Old Khaybar

Khaybar is an ancient Jewish settlement located approximately 165-180 km north of Medina, situated on the Medina-Syria road, and is home to some of the most fertile date palms in history. The name "Khaybar" is thought to derive from a root meaning fortress in Hebrew. The Battle of Khaybar took place in the month of Muharram in 628 AD (May 628) after the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah. Upon returning from Hudaybiyyah, the Muslims were in a state of despair; in response, Allah revealed Surah Al-Fath and promised a great victory soon. This victory was Khaybar. Khaybar consisted of a community of fortresses. The main fortresses were: Naim, Kamus (Kamûs), Natat (Netah), Shiq, and Ketîbe. Additionally, Watih and Sulalim were among the fortresses in the region. Each fortress was besieged and conquered separately. The Prophet Muhammad approached Khaybar with the Islamic army at night; when morning came, the Khaybarites began to go out to the fields and saw the Islamic army. The Prophet first gave the banner to Abu Bakr, then to Umar; both experienced great battles but did not achieve a decisive victory. The Prophet then said: "I will give this banner tomorrow to a man who loves Allah and His Messenger, and whom Allah will grant victory." The next morning, he called Ali; despite having discomfort in his eyes, the Prophet applied his saliva to his eyes and gave him the banner. Ali conquered Kamus, the strongest fortress of Khaybar; during this time, he killed the famous Jewish warrior Merhab in single combat. Following Kamus, Netah, Shiq, and Ketîbe were conquered in succession; some were taken peacefully, while others were taken by force. After the conquest, the Prophet Muhammad treated the Jews of Khaybar very humanely: He first spared their lives and allowed them to leave their homeland; then, becoming even more lenient, he permitted them to stay on the condition that they leave half of their harvest for themselves. This practice is considered an early example of the muzaraa (sharecropping) system. Another significant event occurred during the Battle of Khaybar: A Jewish woman from Khaybar named Zaynab bint al-Haris offered the Prophet Muhammad poisoned roasted sheep. As soon as the Prophet took a bite, he noticed the poison and spat it out; however, a companion named Bishr b. al-Bara ate from it and died from poisoning. When Zaynab was questioned, she stated that her father and husband had been killed in Khaybar. [Source: "Khaybar", TDV Islamic Encyclopedia, https://islamansiklopedisi.org.tr/hayber; "Battle of Khaybar", TDV Islamic Encyclopedia, https://islamansiklopedisi.org.tr/hayber-gazvesi]