Khaibar: Key to Islam’s victory over Israeli-Arab plots

Heartiest felicitations to you on the anniversary of an important milestone in the history of Islam and humanity that ensured victory for right over might. Today is the 24th of the sacred month of Rajab, the day on which the impregnable Israelite fortress of Qamous in the Khaibar region of Hejaz, was single-handedly captured by the Commander of the Faithful, Imam Ali ibn Abi Taleb (AS), the First Infallible Heir of Prophet Muhammad (SAWA).

Now we have an exclusive feature in this regard, titled: “Khaibar: Key to Islam’s victory over Israeli-Arab plots”.

It is now over seven decades that the Islamic world, especially the Palestinian people, has been the victim of the plots, threats, wars, and genocide unleashed by the Zionists, who claim to be descendants of the Israelites of old, and like those ancient sinners and blasphemers, they indulge in all sins, crimes against humanity, acts of terrorism, desecration of religious places, and blasphemy against God Himself. In the holy Qur’an, His Final and Universal Revelation to all mankind the Lord Most High says in ayahs 4 and 5 of Surah al-Isra’:  

"We revealed to the Children of Israel in the Book (Torah): ‘Twice you will cause corruption on the earth, and you will perpetrate great tyranny.’

"So when the first occasion of the two [prophecies] came, We aroused against you Our servants possessing great might, and they ransacked [your] habitations, and the promise was bound to be fulfilled."

These ayahs of Surah Isra' or Bani Israel are self-explanatory. The ayahs that follow, i.e. 6 to 8, speak of how God the All-Merciful would provide yet another chance in the future to the ever-rebellious Israelites and grant them wealth, power and children, but with a warning against causing corruption again on Planet Earth that would bring about the prophecy of their complete destruction, with a more terrible fate awaiting them in afterlife as a result of sins and tyranny.

Today the 24^th of Rajab, the anniversary of the memorable Battle of Khaybar day in 7 AH (corresponding to 629 AD), reminds us of how decisively God decreed the end of Israelite plots in the Arabian Peninsula by granting His Last and Greatest Messenger, Prophet Mohammad (SAWA), a memorable victory over the Jews – as progenitors of modern-day Zionists had become known after drifting away from the laws of Prophet Moses and refusing to believe in the mission of the virgin-born Messiah, Prophet Jesus (peace upon him).

It happened that the prosperous community of Israelites long settled in the flourishing tract of Khaybar located in northern Hijaz on the highway to Syria, ever since their ancestors had migrated centuries earlier from Palestine to await the advent of the great Ishmaelite Prophet foretold in the Torah, now not only refused to believe in the universal mission of Prophet Mohammad (SAWA), but were providing refuge to the treacherous Banu Nadheer Jewish tribe expelled from Medina for breaking the peace pact with the Muslims.

The ringleaders of Banu Nadheer, in league with the hardcore Omayyad infidel Abu Sufyan and other pagan Arab tribes, had actively taken part in the abortive siege of Medina, preceding the Battle of Khandaq (or Trench). Then after the defeat of the Confederates (or Ahzaab) by the Muslims, especially the decisive stroke of Imam Ali ibn ibn Abi Taleb (AS) that decapitated the mighty warlord of the Arab-Israelite joint force, Amr ibn Abduwad, and was hailed by the Prophet as "superior to the worship of Thaqalayn (mankind and genies put together)", they started unifying the Jews of Arabia for launching a surprise attack on Medina, in league with the pagan Arabs, to kill the Prophet and wipe out Islam.

Almighty God commanded the Messenger of Mercy to mobilize the Muslim forces for defeating the intricate plot, and the Prophet proceeded towards Khaybar and soon wrenched away from the central Jewish command several forts whose commanders accepted the amicable terms of peaceful existence offered by Islam.

Qamous the main fortress and the most impregnable one, continued to hold out. Its commanders resorted to a war of attrition, launching raids and retreating to the safety of its ramparts, from where volleys of arrows continued to take the toll of Muslims. After several weeks of inconclusive encounters and disgraceful retreat by the Prophet's senior companions who turned tail at the sight of the Jewish warlord Marhab and his battle prowess, the Prophet expressed the famous words:

 “Tomorrow I will give the banner (of command) to the one who loves Allah and the Prophet, and whom Allah and the Prophet love; he will not flee nor return till he conquers the foe."

Here, it would be repetitive to recount, how to the surprise of his senior companions, the Prophet called for his dear cousin and son-in-law, Imam Ali (AS), who was suffering sore eyes, and how he cured the ailment by applying saliva, before entrusting him command of the forces.

At the sight of the Imam and his regiment, as usual, the mighty Jewish warlord, Marhab, thumped his chest, brandished his weapons, and thundered threats at the fresh forces sent out to confront him. But to his surprise, the young Muslim commander stood his ground and challenged him to fight.

The arrogant Marhab darted forward boasting of his battle prowess, to which Imam Ali (AS) calmly replied: 

"I am one whose mother has named him Haider. I step into the battlefield like a ferocious lion, I will throw you away like a grain.”

Soon after a few exchange of blows, Imam Ali (AS), smote Marhab on the head a blow that cut the Israelite warlord into two and made his soldiers flee to the safety of the fortress of Qamous. The Imam chased them and pulling from its hinges the huge gateway which forty men would open and close, threw it on the moat to enable the Muslims to use it as a bridge to cross into Qamous.

The rest is history and the surrender on peaceful terms of the last Israelite stronghold in Arabia, with the Prophet allowing the Jews to live peacefully.

Before start of the campaign, the Prophet had expressed the famous invocation: "Nad-e Aliyan Mazhar al-Aja'eb" (Call Ali the Manifestation of Wonders), which the faithful recite till this day as they continue to defeat the plots of modern day Arabs and Israelites – in Syria, in Iraq, in Lebanon, and in Yemen.

The anniversary of the resounding victory of Islam in the Battle of Khaybar is a reminder to Muslims that they will only be able to defeat the despicable Zionists, if they adhere to the letter and spirit of the holy Qur’an and the genuine teachings of the Prophet of Islam, which includes following the guidelines of Imam Ali (AS) and the Infallible Ahl al-Bayt.

Today, when the Arab regimes, like their pagan ancestors, are ganging up with the Zionists against Islam, it is only the path of Imam Ali (AS), which is capable of defeating the modern-day devils of different hues.

Insha Allah (God Willing), the Yemeni Muslims, like their Syrian and Iraqi brothers, will also eventually triumph over the Zionist-supported Saudi and other takfiri/salafi US-Israeli supported Arab aggressors, by invoking the Prophet’s famous phrase: Call Ali the Manifestor of Wonders. It is the spirit of the Victor of Khaibar.

AS/ME