Muhammad: Seal of the Prophets — Page 383
MUHAMMAD : SEAL OF THE PROPHETS 383 Quraish. He assembled those who had accompanied him to Hudaibiyya and, taking precautions that their movement should not become known, accomplished the journey to Khaibar, distant less than a hundred miles, in three forced marches. So quick was the movemen t, and so complete the surprise, that the cultivators of Khaibar, issuing forth in the morning to their fields, suddenly found themselves confronted by a great force, and rushed back to the city in dismay. The rapidity of the approach cut off all hope of t imely aid from Bani Ghatafan. The vale of Khaibar was studded with villages and fortresses rudely built but posted strongly on the rocks and eminences which here and there rose from amidst date - groves and fields of corn. One by one, before any opposition could be organized, these forts were attacked and carried. From the villages first attacked, which were gained with little loss, the Muslims proceeded to the strong fortress of Qamus. Here the Jews, who now had time to rally round their chief, Kinana, posted themselves in front of the c itadel, resolved on a desperate struggle. The first attempts to dislodge them having proved abortive, the next morning the Holy Prophet placed his standard in Ali’s hands and the troops advanced. At this moment, a Jewish warrior, Marhab, stepped forth from the Jewish line and challenged his adversaries to single combat. Ali advanced against him, the combatants closed, and Ali cleft the head of Marhab in two. His brother renewed the challenge, and Zubair went forth and slew him. The Muslim line now made a ge neral advance, and, after a sharp conflict, drove back the enemy. In this battle, Ali performed great feats of valour. Having lost his shield, he seized the lintel of a door, which he