Episode Summary
In the early 7th year of Hijrah, the Prophet (saw) led an expedition to Khaybar to neutralize the strategic headquarters of the tribes that had conspired against Madinah during the Battle of the Trench. This campaign serves as a study in Prophetic leadership under extreme economic hardship, the miraculous healing and heroism of Ali ibn Abi Talib, and the establishment of the principle that guiding a single soul is more valuable than any worldly conquest. The narrative highlights the arrival of the Banu Daws tribe and the supernatural strength granted to the Sahaba to breach the 'City of Fortresses'.
Key Highlights
- The Battle of Khaybar took place in Muharram of the 7th year AH, just 20 days after the Prophet (saw) returned from Hudaybiyyah.
- Khaybar was known as the 'City of Fortresses' and served as the headquarters for the Banu Nadir and other tribes who orchestrated the Battle of the Trench.
- Tufayl ibn Amr ad-Dawsi arrived with over 80 families (approx. 1,000 people) from his tribe, joining the Muslims at Khaybar just as the victory was achieved.
- The Prophet (saw) miraculously healed Ali ibn Abi Talib’s severe eye infection with his saliva before granting him the standard to lead the final assault.
- Ali ibn Abi Talib defeated the legendary warrior Marhab in a duel, striking through his ornate helmet and skull with a single blow.
- In a display of supernatural strength, Ali used a massive fortress gate as a shield after it was ripped from its hinges—a gate that eight men later could not even flip over.
- The Prophet (saw) established a permanent military ethics code: never attack at night and always offer the invitation to Islam before engaging in combat.
- The core mission was defined by the Prophet's reminder to Ali: bringing one person to Allah is better than possessing the most prized wealth in the world.
Comprehensive Analysis
1. The Strategic Necessity of Khaybar
Following the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah, the Prophet (saw) was divinely instructed to deal with the hostile forces in Khaybar, located north of Madinah. Khaybar was a stronghold and the primary headquarters for the conspirators of the Battle of the Trench, particularly the exiled Banu Nadir who had attempted to assassinate the Prophet (saw). By Muharram of the 7th year AH, it was necessary to ensure these forces were no longer a threat to the security of the Muslim community.
2. The Arrival of Banu Daws
While the Muslims were at Khaybar, the respected leader Tufayl ibn Amr ad-Dawsi arrived in Madinah with more than 80 families (at least 1,000 people) from his tribe who had accepted Islam over the previous decade. Finding the Prophet (saw) absent, they traveled to Khaybar and arrived just as the victory was finalized. The Prophet (saw) greeted them warmly and, with the Sahaba’s permission, distributed a portion of the spoils of war to welcome these new brothers and sisters into the community.
3. The March and Prophetic Simplicity
The journey to Khaybar was marked by extreme economic and financial hardship. The army subsisted on sawik—a simple, dry porridge of flour and dates—and many fighters lacked proper clothing or full-sized swords, carrying only daggers. Despite being the leader, the Prophet (saw) maintained his trademark humility, riding a simple donkey throughout the campaign and personally visiting the sick and attending every burial in his community.
4. The Healing and Appointment of Ali
After several days of the siege being repelled, the Prophet (saw) announced that he would give the standard to a man loved by Allah and His Messenger through whom a miraculous victory would be granted. He called for Ali ibn Abi Talib, who was suffering from a severe eye infection and fever. The Prophet (saw) applied his saliva to Ali’s eyes and made dua, resulting in an immediate and complete healing. He then instructed Ali to call the people to Islam first, emphasizing that guiding one individual is more valuable than the best wealth in the world.
5. The Duel of the Lions
The breach of the fortress began with a challenge from Marhab, Khaybar’s greatest and most experienced warrior. Ali stepped forward, identifying himself as the “lion” his mother named him, and engaged Marhab in a skillful duel. Ali struck a decisive blow that broke through Marhab’s gemstone-encrusted helmet and skull, effectively crushing the morale of the defenders. Simultaneously, Zubayr ibnul Awam defeated Marhab’s brother, Yasir, attributing the victory solely to the power of the Prophet’s (saw) dua.
6. The Miracle of the Fortress Gate
As the Muslims pushed into the fortress, Ali performed a miraculous feat of strength to protect the troops from arrows being fired from the vantage points above. He ripped a massive gate off its hinges and carried it in front of him as a shield until the entire army had safely entered. To demonstrate the supernatural nature of this event, the narrator Abu Rafi’ noted that after the battle, eight men spent thirty minutes struggling just to flip that same gate over, yet Ali had tossed it aside effortlessly.
7. Ethics of the Battlefield
The campaign reinforced several core Islamic military ethics. The Prophet (saw) strictly forbade attacking at night, choosing instead to wait for the morning to allow for conversation and the presentation of Islam. He maintained that the primary objective was not the acquisition of spoils or the destruction of enemies, but the sincere effort to bring people closer to Allah and save souls through guidance.