Important Events Between the Battles of Badr and Uhud - I

31/03/2010| IslamWeb

Following the Battle of Badr, the military prestige of the Muslims grew across a large area of the Arabian Peninsula, to the extent that the weak among the Mushriks (polytheists) felt a sense of danger, while the strong among them felt that Islam had become prevalent. People started to look forward to belief in Islam. The number of those who embraced Islam increased. Many people saw it better to embrace Islam, either out of hypocrisy or for deception. In this way, the newborn state had to face new settings of cunning, conspiracy and alliances. However, the plans of the enemies of Islam failed by virtue of the support of Allah The Almighty, and the alert state of security.

 

Battles led by the Messenger of Allah after the Battle of Badr and before the Battle of Uhud

 

1-    Maa’ Al-Kadar in (the dwelling places of) Banu Sulaym:

Seven nights after his return to Madeenah from the Battle of Badr, the Messenger of Allah set out for battle until he reached Maa’ Al-Kadar in the dwelling places of Banu Sulaym, whom he intended to fight. However, no battle took place and he stayed three days near their well, after which time he returned to Madeenah.

 

The reason for this battle was that the members of the tribe of Banu Sulaym had gathered to fight and attack the Muslims directly after the Battle of Badr. However, the Messenger of Allah surprised them with a swift unexpected attack which forced Banu Sulaym to flee and scatter on the mountain tops, leaving their camels to a shepherd of theirs called Yasaar. The Messenger of Allah drove the camels along with their shepherd until he reached Siraar, three miles from Madeenah, where the Messenger of Allah distributed the five hundred camels, among his Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, and the share of each of them was two camels. One-fifth of the booty was assigned to the Messenger of Allah and Yasaar fell in his portion. However, the Prophet emancipated him later.

 

2-    The Battle of As-Saweeq:

With two hundred cavalrymen from Makkah, Abu Sufyaan reached Madeenah. He took the way of An-Najdiyyah until they dismounted at night in the area of the Banu An-Nadheer. Salaam bin Mishkam, the chief of the Banu An-Nadheer, received them. He provided them with food and drink and told them about the secrets of the Muslims. He discussed with them one of the ways to inflict damage upon the Muslims. Then, Abu Sufyaan attacked the side of Al -‘Uraydh - a valley in Madeenah at the end of Harrat Waaqim - killing two men and setting fire to some trees and then hurriedly turned back to Makkah.

 

The Prophet pursued him in the company of two hundred men from the Muhaajiroon (emigrants) and the Ansaar (helpers). However, he could not catch them because Abu Sufyaan and his men hastened to escape, and kept lightening their luggage by throwing away packages of As-Saweeq (a food made by roasting wheat and barely and then grinding them with milk, honey and butter) which they had been carrying for food on their journey. The Muslims collected these packages when they passed by them. They returned to Madeenah carrying large amounts of As-Saweeq. Hence, this battle was called the Battle of As-Saweeq. The Messenger of Allah therefore, returned to Madeenah after having been absent for five days without engaging in war.

 

3-    The Battle of Thee Amr:

News reached from the Muslim intelligence personnel signifying that the men of the Tha‘labah and Muhaarib tribes had gathered at Thee Amr under the leadership of Du‘thoor bin Al-Haarith Al-Muhaaribi to fight the Messenger of Allah and attack Madeenah. Thereupon, the Prophet appointed ‘Uthmaan bin ‘Affaan, may Allah be pleased with him, as ruler in Madeenah, and set out with four hundred and fifty cavalry and foot soldiers.

 

At Thul Qissah, the Muslims met a man whose name was Jabbaar, from the tribe of Tha‘labah. He embraced Islam and secretly told the Prophet about the news of his people. This man later joined Bilaal, may Allah be pleased with him, to be taught his religion.

 

The polytheists of the Banu Tha‘labah and Muhaarib fled to the top of the mountains after hearing about the Muslims marching towards them. The Messenger of Allah remained there for about a month without fighting and then returned to Madeenah.

 

During this battle, Du‘thoor bin Al-Haarith, who was a respected chief among his people, embraced Islam after he had experienced a miracle at the hands of the Messenger of Allah . Rain fell heavily during this battle and the clothes of the Messenger of Allah were soaked. Hence, he stayed under a tree and spread his clothes to dry them. Meanwhile, Du‘thoor managed to be alone with the Messenger of Allah while he had a sword. He said, “O Muhammad, who will protect you from me today?” The Messenger of Allah replied: “Allah.” Then, Jibreel (Gabriel), may Allah exalt his mention, pushed his chest and the sword fell from his hand. The Messenger of Allah took hold of it and then said to him: “And who will protect you from me?” He replied, "No one. I testify that there is no God except Allah, and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. By Allah, I will never gather people [to fight you] again.”Then the Messenger of Allah returned the sword to him.

 

When he returned to his people, they said to him, “Woe unto you! What happened to you?” He replied, “I saw a tall man who pushed my chest and I fell on my back. I knew that he was an angel and I testified that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. By Allah, I will never gather people to fight him ever again.” Then he engaged in calling his people to embrace Islam. Concerning this, Allah The Exalted revealed the verse in which He Says (what means): {O you who have believed, remember the Favor of Allah upon you when a people determined to extend their hands [in aggression] against you, but He withheld their hands from you; and fear Allah. And upon Allah let the believers rely.} [Quran 5: 11]

 

4-    The Battle of Buhraan:

This battle took place in the month of Jumaadaa Al-‘Oolaa in the third year after Hijrah (emigration). The Prophet set out leading three hundred Muslims until he reached Buhraan, a place between Makkah and Madeenah, with the intention to fight Banu Sulaym. However, they had dispersed. Thereupon he returned without fighting them.

 

He returned to Madeenah after spending ten nights outside. During these battles, the ability of the Islamic leadership to watch the movements of the enemies, and learn about their forces, plans and supplies, was evident. This was in order to destroy the gatherings which opposed the newborn Islamic state, before their danger became aggravated and threatened Madeenah.

 

These battles in the vast desert were educational training courses for the noble Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, supported by the leadership of the Prophet of those military expeditions. These educational and practical training courses of battle were continuous, ranging from five to thirty days of congregational life, where the soldiers of Islam were nurtured to hearken and obey, receive perfect training, and acquire new experiences to help them destroy falsehood and strengthen truth.

 

Although the glorious prophetic methodology paid special attention to nurturing the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, on the battlefield, it never neglected the role of the Masjid (Mosque) in refining the souls, enlightening the minds, and edifying morals, by virtue of the great educator, the Messenger of Allah whose teachings penetrated the different parts of the community through a good example, and worship (in which the worshippers were) humbly submissive to Allah The Almighty. In this way, the glorious prophetic methodology combined the educational courses of the mosque and the intensified educational military courses in the battlefield. These elements combined so that the new society would become strong, its ranks would be compact, and it would acquire the experience necessary for its members to spread Islam in the different parts of the world.

 

5-The military expedition of Zayd bin Haarithah, may Allah be pleased with him, to Al-Qaradah:

After their defeat in the Battle of Badr, the Mushriks of Makkah went on searching for another route for their trade to Ash-Shaam (greater Syria). Some of them suggested the way of Iraq’s Najd, and they took that way accordingly. Some of their traders set out, including Abu Sufyaan bin Harb, Safwaan bin ’Umayyah, and Huwaytib bin Abd Al-‘Uzza, and they had with them silver and other commodities worth a hundred thousand Dirhams.

 

News of this was conveyed to the Messenger of Allah through one of the security personnel named Saleet bin An-Nu‘maan, may Allah be pleased with him. The Messenger of Allah dispatched Zayd bin Haarithah, may Allah be pleased with him, leading a military expedition of one hundred horsemen to obstruct the caravan. Zayd, may Allah be pleased with him, met with the caravan at a spring of water called Al-Qaradah belonging to the springs of Najd. Its men then fled with fright, and the Muslims took the caravan and all that it carried. They took as captive its guide, Furaat bin Hayyaan, who embraced Islam in front of the Messenger of Allah . Then, the Muslims returned to Madeenah. One-fifth was assigned to the Messenger of Allah and the rest was distributed among the members of the expedition.

Important Events Between the Battles of Badr and Uhud - II