Commencement of Ghazwat and Sarayah and the Ghazwah of Waddan – Safar 2 A.H. — Seal of the Prophets Vol. 2
Introduction
In this discourse from The Life & Character of the Seal of the Prophets (Volume 2), Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad (ra) details the historical events and scholarly insights surrounding Commencement of Ghazwat and Sarayah and the Ghazwah of Waddan – Safar 2 A.H..
Book Series: The Life & Character of the Seal of the Prophets (Volume 2)
Author: Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad (ra)
Section: III – Early Battles, Commencement of Fasting, Alteration of the Qiblah and Initial Discussion on the Battle of Badr
Pages: Book pp. 97–99 (PDF pp. 121–123)
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Historical Account
which is incorrect.
It has already been mentioned that divine permission of Jihād by the sword was granted in the month of Ṣafar, during the second year of migration. Since immediate action was required to protect the Muslims from the bloody intentions and threatening schemes of the Quraish, the Holy Prophetsa set out from Madīnah with a community of the Muhājirīn, in the name of Allāh the Exalted. Prior to departure, the Holy Prophetsa appointed Sa‘d bin ‘Ubādahra, Chief of the Khazraj, as the Amīr of Madīnah in his absence, and set out towards the south-west of Madīnah on the road to Makkah until he finally reached Waddān. The people of the Banū Ḍamrah resided here. This tribe was a branch of the Banū Kinānah and in this manner these people were the paternal cousins of the Quraish. Upon reaching here, the Holy Prophetsa engaged in discussions with the chieftain of the Banū Ḍamrah, and settled a treaty by mutual agreement. The conditions of this treaty were that the Banū Ḍamrah would maintain friendly relations with the Muslims and would not aid an enemy against the Muslims. Furthermore, when the Holy Prophetsa called upon them in support of the Muslims, they would come immediately. On the other hand, on behalf of the Muslims, the Holy Prophetsa agreed that the Muslims would maintain friendly relations with the Banū Ḍamrah and would aid them whenever it was required. This treaty was formally written and signed by both parties. After an absence of fifteen days, the Holy Prophetsa returned. Another name for the Ghazwah of Waddān is also the Ghazwah of Abwā’. This is because the village of Abwā’ is closely situated to Waddān and this was the same place where the noble mother of the Holy Prophetsa passed away. Historians write that in this Ghazwah, along with the Banū Ḍamrah, the Holy Prophetsa was conscious of the Quraish as well. This means that in actuality, this campaign of the Holy Prophetsa was to put down the threatening schemes of the Quraish. Furthermore, its objective was to dispel that poisonous and threatening influence, which the caravans of the Quraish, etc., had created against the Muslims amongst the tribes of Arabia, and due to which the state of the Muslims was extremely vulnerable during these days.
[As-Sīratun-Nabawiyyah, By Abū Muḥammad ‘Abdul-Mālik bin Hishām, pp. 405-406, Ghazwatu Waddān, Dārul-Kutubil-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (2001) * Sharḥul-‘Allāmatiz-Zarqānī ‘Alal-Mawāhibil-Ladunniyyah, By ‘Allāmah Shihābuddīn Qusṭalānī, Volume 2, p. 230, Awwalul-Maghāzī Waddān, Dārul-Kutubil-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (1996)]
Sariyyah of ‘Ubaidah bin Al-Ḥārithra- Rabī‘ul-Awwal 2 A.H.
Upon his return from the Ghazwah of Waddān, in the month of Rabī‘ul-Awwal, the Holy Prophetsa dispatched a company of the Muhājirīn, comprising of seventy men mounted on camels, in the leadership of a close relative, ‘Ubaidah bin Al-Ḥārith Muṭṭalibīra. The objective of this campaign as well was to forestall the attacks of the Quraish of Makkah. As such, when ‘Ubaidah bin Al-Ḥārithra and his companions covered some ground and arrived close to Thaniyyatul-Murrah, they suddenly noticed that 200 armed young men had set up camp in the command of ‘Ikramah bin Abī Jahl. The two parties encountered one another and a few arrows were exchanged in a confrontation. However, this group of idolaters then stood down from further conflict due to the fear that the Muslims probably had hidden reinforcements at their disposal and consequently, the Muslims did not pursue them. Albeit, two individuals from the army of the idolaters named Miqdād bin ‘Amrra and ‘Utbah bin Ghazwānra fled from the command of ‘Ikramah bin Abī Jahl and joined the Muslims. It is written that they set out with the Quraish for this very purpose, so that they could find an opportunity to join the Muslims. The reason being, that they were Muslims at heart, but could not migrate out of fear of the Quraish due to their weakness. Moreover, it is possible that this very occurrence caused them to lose heart and they decided to step back considering this to be an evil omen. History has not recorded whether this army of the Quraish, which was definitely not a trade caravan and regarding which Ibni Isḥāq has used the words ٌ( جَ مْ عٌ عَ ظِ یْمi.e., a grand army), set out in this direction with a specific objective. However, it is definite that their intentions
[Tārīkhul-Khamīs Fī Aḥwāli Anfasi Nafīs, By Ḥusain bin Muḥammad bin Ḥasan, Volume 1, p. 357, Sariyyatu ‘Ubaidatabnil-Ḥārith, Mu’assasatu Sha‘bān, Beirut]
[Tārīkhur-Rusuli Wal-Mulūk (Tārīkhuṭ-Ṭabarī), By Abū Ja‘far Muḥammad bin Jarīr Aṭ-Ṭabarī, Volume 3, p. 12, Dhikru Mā Kāna Minal-Umūril-Madhkūrati Fī Awwali Sanatim-Minal-Hijrati / Khuṭbatu Rasūlillāhisa Fī Awwali Jumu‘atin….., Dārul-Fikr, Beirut, Lebanon, Second Edition (2002) * As-Sīratun-Nabawiyyah, By Abū Muḥammad ‘Abdul-Mālik bin Hishām, p. 406, Sariyyatu ‘Ubaidatabnil-Ḥārith / Man Farra Minal-Mushrikīna Ilal-Muslimīn, Dārul-Kutubil-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (2001)]
Book Series: The Life & Character of the Seal of the Prophets (Volume 2)
Section: III – Early Battles, Commencement of Fasting, Alteration of the Qiblah and Initial Discussion on the Battle of Badr | Navigation: « Previous: [Commencement of Jihad & Precautionary Measures of the Holy Prophet (sa)] | Next: [Sariyyah of ‘Ubaidah bin Al-Harith (ra)- Rabī‘ul-Awwal 2 A.H.] »