From Khaybar to the Awaited One

A Jewish Witness's Journey to Islam

The Battle of Khaybar and the Spiritual Legacy of Ali ibn Abi Talib

In the annals of Islamic history, few battles carry the symbolic weight of Khaybar, where the nascent Muslim community faced one of its most formidable challenges. This narrative, recounted through the eyes of a Jewish convert to Islam, offers a unique perspective on the events that unfolded at the fortress of Khaybar and their enduring spiritual significance. The witness’s transformation from observer to believer illuminates the profound impact of Ali ibn Abi Talib’s (عليه السلام) character on both the battlefield and in the hearts of those who encountered him.

The Siege of Khaybar: A Turning Point

The narrator begins his account as a Jewish defender within the third fortress of Khaybar. While the first two fortresses had fallen easily to the Muslim forces, the third had held firm for two weeks. The defenders’ morale was high, bolstered by the failure of two Muslim commanders and the spreading tales of Jewish military prowess that had demoralised the enemy ranks. The prolonged siege had exhausted the attacking force, creating what seemed to be an inevitable victory for the defenders.

Tasked with espionage, the narrator infiltrated the Muslim camp disguised and moving like a shadow. He found an army gripped by fear and despair until a penetrating voice delivered a message that would echo through history:

Tomorrow the banner will be given to one who does not turn his back to the enemy and will return victorious. — Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وآله)

The Night Before Battle

Upon returning to report the impending attack, the narrator found the Jewish commander Marhab confident and dismissive. Marhab boasted that the stars had proclaimed him peerless among warriors and declared he would send Harith, the fiercest champion of the Jews, to face any challenger. However, the fortress’s astrologer offered an ominous warning to Marhab, acknowledging his legendary status among the Jewish people but noting that his destiny contained mention of one particular adversary whose name remained unspoken.

The Arrival of Haydar

At dawn, from atop the fortress walls, the narrator witnessed a rider approaching like the wind, planting the banner firmly in the ground. This was the young warrior about whom the Prophet had declared:

Tomorrow I will give the banner to one whom Allah and His Messenger love, and who loves Allah and His Messenger. — Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وآله)

The battle began with Harith facing the Muslim champion. The combat between these two mighty warriors lasted no longer than a single breath—when the dust settled, Harith lay dead in his blood. Marhab’s neck veins swelled with rage as he prepared to avenge his brother, but the Muslim warrior’s battle cry drained the color from his face:

I am he whom my mother named Haydar, I am Haydar the fierce striker! — Ali ibn Abi Talib (عليه السلام)

The Fulfillment of Prophecy

Upon hearing the name Haydar, Marhab broke into a cold sweat, trembling as he recalled the astrologer’s warning about one who would bring him down. For the first time, the narrator witnessed fear in the legendary warrior’s face. Marhab initially refused combat, claiming he would spare the young warrior out of mercy, and turned back toward the fortress.

However, a mysterious armored figure approached Marhab—someone the narrator had never seen before. This figure’s words struck at Marhab’s pride:

You are the legend of the Jews. Woe upon you! Are you afraid? Of the astrologer’s words? There are thousands of Haydars. Return and strike him down for God. If you don’t return, what will history say about you? — Unknown figure to Marhab

Whether this figure was Satan in human form or a human possessed by Satan, the narrator could not tell, but the effect was decisive. Appealing to Marhab’s sense of honor, legacy, and legendary status proved effective. Marhab returned to face Ali with renewed ferocity, but the strike from the Arab and Persian champion split both his beloved helmet and his rhinoceros-like body in two.

The Miraculous Conquest

As cries of “Allahu Akbar” rose from one side and the Jewish defenders fled into the fortress, they believed themselves safe behind their high walls, deep moat, and massive door. Yet Ali had already leaped across the moat. What followed could only be described as miraculous: the door that required eight men and numerous chains to move was torn from its place by Ali alone, who then used it as a bridge for the Muslim army. Thus fell the fortress of Khaybar and with it, the pride of the Jewish forces.

The Path to Conversion

When asked if this was when he converted to Islam, the narrator reveals a deeper truth. Despite witnessing these extraordinary feats—the tearing of the door, the defeat of the Jewish champion with a single strike, and the Prophet’s testimony about Ali—his conversion came later. It was when he saw this same mighty warrior bound and led away, having chosen patience over retaliation when defending not the Prophet’s cause but his own and his wife’s honor. The narrator understood then that Ali’s restraint (sabr) was more powerful for Islam’s survival than the sharpness of his sword had been at Khaybar.

The Eternal Promise

The narrative concludes with a powerful eschatological vision. When asked if this is the end of the story, the grandfather emphatically denies it:

The end of this story is not there. It is the day that Haydar has promised. Dhulfiqar is still in its sheath. The conclusion of this story is when the last inheritor of that patience and that courage comes—from the lineage of Hasan and Husayn, from the lineage of Ali—so that with his presence, not just one fortress, but all the strongholds of oppressors will fall. — The narrator

When asked for this figure’s name, the response echoes with messianic hope: “Mahdi... Mahdi... Mahdi...”

Theological and Historical Significance

This narrative serves multiple functions within Islamic thought. It demonstrates the fulfillment of prophetic promises, illustrates the dual nature of Ali’s strength—both physical prowess and spiritual restraint—and connects the historical events at Khaybar to the eschatological expectations surrounding the Mahdi (عجل الله فرجه). The Jewish witness’s conversion story particularly emphasizes that true spiritual strength lies not in the ability to wield power but in the wisdom to restrain it when justice and faith demand patience.

The account also highlights the continuity between the early Islamic period and future messianic expectations, presenting the awaited Mahdi as the inheritor of Ali’s qualities—both his legendary courage and his exemplary patience. This connection reinforces the Shi’a understanding of sacred history as an ongoing narrative that began with the Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وآله) and his family and will culminate with the appearance of the Mahdi.