Ali Ibn Abi Talib - Volume 1 of 2

'Ali ibn Abi Trilib 181
Rabee' d-Awwal of 7 AH, after the return from Hudaybiyah. Ibn
was of the view that it took place in Jumida d-Oola 7 AH.
Imam az-Zuhri and Imam Milik said that it was in Muharram 6
AH?^' Ibn ~ ajar~~' thought that the view of Ibn Ishiq was more
correct than that of al-~iqidi.~~~
During this campaign, the heroism of Amir d-Mu'mineen 'Ali
ibn Abi Tilib (&) was manifested, as was his position in relation to
Allah and His Messenger (g). What Allah decreed of the conquest
of this Jewish colony was clearly of military and strategic
imporGmce?54 Khaybar, which was seventy miles northeast of
adi in ah,^^' was a Jewish colony which included strongholds and
was a military base for the Jews; it was their last foothold in the
Arabian Peninsula, and they were watching for calamities for the
~uslims~~~. They were conspiring with the Jews inside and outside
Madinah to attack Madinah, so the Messenger of Allah (g) wanted
to be rid of them and to put his mind at rest as far as they were
concerned. The Messenger of Allah (g) headed towards Khaybar
with his army, who were fourteen hundred strong. He started
besieging the fortresses of Khaybar and conquered them one by one,
but the fortress of Husn d-Qamoos held out against the Muslims. 'Ali
ibn Abi T%b was suffering from an eye infection457, and the
Messenger of Allah (g) .- said: "I shall give this flag to a man at whose
hands Allah will grant victoly; he loves Allah and His Messenger,
and Allah and His Messenger love him." The people spent the night
wondering which of them would be given the flag. When morning
came, the people went to the Messenger of Allah (@J, all of them
hoping to be the flag-bearer. He said: "Where is 'Ali ibn Abi Taib?"
Tbey said: "0 Messenger of AUah, be has a problem in his eyes."
They sent for him, and he was brought, and the Messenger of Allah
(g) spat in his eyes and prayed for him, and he was healed, until it
was as if there had been no pain in him. He gave him the flag, and