.) carried the flag of the Muslims for the first two days
of the siege of Naim but it did not fall to him and stress and exhaustion
overtook them. The following morning, the Prophet (S.A.W.) had prayed
Fajr Salah and called Ali Ibn Talib (R.A.) and gave him the flag. Ali carried it
on the third day, and he achieved the conquest. One report indicates that
the flag-bearer before Ali (R.A.) was Umar ibn Khattab (R.A.), not Abu Bakr
Siddiq (R.A.), but this is a weak report.

Salamah ibn Al-Akwa (R.A.) narrated:

`Ali (R.A.) remained behind the Prophet (S.A.W.) during the Ghazwa of
Khaibar as he was suffering from eye trouble. He then said, "(How can) I
remain behind the Prophet (S.A.W.)," and followed him. So when he slept

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on the night of the conquest of Khaibar, the Prophet (S.A.W.) said, "I will
give the flag tomorrow, or tomorrow the flag will be taken by a man who is
loved by Allah and His Apostle and (Khaibar) will be conquered through
him, (with Allah's help)" 

While every one of us was hopeful to have the flag, it was said, "Here is `Ali"
and the Prophet (S.A.W.) gave him the flag and Khaibar was conquered
through him (with Allah's Help). (Sahih Bukhari: 4209)

Sahl bin Saad (R.A.) said:

On the day of Khaibar, Allah's Messenger (S.A.W.) said, "Tomorrow I will give this
flag to a man through whose hands Allah will give us victory. He loves Allah and His
Apostle, and he is loved by Allah and His Apostle."
The people remained that night, wondering as to who would be given it. In
the morning the people went to Allah's Messenger (S.A.W.) and every one
of them was hopeful to receive it (i.e. the flag) . The Prophet said, "Where is `Ali
bin Abi Talib?" It was said, "He is suffering from eye trouble O Allah's
Apostle." He said, "Send for him." `Ali was brought and Allah's Messenger
(S.A.W.) spat in his eye and invoked good upon him. So `Ali was cured as if
he never had any trouble. Then the Prophet (S.A.W.) gave him the flag. `Ali said
"O Allah's Messenger (S.A.W.)! I will fight with them till they become like
us." Allah's Messenger (S.A.W.) said,
“Proceed and do not hurry. When you enter their territory, call them to
embrace Islam and inform them of Allah's Rights which they should
observe, for by Allah, even if a single man is led on the right path (of Islam)
by Allah through you, then that will be better for you than the nice red
camels.” (Sahih Bukhari: 4210)

The Prophet (S.A.W.) ordered Ali (R.A.) to call the Jews of Khaibar to Islam.
The Prophet (S.A.W.) said to Ali (R.A.): “By Allah, if Allah guides one man (to
Islam) through you, it is better for you than the most valuable camels.”
[Sahih Muslim: 2406 narrated by Sahl bin Saad (R.A.)]

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This clearly shows that the Prophet (S.A.W.) was not eager for the booty of
Khaibar rather he was concerned about spreading the message of Islam
and removing obstacles from the path of its preparation.

Killing of Marhab:
Mahmud ibn Maslamah Al-Ansari (R.A.) was martyred in the siege of the
stronghold of Naim, when Marhab (Jews leader) threw a millstone onto him
from the heights of the stronghold. Ali (R.A.) met Marhab in combat and
killed him. [Sahih Muslim: 1807 (a)]. Marhab was one of the heroes of the
Jews, and his death affected their morale.

Conquering of Different Tribe’s Land:

The Messenger of Allah (S.A.W.), as Ibn Ishaq narrated, seized the property
piece by piece and conquered the forts one by one as he came to them
(Khaibar). The first to fall was of Naim; then Al-Qamus the fort of Banu Al-
Huqayq. The Messenger (S.A.W.) took captives from them among who was
Safiyah, daughter of Huyayy Ibn Aktab who had been the wife of Kinana Ibn
Al-Rabi Ibn Al-Huqayq and two cousins of hers. The Messenger of Allah
(S.A.W.) chose Safiyah for himself (as mentioned above in Sahih Bukhari:
4200).

The conquest of Naim took ten days. Afterward, the Muslims conquered Al-
Saab ibn Mudadh in the region of Al-Natah, which contained the richest
food in Khaibar. Then came Qalaat Al-Zubayr, which was the last
stronghold of Al-Natah. The fugitives from Naim, Al-Saab, and the other
Jewish strongholds conquered by the Muslims had gathered in Qalaat Al-
Zubayr to face Muslims. However, Muslims cut off the water supply and
forced the Jews to come down and fight. They killed ten of the Jews and
conquered the stronghold after a siege lasting three days. After they had
dealt with the people of Al-Natah, who were strongest of the Jews, the
Muslims moved from Al-Raji to Al-Manzilah. 

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Position of the Muslims was much stronger after they had defeated the
people of Al-Natah and the rest of the Jews of Khaibar were alarmed by the
fall of Al-Natah.

When the Messenger of Allah (S.A.W.) had conquered some of their forts
and got possession of some of their property, he came to their two forts Al-
Watih and Al Sulaim, the last to be taken, and the Messenger of Allah
(S.A.W.) besieged them for some ten nights.

Prophet’s (S.A.W.) marriage with Safiyah bint Huyayy

(R.A.):
Anas Ibn Malik (R.A.) said:
The Prophet (S.A.W.) stayed with Safiya bint Huyayy for three days on the
way of Khaibar where he consummated his marriage with her. Safiya was
amongst those who were ordered to use a veil. (Sahih Bukhari: 4212)

In another narration, Anas ibn Malik (R.A.) said that the Prophet (S.A.W.)
stayed for three rights between Khaibar and Madina and was married to
Safiyah. I invited the Muslim to his marriage banquet (reception) and there
was neither meat nor bread in that banquet but the Prophet (S.A.W.)
ordered Bilal to spread the leather mats on which dates, dried yogurt and
butter were put. The Muslims said amongst themselves, "Will she (i.e.,
Safiyah) be one of the mothers of the believers, i.e., one of the wives of the
Prophet (S.A.W.), or just (a lady captive) of what his right-hand possesses."
Some of them said, "If the Prophet (S.A.W.) makes her observe the veil,
then she will be one of the mothers of the believers (i.e., one of the
Prophet's wives), and if he does not make her observe the veil, then she will
be his lady slave." So when he departed, he made a place for her behind
him (on his mount) and made her observe the veil." (Ref. An-Nasai: 3382)

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The Conquest of Khaibar's Forts:

According to Ibn Ishaq, the Messenger of Allah (S.A.W.) besieged the
people of Khaibar in their two forts Al-Watih and Al-Sulaim until they could
hold out no longer they asked him to let them go, and spare their lives, and
he did so. Now, the Messenger of Allah (S.A.W.) had taken possession of
all their property - Al-Shaqq, Al-Nata, and Ak¬ Katibah and all their forts
- except what appertained to these two.

When the people of Fadak (garden oasis in Khaibar,) heard of what had
happened, they sent to the Messenger (S.A.W.) asking him to let them go
and spare their lives and they would leave him their property, and he did
so.  The one who acted as intermediary was Muhqyisa Ibn Masud, brother
of Banu Harithah (one of Jews tribe). When the people of Khaibar
surrounded on these conditions, they asked the Messenger of Allah
(S.A.W.) to employ them on the property with half share in the produce,
saying, "We know more about it than you and we are better farmers."

The Messenger of Allah (S.A.W.) agreed to this arrangement on the

condition that: "If we wish to expel you we will expel you." (Ref. Sahih
Bukhari: 2338)

The rest of Khaibar fell to the Muslims. The people of Fadak, to the north of
Khyber, hastened to ask for peace, and to be allowed to leave in safety, and
leave their wealth in return for that. The Prophet (S.A.W.) agreed to their
request. 

After conquering Khaibar, the Jews were not expelled from Khaibar at the
time of the Prophet (S.A.W.). There is an authentic report that the Prophet
(S.A.W.) allowed the Jews to stay in Khaibar on the condition that they
work in agriculture and spend their own money on it, and that the Muslims
would receive one half of their crops. This was in spite of the fact that the
Muslims had the right to expel them if they wanted to. 

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Martyrs and Deaths during the Battle:

The number of Jewish men killed in the battle of Khaibar was 93. Twenty
Muslims were martyred, according to Ibn Ishaq. 

The Division of the Booty:

In his Sahih, Al-Bukhari reported the following narrations that explain how
the Prophet (S.A.W.) divided the booty in Khaibar:

Jubair bin Mutim (R.A.) said: 

‘Uthman bin Affan (R.A.) and I went to the Prophet (S.A.W.) and said, "You
had given Banu Al-Muttalib from the Khumus of Khaibar's booty and left us
in spite of the fact that we and Banu Al-Muttalib are similarly related to
you." The Prophet (S.A.W.) said, "Banu Hashim and Banu Al-Muttalib only
are one and the same." So the Prophet (S.A.W.) did not give anything to
Banu Abd Shams and Banu Nawfal.’ (Sahih Bukhari: 4229)

So the Prophet (S.A.W.) did not give anything to Banu Abd Shams and Banu
Nawfal.

Ibn Umar (R.A.) said that on the day of Khaibar, Allah's Messenger (S.A.W.)
divided (the war booty of Khaibar) with the ratio of two shares for the horse
and one-share for the foot soldier. (Sahih Bukhari: 4228)
The sub-narrator, Nafi explained this, saying, "If a man had a horse, he was
given three shares and if he had no horse, then he was given one share."

Umar Ibn Al-Khattab (R.A.) said, 

By Him in Whose Hand my soul is, were I not afraid that the other Muslims
might be left in poverty, I would divide (the land of) whatever village I may
conquer (among the fighters), as the Prophet (S.A.W.) divided the land of
Khaibar. But I prefer to leave it as a (source of) a common treasury for
them to distribute it revenue amongst themselves. (Sahih Bukhari: 4235)

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Abu Said Al-Khudri (R.A.) and Abu Hurairah (R.A.) narrated that:
Allah's Messenger (S.A.W.) appointed a man as the ruler of Khaibar who
later brought some Janib (i.e. dates of good quality) to the Prophet. On
that, Allah's Messenger (S.A.W.) said (to him). "Are all the dates of Khaibar
like this?" He said, "No, by Allah, O Allah's Messenger (S.A.W.)! But we take
one Sa of these (dates of good quality) for two or three Sa's of other dates
(of inferior quality)." On that, Allah's Messenger (S.A.W.) said, "Do not do so,
but first sell the inferior quality dates for money and then with that money,
buy Janib." (Sahih Bukhari: 4244 & 4245)

Abu Said (R.A.) and Abu Hurairah (R.A.) said:

"The Prophet (S.A.W.) made the brother of Bani Adi (Tribe) from the Ansaar
as the ruler of Khaibar.” (Sahih Bukhari: 4246 & 4247)

A Poisoned Sheep Gifted to the Messenger (S.A.W.):

At Khaibar, the Jews cooked a sheep containing poison and presented it to
the Prophet (S.A.W.).

Narrated by Abu Hurairah's (R.A.) saying:  

“When Khaibar was conquered, a (cooked) sheep containing poison, was
given as a present to Allah's Apostle (S.A.W.).” (Sahih Bukhari: 4249)

Aisha (R.A.) said:

The Prophet (S.A.W.) in his ailment in which he died, used to say, "O `Aisha!
I still feel the pain caused by the food I ate at Khaibar, and at this time, I feel
as if my aorta is being cut from that poison." (Sahih Bukhari: 4428)

Outcome of the Battle:

The conquest of Khaibar improved economic position of the Muslims. 

Aisha (R.A.) said:

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‘When Khaibar was conquered, we said, "Now we will eat our fill of dates.’
(Sahih Bukhari: 4242)

Ibn Umar (R.A.) said,

“We did not eat our fill until we conquered Khyber”. (Sahih Bukhari: 4243)

These reports give a clear picture of the benefits of the conquest of Khaibar
in strengthening the economic position of the Muslims and of the
economic situation before the conquest. 

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