Allah, ‘Amir’s deeds have come to nothing; he killed himself.” The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Who said that?” I replied, “Some of your Companions.” He said, “Whoever said that has lied. Rather, he will have his reward twice over.”
Then he sent me to ‘Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, whose eyes were inflamed, and said, “I shall certainly give the banner to a man who loves Allah and His Messenger, and whom Allah and His Messenger love.” Salamah said: I went to ‘Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, and brought him, leading him by the hand, while his eyes were inflamed, until I brought him to the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him. He spat into his eyes, and he was cured. Then he gave him the banner.
Marhab came out and said:
Khaybar knows that I am Marhab ...
fully armed, a seasoned champion,
when wars come blazing forth.
‘Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, said:
I am the one my mother named Haydarah ...
like a lion of the thickets, [fearsome in appearance],
I repay them by the measure of Sindarah. (1)
He said: Then he struck Marhab on the head and killed him, and the conquest came at his hands. (2)
A number of Companions narrated the account of Khaybar—Sahl ibn Sa‘d, Anas, and Abu Hurayrah—each adding and omitting details. Among what they narrated is that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, had been afflicted by a migraine and therefore did not come out to the people. Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him, took the banner of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, advanced, and fought fiercely. Then he returned, and ‘Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, took it and fought fiercely, more fiercely than the first engagement. Then he returned.
When the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, was informed of this, he said, “Tomorrow I shall certainly give the banner to a man who loves Allah and His Messenger, and whom Allah and His Messenger love. Allah will grant victory at his hands.” He then summoned ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib and gave it to him, saying, “Proceed, and do not turn back until Allah grants you victory.”
He came to the town of Khaybar, and Marhab, the master of the fortress, came out wearing a helmet, with a stone hollowed out like an egg upon his head, chanting battle verses. ‘Ali came forth to meet him and struck him, cutting through the stone and the helmet and splitting his head, until the sword reached his molars.
After Marhab, his brother Yasir came out, chanting battle verses. Al-Zubayr ibn al-‘Awwam came forth to meet him. His mother, Safiyyah bint ‘Abd al-Muttalib, said, “O Messenger of Allah, will my son be killed?” He said, “Rather, your son will kill him, if Allah wills.” They then met, and al-Zubayr killed him.
Thereafter, the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, continued conquering the fortresses, killing the combatants, taking the women and children captive, and seizing the property.
Muhammad ibn Ishaq said: The first of their fortresses to be conquered was the fortress of Na‘im, and there Mahmud ibn Salamah was killed,