‘Ali’s Courage in the Battle of Khandaq (The Ditch) — part 1/4

In this battle, Quraysh and its collaborators from the family of Kinanah, the inhabitants of Tihamah with ten thousands men as well as the tribe of Ghatafan from Najd rushed to help Quraysh putting Muslims in a corner. The Messenger of Allah who knew their decision beforehand, ordered Muslims to dig a ditch around the city of Medina. Following this act, the sworn enemies of Islam surrounded the city from every side.

In this connection, the Holy Qur’an states:

“…When they came upon you from above you and from below you…” (33:10).

To fight the enemy, the Messenger of Allah rose for defense with three thousand Muslims behind the ditch and within the city. Amid this, the Jews inside the city were allied with the atheists so as to defeat the Holy Prophet and Muslims. Hence, the enemy pressured the people of Medina from inside and outside, adding to their worries.

The horse-riders of Quraysh, including Ikrimah ibn Abi-Jahl and Amr ibn Abd-Wudd who, in their wishful thinking, dreamt of a quick victory stood in the front line, asking for a challenger and declared a hand to hand fighting. Among Muslims, the first man who responded him was ‘Ali, saying: O Messenger of Allah, I am prepared to fight him! The Messenger of Allah said, “He is Amr,” and kept silent. Asking for a challenger for the second time, Amr said: Where is the paradise you promise with martyrdom? Why don’t you come to the field to be martyred and to go to paradise, is there no one to fight me? ‘Ali said: I will fight him. The Holy Prophet, at this time too due to an exigency and to prevent others from saying ‘Ali does not give others any chance and that he acts hastily, said: He is Amr and kept silent.

وَفي غَزاةِ الخَنْدَقِ:

لَمَّا فَرِغَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ مِنْ حَفْرِ الْخَنْدَقِ أَقْبَلَتْ قُرَيْشٌ وَأَتْباعُها مِنْ كِنانَةَ وَأَهْلِ تِهامَةَ فِي عَشَرَةِ آلافٍ وَأَقْبَلَتْ غَطَفانُ وَمَنْ يَتْبَعُها مِنْ أهْلِ نَجْدٍ فَنَزَلوا مِنْ فَوْقِ الْمُسْلِمينَ وَمِنْ أَسْفَلَ مِنْهُمْ. كَمَا قَالَ تَعالَى: ?إِذْ جَاءُوكُمْ مِنْ فَوْقِكُمْ وَمِنْ أَسْفَلَ مِنْكُمْ.? فَخَرَجَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ بالْمُسْلِمينَ وَهُمْ ثَلاثَةُ آلافٍ وَجَعَلوا الْخَنْدَقَ بَيْنَهُمْ. وَاتَّفَقَ الْمُشْرِكُونَ مَعَ اليَهودِ وَاشْتَدَّ الأَمْرُ عَلَى الْمُسْلِمينَ. وَرَكِبَ فَوارِسُ مِنْ قُرَيْشٍ مِنْهُمْ عَمْرُو بْنُ عَبْدِ وُدٍّ وَعِكْرِمَةُ بْنُ أَبِي جَهْلٍ. فَقالَ عَمْرٌو: مَنْ يُبارِزُ؟ فَقالَ عَلِيٌّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ: أنَا. فَقالَ لَهُ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ: إنَّهُ عَمْرٌو. فَسَكَتَ. فَقالَ عَمْرٌو: هَلْ مِنْ مُبارِزٍ؟ أيْنَ جَنَّتُكُمُ الَّتِي تَزْعُمونَ أنَّهُ مَنْ قُتِلَ مِنْكُمْ دَخَلَهَا؟ أَفَلا يَبْرُزُ إلَيَّ رَجُلٌ؟ فَقالَ عَلِيٌّ: أنَا لَهُ يَا رَسولَ

On the third time when Amr boldly cried out: Who is your fighter? Again ‘Ali said: O Messenger of Allah, I will fight him though he is Amr! At this time, the Holy Prophet gave ‘Ali permission to fight, saying: Now Islam in its entirety is standing against atheism in its entirely implying that if ‘Ali achieves victory, Islam will be victorious and if Amr overcomes, then there will be no name of Islam. Addressing Amr after going to the battlefield, ‘Ali said: You have pledged that if a man of Quraysh calls you to two things, you will accept.

Amr said: It is so. ‘Ali said: I invite you first to God, His messenger and Islam. Amr said: Forget it, I will never accept Islam! ‘Ali said: I am on foot, you better dismount your horse so as to fight hand to hand. Amr who was feeling death, out of pity said: O son of my brother! I do not desire to kill you, for you are an honorable man and your father was an old friend of me! ‘Ali said: But by God, I desire to kill you.

Amr was disturbed by these words and dismounted his horse. ‘Ali threw him on the ground after an hour of hand to hand fighting ‘Ali killed him and his son too. Seeing this fatal scene, Ikrimah ibn Abi-Jahl and other atheist took to their heels, leaving the battlefield. God returned their anger back to them, so the enemies found no benefit in continuing the fighting and thus were defeated.[34]

Seeing Amr killed, Umar ibn Khattab said to ‘Ali: He had a good coat of mail, why didn’t you take it off his body for there is no cuirass like it? ‘Ali said: It was not fair to leave him naked on the ground.[35] Abdullah ibn Mas’ud used to recite the verse

“…and Allah sufficed the believers in fighting; and Allah is Strong Mighty” (33:25)

about ‘Ali.[36] Rabi’ah al-Sa’di reports: I went to Hudhayfah ibn Yaman, saying: Whenever I relate a Hadith on the excellence of ‘Ali, the people of Basrah reject us, saying: You are exaggerating and going to extremes about ‘Ali. Is there any Hadith which I can relate and the enemies cannot deny? Hudhayfah said: O Rabi’ah! Which merits of ‘Ali should I recount?

اللهِ. فَقالَ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ: إنَّهُ عَمْرٌو. فَسَكَتَ.

فَنَادَى ثالِثَةً. فَقالَ لَهُ عَلِيٌّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ: أنَا لَهُ يَا رَسولَ اللهِ. فَقالَ: إنَّهُ عَمْرٌو. فَقالَ: وَإنْ كَانَ. فَأَذِنَ لَهُ وَقالَ: خَرَجَ الإسْلامُ كُلُّهُ إلَى الشِّرْكِ كُلِّهِ. فَخَرَجَ إلَيْهِ. ثُمَّ قَالَ: يَا عَمْرُو إنَّكَ قَدْ عَاهَدْتَ اللهَ تَعالَى أَلاَّ يَدْعُوَكَ رَجُلٌ مِنْ قُرَيْشٍ إلَى إحْدَى خِصْلَتَيْنِ إلا إخْتَرْتَها مِنْهُ. فَقالَ لَهُ: أَجَلْ. فَقالَ لَهُ عَلِيٌّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ: فَإنِّي أَدْعُوكَ إلَى اللهِ وَرَسُولِهِ وَالإسْلامِ. فَقالَ: لاَ حَاجَةَ لِي بِذَلِكَ. فَقالَ: إنِّي أَدْعُوكَ إلَى النِّزَالِ. فَقالَ لَهُ: يَا ابْنَ أَخي، فَوَاللهِ إنِّي لاَ أُحِبُّ أَنْ أَقْتُلَكَ وَأَنْتَ كَرِيمٌ وَأَبوكَ لِي نَديمٌ. فَقالَ لَهُ عَلِيٌّ: وَلَكِنِّي وَاللهِ أُحِبُّ أَنْ أَقْتُلَكَ. فَحَمَى عَمْرٌو وَنَزَلَ عَنْ فَرَسِهِ ثُمَّ تَجَاوَلا ساعَةً. فَضَرَبَهُ عَلِيٌّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ فَقَتَلَهُ وَقَتَلَ وَلَدَهُ أيْضاً. وَانْهَزَمَ عِكْرِمَةُ بْنُ أَبِي جَهْلٍ وَباقِي المُشْرِكِينَ وَرَدَّهُمُ اللهُ بِغَيْظِهِمْ لَمْ يَنَالوا خَيْراً وَكَفَى اللهُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ الْقِتالَ.

وَقالَ عُمَرُ بْنُ الخَطَّابِ لِعَلِيٍّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ: هَلاّ سَلَبْتَهُ دِرْعَهُ، فَمَا لأَحَدٍ دِرْعٌ مِثْلُهَا. فَقالَ عَلِيٌّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ: إنِّي إسْتَحْيَيْتُ أَنْ أَكْشِفَ عَنْ سَوْءَةِ ابْنِ عَمِّي. وَكَانَ ابْنُ مَسْعُودٍ يَقْرَأُ: وَكَفَى اللهُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ الْقِتَالَ بِعَلِيٍّ وَكَانَ اللهُ قَوِيَّاً عَزِيزاً. قَالَ رَبِيعَةُ السَّعْدِيُّ: أَتَيْتُ حُذَيْفَةَ بْنَ اليَمانِ فَقُلْتُ: يَا أَبَا عَبْدِ اللهِ، إنَّا لَنُحَدِّثُ عَنْ عَلِيٍّ وَمَناقِبِهِ فَيَقُولُ لَنا أهْلُ البَصْرَةِ إنَّكُمْ لَتُفَرِّطونَ فِي عَلِيٍّ، فَهَلْ أَنْتَ مُحَدِّثُنِي فِيهِ بِحَدِيثٍ؟ فَقالَ حُذَيْفَةُ: يَا رَبِيعَةُ، وَما تَسْأَلُنِي عَنْ عَلِيٍّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ. وَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ لَوْ وُضِعَ

By Lord in whose hand my life rests, if the deeds of the aides of Muhammad from the day he was ordained as prophet till the Day of Judgment are put on a pan of a scale and ‘Ali’s deeds are put on the other pan of scale, beyond doubt, ‘Ali’s deeds are heavier. Rabi’ah said: This is a Hadith for which one cannot sit or stand, implying that it is hard to accept and more hard to recount.

Hudhayfah said: O fool! How can you say that this Hadith is hard to accept when the Messenger of Allah said the same thing on the day of the battle of the Ditch! Then he added: Where were Abu-Bakr, Umar, Hudhayfah, and all the companions of the Holy Prophet on the day when Amr ibn Abd-Wudd was yelling and challenging a fighter?

All the crowds on that day were at a loss, creeping in a corner. It was only ‘Ali who responded to him, went to fight and killed him. By God in whose power my life is, the reward of ‘Ali’s deed on that day is more than the reward of the deeds of Muhammad’s companions till the Day of Judgment.[37]

Following the defeat of allies on the day of the battle of Ditch, the Messenger of Allah decided to suppress the Jews of Banu-Qurayzah who had allied with Quraysh, so gave ‘Ali the mission to inspect their situation from close with thirty men of Khazraj tribe, saying: O ‘Ali, see what state Banu-Qurayzah are in? Have they left their forts on not?

Going on his mission, ‘Ali accompanied by his aides reached near the enemy’s position, seeing that they were stationed in their forts and had blocked entrances and exits, swearing at the Holy Prophet (S). ‘Ali immediately went to the Holy Prophet informing him of the situation and went directly to carry out his mission. Seeing ‘Ali, one of them said: The killer of Amr has come and the others confirmed it. Hearing the name of ‘Ali, Banu-Qurayzah took to his heels, leaving his position. By advancing into the big fort, ‘Ali installed the standard of Islam.

The running Jews were swearing at the Holy Prophet and speaking ill of him. The Messenger of Allah said: O the brothers of pigs and monkeys, where are you fleeing? When we confront our enemies, we will ruin their life and make the bright day dark for them. They said: O Abu-al-Qasim! You were not tyrant or foulmouthed. Hearing this, the Messenger of Allah turned back, ashamed and kept them under siege for twenty five nights. Since they could not resist, they suggested to surrender and bowed to Sa’d ibn Mu’adh’s arbitration. The Messenger of Allah too accepted it. Sa’d ibn Mu’adh ruled their men to be killed, their women and children to be taken captive and their property to be divided among Muslims.

At this time, the Holy Prophet (S) ordered the men of Banu-Qurayzah amounting to nine hundred to be put under watch in the houses of Banu’l-Najjar tribe. Then, he ordered the watchmen to bring them one by one near the ditch through the exit way of the neighborhood and ordered ‘Ali to behead them one after the other and to throw their bodies in the ditch. ‘Ali carried out the instructions, beheaded them all and threw them in the ditch.[38]

جَمِيعُ أَعْمالِ أَصْحَابِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ السَّلامُ فِي كَفَّةِ الْمِيزَانِ مُنْذُ بَعَثَ اللهُ مُحَمَّداً إلَى يَوْمِ القِيامَةِ وَوُضِعَ عَمَلُ عَلِيٍّ فِي الكَفَّةِ الأُخْرى لَرَجَحَ عَمَلُ عَلِيٍّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ عَلَى جَميعِ أعْمالِهِمْ. فَقالَ رَبيعَةُ: هَذَا الَّذِي لاَ يُقامُ لَهُ وَلا يُقْعَدُ.

فَقالَ حُذَيْفَةُ: يَا لُكَعُ، وَكَيْفَ لاَ يُحْمَلُ وَأَيْنَ كَانَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ وَعُمَرُ وَحُذَيْفَةُ وَجَميعُ أَصْحَابِ مُحَمَّدٍ يَوْمَ عَمْرِو بْنِ عَبْدِ وُدٍّ، وَقَدْ دَعا إلَى البِرازِ فَأَحْجَمَ النَّاسُ كُلُّهُمْ مَا خَلا عَلِيَّاً، فَإنَّهُ بَرَزَ إلَيْهِ فَقَتَلَهُ؟ وَالَّذِي نَفْسُ حُذَيْفَةَ بِيَدِهِ، لَعَمَلُهُ ذَلِكَ اليَوْمِ أَعْظَمُ أَجْراً مِنْ عَمَلِ أَصْحَابِ مُحَمَّدٍ إلَى يَوْمِ القِيامَةِ.

وَلَمَّا إنْهَزَمَ الأَحْزابُ قَصَدَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ بَنِي قُرَيْظَةَ وَأَنْفَذَ عَلِيَّاً عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ فِي ثَلاثِينَ مِنَ الخَزْرَجِ وَقالَ: أُنْظُرْ بَنِي قُرَيْظَةَ هَلْ نَزَلوا حُصونَهُمْ؟ فَلَمَّا شَارَفَها سَمِعَ مِنْهُمْ الهَجْرَ. فَرَجِعَ إلَى النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ فَأَخْبَرَهُ. وَسارَ عَلِيٌّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ حَتَّى دَنا مِنْ سُورِهِمْ، فَأَبْصَرَهُ شَخْصٌ فَنادَى: قَدْ جَاءَكُمْ قَاتِلُ عَمْرٍو. وَقالَ آخَرُ كَذَلِكَ فَانْهَزَمُوا. وَرَكَزَ أمِيرُ المُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ الرَّايَةَ فِي أَصْلِ الْحِصْنِ وَاسْتَقْبَلُوهُ يَسُبُّونَ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ. فَنَادَاهُمْ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ: يَا إخْوَةَ القِرَدَةِ وَالْخَنازِيرِ، إنَّا إذَا نَزَلْنا بِسَـاحَةِ قَوْمٍ فَساءَ صَبَاحُ الْمُنْذَرِينَ. فَقَالُوا: يَـا أَبَـا القَاسِمِ مَا كُنْتَ جَهُولاً وَلا سَبَّاباً. فَاسْتَحْيَى صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَرَجَعَ القَهْقَرَى، وَحَاصَرَهُمْ خَمْس

In the battle of Banu’l-Mustalaq in which ‘Ali was a pioneer, Muslims eventually gained the victory. In this battle, Malik and his son who were among the enemy leaders were killed by ‘Ali, and Juwayriyyah, the daughter of Harith ibn Abi-Dirar was taken captive and brought to the presence of the Messenger of Allah, who chose her for himself. After the battle, the father of Juwayriyyah came to the Holy Prophet, saying: O Messenger of Allah! My daughter must not be taken captive, for she is dignified and brought up in a respectable family!

The Holy Prophet said: Go to your daughter and ask her if she wishes to be with us or she will be free to return with you. Harith hailed the Holy Prophet’s magnanimity and greatness, and conveyed the Holy Prophet’s message to his daughter but Juwayriyyah opted for God and His messenger, saying: God and His messenger are better than everyone and everything else! After this event, the Holy Prophet set her free, then married her and she became one the wives of the Messenger of Allah.[39]

In the battle of Hudaybiyah which led to peace treaty, the one who drew up and wrote the peace treaty between the Messenger of Allah and Suhayl ibn Amr was ‘Ali. In this connection, two merits were added to his virtues no one shared with him.[40]

One of those two merits is that when the Messenger of Allah decided to perform minor Hajj of Hudaybiyah, he, along with a group of his companions, went to Juhfah to become Muhrim but there was no water in that area. So, the Messenger of Allah ordered Sa’d ibn Malik to take water skins and water-carrying camels to search for water. After a short time, Sa’d returned, saying: Since this region is under the enemy’s control, I fear to fetch water! The Holy Prophet assigned another person to fetch water.

وَعِشْرينَ لَيْلَةً حَتَّى سَأَلُوهُ النُّزُولَ عَلَى حُكْمِ سَعْدِ بْنِ مُعاذٍ. فَحَكَمَ سَعْدٌ بِقَتْلِ الرِّجَالِ وَسَبْيِ الذَّرارِي وَالنِّسَاءِ وَقِسْمَةِ الأَمْوالِ. فَأَمَرَ النَّبِيُّ بِإنْزالِ الرِّجالِ فِي الْمَدِينَةِ فِي بَعْضِ دُورِ بَنِي النَّجَّارِ وَكَانوا تِسْعَمِائَةٍ، وَخَرَجَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ مِنْ بَعْضِ الدُّرُوبِ وَأَمَرَ بِإخْراجِهِمْ وَتَقَدَّمَ إلَى أمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ بِقَتْلِهِمْ فِي الْخَنْدَقِ فَفَعَلَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ مَا أُمِرَ بِهِ.

وَفِي غَزاةِ بَنِي الْمُصْطَلَقِ كَانَ الفَتْحُ لَهُ. وَقَتَلَ أمِيرُ المُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ مَالِكاً وَابْنَهُ وَسَبَى جُوَيْرِيَّةَ بِنْتَ الْحَارِثِ بْنِ أَبِي ضِرارٍ فَاصْطَفَاها النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ لِنَفْسِهِ. فَجَاءَ أَبُوها بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ وَقالَ: يَا رَسولَ اللهِ، إن ابْنَتِي لاَ تُسْبَى، إنَّها إمْرَأَةٌ كَريمَةٌ. قَالَ: إذْهَبْ وَخَيِّرْها. قَالَ: لَقَدْ أَحْسَنَتْ وَأَجْمَلَتْ فَاخْتارَتِ اللهَ وَرَسُولَهُ. فَأَعْتَقَها رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَجَعَلَها فِي جُمْلَةِ أَزْواجِهِ.

وَفي غَزاةِ الْحُدَيْبِيَةِ: كَانَ أمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ هُوَ الَّذِي كَتَبَ بَيْنَ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَبَيْنَ سُهَيْلِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو حينَ طَلَبَ الصُّلْحَ عِنْدَما رَأى تَوَجُّهَ الأَمْرِ عَلَيْهِمْ. وَلَهُ فِي هَذِهِ الغَزاةِ فَضيلَتانِ: إحْداهُما: إنَّهُ لَمَّا خَرَجَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ إلَى غَزاةِ الحُدَيْبِيَةِ نَزَلَ الْجُحْفَةَ فَلَمْ يَجِدْ بِهَا مَاءً، فَبَعَثَ سَعْدَ بْنَ مَالِكٍ بِالرَّوَايا فَغَابَ قَريباً وَعَادَ وَقالَ: لَمْ أَقْدِرْ عَلَى الْمُضِيِّ خَوْفاً مِنَ القَوْمِ. فَبَعَثَ آخَـرَ فَفَعَلَ كَذَلِكَ. فَبَعَثَ عَـلِيَّاً عَلَيْـهِ

Like Sa’d, he too returned quickly and repeated what Sa’d had said. At this time, the Messenger of Allah ordered ‘Ali to do the work. After searching, ‘Ali found out that water was in a spot controlled by the enemy. Hence, without fearing the enemy, ‘Ali went to the same spot, filled the water skins, fastened them unto camels and brought them for the Holy Prophet (S) who praised his valuable deed and prayed for him.[41]

‘Ali’s second merit is that when the peace treaty was being concluded, Suhayl ibn Amr turned to the Holy Prophet, saying: O Muhammad, give back to us these slaves of ours who have joined you. The Holy Prophet was so annoyed with this request, that too, with bold tone that signs of anger could be seen in his face, for it is not right to entrust Muslims to atheists. Besides, his impolite tone implied domineering.

Hence, the Holy Prophet said: O group of Quraysh! Stop your hostile attitude otherwise God will send to punish and behead you for the promotion of religion a person whose heart He has tried with faith. Those who were present said: O Messenger of Allah, who is he? The Holy Prophet said: The one who is mending my shoes in the room. To know the man with such a merit, people rushed to the room and found that it was ‘Ali ibn Abi-Talib.[42]

At a time one of the pair of shoes of the Holy Prophet was torn and had to be mended, he called ‘Ali to mend it. Then while walking a short space in his odd shoe, he turned to his companions, saying: One of you will fight for the interpretation of the Holy Qur’an in the same way that he fights along with me for its revelation. Abu-Bakr said: Is it me?

The Holy Prophet said: No. The companions kept silent, looking at one another, asking themselves whom the Holy Prophet meant. Breaking the silence and pointing to ‘Ali, the Messenger of Allah said: He is the one who is presently mending my shoe, for he is the only person who stands against deviators and fight for the interpretation of the Holy Qur’an and those Sunnahs of me which will be abandoned. This is at a time when the book of Allah will be distorted and wrongdoers will interfere in religion. It is with ‘Ali’s fighting that God’s religion will gain a new life and he will cut their hands off religion.[43]

السَّلامُ بِالرَّوايَا فَوَرَدَ وَاسْتَسْقَى وَجَاءَ بِهَا إلَى النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ، فَدَعا لَهُ بِخَيْرٍ.

وَالثَّانِيَةُ: أَقْبَلَ سُهَيْلُ بْنُ عَمْرٍو فَقالَ: يَا مُحَمَّدُ إنَّ أَرِقَّاءَنا لَحِقُوا بِكَ فَارْدُدْهُمْ عَلَيْنا. فَغَضِبَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ حَتَّى ظَهَرَ الْغَضَبُ عَلَى وَجْهِهِ، ثُمَّ قَالَ: لَتَنْتَهُنَّ يَا مَعْشَرَ قُرَيْشٍ أَوْ لَيَبْعَثُنَّ اللهُ عَلَيْكُمْ رَجُلاً إمْتَحَنَ اللهُ قَلْبَهُ بِالإيمَانِ يَضْرِبُ رِقابَكُمْ عَلَى الدِّينِ. فَقالَ بَعْضُ الحَاضِرينَ: مَنْ هُوَ يَا رَسولَ اللهِ؟ قَالَ: خَاصِفُ النَّعْلِ فِي الحُجْرَةِ. فَتَبادَروا إلَيْها لِيَعْرِفوا مَنْ هُوَ، فَإذَا هُوَ أمِيرُ المُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ وَكَانَ قَدِ إنْقَطَعَ شِسْعُ نَعْلِ رَسُولِ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ فَدَفَعَها إلَى عَلِيٍّ يُصْلِحُها. ثُمَّ مَشَى فِي نَعْلٍ وَاحِدٍ غُلْوَةَ سَهْمٍ. ثُمَّ أَقْبَلَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ عَلَى أَصْحابِهِ فَقالَ: إنَّ بَيْنَكُمْ مَنْ يُقاتِلُ عَلَى التَّأْويلِ كَمَا قَاتَلْتُ عَلَى التَّنْزِيلِ. فَقالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ: أنَا يَا رَسولَ اللهِ؟ فَقالَ: لاَ. فَقالَ عُمَرُ: فَأَنَا؟ فَقالَ: لاَ. فَأَمْسَكُوا وَنَظَرَ بَعْضُهُمْ إلَى بَعْضٍ. فقَالَ رَسولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ: لَكِنَّهُ خَاصِفُ النَّعْلِ، وَأَوْمَأَ إلَى عَلِيٍّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ، فَإنَّهُ يُقاتِلُ عَلَى التَّأْوِيلِ إذَا تُرِكَتْ سُنَّتِي وَنُبِذَتْ وَحُرِّفَ كِتابُ اللهِ وَتَكَلَّمَ فِي الدِّينِ مَنْ لَيْسَ لَهُ ذَلِكَ، فَيُقاتِلُهُمْ عَلَى إحْياءِ دِينِ اللهِ.

In the battle of Khaybar, which took place in the seventh year A.H., it was ‘Ali who achieved victory for Islam. The Holy Prophet besieged for twenty and odd nights the Jews of Khaybar who had dug a huge ditch round their fort, taking sanctuary in it. Eventually, one day the Jews opened the gate of the fort. Marhab and his aides came out of the fort, declaring their combat readiness. At this time, the Messenger of Allah called Abu-Bakr and gave the standard of Islam to him, placing a group of immigrants (Muhajir) under his command. Abu-Bakr who was facing defeat soon returned along with those accompanying him.

On the second day, the Messenger of Allah gave the standard of Islam to Umar, appointing him the commander of the army. He went a few steps forward but not being able to advance and facing defeat, he too returned. Seeing the defeat of the two, the Holy Prophet said: Where is ‘Ali? Tell him to come to me. It was said he had sore eye. The Holy Prophet said for a second time: Tell ‘Ali to come here, for he is a man who loves God and His messenger and God and His messenger too love him. He has never abandoned the battlefield and has defeated his enemy with his successive attacks. He is the one who carries the banner of Islam and adds to its glory.

The companions rushed to ‘Ali conveying the Holy Prophet’s message. Unable to see before him, ‘Ali in compliance with the Holy Prophet’s order was brought to the Messenger of Allah who asked: What is the problem? ‘Ali said: I have sore eye and a bad headache. The Holy Prophet said: Sit down and put your head on my lap. Then, putting his saliva on the head and eyes of ‘Ali the Holy Prophet prayed for him. ‘Ali immediately opened his eyes and there was no sign of headache in him.

Giving then the white banner to ‘Ali, the Holy Prophet said: By carrying this banner, victory will be yours, for Gabriel will accompany you and victory awaits you. You will cast such a horror in hearts that they will have no option other than surrender. In their book, Torah they have read that the one who will overcome them and will destroy their fort is a man by the name of Ilya. Once you get near to their fort, tell them: I am the son of Abu-Talib and my name is ‘Ali. This word is the sign of their humiliation. With Allah’s Grace, you will achieve victory soon. To carry out the Holy Prophet’s order, ‘Ali set out for the Jews’ fort. Wearing a cuirass, having a helmet with a stone in it on his head and prepared for fighting, Marhab came out of the fort. After a short while and in a hand to hand fighting ‘Ali with a strike of a sword, cut his helmet into two, cleaving the stone and his head to his teeth. Marhab fell on the ground and went to the hell.[44]

وَفي غَزاةِ خَيْبَرَ:

وَكانَتْ فِي سَنَةِ سَبْعٍ مِنَ الهِجْرَةِ، كَانَ الفَتْحُ فِيهَا لأَمِيرِ المُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ. حَاصَرَهُمْ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ بِضْعاً وَعِشْرينَ لَيْلَةً. فَفي بَعْضِ الأَيَّامِ فَتَحوا البَابَ وَكانوا قَدْ خَنْدَقُوا عَلَى أَنْفُسِهِمْ خَنْدَقاً وَخَرَجَ مَرْحَبُ بِأَصْحابِهِ يَتَعَرَّضُ لِلْحَرْبِ. فَدَعا النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ أَبَا بَكْرٍ وَأَعْطاهُ الرَّايَةَ فِي جَمْعٍ مِنَ المُهَاجِرِينَ فَانْهَزَمَ. فَلَمَّا كَانَ مِنَ الغَدِ أَعْطاهَا عُمَرَ، فَسَارَ غَيْرَ بَعيدٍ ثُمَّ انْهَزَمَ. فَقالَ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ: إئْتُونِي بِعَلِيٍّ. فَقيلَ: إنَّهُ أرْمَدُ. فَقالَ لأُوتَيَنَّهُ تَرَوْنِي رَجُلاً يُحِبُّ اللهَ وَرَسُولَهُ وَيُحِبُّهُ اللهُ وَرَسُولُهُ، كَرَّارٌ غَيْرُ فَرَّارٍ يَأْخُذُها بِحَقِّهَا. فَجاؤوا بِعَلِيٍّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ يَقُودُونَهُ إلَيْهِ. فَقالَ: يَا عَلِيُّ مَا تَشْتَكِي؟ قَالَ: رَمَداً مَا أُبْصِرُ مَعَهُ وَصُدَاعاً بِرَأْسِي. فَقالَ: إجْلِسْ وَضَعْ رَأْسَكَ عَلَى فَخِذِي. ثُمَّ تَفَلَ فِي يَدِهِ وَمَسَح بِهَا عَلَى عَيْنَيْهِ وَرَأْسِهِ وَدَعَا لَهُ، فَانْفَتَحَتْ عَيْناهُ وَسَكَنَ الصُّدَاعُ. وَأَعْطاهُ الرَّايَةَ وَكَانَتْ بَيْضاءَ وَقالَ: إمْضِ بِهَا، فَجَبْرَئيلُ مَعَكَ وَالنَّصْرُ أَمامَكَ، وَالرُّعْبُ مَبْثوثٌ فِي صُدُورِ القَوْمِ، وَاعْلَمْ يَا عَلِيُّ أَنَّهُمْ يَجِدونَ فِي كِتابِهِمْ أنَّ الَّذِي يُدَمِّرُ عَلَيْهِمْ رَجُلٌ اسْمُهُ إلْيا، فَإذا لَقِيتَهُمْ فَقُلْ: أنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ أَبِي طَالِبٍ. فَإنَّهُمْ يُخْذَلونَ إنْ شَاءَ اللهُ. فَمَضـى عَـلِيٌّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ حَتَّى أتَى الْحِصْـنَ، فَخَرَجَ مَرْحَبٌ وَعَلَيْهِ دِرْعٌ وَمَغْفَرَةٌ

A Jewish rabbi reports: When ‘Ali said: I am ‘Ali ibn Abi-Talib, a heavy horror fell on the hearts of the Jews and whoever accompanied Marhab escaped into the fort, closing its gate tightly. With the divine power, ‘Ali took off the gate of the fort, making it a bridge for the Muslims to cross it and to enter the fort. Muslims gained huge booties in this way. When the Muslims gave up taking the booties, ‘Ali threw the gate a few meters away. The gate was so heavy that forty men helped one another to close it. It also required seventy men to take it off its place. At this time, a man asked ‘Ali: How did you take off a gate like this? ‘Ali said: The gate was not as heavy as the shield I wield in my hand. Then, he said: By God, I did not take it off with my physical power. Rather, it was a divine force which helped me to take it off and to place it as a bridge for Muslims to cross over.[45]

In the conquest of Mecca when God promised the Holy Prophet victory, stating:

“When there comes the help of Allah and victory” (110:1),

the banner of Islam was in ‘Ali’s hand.[46]

When entering Mecca, the Messenger of Allah took a pledge from the pride-taking army of Islam not to fight anyone unless they start to fight. Only a few people who had harassed the Holy Prophet had been made exceptions to this command. One of them was Huwayrith ibn Nufayl ibn Ka’b who harassed the Holy Prophet in Mecca and was punished and killed by ‘Ali on the order of the Holy Prophet.[47]

When the Messenger of Allah entered the sacred mosque, there were three hundred and sixty idols chained together with a rope. The Holy Prophet ordered ‘Ali to bring him a handful of small sands. ‘Ali too complied with the Holy Prophet’s order and prepared the small sands. Aiming at all the idols, the Messenger of Allah recited:

“Say: the truth has come and the falsehood has vanished; surely falsehood is a vanishing thing” (17:81)

and ordered all the idols to be toppled, thrown away from the mosque and be broken.[48]

وَحَجَرٌ قَدْ ثَقَبَهُ مِثْلَ البَيْضَةِ عَلَى رَأْسِهِ، فَاخْتَلَفا بِضَرْبَتَيْنِ فَبَدَرَ بِهِ عَلِيٌّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ بِضَرْبَةٍ هاشِمِيَّةٍ فَقَدَّ الْحَجرَ وَالْمَغْفَرَ وَرَأْسَهُ حَتَّى وَقَعَ السَّيْفُ عَلَى أَضْراسِهِ وَخَرَّ صَريعاً.

وَقالَ حَبْرٌ مِنْهُمْ: لَمَّا قَالَ أمِيرُ المُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ أنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ أَبِي طالِبٍ خَامَرَهُمْ رُعْبٌ شَديدٌ وَانْهَزَمَ مَنْ كَانَ تَبِعَ مَرْحَباً وَأَغْلَقُوا بَابَ الحِصْنِ. فَعَالَجَهُ أمِيرُ المُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ فَفَتَحَهُ وَأَخَذَ البابَ وَجَعَلَهُ جِسْراً عَلَى الْخَنْدَقِ حَتَّى عَبَرَ عَلَيْهِ المُسْلِمونَ فَظَفَروا بِالحِصْنِ وَأَخَذوا الغَنائِمَ. وَلَمَّا انْصَرَفُوا رَمَى بِهِ بِيُمْناهُ أَذْرُعاً، وَكَانَ يُغْلِقُهُ عِشْرونَ رَجُلاً. وَرَامَ الْمُسْلِمونَ حَمْلَ ذَلِكَ البَابِ فَلَمْ يَنْقُلْهُ إلاَّ سَبْعونَ رَجُلاً.

وَقالَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ: وَمَا قَلَعْتُ بَابَ خَيْبَرَ بِقُوَّةٍ جِسْمَانِيَّةٍ وَلَكِنْ بِقُوَّةٍ رَبَّانِيَّةٍ.

وَفي غَزاةِ الفَتْحِ:

الَّتِي وَعَدَ اللهُ تَعالَى نَبِيَّهُ بِنَصْرِهِ فَقالَ: ?إِذَا جَاءَ نَصْرُ اللهِ وَالْفَتْحُ? كَانَتِ الرَّايَةُ مَعَ عَلِيٍّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ وَكَانَ عَهِدَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ أنْ لاَ يُقَاتِلوا بِمَكَّةَ إلاَّ مَنْ قَاتَلَهَمْ سِوَى نَفَرٍ كَانُوا يُؤْذُونَهُ. فَقَتَلَ أمِيرُ المُؤْمِنِينَ الحَارِثَ بْنَ نُفَيْلِ بْنِ كَعْبٍ وَكَانَ يُؤْذِي رَسُولَ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ بِمَكَّةَ. وَلَمَّا دَخَلَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ مَكَّةَ، دَخَلَ المَسْجِدَ فَوَجَدَ فِيهِ ثَلاثَمِائَةٍ وَسِتِّينَ صَنَماً بَعْضُها مَشْدودٌ بِبَعْضٍ بِالرَّصَاصِ فَقالَ: يَا عَلِيُّ أَعْطِنِي كَفَّاً مِنَ الحَصَا فَنَاوَلَهُ كَفَّاً مِنَ الحَصَى فَرَماهَا بِهِ وَهُوَ يَقولُ: ?قُلْ جَاءَ الْحَقُّ وَزَهَقَ الْبَاطِلُ إِنَّ الْبَاطِلَ كَانَ زَهُوقاً? فَلَمْ يَبْقَ فِيهَا صَنَمٌ إلاَّ خَرَّ لِوَجْهِهِ وَأُخْرِجَتْ مِنَ الْمَسْجِدِ وَكُسِرَتْ.

In the battle of Hunayn, the Messenger of Allah supported by ten thousand Muslims left Medina for Hunayn. At that time, Abu-Bakr self-admiringly said: We will never be defeated in this battle because of shortage in human force, but in the climax of conflict, they all fled save nine persons from Banu-Hashim and the tenth person was Ayman ibn Ummi-Ayman who was martyred and the verse

“then you turned back retreating; Then Allah sent down His tranquility upon His apostle and upon the believers” (9:25-26)

was revealed about those who retreated. Believers in this verse include ‘Ali and those who remained steadfast with him.

At a time when ‘Ali was defending with his unsheathed sword in front of the Holy Prophet, Abbas ibn Abd al-Muttalib was on the right side, Fadl Ibn Abbas on the left side, Abu-Sufyan ibn Harith holding the reins of his horse, Nawfal and Rabi’ah, the two sons of Harith, Abdullah ibn Zubayr ibn Abd al-Muttalib, Utbah ibn Mu’it, two sons of Abi- Lahab had circled round the Messenger of Allah and were protecting him.[49]