Hazrat Iyas bin Salamah narrates that my father informed me that my uncle challenged Marhab the Jew to single combat on the day of Khaybar. Marhab said:
Verse translation: "Khaybar (the land) knows that I am Marhab. Armed, an experienced warrior. When battles come, they blaze with fire."
Upon this, my uncle recited this verse:
Verse translation: "Indeed, Khaybar (the land) knows me, that I am ‘Amir. Armed and a brave son who risks his life."
Then both began striking at each other. Marhab’s sword struck Hazrat ‘Amir’s shield, causing Hazrat ‘Amir’s own sword to rebound onto his shin, cutting his vein. Hazrat Salamah says: I met the companions of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), and they said: ‘Amir’s deeds are wasted; he has killed himself. Hazrat Salamah says: I went to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) weeping and said: O Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him)! Have ‘Amir’s deeds been wasted? He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Who said this? I replied: Some of your companions. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Whoever said this has lied. Rather, for him is a double reward.
When the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) set out for Khaybar, Hazrat ‘Amir was reciting rajaz poetry to the companions of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was among them. Hazrat ‘Amir was urging the mount forward and saying:
Verse: "By Allah! If Allah had not guided us, we would not have given charity nor prayed. Surely those who have rebelled against us, when they intend mischief, we reject them. We cannot do without Your grace, so if we meet (the enemy), keep us steadfast and send down tranquility upon us."
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) asked: Who is this? Someone replied: ‘Amir, O Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him)! He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: May your Lord forgive you. The narrator says: Whoever the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) specifically prayed for forgiveness, that person was martyred.
When Hazrat ‘Umar ibn Khattab heard this, he said: O Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him)! Why did you not let us benefit more from ‘Amir? Then Hazrat ‘Amir stood up (in response to the challenge in the battlefield) and was martyred.
6. Hazrat Salamah says: Then the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) sent me to Hazrat ‘Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) and said: Today I will give the flag to a man who loves Allah and His Messenger... or he said... whom Allah and His Messenger love. Salamah says: So I brought Hazrat ‘Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) while he was suffering from an eye ailment. The narrator says: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) applied his blessed saliva to his eye, then gave him the flag.
Marhab came out, swinging his sword up and down, saying: "Indeed, the people of Khaybar know me, that I am Marhab, an armed, experienced warrior. When battles advance, I blaze with fire."
Hazrat ‘Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) replied:
Verse: "I am the one whose mother named me Haydar (lion). I am fierce like the lion of the jungle, and I measure up to the enemies with full measure."
Then Hazrat ‘Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) split Marhab’s head with his sword (into two parts), and this victory was achieved at the hands of Hazrat ‘Ali (may Allah be pleased with him).