Toronto protesters: “Jews, remember [the Battle of] Khaybar”

, , Comments Off on Toronto protesters: “Jews, remember [the Battle of] Khaybar”

Pro Palestinian protest in Toronto on May 15, 2021

On May 15, 2021 thousands answered the call of the Palestinian Youth Movement (PYM) and gathered at Nathan Philip Square in Toronto to commemorate “the 73rd year of the Palestinian catastrophe” – the Nakbah. The annual event is generally commemorated on 15 May, the day after the end of the British Mandate for Palestine and the creation of the State of Israel in its place.

During the rally a group of protesters bearing Palestinian flags and anti-Israel signs chanted (originally in Arabic):

Praise Allah

Allah is the Greatest

Jews, remember the battle of Khaybar

Zion [Jews], remember the battle of Khaybar

From Sea [Jordan River, Dead Sea] to [Mediterranean] Sea Palestine is Arab

Related articles:

The Muslim conquest of the Jewish city of Khaybar

The Battle of Khaybar (Arabic: غَزْوَة خَيْبَر‎) was fought in 628 CE between the early Muslims led by Muhammad and Jews living in Khaybar, an oasis located 150 kilometres (93 mi) from Medina in the northwestern Arabian Peninsula (present-day Saudi Arabia). Jewish tribes reportedly arrived in the Hejaz region in the wake of the Jewish–Roman wars and introduced agriculture, putting them in a culturally, economically and politically dominant position. According to Islamic sources, Muslim troops marched on Khaybar and attacked the native Jews who had barricaded themselves in forts.

Islamic sources accuse the Jews of Khaybar of having plotted to unite with other Jewish tribes from Banu Wadi Qurra, Tayma and Fadak as well as with the Ghatafan (an Arab tribe) to mount an attack on Medina. Scottish historian William M. Watt notes the presence in Khaybar of the Banu Nadir, who were working with neighbouring Arab tribes to protect themselves from Medina’s Muslim community, who had earlier exiled Jewish tribes for violating the terms of the Charter of Medina and for conspiring to kill Muhammad. Italian orientalist Laura V. Vaglieri claims other motives for the Muslim offensive might have included the prestige that the engagement would confer upon Muhammad among his followers, as well as the booty which could be used to supplement future campaigns.

The battle ended with the surrender of the Khaybar Jews, who were then allowed to continue living in the region on the condition that they would give one-half of their produce to the Muslims. The Jews of Khaybar continued to live on the oasis for several more years, until they were expelled by the second Rashidun Caliph, Umar. The imposition of tribute by the Muslims onto the Jews served as a precedent for provisions in Islamic law, which requires the regular exaction of tribute—known as jizya—from dhimmi non-Muslim subjects living in areas under Muslim rule, as well as the confiscation of land belonging to non-Muslims to merge into the collective property of the Muslim community (Ummah). (Source: Wilkipedia)

Here are excerpts from the book “A Restatement of the History of Islam and Muslims” by Sayyid Ali Asghar Razwy:

“Khyber is a township 90 miles north of Medina… Long before the time of the Prophet of Islam, the valley of Khyber and other valleys in its north and south, were colonized by the Jews. As noted before, these Jews were not only the best farmers of the country, they were also its leaders in industry and business, and they enjoyed a monopoly of the armaments industry. In the times of the Prophet, the best arsenals of Arabia were all in Khyber. Those Jews who had been banished from Medina, had also resettled in Khyber, and they were noted for their skills in metallurgy…

He (Mohammed) began the campaign (of Khyber) by reducing individually the minor strongholds. When this was done, he marched against Al-Kamus, the main fortress of Khaibar…

the champion of all the Hebrews, a man called Merhab, who towered above the other warriors, planted himself before Ali. He wore a double cuirass, and round his helmet was a thick turban held in place by an enormous diamond…

Marhab, like Goliath of Gath, had never been defeated. His size alone frightened opponents before they came close to him. His barbed fork disheartened the most skilled swordsman.

Marhab attacked first, driving at Ali with his trident. For a moment, Ali, unaccustomed to this form of weapon gave ground. Then he steadied himself and fenced with the Hebrew. A feint and a parry sent the spear flying. Before Merhab could draw one of his swords, Ali’s scimitar had cloven his head through his helmet and turban so that it fell on either side of his shoulders. The Jews, seeing their champion dead, retreated into the city.

Mohammed gave the signal for a general assault. The Moslems surged forward. Ali led the onslaught. He had lost his shield during the duel and, to replace it, had torn a door from its hinges, which he carried before him. (The Messenger – the Life of Mohammed, 1946)

According to WikiShia, the online encyclopedia of the school of Ahl al-Bayt:

In the Battle of Khaybar, 15 or 18 Muslims were martyred. Of the Jews, 93 men were killed… The Prophet Muhammad (s) commissioned Farwa b. ‘Amr al-Bayadi to protect the booties of the Battle of Khaybar, and told everyone to return every tiny thing they took from the booties of war. The booties were divided into 5 parts: one part, that was the Khums, was taken by the Prophet (s), from which he gave shares to his wives, Ahl al-Bayt (a) (‘Ali b. Abi Talib (a) and Fatima al-Zahra (a)), the sons of ‘Abd al-Muttalib b. Hashim b. ‘Abd Manaf and sons of Muttalib b. ‘Abd Manaf, and some Sahaba and orphans and people in need. The other four parts were sold. Other parts of Khaybar (such as Watih and Sulalim) that were conquered without a war belonged to the Prophet (s) as fay’.

The Battle of Khaybar illustrated in cartoon video for Muslim children