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Home , Battle of Khaybar, Khaybar

MODULE 3E LESSON 08 THE BATTLE OF َّ ْ ٰ َّ ْ ِمْسِب ِاهلل الرحم ِن الر ِحي ِم In the name of , most Kind, most Merciful

Surat al-Ma’idah, 5:54 َ َ ُّ َ َّ َ ُ ْ يا أيها ال ِذ َين آمنوا َ َ ْ َ َّ ُ ْ َ من يرتد ِمنكم عن ِد ِين ِه ْ َ َ ْ َ َ ُ َ ْ ُ ُّ ُ ْ َ ُ ُّ َ ُ فسوف يأتِي اهلل بِقو ٍم ي ِحبهم و ي ِحبونه O you who believe! Whoever from among you deserts his religion, Allah will soon bring a people whom He loves and who love Him. Learning Objectives To explain why it was necessary for the to fight in the To evaluate the consequences of the battle of Khaybar To demonstrate the power of spiritual strength Key Words

Jizyah tax levied on non-Muslims ْ َ living in an Islamic state ِجزية 2 The forts of Khaybar

To the north of there was a fertile land known as the valley of Khaybar which produced a rich harvest of dates and grain. Some people skilled in farming and warfare lived in that area. Khaybar in Hebrew means castle, and since the had built seven strong forts in that area to protect themselves from any attack, the area was called Khaybar. When the tribes of Bani Qaynuqa and Bani Nadhir were expelled from Medina because of their plots against , some of them settled at Khaybar. Here, they continued in their old ways, encouraging and helping the Arab tribes to harm the Muslims. They used every opportunity to provoke the Muslims. Rasulullah (s) had no choice but to put together an army to defend the Muslims. This army marched out to Khaybar in Muharram, in the year 7 AH. The forts of Khaybar were equipped with giant catapults to push back an enemy attack. Tactfully, however, the Muslims were able to go around most of these forts and surprise the enemy forces. Soon, the Muslims had taken all the forts except for the last and main fort of Khaybar. That is where all the great heroes of the enemy were stationed. The on Khaybar lasted for many days to the point that the Muslims ran out of food. At this difficult time, a shepherd who used to look after the sheep of some of the people of Khaybar Khaybar consisted of several very came to Rasulullah (s) and after some discussion was convinced strong forts. Anyone who tried of the truth of Islam and became a Muslim. The shepherd then to go near them was attacked asked Rasulullah (s) what he should do with all the sheep he by catapults. They had a maze had in his care. In the presence of hundreds of hungry Muslim of complex underground tunnels soldiers, Rasulullah (s) said: ‘In my religion, breach of trust is one that linked them together. They of the greatest crimes. It is necessary that you take all the sheep also had watchtowers at the corners to the gate of the fort and hand them over to their masters.’ of the forts so they could monitor what was happening beyond the fort. The people of Khaybar had given him their sheep to look after on The Muslim army used excellent trust. It was to break that trust, even though the Muslims tactics to surround the forts at night had run out of food, and the owners of the sheep were their so as to surprise the enemy! enemies.

REFLECTION

What lesson can we learn from this incident? By his action, Rasulullah (s) showed clearly that he was not in Khaybar to conquer land and wealth, but his aim was to remove the threat to Islam from the people of Khaybar. In spite of the needs of his men, he would not permit the unlawful use of the enemy’s property, and instead prayed to Allah to grant the Muslims victory. 3

Many companions of Rasulullah (s) tried to lead the Muslim On the day of the victory at Khaybar, the army to capture the final fort of Khaybar but they all failed Muslims who had migrated from to and were forced to retreat. Finally, Rasulullah (s) announced: Abyssinia in the early years of Islam before ‘Tomorrow I shall give the standard to a person who loves Allah the hijrah, returned to Medina led by Ja‘far and Rasulullah and who is loved by Allah and Rasulullah, and ibn Abi Talib [the brother of Imam (a)]. Allah will give us victory at his hands. He is a brave man who Rasulullah (s) was overjoyed at the return never turns his back to the enemy and never runs away from of Ja‘far with the Muslims from Abyssinia the battlefield.’ just as he rejoiced and thanked Allah for the victory at Khaybar. All the Muslim soldiers slept restlessly that night and prayed that they would be given the honour to be that person. The next morning they all gathered around Rasulullah (s) to see who would be chosen. Rasulullah (s) asked: ‘Where is Ali?’ He was told that Imam Ali (a) had a severe eye problem and was unable to see properly. Rasulullah (s) requested Imam Ali (a) to be brought before him. He rubbed his eyes and prayed for his recovery, and his eyes were cured. Rasulullah (s) then ordered Imam Ali (a) to advance against the enemy. He told him to ask the chiefs of the fort to accept Islam, and if they refused he was to ask them to surrender and live freely under Muslim protection and pay tax. If this offer FIQH FACTS was also refused, then he should fight. It is haram for a Muslim to betray the As Imam Ali (a) approached the fort, the enemy sent out one of trust of someone who has entrusted their best warriors, Harith, the brother of Marhab, to fight him. him with an item or a deed, The Muslims were struck with fear when they saw the powerful regardless of that person’s religion. Harith advance toward them. However, Imam Ali (a) faced him and after a brief fight, Harith lay dead on the ground. The death of his brother enraged Marhab. He came out of the fort in a rage, fully armed. Imam Ali (a) and Marhab engaged in battle as soldiers on both sides looked on with awe. Suddenly, Marhab plunged his spear towards Imam Ali (a), who avoided it and struck a powerful blow to the head of Marhab. A silence fell as the enemy watched in disbelief as their champion fell dead. As he shouted Allahu Akbar in victory, Imam Ali (a) was attacked by other experienced warriors but they were no match for him. Imam Ali (a) then approached the closed fort and ripped its gate out and threw it to the side. It was by the strength from Allah that Imam Ali (a) was able to uproot and fling such a heavy gate. When he returned to the camp, Rasulullah (s) greeted him with smiles, kisses, and embraces, and prayed Forts of Khaybar to Allah to bestow His best rewards upon him. The Muslims had now taken over Khaybar. Rasulullah (s) had made the enemies realise it was useless to plot against the Muslims. After the victory he gave them all their land back and they agreed to pay jizyah tax to the Muslims in exchange for the benefit of living under their protection. 4

The results of the conquest of Khaybar

1 Khaybar was the first campaign in which non-Muslims became citizens of the Islamic state. It was one of the first opportunities for the principles of government in Islam to be defined and applied.

2 Before the conquest of Khaybar, the Muslims were very poor. Many of the had no means of sufficiently supporting themselves, as they had left everything behind in Mecca when they migrated to Medina. The taxes from the people of Khaybar helped reduce some of the financial hardships faced by the Muslims. The Muslims also gained some wealth, weapons, and animals that were abandoned by the enemies as they surrendered the forts.

3 Rasulullah (s) had made the enemies realise it was useless to plot against the Muslims.

HIGHER LEVEL

It was not easy to conquer the forts of Khaybar, but the Muslims were victorious in the end. Having read a historical account of the conquest of Khaybar in this lesson, what do you think were the three main reasons for the success of the Muslims at Khaybar?

1

2

3 5

The power of Iman Surat al-Anfal, 8:65-66 َ َ ُّ َ َّ ُّ َ ّ ْ ُ ْ َ يا أيها الن ِبي ح ِر ِض المؤ ِم ِنين When someone asked Imam Ali (a) about how he was able َ َ ْ َ َ ُ ّ ُ ْ to lift the gate of Khaybar, he replied: ‘I did not lift the gate of على ال ِقت ِال إِن يكن ِمنكم ’.Khaybar with human strength, but with spiritual strength ْ ُ َ َ ُ َ َ ْ ُ َ َ ْ Just as physical strength is enhanced by exercising, going ِعشرون صابِرون يغ ِلبوا ِمائتي ِن to the gym, and lifting weights, spiritual strength can be َ َ ُ ّ ُ ّ َ ٌ َ ْ ُ enhanced too. It is done so by increasing one’s ibadah and ۚ و إِن يكن ِمنكم ِمائة يغ ِلبوا iman. In turn, the closeness to Allah will increase and so will َ َ ,His bounties and favours. This must be done consistently ْ ً ّ َ َّ َ َ َ ُ َّ ُ ْ ألفا ِمن ال ِذين كفروا بِأنهم .together with a sincere and pure niyyah َ ْ ٌ َّ َ ْ َ ُ َ ْ َ َ َّ َ When a person performs ibadah and increases iman purely قوم ل يفقهون الن خفف for the sake of Allah, his senses and actions are protected by ُ َ ُ ْ َ َ َ َ َّ ُ ْ Allah, and Allah helps him at all times. Hence, it is no wonder اهلل عنكم و ع ِلم أن ِفيكم that Imam Ali (a) was able to carry out actions that seem so َ ْ ً َ َ ُ ّ ُ ّ َ ٌ .extraordinary. He was given the power from Allah ضعفا فإِن يكن ِمنكم ِمائة :Regarding the , the Qur’an says َ َ ٌ َ ْ ُ َ َ ْ َ َ ُ صابِرة يغ ِلبوا ِمائتي ِن و إِن يكن Surat al-Anfal, 8:17 ّ ُ ْ َ ْ ٌ َ ْ ُ َ ْ َ ْ ْ ِمنكم ألف يغ ِلبوا ألفين بإذن َ َ ْ َ ْ ُ ُ ُ ْ َ ٰ َّ َ َ َ َ ُ ْ ِ ِ ِ ِ فلم تقتلوهم و ل ِكن اهلل قتلهم اهلل َو ُاهلل َم َع َّالصابر َين ْ ٰ ِ ِ ِ َو َما َر َميْ َت إذ َر َميْ َت َو لك َّن َاهلل َر َمى O Prophet! Urge on the faithful to fight: If ِ ِ You did not kill them; rather it was Allah Who there be twenty patient men among you, they killed them; and you did not throw when you shall overcome two hundred; and if there threw, rather it was Allah Who threw. be a hundred of you, they shall overcome a thousand of the faithless, for they are a This ayah refers to Rasulullah (s) throwing a handful of dust who do not understand. Now Allah has at the enemy. Allah is taking ownership of this action Himself lightened your burden, knowing that there is due to the sincere and pure nature with which Rasulullah (s) weakness in you. So if there be a hundred carried it out. patient men among you, they shall overcome Imam Ali (a) had the most sincere intention of gaining two hundred; and if there be a thousand, only Allah’s pleasure in all the actions he performed. As a they shall overcome two thousand, by Allah’s result, he was gifted with a strong spiritual power that was leave; and Allah is with the patient. manifested in the lifting of the gate of Khaybar. People can sometimes be physically weak but are able to recover completely with the strength of faith. Several studies have been done to compare the superior recovery of people REFLECTION who have a strong faith and positive mind as compared to a poor recovery of people lumbered with negativity and poor Reflect on the verses above. faith. In your opinion, what weakness did the Muslims have that Allah reduced their burden in front of the enemy? 6

REFLECTION

It is worth pondering about how Imam Ali (a) lifted the massive gate of Khaybar with his spiritual strength and not physical strength. We too can implement small changes in our life Why did Rasulullah (s) assemble an army to strengthen our spiritual dimension. 1 to march to Khaybar? What three things can you do this week to strengthen your iman?

2 Explain any two factors that made KEY POINTS the Muslims victorious in the battle of Khaybar. 1 When the tribes of Bani Qaynuqa and Bani Nadhir were expelled from Medina because of their plots against Islam, they settled at Khaybar and joined the people of Khaybar in 3 A shepherd who looked after the sheep encouraging and helping the Arab of the enemies converted to Islam during tribes to harm the Muslims. the battle of Khaybar. Why did Rasulullah (s) instruct him to return the sheep to the 2 Rasulullah (s) and his army advanced enemies? to Khaybar in 7 AH in order to convince the people of Khaybar to stop causing trouble for the Muslims. However, they insisted on acting against the Muslims. The Muslims therefore started conquering the forts, one after the other. 4 List any two benefits that the Muslims 3 The siege on the last fort lasted many days, and gained from their victory at Khaybar. the Muslims had run out of food. The last fort was difficult to conquer, and many Muslims who had tried had failed and fled. The morale of the Muslim army was low. Rasulullah (s) then chose Imam Ali (a) to conquer the fort and gain victory for the Muslims. 5 List three things one can do to 4 Imam Ali (a) fought and overcame the strongest strengthen one’s iman. warriors at Khaybar, including Marhab and Harith who were the most feared amongst them. 5 Imam Ali (a) demonstrated in Khaybar that by increasing one’s spiritual strength through ibadah and iman, one can achieve great things in this physical world.