Sariyyah of Zaid (ra) to Hisma – Jamadi’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 Zaid (ra) to Hisma – Jamadi’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. 28–31 (PDF pp. 46–49)
Navigation: Book Table of Contents | « Previous: [Sariyyah of Zaid bin Harithah (ra) to Tarif -Jamadi’ul-Akhir 6 A.H.] | Next: [Sariyyah of Zaid bin Harithah (ra)] »
Historical Account
which was a branch of the Banū Juzām, some of whom had become Muslim, they chased this party of the Banū Juzām and reclaimed the stolen goods. Diḥyahra took these goods and returned to Madīnah. Upon reaching there, Diḥyahra related all the circumstances to the Holy Prophetsa, upon which the Holy Prophetsa sent Zaid bin Ḥārithahra, and sent Diḥyahra along with Zaidra as well.
[Sharḥul-‘Allāmatiz-Zarqānī ‘Alal-Mawāhibil-Ladunniyyah, By Allāmah Shihābuddīn Al-Qusṭalānī, Volume 3, p. 130, Sariyyatuhū Ilā Ḥismā, Dārul-Kutubil-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (1996)]
[The same Diḥyahra about whom the Holy Prophetsa stated that ‘I saw Gabrielas in his likeness.’]
The squadron of Zaidra progressed forward to Ḥismā, journeying very intelligently and cautiously, hiding at day and travelling by night. They attacked the Banū Juzām in the morning exactly. The Banū Juzām retaliated but were unable to successfully confront the sudden attack of the Muslims and fled after a brief fight. The battlefield remained in the dominance of the Muslims and Zaid bin Ḥārithahra returned with many goods, wealth and cattle, as well as approximately 100 prisoners.
However, Zaidra had not yet reached Madīnah when the Banū Ḍubaib tribe, which was a branch of the Banū Juzām, received news of this expedition of Zaidra. In the company of their chieftain, Rufā‘ah bin Zaidra, they presented themselves before the Holy Prophetsa and said, “O Messenger of Allāh! We have become Muslims and we have been granted a written document for the protection of the rest of our people. Why then were the people of our tribe included in this attack?” The Holy Prophetsa responded, “Yes, you are correct, but Zaid was not aware of this.” The Holy Prophetsa repeatedly expressed his grief for the people who were killed on this occasion. Upon this, a companion of Rufā‘ahra named Abū Zaidra said, “O Messenger of Allāh! We ask nothing for those who were killed, this was an accident due to a misunderstanding which has passed. But as for those who are alive, the property of our tribe which has been seized by Zaid should be returned to us.” The Holy Prophetsa said, “Yes, you are correct,” and he immediately sent Ḥaḍrat ‘Alīra towards Zaidra. He also sent his own sword as a symbol with the message to Zaidra that all the prisoners and wealth which had been seized from this tribe be released at once. Upon receiving this order, Zaidra immediately released the prisoners and returned
the wealth acquired in spoils as well.
[Aṭ-Ṭabaqātul-Kubrā, By Muḥammad bin Sa‘d, Volume 2, pp. 293-294, Sariyyatu Zaid-ibni Ḥārithata Ilā Ḥismā, Dāru Iḥyā’it-Turāthil-‘Arabī, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (1996) * Sharḥul-‘Allāmatiz-Zarqānī ‘Alal-Mawāhibil-Ladunniyyah, By Allāmah Shihābuddīn Al-Qusṭalānī, Volume 3, pp. 130-132, Sariyyatuhū Ilā Ḥismā, Dārul-Kutubil-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (1996)]
With regards to the date of this expedition, there is one ambiguity, the mention of which is necessary. Ibni Sa‘d and in his following, other scholars of Sīrat have recorded the date of this expedition to be in Jamādi’ul-Ākhir 6 A.H., and have declared this as authentic. However, Allāmah Ibni Qayyim has elaborated in Zādul-Ma‘ād that this expedition occurred in 7 A.H. after the Treaty of Ḥudaibiyyah. Perhaps the basis of Ibni Qayyim’s claim is because the account states that the reason for this expedition was that Diḥyah Kalbī was returning to Madīnah after meeting with Caesar, and the Banū Juzām looted him en-route. It is affirmed that the Holy Prophetsa sent Diḥyahra to Caesar with a letter after the Treaty of Ḥudaibiyyah. This is why this incident could not have occurred prior to the Treaty of Ḥudaibiyyah in any case. This evidence is in itself fully clear and apparent, and in light of this, the narration of Ibni Sa‘d is worthy of dismissal. However, in the opinion of this humble one, there is one explanation which Allāmah Ibni Qayyim has not taken notice of, and that is – perhaps Diḥyahra journeyed to Syria to meet Caesar more than once. In other words, the first time, that is, prior to the Treaty of Ḥudaibiyyah, he went on his own accord for the purpose of trade and also met Caesar. The second time, after the Treaty of Ḥudaibiyyah, he journeyed there with the letter of the Holy Prophetsa, and the Holy Prophetsa sent him as an ambassador, selecting him on the basis that he had already met Caesar. This explanation is also supported by the fact that Ibni Isḥāq has written that during the first journey, Diḥyahra was in the possession of trade goods, but in the journey after the Treaty of Ḥudaibiyyah, there seems to have been no apparent relation with trade goods. It is also possible that this journey of Diḥyahra was merely for the purpose of trade and the narrator of Ibni Sa‘d mixed up the second journey with the first and combined the mention of the meeting with Caesar and his gifts to this narration by conjecture. Allāh knows best.
[This name is pronounced Diḥyah as well as Daḥyah]
Sariyyah of Zaid bin Ḥārithahra to Wādi’ul-Qurā –
Rajab 6 A.H. Approximately one month after the Sariyyah of Ḥismā, the Holy Prophetsa once again sent Zaid bin Ḥārithahra to Wādi’ul-Qurā. When the squadron of Zaid bin Ḥārithahra reached Wādi’ul-Qurā, the people of the Banū Fuzārah were ready for combat. As such, numerous Muslims were martyred in this expedition, and even Zaidra himself was badly wounded, but God saved him by His grace. Wādi’ul-Qurā, which has been mentioned with relevance to this Sariyyah, is an inhabited valley situated on the Syrian route north of Madīnah, wherein many settlements resided. This is why it became known as Wādi’ul-Qurā, i.e., the Valley of Settlements. Later, we shall come to see that various Jewish tribes also resided in this valley which were conquered by the Holy Prophetsa after Khaibar.
[Sharḥul-‘Allāmatiz-Zarqānī ‘Alal-Mawāhibil-Ladunniyyah, By Allāmah Shihābuddīn Al-Qusṭalānī, Volume 3, p. 133, Sariyyatuhū Zaidin Ilā Wādil-Qurā, Dārul-Kutubil-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (1996)]
[Sharḥul-‘Allāmatiz-Zarqānī ‘Alal-Mawāhibil-Ladunniyyah, By Allāmah Shihābuddīn Al-Qusṭalānī, Volume 3, p. 133, Sariyyatuhū Zaidin Ilā Wādil-Qurā, Dārul-Kutubil-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (1996)]
Objection of the People to the Commandership of Zaid bin
Ḥārithahra and its Refutation by the Holy Prophetsa In the last four or five expeditions, the command of Zaid bin Ḥārithahra has been mentioned. Our readers are aware that he was a freed slave, and prior to the revelation of the Qur’ānic injunction, the Holy Prophetsa had made him his son. Until his demise, which occurred in 8 A.H., the Holy Prophetsa sent him as the commander of many expeditions, and many great companions were kept under his command. After his demise, the Holy Prophetsa had a special love for his son, Usāmahra. Therefore, most of the companions thought that no one could speak to the Holy Prophetsa with as much frankness and freedom as Usāmahra could. The Holy Prophetsa sent Usāmahra on numerous expeditions as a commander as well, and various great companions served under him. When various newly educated Muslims objected to this, on account of the genealogy of Usāmahra, the Holy Prophetsa was very displeased. The Holy Prophetsa responded saying, “Prior to Usāmah, you have already objected
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: [Sariyyah of Zaid bin Harithah (ra) to Tarif -Jamadi’ul-Akhir 6 A.H.] | Next: [Sariyyah of Zaid bin Harithah (ra)] »