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QASAAID

THE THEMES IN THE RELIGIOUS POETRY
IN THE TIME OF OUR BELOVED PROPHET MUHAMMAD
Sallallahu 'alayhi wa Sallam

Siddiq Osman Noormuhammad

Sayyidina 'Ali Rady Allahu 'Anhu Replies To Marhab

The valour of Sayyidina 'Ali Rady Allahu 'Anhu in the battle of Khaybar (7 A.H) against the Jews as in all battles he fought is legendary. It is captured in a Hadith in Sahih al-Muslim, Vol 3, Chapter 747, part of which is quoted here.

(4450) It has been narrated on the authority of Ibn Salama. He heard the tradition from his father (Salama bin al-Akwa') who said: �..

Then he (The Prophet Sallallahu 'alayhi wa Sallam) sent me to (Sayyidina) 'Ali who had sore eyes, and said: I will give the banner to a man who loves Allah (Sub'hanahu wa Ta'ala) and His Messenger, or whom Allah (Sub'hanahu wa Ta'ala) and His Messenger love. So I went to (Sayyidina) 'Ali, brought him beading along and he had sore eyes, and I took him to the Messenger of Allah, who applied saliva to his eyes and he got well. The Messenger of Allah gave him the banner (and Sayyidina 'Ali went to meet Marhab in a single combat). The latter advanced chanting:

Khaibar knows certainly that I am Marhab
A fully armed and well-tried valorous warrior (hero)

When war comes spreading its flames.

(Sayyidina) 'Ali chanted in reply:

I am the one whose mother named him Haidar,
(And am) like the lion of the forest with a

terror-striking countenance.

I give my opponents the measure of sandra
in exchange for sa'

(i.e return their attack with one that is much more fierce).

The narrator said: (Sayyidina) 'Ali struck at the head of Marhab and killed him, so the victory (capture of Khaibar) was due to him. This long tradition has also been handed down through a different chain of transmitters. (Muslim)

From this Hadith, we learn that

  • the noble Prophet Sallallahu 'alayhi wa Sallam was prepared to lay on line the life of his own cousin and son in-law, Sayyidina 'Ali, who was married to Sayyidatina Fatima, and who was the father of Sayyidina Imam Hasan and Sayyidina Imam Husayn, may Allah be pleased with them all;

  • he knew that Sayyidina 'Ali Rady Allahu 'Anhu was most suited to lead battle at that time even though he had sore eyes;

  • Sayyidina 'Ali Rady Allahu 'Anhu was the Lion of Allah who was prepared to lay down his life for Allah in man to man combat; and

  • the saliva of the beloved Prophet Sallallahu 'alayhi wa Sallam had healing powers.

The transliteration of the verses of Sayyidina 'Ali Rady Allahu 'Anhu from the Hadith in Sahih al-Muslim is as follows:

Analladhee sammatnee ummi Haydarah
Kalaythi ghaabaatin kareehil manzarah
Ufeehimu bissaa'e kayla's-sandarah

Mawlaaya Salli wa Sallim daaiman abadaa
'Alaa Habibika Khayril khalqi kullihimi

Allahumma Salli wa Sallim 'alayh

O Lord! Bestow blessings and peace for and evermore
On Your Beloved, the best in all creation.

O Allah! Bestow blessings and peace on him.

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