My Mother named me Haider

My mother named me Haider so said Ali son of Abu Talib to Marhab when he said that his mother had named him Marhab.

If only Marhab had recalled, at this juncture, what his mother would tell him when he was a child. ‘My son, you’ll be a great warrior. Your fame would spread throughout the Arab world. But keep in mind one thing. If in any battle you come face to face with a man named Haider, do not fight him. Just lay down your sword.’

If Marhab had paid heed to his mother’s advice, he wouldn’t have met the fate he met with in Khaiber. But he was high on ego; drunk on his strength and fame, he thought, how anyone could fight him. He was Marhab – how anyone could challenge his might?

In every battle, Ali always introduced himself as Ali son of Abu Talib. But in Khaiber, he introduced himself as Haider because he was aware of what Marhab’s mother had told Marhab. This is sufficient evidence of Ali’s knowledge of the unknown. If in Khaiber Ali had introduced himself as Ali and then killed Marhab, historians (those envious of Ali) would have recorded that Marhab didn’t know that Ali was Haider, otherwise, he would have surrendered to Ali.

When the giant Marhab faced the Lion of God, he told Ali to attack first. I only wonder what must have gone through Ali’s mind. If I would have been there, I would have said, ‘Marhab, have some sense – you are telling Ali to strike first. If he does so, what will be left?’  Ali replied to Marhab. ‘Ali never strikes first. Go on you strike first.’

Marhab lunged at Ali. The Lion of God defended the attack with his Zulfiqar. Then, he struck – a blow so mighty and powerful that Marhab was split into two equal halves. This was the same Marhab who for thirty- nine days would simply stare at the Prophet’s army and the soldiers would scurry away. But Ali sent him to Hell with one blow.

Salute the man for whom the Holy Prophet said, ‘Ali is with Truth, Truth is with Ali. O Allah, make Truth turn the way Ali turns.’

-          NZ

30.5.2019