Sariyyah of Muhammad bin Maslamah (ra) to Dhul-Qassah -Rabi‘ul-Akhir 6 A.H. — Seal of the Prophets Vol. 3
Introduction
In this discourse from The Life & Character of the Seal of the Prophets (Volume 3), Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad (ra) details the historical events and scholarly insights surrounding Sariyyah of Muhammad bin Maslamah (ra) to Dhul-Qassah -Rabi‘ul-Akhir 6 A.H..
Book Series: The Life & Character of the Seal of the Prophets (Volume 3)
Author: Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad (ra)
Section: I – Commencement of the Second Era of Life in Madinah
Pages: Book pp. 12–14 (PDF pp. 30–32)
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Historical Account
took hold of the spoils of war and returned to Madīnah.
The two companions in this expedition mentioned, i.e., Muḥammad bin Maslamahra and Abū ‘Ubaidah bin Al-Jarrāḥra were both from the most venerable of companions. Aside from his own qualities and ability, Muḥammad bin Maslamahra was also the hero of the K‘ab bin Ashraf Yahūdī affair, because this mischief-maker was brought to his death by him. Muḥammad bin Maslamahra was from the Aus tribe and in the caliphate of Ḥaḍrat ‘Umarra he was considered one of his intimate confidants. Therefore, Ḥaḍrat ‘Umarra would generally send him to investigate complaints about his governors. After the demise of Ḥaḍrat ‘Uthmānra when the door to internal disorder was opened, Muḥammad bin Maslamahra broke his sword upon a rock and took a staff in hand. When he was asked the reason for this he responded, “I have heard from the Holy Prophetsa that, ‘When the door to mutual bloodshed is opened within the Muslims, break your sword and lay hidden in your home as a floor lies within the room of a house.’” This order was perhaps specific to Muḥammad bin Maslamahra or this particular conflict, as on some occasions the combating of internal disorders is considered a very worthy service of the faith.
[Usdul-Ghābah Fī Ma‘rifatiṣ-Ṣaḥābah, By ‘Izzuddīn Ibnul-Athīr Abul-Ḥasan ‘Alī bin Muḥammad, Volume 4, pp. 319-320, Muḥammad-ubnu Maslamah, Dārul-Fikr, Beirut, Lebanon (2003)]
The second companion was Abū ‘Ubaidah bin Al-Jarrāḥra. He was amongst the greatest of companions and was also from the Quraish. His lofty grandeur can be gauged by the fact that the Holy Prophetsa granted him the title of Amīnul-Millah. Moreover, after the demise of the Holy Prophetsa, he was also among the two companions whom Ḥaḍrat Abū Bakrra considered worthy of caliphate. Abū ‘Ubaidahra passed away and was martyred by plague during the caliphate of Ḥaḍrat ‘Umarra.
[Faithful of the Religion (Publishers)]
[Usdul-Ghābah Fī Ma‘rifatiṣ-Ṣaḥābah, By ‘Izzuddīn Ibnul-Athīr Abul-Ḥasan ‘Alī bin Muḥammad, Volume 5, pp. 207-208, Abū ‘Ubaidat-abnil-Jarraḥ, Dārul-Fikr, Beirut, Lebanon (2003) * Usdul-Ghābah Fī Ma‘rifatiṣ-Ṣaḥābah, By ‘Izzuddīn Ibnul-Athīr Abul-Ḥasan ‘Alī bin Muḥammad, Volume 3, pp. 207-208, ‘Āmir-ubnu ‘Abdillāh-ibnil-Jarraḥ, Dārul-Fikr, Beirut, Lebanon (2003) (Publishers)]
Sariyyah of Zaid bin Ḥārithah to Banī Sulaim –
Rabī‘ul-Ākhir 6 A.H. In this month, Rabī‘ul-Ākhir 6 A.H., the Holy Prophetsa dispatched a few Muslims to the tribe Banī Sulaim under the command of his freed slave and previously adopted son, Zaid bin Ḥārithahra. This tribe resided in the region of Najd at a place called Jamūm and had been at war against the Holy Prophetsa for some time now. As such, this tribe played a significant role against the Muslims in the Battle of the Ditch as well. When Zaid bin Ḥārithahra and his companions reached Jamūm, which was located at a distance of approximately 50 miles from Madīnah, they found it to be empty. However, they were able to find the whereabouts of where a portion of the Banū Sulaim were grazing their cattle, from a woman named Ḥalīmah from the Muzainah tribe, who was from among the opponents of Islām. Therefore, benefiting from this intelligence, Zaid bin Ḥārithahra attacked the place. This sudden attack caused most of the people to flee and they dispersed here and there. However, the Muslims were able to capture a few prisoners and some cattle, which they took hold of and returned to Madīnah. Coincidentally, the husband of Ḥalīmah was also among the prisoners, and although he was an enemy of war, considering Ḥalīmah’s assistance, not only did the Holy Prophetsa release Ḥalīmah without ransom but also released her husband as an act of benevolence. Thereafter, Ḥalīmah and her husband happily returned to their homeland.
[Sharḥul-‘Allāmatiz-Zarqānī ‘Alal-Mawāhibil-Ladunniyyah, By Allāmah Shihābuddīn Al-Qusṭalānī, Volume 3, p. 18, Ghazwatul-Khandaqi Wa Hiyal-Aḥzābu, Dārul-Kutubil-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (1996)]
Sariyyah of Zaid bin Ḥārithahra to ‘Īṣ – Jamādi’ul-Ūlā 6 A.H. Not many days had passed since the return of Zaid bin Ḥārithahra, when the Holy Prophetsa sent him from Madīnah once again during the month of Jamādi’ul-Ūlā, commanding 170 companions. The scholars of Sīrat have written that the cause of this expedition was that a caravan of the Quraish was arriving from Syria and that the Holy Prophetsa had sent this squadron for the interception of this caravan. We have already written a principle note on the interception of these caravans in the beginning of the section on
Book Series: The Life & Character of the Seal of the Prophets (Volume 3)
Section: I – Commencement of the Second Era of Life in Madinah | Navigation: « Previous: [70,000 People from the Ummah of the Holy Prophet (sa) Shall Enter Heaven Without Account] | Next: [Sariyyah of Zaid bin Ḥarithah to Bani Sulaim -Rabi‘ul-Akhir 6 A.H.] »