Marhab ibn Al-Harith (), popularly known as the Knight of Khaybar, was a Jewish knight noted for his military role in Battle of KhaybarNadwi, Abul Hasan. "Al-Sirah Al-Nabawyiah". Ibn Kathir publication. Damascus. page 424.
Life As well as knight, Marhab was a poet,Ali, Jawad. "Al-Mufasal Fi Tarikh Al-Arab". Dar Al-Saqi Publication. 2001. volume 18 page 354 and was wealthy.Mohammad-Baqer Majlesi, Bihār al-Anwār, Al-Wafa Publication, Beirut, (1983), volume 21 page 9
Ancestry According to some historians he and his sister were from Israelite origin,al-'Asqalani, Ibn Hajar. "al-Isaba fi tamyiz al-Sahaba". Dar Al-Kutub Al-Elmyiah Publication. Beirut. volume 8 page 155 while some other historians believed he is from Himyarite origin.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
Property He had a sword engraved with the phrase "This is the sword of Marhab; he who tastes it dies",Ibn Kathir. "Al-Bidāya wa-n-nihāya". Dar Ehya Al-Turath Al-Arabi. Beirut. (1988). volume 4 page 215 and he resided in a palace.Al-Bakri. "Moajam Ma Astajam". Aalam Al-Kutub Publication. Beirut. (1983). volume 2 page 522
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".Diyar Bakari. "Tarikh al-khamis fi ahwal anfansi nafis". Dar Sader Publication. Beirut. volume 2 page 50
Death Historians have given different descriptions about the incident of killing Marhab. According to Sahih Muslim, Ali went to meet Marhab in a single combat. Marhab advanced brandishing his sword and chanting: "Khaybar 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 Haydar, (synonym 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. Al-Maqrizi recorded: "The Ansari reported that he saw Marhab's mother holding his dead body and weeping".Al-Maqrizi. "Emta Al-Asma". Dar Al-Kutub Al-Elmyiah. Beirut. (1999). volume 11 page 292 According the book History of Islam Vol. 1, when Ali hit Marhab bin Al-Harith on the head, the strike was as strong as it cut the body of Marhab in two equal pieces. All the soldiers left the battlefield henceforth and the battle was won by the Muslims.
Sirah Ibn-Hisham claims that, Muhammad ibn Maslama killed Marhab. On the first day of the battle his brother Mahmud was fatally injured while he was sitting in the shade of Fort Na'im. Inside the fortress, the Jewish warrior Marhab threw down a millstone, which landed on Mahmud's head.Waqidi, Muhammad ibn Umar (2011). The Life of Muḥammad: Al-Wāqidī's Kitāb Al-maghāzī. Translated by Rizwi Faizer; Amal Ismail; Abdulkader Tayob. Routledge. ISBN 9780415574341. Retrieved 27 November 2021. It took Mahmud three days to die, during this time, Ibn Maslamah promised to take care of his brother's daughters. On the same day, Ibn Maslamah avenged his brother by killing Marhab in a vicious duel which was so intense to the point that palm trees within the garden outside the fortress wall, were chopped-off completely. The battle ended with Ibn Maslamah managing to chop off one of Marhab's legs. However, before Ibn Maslamah delivered the killing blow. he was intercepted by Ali who passed by and cut off Marhab's head. This entitled Ali to take the booty which prompted Ibn Maslamah to argue the claims of Ali to Muhammad, and after they referred their dispute to him, he granted Marhab's sword, shield, cap and helmet to Ibn Maslamah. Later, Ibn Maslamah also killed another Jewish champion named Yusayr and also participated in the squad of those who shielded Muhammad when they besieged the fortress of al-Saab ibn Muadh. After the battle, Kinana ibn al-Rabi was tortured by Zubayr ibn al-Awwam in the hope that he would reveal where he had hidden the treasure of the Abu'l-Huqayq clan. When Kinana was no longer able to speak, Muhammad ordered al-Zubayr to hand him over to Ibn Maslamah. Ibn Maslamah was allowed to cut off Kinana's head.Muhammad ibn Ishaq. Sirat Rasul Allah. Translated by Guillaume, A. (1955). The Life of Muhammad. Oxford: Oxford University Press.Muhammad ibn Saad. Kitab al-Tabaqat al-Kabir vol. 3. Translated by Bewley, A. (2013). The Companions of Badr. London: Ta-Ha Publishers.Muhammad ibn Jarir al-Tabari. Tarikh al-Rusul wa'l-Muluk. Translated by Fishbein, M. (1997). Volume 8: The Victory of Islam. Albany: State University of New York Press.Muhammad ibn Jarir al-Tabari. Tarikh al-Rusul wa'l-Muluk. Translated by Poonawala, I. K. (1990). Volume 9: The Last Years of the Prophet. Albany: State University of New York Press.
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