He severed a vital vein in his forearm, and his life ebbed away.

Salamah said: I went out and found a group of the Messenger of Allah’s ﷺ Companions saying, “ʿĀmir’s deeds have been annulled; he has killed himself.”

I came to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ weeping. He asked, “What is the matter?” I replied, “They are saying that ʿĀmir’s deeds have come to nothing.” He said, “Who said that?” I answered, “Some of your Companions.” He replied, “They have lied; rather, he shall have his reward twice over.”

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ then sent for ʿAlī, may Allah be pleased with him, who was suffering from an eye ailment, and declared, “Today I will give the banner to a man who loves Allah and His Messenger.” I brought ʿAlī, leading him by the hand. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ spat into his eyes, and they were instantly healed; then he handed him the banner.

Marhab advanced, chanting:

Khaybar well knows that I am Marhab—
fully armed, a seasoned warrior;
When wars ignite, I kindle the flames!

ʿAlī stepped forward, replying:

I am the one my mother named Ḥaydar—
a lion of the thicket, grim of mien;
I shall repay you in full measure,
a measure as weighty as Sandarah’s. (1)

ʿAlī struck Marhab, split his head, and killed him, and the victory was won.

Thus, in this version of the account it is ʿAlī who slew Marhab the Jew—may Allah curse him.

Aḥmad (2) said: Ḥusayn ibn Ḥasan al-Ashqar narrated to us; Ibn Qābūs ibn Abī Ḍabyān told us, from his father, from his grandfather, that ʿAlī said: “When I killed Marhab I brought his head to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.”

Mūsā ibn ʿUqbah (3), on the authority of al-Zuhrī, reported that the one who killed Marhab was Muḥammad ibn Maslamah.

Likewise, Muḥammad ibn Isḥāq (4) said: ʿAbd Allāh ibn Sahl—one of Banū Ḥārithah—told me, from Jābir ibn ʿAbd Allāh, that Marhab the Jew came out of the fortress of Khaybar reciting:

Khaybar well knows that I am Marhab—
fully armed, a seasoned warrior;
At times I thrust, at times I strike;
When the lions advance, I roar;
My sanctuary is a sanctuary none may breach!

Kaʿb ibn Mālik (5) answered him