Marhab ibn Abi Zaynab the fatherless
مرحب ابن أبي زينب
Ali slays Marhab painting
Died628
Buried
Khaybar
AllegianceJews of Khaybar Oasis
RankCommander
UnitQamus fort Battalion

Marhab bin Al-Harith (Arabic: مرحب بن الحارث) was popularly known as the Knight of Khaybar, a Jewish knight who is noted for his military role in Battle of Khaybar.

Life

Beside his knighthood and excellence in war,[1] he was a poet,[2] Tall and huge,[3] brave,[3] and wealthy.[3]

Ancestry

According to some historians he and his sister were from Israelite origin,[4] while some other historians believed he is from Ḥimyarite origin.[5]

Property

He had a sword engraved on it the phrase "This is the sword of Marhab; he who tastes it dies".[6] and he resided in a palace.[7]

Battle of Khaybar

The Battle of Khaybar was fought in the year 628 between Muslims and the Jews living in the oasis of Khaybar. Marhab was the commander of the Jewish army in that battle and expressed an outstanding strength and skills. The Muslim historian Shaykh Mufid stated: "No one amongst the Muslims could confront him but Ali ibn Abi Talib killed him in the battlefield".[8]

Death

Marhab's mother was a fortune-teller, she predicted that no man can kill Marhab but one man named after a synonymous of lion.[3][9] A night before his last battle he saw in his dream that a lion attacked him.[10]

Historians have given different descriptions about the incident of killing Marhab. According Sahih Muslim, Ali went to meet Marhab in a single combat. Marhab advanced brandishing his sword and chanting: "Khaibar knows certainly that I am Marhab, a fully armed and well-tried valorous warrior (hero) when war comes spreading its flames". Ali chanted in reply: I am the one whose mother named him Haidar, (synonymous of lion) like a lion of the forest with a terror-striking countenance". The narrator said: Ali struck at the head of Marhab and killed him, so the victory (capture of Khaibar) was due to him.[11] Al-Maqrizi recorded: "The Ansari reported that he saw Marhab's mother holding his dead body and weeping".[12]

References

  1. ↑ Nadwi, Abul Hasan. "Al-Sirah Al-Nabawyiah". Ibn Kathir publication. Damascus. page 424
  2. ↑ Ali, Jawad. "Al-Mufasal Fi Tarikh Al-Arab". Dar Al-Saqi Publication. 2001. volume 18 page 354
  3. 1 2 3 4 Mohammad-Baqer Majlesi, Bihār al-Anwār, Al-Wafa Publication, Beirut, (1983), volume 21 page 9
  4. ↑ al-'Asqalani, Ibn Hajar. "al-Isaba fi tamyiz al-Sahaba". Dar Al-Kutub Al-Elmyiah Publication. Beirut. volume 8 page 155
  5. ↑ Al-Suhayli. al-Rawḍ al-unuf fī šarḥ al-sīra al-Nabawiyya li-Ibn Hišām. wa-maʿahu al-Sīra al-Nabawiyya. Dar Ehya Al-Turath Al-Arabi Publication. Beirut. (2000). volume 7 page 98
  6. ↑ Ibn Kathir. "Al-Bidāya wa-n-nihāya". Dar Ehya Al-Turath Al-Arabi. Beirut. (1988). volume 4 page 215
  7. ↑ Al-Bakri. "Moajam Ma Astajam". Aalam Al-Kutub Publication. Beirut. (1983). volume 2 page 522
  8. ↑ Diyar Bakari. "Tarikh al-khamis fi ahwal anfansi nafis". Dar Sader Publication. Beirut. volume 2 page 50
  9. ↑ al-Maqrizi. "Emta Al-Asma". Dar Al-Kutub Al-Elmyiah. Beirut. (1999). volume 11 page 290
  10. ↑ Al-Halabi, Burah Al-din. "Ensan Al-Ayoon". Dar Al-Marifa Publication. Beirut. volume 2 page 738
  11. ↑ "The Book of Jihad and Expeditions - Sunnah.com - Sayings and Teachings of Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه و سلم)". Sunnah.com. Retrieved 2022-08-22.
  12. ↑ Al-Maqrizi. "Emta Al-Asma". Dar Al-Kutub Al-Elmyiah. Beirut. (1999). volume 11 page 292
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