The raids of the Prophet (a.s.) against some areas

vHere we discuss the raids of the Prophet (a.s.) against some areas, provinces, and tribes. I think, after deep thinking, that the goals of those raids were as the following:

First, Allah the Almighty had sent his messenger as mercy to all the peoples and nations of the world to save them from their painful realities and guide them to the best.

The tribes at the time of the Prophet (a.s.) lived in utmost ignorance and bad habits besides idolatry. Therefore, the Prophet (a.s.) was ordered by Allah to carry out His mission to His people and take them to knowledge, guidance, high morals, and noble life.

Second, to repel the dangers expected from some tribes and provinces against Islam such as the Jews who plotted day and night against the Prophet (a.s.) and his mission and who were a base joined by the hypocrites to overthrow the Islamic authority; therefore, the Prophet (a.s.) was obliged to attack them to save Islam and the Muslims from their dangers.

Third, in any case, the raids against those tribes and peoples did not aim at subjugating them and possessing their properties, but to make them believe in Allah and His messenger, practice the rituals of the religion, and give up the bad habits of the age of ignorance.

The expeditions

1. The expedition against the Banu Sulaym

The Prophet (a.s.) and his army marched to the Bani Sulaym and stopped at one of their wells. They remained there three days and went back without facing any resistance,[1] because the people of the tribe scattered here and there.

2. The expedition of as-Suwayq

Historians say that the reason behind this expedition was that Abu Sufyan had sworn that he would not sleep with his woman at all except after fighting against Muhammad. So, one day, he and some men from Quraysh set out roving in the desert until they went to the Bani an-Nadheer near Medina. There, they found a Muslim man from the Ansar with a companion of his and killed them both. When the Prophet (a.s.) was informed of that, he with his men set out chasing the killer after leaving Basheer bin Abdul Munthir as the wali over Medina. When they arrived in the Bani an-Nadheer, they found that the killers had fled back to Mecca. The Prophet (a.s.) and his army went back to Medina with no any loss in Muslims.[2]

3. The expedition of al-Furu’

The Prophet (a.s.) appointed ibn Umm Kulthoom the wali over Medina, and he with his army marched to face Quraysh. When they arrived in the village of al-Furu’, they stayed there for two months teaching the people of that village the rulings and teachings of Islam and the Qur'an. Then, they went back to Medina after having faced no clash or plot.[3]

4. The expedition of Buwat

The Prophet (a.s.) and two hundred men from his companions set out to attack a caravan of the polytheists that was traveling towards Sham. There were two thousand and five hundred camels in the caravan with Umayyah bin Khalaf and one hundred men from Quraysh. The Prophet (a.s.) and his companions stopped at the mountain of Buwat, one of the mountains from which rocks were taken to build the Kaaba. The Prophet (a.s.) and Muslims stayed there for some period, but without meeting fight or harm.[4]

5. The expedition of al-Asheera (the tribe)

The Prophet (a.s.) and his companions moved to capture a great caravan of Quraysh that was going to Sham. It was the greatest trading caravan of Quraysh that all the people of Quraysh had had shares in it, and therefore it was called ‘al-Asheerah’. This event was the reason that had led to the battle of Badr. The Muslims missed the caravan that had preceded to Mecca.[5]

6. The expedition of the Bani Qaynuqa’

Some people of Jews, who were famous for courage and were in alliance with Ubadah bin as-Samit and Abdullah bin Ubayy bin Salool, showed hostility and envy after the battle of Badr and broke their covenant with the messenger of Allah (a.s.) who had entered into a covenant with them, with the Bani Quraydhah, and the Bani an-Nadheer not to fight against him or support any of his enemies. However, they were the first Jews that betrayed the Muslims. One day, a woman, who was the wife of a Muslim man from the Ansar, brought some of her camels and sheep to sell them in the market of the Bani Qaynuqa’. After selling them, she sat beside a goldsmith from them (Bani Qaynuqa’). Some Jews tried to tempt the woman to uncover her face, but she refused. The goldsmith tied the end of her garment to her back, and when she got up, her body was unveiled. Some Muslim man hurried to the Jewish goldsmith and killed him, and then some Jews attacked the Muslim man and killed him. 

When the Prophet (a.s.) was informed of this event, he said, “It is not on this that we have entered into the covenant with them.” The Prophet (a.s.) asked Ubadah bin as-Samit to exempt himself from them and to break his covenant with them. Ubadah said, “O messenger of Allah, I follow Allah, His messenger, and the believers, and I exempt myself from the covenant of the unbelievers.” As for Abdullah bin Ubayy, he did not break his covenant with them (the Jews of Bani Qaynuqa), and then this verse was revealed concerning him (O you who believe! do not take the Jews and the Christians for friends; they are friends of each other…then surely the party of Allah are they that shall be triumphant).[6]

Then the Prophet (a.s.) gathered the Jews and said to them, “O community of the Jews, beware from Allah of like the resentment He has sent down on Quraysh in the battle of Badr, and be Muslims, for you have already known that I am a sent prophet. You find that in your Book and the promise of Allah to you.”

They replied cruelly to him, “You think that we are like your people (Quraysh)! Let it not deceive you that you met a people who were not expert in war and you could find an opportunity over them. By Allah, if we fight you, you shall know that we are the very people (of it).”

They hurried to protect themselves in their forts. The Prophet (a.s.) marched with his army to them where the banner-man was his uncle Hamza. The Muslim army blockaded their forts tightly for fifteen days. Then Allah cast terror and fear in their hearts. They were seven hundred men. Then, they begged the Prophet (a.s.) to let them free and they would leave Medina with their women and offspring, and all their properties and lands and even their weapons would be for the Prophet (a.s.). The Prophet (a.s.) agreed to that. The Prophet (a.s.) divided the properties among Muslims after deducting the khums though they were the Prophet’s pure possession, because they were not gained by fighting.[7]

7. The expedition of Qarqarat al-Kudr

The Prophet (a.s.) was informed that a group from the Bani Sulaym and Ghatafan wanted to attack Medina after the Prophet (a.s.) had raided them. Thus, the Prophet (a.s.) marched to them with twenty men and the bannerman was Imam Ali (a.s.). When the Muslim force arrived in Qarqarat al-Kudr, no one was there. The Prophet (a.s.) sent some of his companions to look for that group of men, and they saw five hundred camels with the herdsman. After deducting the khums (fifth), the Prophet (a.s.) gave every warrior two camels whereas the herdsman was set free.[8]

8. The expedition of Thee Amarr

The Prophet (a.s.) was informed that a man from Ghatafan called Du’thoor was gathering people in Thee Amarr (a place of the tribe of Ghatafan) in order to attack Medina. The Prophet (a.s.) with four hundred and fifty men set out to meet the man and his followers. By accident, the Prophet (a.s.) met with a man from them who told the Prophet (a.s.) what they had intended to do. He said to the Prophet (a.s.), “If they knew about your march towards them, they would run away to the tops of mountains. As for me, I shall go with you.” The Prophet (a.s.) invited the man to Islam and he turned Muslim. The man began guiding the Muslims to the right way. When the man and Muslims approached those people, they ran away to the  mountains. It happened that it rained heavily. The Prophet (a.s.) took off his clothes and spread them on a tree to dry, and he lay down before the eyes of those polytheists. Du’thoor, the leader of the group of polytheists, said, “May Allah kill me if do not kill Muhammad!”

He took his sword and came to stop at the head of the Prophet (a.s.) saying to him, “Who can protect you from me today?”

The Prophet (a.s.) answered steadfastly, “Allah protects me from you.”

The man was affected by the Prophet’s gravity, his hand shook, and the sword slipped to the ground. The Prophet (a.s.) took the sword and said to the man, “Who can protect you from me?”

He answered, “No one can protect me.” Then, he declared his faith in Islam and the Prophet (a.s.) gave his sword back to him. He went back to his people inviting them to Islam. Then, this verse was revealed, (O you who believe! remember Allah's favor on you when a people had determined to stretch forth their hands towards you, but He withheld their hands from you, and be careful of (your duty to) Allah; and on Allah let the believers rely).[9]

Then, the Prophet (a.s.) with his companions went back to Medina after eleven days without fighting.[10]

9. The expedition of That ar-Riqa’

The Prophet (a.s.) was informed that the Bani Muharib and Bani Tha’labah were gathering their men to attack him. He with four (or seven) hundred men marched to face them. When the Muslim army arrived in Najd, they found no one there. They kept on marching until they stopped at some valley in the night. The Prophet (a.s.) asked his companions to start guarding the army in the night. Ammar bin Yasir and Abbad bin Bishr volunteered to guard the force. They sat at the mouth of the valley. Abbad suggested guarding during the first part of the night and Ammar the second part. So Ammar slept and Abbad began offering prayers. While he was offering the prayer, an arrow hit him. Then a man came to kill the Prophet (a.s.). He shook the sword and said to the Prophet (a.s.), “O Muhammad, do you not fear me?”

The Prophet (a.s.) said, “No, and what shall I fear you for?”

The man said, “Do you not fear the sword in my hand?”

The Prophet (a.s.) said, “Allah the Almighty protects me from you.”

The man was confused and affected by the Prophet’s gravity, and gave him the sword.

The Prophet (a.s.) said to him, “Who can protect you from me?”

The man said to the Prophet (a.s.), “Be the kindest taker of the sword!”

The Prophet (a.s.) pardoned, and asked him to embrace Islam, but he refused. He went back to his people saying to them, “I have come to you from the best one of all people.” Later on, he turned a Muslim.[11] Then, the Prophet (a.s.) and his force went back without fighting, whereas fright prevailed the villages around, that were still worshipping idols.

10. The expedition of Dawmat al-Jandal

The Prophet (a.s.) was informed that there was a band of highwaymen in Dawmat al-Jandal (a place in Sham near  Tabuk). They had determined to attack Medina. The Prophet (a.s.) with one thousand Muslim warriors marched towards that place at the end of the fourth year of Hijra. The Muslim army moved in the night and hid in the day for secrecy. When the Muslim army was near to that place, those people ran away leaving behind them their cattle and herdsmen. Muhammad bin Maslamah could captivate one of them who turned a Muslim. Then, the Prophet (a.s.) and his army went back to Medina.[12]

11. The expedition of the Bani al-Mustaliq

The news came to the Prophet (a.s.) that al-Harth bin Dhirar, the chief of the Bani al-Mustaliq, mobilized his men to fight against the Prophet (a.s.) who sent Buraydah bin al-Haseeb to explore the truth. When Buraydah reached that tribe, they asked who he was, and said to them, “I am from you. I have come to you when I heard that you have gathered together against this man (Muhammad), so that I with whoever obeys me from my people will go together (with you) to do away with them (Muslims).” In fact, Buraydah had asked the Prophet (a.s.) to permit him to say as he liked. Their chief said to him, “We have agreed on that. So let us hurry up!”

When Buraydah went back and told the Prophet (a.s.) about the intention of those people, the Prophet (a.s.) prepared Muslims for the fight. Many Muslims joined him among whom there were some hypocrites who wished for gaining loots.

A man was arrested, and then it was clear that he was a spy to those people and he was killed. When his news reached his people, they felt afraid and many of them left the gathering. The Muslim army attacked, killed ten men, and arrested the rest of them. The loot was about two thousand camels and five  thousand sheep. Then, the Prophet (a.s.) and his army went back to Medina.[13]

12. The expedition of Mu’tah

The Prophet (a.s.) sent to Mu’tah (a village in Sham) in the eighth year of Hijra an army of three thousand men under the leadership of Zayd bin Haritha who if would be killed, should be replaced by Ja’far bin Abi Talib who should be replaced by Abdullah bin Rawaha if would be killed. The army set out until it arrived in Ma’an in Sham when the news came to them that the king of Rome had stopped at Ma’ab with an army of one hundred thousand soldiers. And then, another one hundred thousand men joined him from other tribes. When the Muslims knew of this great army that had come to face them, their leaders met to discuss the situation. Some suggested writing to the Prophet (a.s.) telling him about the great number of the enemy’s army that he might either send other troops or issue some other order to be carried out. Then, Abdullah bin Rawaha addressed the army saying, “O people, by Allah, that which you hate is the very martyrdom that you have come looking forward to. We do not fight against people by number, power, or muchness, but we fight them by this religion with which Allah has honored us. So go on, and it shall be one of the two good things; either victory or martyrdom…”

The army believed in what Abdullah bin Rawaha said and became more determined to fight. The Muslim army marched on until arriving in Mu’tah. The army of the king of Rome as well marched to Mu’tah, and the two armies clashed too violently. Zayd bin Haritha, the leader of the Muslim army, fought too heroically until he was martyred in the middle of the battlefield. After him, Ja’far bin Abi Talib took the banner, killed his horse, and attacked the enemy while reciting enthusiastic poetry. He fought courageously and steadfastly until his right hand was cut. Then, he lifted the banner with his left hand and kept on walking about in the battlefield until his left hand was cut too. He embraced the banner by his upper arms until he was martyred. He was a unique, intelligent Muslim leader during the age of the Prophet (a.s.) who often and always fought the enemies of Islam with high courage and daring. When martyred he was thirty-three years old. The army, the Prophet (a.s.), and the Hashimites wept for him too much.

After Ja’far, Abdullah bin Rawahah carried the banner and became the leader of Muslims. He fought with great courage until he was martyred in the way of Allah.

The Prophet (a.s.), who was in Medina, was inspired from the heaven about the martyrdom of his cousin Ja’far bin abi Talib. He went to Ja’far’s wife Asma’ bint Umays asking her to bring him Ja’far’s two sons. When she brought them, he began kissing them and weeping. Asma’ was astonished and said to the Prophet (a.s.), “May my father and mother die for you! What makes you cry? Has anything bad come to you about Ja’far and his companions?”

The Prophet (a.s.) replied sadly and faintly, “Yes, they have been killed today.”[14]

After the leaders of the Muslim army had been killed, the leadership was entrusted to Khalid bin al-Waleed who ordered the army to stop fighting and go back to Medina, and soon the army set out back to Medina. Khalid was blamed for that because he did not prefer fighting in that situation.[15] 

13. The expedition of Wadi al-Qura (the valley of villages)

Wadi al-Qura was inhabited by Jews whom the Prophet (a.s.) invited to Islam, but they denied and chose to fight. Muslims fought those Jews and killed eleven men from them most of whom were killed by Imam Ali (a.s.). Muslims possessed the properties and lands of the Jews and dealt with them like in Khaybar.[16]

14. The conquest of Mecca

The conquest of Mecca caused the greatest victory to Islam and the total defeat to idolatry and polytheism. After this victory, the enemies of Islam from among Quraysh and the Jews were so disgraced and lowered that they were able to do nothing against Islam that prevailed over most of the Arabia.

The conquest of Mecca was so important in the history of Islam, because Mecca was the greatest fort of polytheism and atheism and it was the main source that supplied the enemies of Islam with the means of resistance. The people of Mecca had undertaken the resistance of the Prophet (a.s.) and the torturing of his followers since the first moment of the mission. At the same time, Mecca was the greatest power in the Arabia for its wealth and economic prosperity which all was used to fight Islam and Muslims.

However, we shall discuss here in brief some matters that led to the conquest of Mecca.

The truce of al-Hudaybiyyah

The Prophet (a.s.) concluded a truce between him and the tribe of Quraysh. From the articles of that truce was that whoever (from other tribes) wanted to join the truce of the Prophet (a.s.)  could do, and whoever wanted to join the truce of Quraysh could do. Therefore, the tribe of Bakr entered into the truce of Quraysh, and the tribe of Khuza’ah entered into the truce of the Prophet (a.s.). And really, the truce was regarded for some time.

Between the tribes of Khuza’ah and Bakr there were bloods and vengeances. After the battle of Mu’tah, some men from Quraysh thought that Islam was defeated forever, and so the Banu Bakr thought that it was the best opportunity to attack the tribe of Khuza’ah. They discussed that with some men from Quraysh and they encouraged them to do that and supplied them with arms. While the men of Khuza’ah were at a well of theirs, the men of Bakr attacked and killed some of them. Some men from Khuza’ah headed by Amr bin Salim went to Medina and told the Prophet (a.s.) about what had happened and that the Banu Bakr and Quraysh had broken the truce. The Prophet (a.s.) promised Amr bin Salim to support him and his people.

Abu Sufyan felt afraid of the consequences of these happenings, and so he set out to Medina to meet the Prophet (a.s.) in order to put an end to the expected sedition. He went to his daughter Umm Habeebah who was the Prophet’s wife after having been a Muslim. Abu Sufyan wanted to sit on the Prophet’s rug, but Umm Habeebah (though she was his daughter) folded the rug so that he would not sit on it. When he asked her why, she answered him, “This is the rug of the messenger of Allah and you are an impure polytheist, and I do not like you to sit on it.”

Abu Sufyan went to some of the Prophet’s companions in order to intercede for him with the Prophet (a.s.) to preserve the truce and keep it valid, but no one of them responded to him. Then, he went to Imam Ali (a.s.) begging him to talk with the Prophet about the matter. Imam Ali (a.s.) told Abu Sufyan leniently that no one could dissuade the messenger of Allah from a thing that he had already determined. Abu Sufyan went to Fatima az-Zahra’, the Prophet’s daughter, (a.s.) asking her for intercession, but there was no use too. Abu Sufyan returned empty-handed taking with him disappointed to Mecca.

The Prophet determines to conquer Mecca

The Prophet (a.s.) saw that the conclusive victory could not be achieved for Islam except by conquering Mecca whose people fought him when he was in it and when he left it. He began preparing everything for that great task, and he was confident and had trusted in the support of Allah to him to defeat his enemies and opponents.

The Prophet (a.s.) prepared an army of ten thousand well-armed men or more. The Prophet (a.s.) kept that secret and even his troops did not know where they would go to fight for fear that the people of Quraysh might know, and so they would get prepared for the war, and then bloods would be shed in the Inviolable Town (Mecca) that he hated (the bloodshed); therefore, he kept that secret.

Hatib bin Abi Balta’ah wrote a letter to Quraysh telling them that the Prophet (a.s.) had determined to march to conquer their country. He gave the letter to some woman after insisting on her to keep the matter totally secret. He promised to give her a camel if she could take this letter to Quraysh. The woman hid the letter under the hair of her head. The Revelation came to the Prophet (a.s.) telling him about the matter. The Prophet (a.s.) asked Imam Ali (a.s.) and az-Zubayr bin al-Awwam to arrest the woman and take the letter from her. They both followed after the woman until they found her. When they asked her about the letter, she denied it. Imam Ali (a.s.) shouted at her saying, “I swear by Allah that neither the messenger of Allah nor we tell lies. Either you take out the book to us or we shall search you.”

Feeling afraid, she took out the letter from her hair and gave it to Imam Ali (a.s.). They went back and handed the letter to the Prophet (a.s.) who sent for Hatib and asked him, “What made you do that?”

Hatib said, “By Allah O messenger of Allah, I am faithful in Allah and His messenger and still on my faith with no change, but I am a man who has no origin or supporters in the tribe (of Quraysh in Mecca) and I have children and a wife among them, and so I flattered them (in order not to harm my family).”

The Prophet (a.s.) accepted his excuse and pardoned him. Then, this verse was revealed concerning him, (O you who believe! do not take My enemy and your enemy for friends; would you offer them love while they deny what has come to you of the truth…).[17]

The Muslim army marched until it reached the outskirts of Mecca whose people were aware of nothing. The army surrounded the town and got prepared to occupy it. The Prophet (a.s.) kept all the matter secret just for peace and to avoid blood-shedding in the inviolable town.

The Prophet (a.s.) ordered his men to collect firewood, and great quantities were collected. When darkness prevailed, the Prophet (a.s.) ordered fire to be set to the firewood. The numerous flames of fires appeared in the horizons of Mecca whose people became too terrified. Abu Sufyan was very worried and he said to Badeel bin Warqa’ who was with him, “I have never seen such fire like this of tonight.”

Badeel said to him, “By Allah, it is Khuza’ah that might be milled by war.”

Abu Sufyan said, “Khuza’ah is meaner and less than to be of such fires and armies.”

Fright occupied Abu Sufyan’s heart and he became certain that it was the armies of Muslims coming to conquer Mecca.

Al-Abbas, the Prophet’s uncle, knew about the coming of the Muslim army to occupy Mecca and felt fear for his people. He said, “What a morning for Quraysh it shall be! by Allah, if the messenger of Allah enters Mecca by force before its people come to ask him for security, it shall be the perishment of Quraysh until the last of time.” He tried his best to find someone to go and tell the people of Mecca to hurry up to the Prophet (a.s.) asking him for pardoning. While he was thinking of the matter, he saw Abu Sufyan. He said to him, “O Abu Sufyan, it is the messenger of Allah with the people (Muslims). How terrible the morning of Quraysh shall be!”

Abu Sufyan was upset and he said to al-Abbas, “May my father and mother die for you! What shall we do?”

Al-Abbas said, “By Allah, if the messenger of Allah takes hold of you, he will behead you. Come on! Ride behind me on this mule so that I take you to the messenger of Allah to ask him for protection to you.”

Abu Sufyan rode on the mule behind al-Abbas who took him to the Prophet (a.s.) passing through the troops of Muslims who said when seeing Abu Sufyan, “Who is this?” But, when Umar bin al-Khattab saw him, he cried out, “It is Abu Sufyan; the enemy of Allah.” Then, he added, “Praise be to Allah who has subjugated you with no truce or covenant.”

In the morning, al-Abbas brought Abu Sufyan before the Prophet (a.s.) who said to him, “What, O Abu Sufyan! Is it not time for you to know that there is no god but Allah?”

Abu Sufyan said, “May my father and mother die for you! How patient, how generous, and how kind to kin you are! By Allah, I think that if there was with Allah anyone other than Him, he would suffice me.”

The Prophet (a.s.) said to him leniently, “O Abu Sufyan, is it not time for you to know that I am the messenger of Allah?”

Abu Sufyan said, “May my father and mother die for you! How patient, how generous, and how kind to kin you are! As for this, there is something in my soul about it until now.”

Al-Abbas said to him, “Woe unto you, O Abu Sufyan! Be Muslim and bear witness that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the messenger of Allah before you are beheaded.”

This villain found no way except to claim his faith in Islam unwillingly and for fear of the sword while his heart was still full of disbelief and hypocrisy.

The Prophet asked his uncle al-Abbas to hold back Abu Sufyan in the valley until the soldiers of Allah would pass by him so that he would warn Quraysh of standing against the Muslim army to avoid blood-shedding.

Troops after troops passed by Abu Sufyan carrying the banners of definite victory. Whenever a troop passed by him, he asked al-Abbas which tribe they were and he answered him. There, Abu Sufyan declared his astonishment and disability to stand against such an army. He said, “No one has ability or power to stand against these…today the authority of your nephew has become so great.”

Al-Abbas replied to him, “O Abu Sufyan, it is the prophethood.”

Abu Sufyan said mockingly, “Yes, then!” This ignorant man did not perceive prophethood, but he just perceived authority and rule.

The Prophet’s favor to Abu Sufyan

The Prophet (a.s.) was kind to Abu Sufyan though he was his bitterest enemy and it was he who had led the tribes and armies to fight against him since the beginning of the mission. He accepted his false faith in Islam and showed him an example of the mercy of Islam and its great values and principles.

Al-Abbas asked the Prophet (a.s.) to do a favor to Abu Sufyan because he loved pride. He said to him, “O messenger of Allah, Abu Sufyan is a man that loves pride; therefore, give to him something.”

The Prophet (a.s.) said, “Yes, whoever (from the people of Mecca) enters the house of Abu Sufyan shall be safe, whoever closes his door (remains inside his house) shall be safe, and whoever enters the mosque (the Kaaba) shall be safe…”

The Prophet (a.s.) gave a general amnesty to Quraysh and all the people of Mecca. Such amnesty has never taken place in the history of all wars at all. The Prophet (a.s.) did all his enemies, who met him with all kinds of distresses and calamities, favors.

Abu Sufyan went back to Quraysh telling them what the Prophet (a.s.) had said to him and declaring the Prophet’s great favor to all people of Mecca who calmed down and stayed inside their houses while some others resorted to the Kaaba.

Hind, Abu Sufyan’s wife, was so angry. She encouraged the people of Quraysh to resist the Prophet (a.s.) and to kill her husband Abu Sufyan. She began enthusing the public to fight against the Prophet (a.s.) and his army, but Abu Sufyan warned them against the bad results they would face and asked them no to listen to his wife Hind, and the masses of people responded to him.