Islamic Studies 2

(X). Early Islamic Battles

Background

• Islamic supremacy in Madina resulted in Muslims being positioned within striking distance of Makkan
trade caravans, threatening Makkan economic supremacy and prowess. A group of twelve Muslims
under Hazrat Abdullah bin Jash (RA) was dispatched to spy on Makkan caravans and upon their
discovery, they attacked the Makkans and captured their goods. This incident significantly heightened
tensions
• The Makkans attempted to secure an alliance with the Jewish tribes of Madina but were rebuffed
• Whilst returning from a journey to Syria, Abu Sufyan requested the Quraish for an armed escort to
guarantee the safety of his trade merchandise due to risk of Muslim interference. However, when he
reached Makkah safely, the army under Abu Jahl refused to return and insisted on crushing the
Muslims once and for all

Battle

• The army assembled by the Muhajirin and the Ansar totalled three-hundred-and-thirteen men, with only
two horses and a few camels. They were vastly outnumbered by the Makkans who's forces were over a
thousand
• The Makkans were the first to arrive at Badr, allowing them to occupy all of the important positions.
They were well-armed and fully prepared for a battle. Meanwhile, the Muslims were ill-equipped and
had little water. As such, the Holy Prophet (PBUH) prayed for divine assistance and later, it even
rained
• The battle inevitably turned into a disaster for the Makkans, with over seventy killed and the same
captured. The Quraish fled in disorder, leaving many dead and wounded on the battlefield. In
comparison, fourteen Muslims were martyred

Aftermath

• The victory at Badr over a greatly superior force raised the morale of the Muslims, inspiring and
encouraging them for future successes. The Makkans who had been captured were treated gently,
being freed after having been paid ransom or taught ten Muslim children. This behaviour left a lasting
impression
• The Quraish were severely hurt, with prominent Makkan leaders such as Shaiba, Utba and Abu Jahl
killed. This allowed for the elevation of Abu Sufyan as the leader of the Makkans. The anger caused
by the defeat led to preparations on an extensive level for revenge against the Muslims

Battle of Uhad (3 AH)

Background
 • The defeat at Badr had humiliated the Makkans, significantly weakening their influence over Arabia and
shattering their morale. They now began to view the rise of Madina as a threat to their political and
economic interests
• Keen on avenging the losses suffered at Badr, the Makkans began to collect funds for the purpose of
raising of an army, and were joined in by other tribes as well. Banu Nazir of Madina too pledged their
support against the Muslims

Battle

• Having mustered an army of three-thousand men, the Makkans set out for Madina and camped at Uhad.
The Muslims contemplated whether to meet the enemy within or outside the city and though the Holy
Prophet (PBUH) preferred the former, the majority insisted on fighting outside and so that was agreed
upon. The Muslims advanced towards the hill of Uhad with one-thousand men but were deserted by
three-hundred under Abdullah ibn Ubbay
• Seven-hundred Muslims camped at Uhad and fifty archers were employed to protect the pass in the
Uhad Mountain, carefully instructed not to abandon their posts.
• When the fighting started, the Makkans attacked first and were beaten back, forced to flee in disorder.
Upon seeing the state of the Makkans, the forty archers abandoned their posts and joined the
battlefield. Khalid bin Walid, who commanded the Makkan cavalry, saw the opening undefended and
attacked the Muslims from behind.
• The Muslims were taken by surprise and there was utter confusion. The Makkans tried to reach the spot
where the Holy Prophet (PBUH) was and two of his teeth were martyred. A rumour began to spread
that the Holy Prophet (PBUH) had been martyred.
• The Holy Prophet (PBUH) however stood firmly and called out to his companions to return. When they
saw their leader, they rejoined battle and soon the battle was less one-sided. The Muslims fought
fiercely and eventually, as both sides were extremely exhausted, fighting ended as they prepared to
leave.

Aftermath

• In the battle, seventy Muslims were martyred including Hazrat Hamza (RA). His body was mutilated by
Hinda, wife of Abu Sufyan, who chewed his liver to avenge the death of her father, Utba in the Battle
of Badr. In general, the Muslims were severely demoralised as they struggled to comprehend the
losses they had suffered. However, it also became clear to the Muslims that victory was not theirs by
right and they couldn't expect to win every battle
• The battle very clearly distinguished the believers from the hypocrites, ensuring that the Muslim
community never fell to any act of treachery on part of Abdullah bin Ubbay ever again

Battle of the Trench/Battle of the Allies (5AH)

Background

• After the Battle of Uhad, the Muslims were able to slowly regain their former position. The Quraish
could not reconcile themselves with the growing power of the Muslims, threatened once more by their
growing strength
• The Jewish tribe of Banu Nazir which had settled in Khyber kept on plotting against the Muslims and
pledged their support to the Quraish. Banu Quraiza of Madina secretly promised to support the
Quraish as well. In addition, certain Bedouin tribes too joined the Makkans
Battle

• With an army of ten-thousand men under the command of Abu Sufyan, the Makkan coalition marched
upon Madina. Upon hearing the news, Hazrat Salman Farsi (RA) advised to dig a trench. As the city
was safe of three sides on account of population and oasis, the fourth side on the Syrian route was
selected for the trench. Three thousand companions worked alongside the Holy Prophet (PBUH) in
digging it
• During the siege that lasted for a month, Banu Quraiza came out in opposition to the Muslims and many
of the Hypocrites returned to their homes.
• The Muslims had to face hunger, cold and constant attacks from the enemy but they inevitably
prevailed. One night, a piercing blast of cold wind tore through the tents of the besieging force of
Makkans, extinguishing their fires and destroying any supplies. Thus they were forced to withdraw in
complete and utter confusion

Aftermath

• Islam emerged successfully from the trial and was more firmly established than ever. This ended the
aggressive power of the Makkan chiefs, forever breaking the strength of their forces

Battle of Khyber (7 AH)

Background

• Banu Nazir and other Jewish tribes had settled at Khyber and were always plotting against the Muslims.
Having secured the help of the Ghatafan tribe and the Hypocrites of Madina, and upon hearing of the
terms of the Treaty of Hudaibya, they began preparations to attack Madina

Battle

• When the Holy Prophet (PBUH) heard of this, he marched with an army of sixteen-hundred men to
Khyber. The Jews, who numbered close to twenty-thousand, locked themselves in their seven well-
guarded forts and showered arrows upon the Muslim army
• As the Muslims did not want a long siege, they launched an assault. One after another, each of the seven
forts was taken down until the largest of them, Al-Qamus was left. The fighting prolonged to twenty
days and each day, the Muslims returned without success.
• One day, Hazrat Ali (RA) was selected as the commander of the troops for that day's fight. Upon seeing
him, Marhab who was a famous Jewish warrior came out to fight but was soon killed. This was
followed by a fierce battle which resulted in the Muslims capturing the fort and the Jews surrendering

Aftermath

• The Jews requested the Holy Prophet (PBUH) to grant them peace. They were allowed to stay in a
Khyber in the condition that they would no longer plot against the Muslims and give half of the
produce of their land to the Muslims

Conquest of Makkah (8 AH)

• In violation of the Treaty of Hudaibya, the Makkans along with Banu Bakr attacked and killed the men
of Banu Khuza who were allied to the Muslims. A deputation of the Banu Khuza came to the Holy
Prophet (PBUH), asking for his aid and protection
• The Quraish were sent a messenger by the Holy Prophet (PBUH), offering them three choices: To pay
compensation or blood money to the men of Banu Khuza, to dissolve their alliance with Banu Bakr or
to declare the Treaty of Hudaibya stood dissolved. The Quraish took the third option and the Holy
Prophet (PBUH) ordered preparation for Jihad

Battle

• By the time the Muslims reached Makkah, they numbered ten-thousand. The army was divided into four
groups and instructed not to shed any blood nor fight anyone unless attacked first
• The Quraish, having never seen such a huge, well-armed and disciplined army offered no resistance.
However, the unit under the command Hazrat Khalid bin Walid (RA) was attacked by the tribesmen of
Banu Bakr and some of the most hostile Quraish, resulting in the death of twenty-eight men

Aftermath

• A general pardon was announced for the populace of Makkah (except for sixteen or seventeen men) and
a messenger preceded the Holy Prophet (PBUH), informing the people that no one would be killed or
injured, including those who laid down their arms, closed the door of their house and even those who
took refuge in the house of Abu Sufyan
• The Holy Prophet (PBUH) proceeds to the Masjid-e-Haram and performed Tawaf of the Kaaba. He then
entered the Kaaba and ordered the destruction of the three-hundred-and-sixty idols that had been
placed inside it by the non-believers

“And say: Truth has (now) arrived and falsehood perished: for falsehood is (by its nature) bound to
perish”

• Upon exit from the Kaaba, he addressed the crowd that had gathered before him. When he asked them
what kind of treatment they expected from him, they responded that he was a noble brother and a
noble cousin. On this, the Holy Prophet (PBUH) announced “There shall be no reproach against you
this day, go, you are free!”
• The conquest of Makkah opened a new era in Islam, settling the struggle of supremacy in Arabia and
elevating the Holy Prophet (PBUH) to the paramount position over the whole peninsula

Battle of Hunain (8 AH)

Background

• Before the Holy Prophet (PBUH) could leave Makkah for Madina, he received reports that the Hawazin
and Saqeef tribes of Taif had collected a large army to attack the Muslims

Battle
 • The Holy Prophet (PBUH) proceeded towards the Hunain with an army of twelve-thousand Muslims
(ten-thousand from Madina & two-thousand new converts). The enemy was able to receive reports of
the route to be followed by the Muslims
• The Hawazin and Saqeef tribesmen posted archers in secret places and when the Muslims were passing
through a narrow valley near Hunain, the archers launched a surprise attack. The Muslims began to
retreat in disorder
• The Holy Prophet (PBUH) and his Companions (RA) remained steadfast and called on the Muslims to
maintain calm and return, which they did, turning the tide of the battle and achieving victory

Aftermath

• The Muslims captured six-thousand prisoners of war, twenty-four thousand camels and forty-thousand
goats

Tabuk Expedition (9 AH)

Background

• The Holy Prophet (PBUH) received information that the Roman Emperor and the Ghassanids had
organised a huge army in opposition to the Muslims and had arrived near the frontier
• During this time, there was a famine in Hejaz and great scarcity of water in Madina and the surrounding
areas. This was in addition also accompanied by intense heat. Moreover, arms and equipment for
fighting the Romans was not available
• The Holy Prophet (PBUH) made an appeal for donations. Hazrat Usman (RA) gave one-thousand gold
dinars and three-hundred camels laden with grain, Hazrat Umar (RA) contributed half of all that he
had and Hazrat Abu Bakr (RA) gave everything he owned. Many Muslim ladies donated their
ornaments. The Hypocrites and other Arabs meanwhile made excuses for not contributing or joining
the Muslim army

Battle

• The Holy Prophet (PBUH) left Madina with an army of thirty-thousand men and encamped at Tabuk. It
was a difficult journey due to the intensity of heat and the scarcity of food and water but the Muslims
remained steadfast
• Upon seeing the strength of the Muslim, the ill-prepared Roman and Ghassanid forces dispersed without
any fighting

Aftermath

• Though there was no fighting, the show of force by the Muslims demonstrated that they would not bow
down to the Romans and would fiercely fight for their liberty
• Upon return, whilst many of the Hypocrites made excuses for why they had not accompanied the
Muslims, three of them admitted their mistake. The latter three were thus pardoned by Allah while the
others condemned by the Holy Quran