Khandaq War

Khandaq War, they have also called it '' Ahzab War'', happened in Shavval in Heijrat 5, fifty years after the migration of the messenger of God (peace of Allah be upon him and his descendants). The polytheists of Mecca not only attracted the enemies of the Islam, but they also had the Jewish people of Medina and Kheibar promise to cooperate. Although the Jewish people had promised to cooperate with the prophet, they broke their allegiance and betrayed him because they imagined that all of the parties had promised to eradicate the Islam and to kill the Muslims. They even granted the products of date within a year to the polytheists and their long-term cooperation with the polytheists and the enemies represented that they were the worst enemies of the Islam as Quran says
«لَتَجِدَنَّ أَشَدَّ النَّاسِ عَدَاوَةً لِلَّذِینَ آمَنُوا الْیهُودَ وَالَّذِینَ أَشْرَکوا
Ten thousand and twenty four thousand from different tribes and parties came and they had five thousand and five hundred warriors, three thousand camels and six hundred horses.
They had formed three large troops and the role of six large tribes was remarkable; each of them had a commander and Abu Sofyan was a general commander.
The purpose of proving such troops was to murder the messenger of God (peace of Allah be upon him and his descendants) and then the murder of Bani Hashem and they also wanted to occupy Medina. The enemies of the Islam applied all of their forces in order to eradicate the Islam and the Muslims.
The Muslims applied all of their energy in order to save their life, religion and wealth obeying the prophet of the Islam and the Muslims. While they had thirty six horses and the number of their soldiers was three thousand warriors, they prepared for an unequal war.

Although the houses of the Muslims were built one after another, it turned out that the troop of blasphemy could enter the city. The Muslims and the prophet (peace of Allah be upon him and his descendants) got together in order to find a solution. After they consulted together, the prophet accepted the suggestion of Salman Farsi '' in Iran, we prevent from the entrance of enemy with providing trenches.
Before the troop of blasphemy arrived Medina, Khandaq was dug completely. When the troop of the unbelievers saw Khandaq, they got surprised because it had never been done before in Arab. In spite of Khandaq, the attackers could not pass, stayed behind Khandaq and could not go forward.
The Muslims spent their days and nights with a great difficulty. Medina was surrounded by a troop of ten thousand persons. The fear that the enemy rushed the city with passing Khandaq distracted minds. Since Bani Ghariz, the great tribe of Jewish people in Medina had broken their allegiance and the hypocrites had violated the rules, these events increased the distraction of their mind.
After they waited for a month anxiously, the time of war arrived. The troop of blasphemy started a professional war and five heroes riding their horses passed Khandaq. At first, they faced a group of the Muslims with the headship of Imam Ali (peace be upon him) at the beginning of Khandaq and there was skirmish among them. Umarv Bin Abdud wanted to start a duel fight.
The courage of Umarv Bin Abud was well known. He was called '' Fars Yalil''. The hypocrites exaggerated his courage; therefore, his courage had been rumor among the Muslims. They said '' he is equal with a thousand warriors and no one can fight with him''. The Muslims had injured him at the Badr War and could not take part at the Badr War. To take revenge of the last war, he stood against the troop of the Islam as he had sat on the horse and was well-armed and his words'' Hal Men Mobarez'' were heard all over the region.
The situation was so hard and critical. Their breaths had stuck on their chests. The lines of the Muslims did not move at all. It seemed as if some birds had sat on their heads and they did not move because the birds did not fly.
Umarv Bin Abud was shouting and wanted to fight. From time to time, he said '' I shouted and wanted to fight until I could talk hard. Aren't there any men to fight with me? ''From time to time, he scoffed at the beliefs of the Muslims and said '' you believe that your killers will go to the heaven and our killers will be send to the hell. Doesn't anyone among you like to go to the heaven and sends me to the hell? Why doesn't anyone want to fight with me?

The prophet of the Islam said loudly '' is there any one to take part at the war?'' no one volunteered. He repeated this remark several times, but no one answered it until Imam Ali (peace be upon him) stood up and said '' O' the messenger of God! I will fight with them''. The prophet (peace of Allah be upon him and his descendants) said to him to sit down and expected someone else, except Imam Ali (peace be upon him), does it. He repeated these remarks several times and in each time, only Imam Ali (peace be upon him) volunteered.
The quarrelsome roars of Umarv Bin Abdud became stronger until he started abusing him. The messenger of God (peace of Allah be upon him and his descendants) said his remarks for the third time. In this time, Imam Ali (peace be upon him) stood up and said '' O' the messenger of God! Let me fight with him''. The prophet summoned Imam Ali (peace be upon him). He covered the head of Imam Ali with his turman, laid his sword, Zukfqar on his shoulders and said '' I hope God supports you''.
When Imam Ali (peace be upon him) went toward Umarv , the prophet held up his hands to pray and said '' O' God! Help him so that he can defeat him ''.
When Imam Ali (peace be upon him) stood across from Umarv, the prophet of the Islam said
«بَرَزَ الاِْسْلامُ کلُّهُ إلی الشِّرْک کلِّهِ
'' At the present time, all of the Muslims have stood against blasphemy''.
A troop, the supporter of the Islam and another troop, the supporter of polytheists, stood and waited to see which hero would defeat his rival. After a troublesome war, this was the first serious war that determined the destination of two sides.
Imam Ali (peace be upon him) started bragging firmly and expressed his assurance and belief and threatened him to death. The Arabic Hero that was the hero of the battlefield had sat on the horse proudly and saw a youth in the age of twenty three that was running toward him to fight.
He asked him as he was humbling him

'' O' youth! Who are you? Are you tired of your life which you have come to fight with me. You are too young to be killed. Come back and let a person that is in my rank fight with me ''.
He heard such an answer '' I am Ali, the son of Abu Taleb. I have come to have the mourning women sit beside your corpse. I will kill you in the way that surprises all of people all over the world. But first of all I need to talk to you. I have heard that you have said '' I swear that I accept a request if someone has three requests from me''. Umarv said '' yes, it is right''.

Imam Ali (peace be upon him) said '' my first request is that you should give up polytheism and blasphemy and attest the unity of God and the prophecy of the prophet (peace of Allah be upon him and his descendants).
The last suggestion of Imam Ali (peace be upon him) got on his nerve and provoked his bias and this suggestion made him as angry as he cut four legs of his horse and took out his sword angrily and laid it across from Imam Ali (peace be upon him), but he laid his shield above his head and the sword of Umarv could not record any wounds on his body.

There was a lot of dust since they were fighting severely and nothing could be seen. Both lines (the supporters of Imam Ali and Umarv) waited and saw who would be the winner in the end until the clear voice of Imam Ali (peace be upon him) raised with saying '' God is great''; therefore, all of the present persons knew that Imam Ali (peace be upon him) killed Umarv. In such time, the messenger of God (peace of Allah be upon him and his descendants) and all of the Muslims said unanimously '' God is great'' as loudly as the polytheists shivered from their voice in the other side of Khandaq. Four heroes along with Umarv that had passed Khandaq and had come to this side ran toward Khandaq and got away. One of them that was called '' Nufel Bin Abdullah'' fell into Khandaq with his horse and when the Muslims saw that he could not come out Khandaq with his horse, they lapidated him. Nufel Bin Abdullah that found himself in a difficult situation begged the Muslims that if they wanted to kill him, do it in a better way. He wanted one of them to fight with him. Imam Ali (peace be upon him) came into Khandaq and killed him with a hit of the sword and three warriors escaped toward Khandaq.



Today is the death of Aba Selt Haravi. Abu Selt Abd Al-Islam Bin Saleh Bin Soleiman Bin Ayub Bin Moysare Haravi was one of the most important companions of Imam Reza (peace be upon him) and is well known among special and common people. All of the people considered him as a special servant of Imam Reza and his reliable person. Abu Selt has narrated a lot of narrations in relation to Imamate, the interpretation of the verses of Quran and other matters about customs and tradition. His biography has not been said in the books '' Farighin'' and his courage and honesty have been admired. He was born in Medina and his father lived in Hejaz. His grandfather was captured in Harat Region in Khorasan, was taken to Hejaz and was under the control of Abd Al-Rahman Bin Samre as a slave. Therefore, they have introduced him as one of the guardians of Abd Al-Rahman Bin Samre. He is originally from Harat and his dynasty resided in Medina. He grew up in Medina and spent his childhood there. After awhile, he started collecting Hadith because this was so important in that era and a lot of people collected Hadiths. He was in Baghdad, Hejaz, Neishabur and the lands of Khorasan for a while until he achieved to a high rank in the science of Hadith. Abu Selt resided in Neishabur for a while and distributed Hadiths there. He had visited the centers of science and Haith in Sham, Hejaz, Yaman, Iraq and other places and communicated with the great Sheikhs in that time.

Abu Selt was a permanent and firm Shiite. The Sunni scientists have expressed clearly that only criticism about Abu Selt is that he was a biased Shiite and was against Bani Omaye. In addition, His religion was affection toward the dynasty of the prophet (peace of Allah be upon him and his descendants). He has narrated the weak points of the enemies of Ahle Beit and has expressed the virtues of Ahle Beit. When Imam Reza (peace be upon him) left Neishabur, he also accompanied him. When Imam Reza (peace be upon him) was in Tus and Marv, he was with him. When Imam Reza (peace be upon him) was in Marv, he was with him all of time like a servant and he never left him alone. Abu Selt participated in all of the meetings and the assemblies along with Imam Reza (peace be upon him) and was present in the debates of Imam Reza with the the heads of the religion, speakers and scientists. It can be understood that Imam Reza (peace be upon him) paid attention to Abu Selt and Imam really loved him. Persons that are familiar with these narrations know how Imam Reza (peace be upon him) loved him and Abu Selt was Imam Reza until the last moments of his life and the end of the life of Imam Reza (peace be upon him). After Imam Reza (peace be upon him) was martyred, Abu Selt came back Iraq and took part in the scientific assemblies of Baghdad and debates and he was in touch with Mamun. He fought with the unbelievers and the owners of the articles, Faraq, Zanadeqe, Marjae, Ghadriye and Jahmiye severely and had debates with them. He passed away in 235 Gh or 236 Gh, in the time of the government of Abdullah Bin Taher (230 Gh). There is no information of how old he was when he deceased and what city he deceased. Only information about the place of his death is that he was in Neishabur few days before his decease. There is no information of where he was buried in books and works and no one knows about it. There is a grave around the vicinity of Mashhad beside the road and most of people say that it is the grave of Abu Selt and visit him. However, there is no sign on the grave that proves that this grave belongs to Abu Selt and there is no stone on the grave that proves this claim.