Early Muslim–Meccan conflict
Early Muslim–Meccan conflict | |||||||
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The early Muslim–Meccan conflict refer to a series of raids in which the
Background
Muhammad's followers suffered from poverty after fleeing persecution in Mecca and migrating with Muhammad to Medina. Their Meccan persecutors seized their wealth and belongings left behind in Mecca.[3]
Beginning in January 623, some of the Muslims resorted to the tradition of raiding the Meccan caravans that traveled along the eastern coast of the Red Sea from Mecca to Syria.[citation needed] Communal life was essential for survival in desert conditions, as people needed support against the harsh environment and lifestyle. The tribal grouping was thus encouraged by the need to act as a unit. This unity was based on the bond of kinship by blood.[clarification needed][4] People of Arabia were either nomadic or sedentary, the former constantly traveling from one place to another seeking water and pasture for their flocks, while the latter settled and focused on trade and agriculture. The survival of nomads (or Bedouins) was also partially dependent on raiding caravans or oases, thus they saw this as no crime.[3][5]
Earliest Quran verse about fighting
According to
Al-Is Caravan raid
According to
Hamza met Abu Jahl there with a view to attack the caravan, but Majdi bin Amr al-Juhani, a Quraysh who was friendly to both the parties intervened between them; so, both parties separated without fighting. Hamza returned to Medina and Abu Jahl proceeded towards Mecca. Muhmmad also entrusted the
Islamic primary sources
It is mentioned in Ibn Hisham and Ibn Ishaq's biography of Muhammad (the earliest surviving biography of Muhammad from the 7th century), that for these caravan raids Muhammad gave permission to "plunder" the caravans of theirs enemies and seize their goods and property(s) and said:
Go forth against this caravan; it may be that God will grant you plunder [Ibn Ishaq and Ibn Hisham Sirat Rasul Allah, p. 95, translation by Folio Society][15]
The Muslim scholar Al-Waqidi also mentions in his Kitab al-Tarikh wa al-Maghazi ("Book of History and Campaigns") that Muhammad said: "This caravan of the Quraysh holds their wealth, and perhaps God will grant it to you as a plunder".[16]
Second raid
About a month after Hamzah's unsuccessful bid to plunder, Muhammad entrusted a party of sixty Muhajirun led by Ubaydah to conduct another operation at a Quraysh caravan that was returning from Syria and protected by two hundred armed men. The leader of this caravan was Abu Sufyan ibn Harb.
The Muslim party went as far as Thanyatul-Murra, a watering place in
The incident is partly referenced in the Sahih al-Bukhari hadith collection:
I heard Sa'd saying, "I was the first amongst the 'Arabs who shot an arrow for God's Cause. We used to fight along with the Prophet".Sahih al-Bukhari, 5:57:74
Kharrar raid (3rd raid)
Sa`d ibn Abi Waqqas was ordered to lead the third raid. His group consisted of about twenty Muhajirs. This raid was done about a month after the previous. Sa'd, with his soldiers, set up an ambush in the valley of
Invasion of Waddan
The fourth raid, known as the
But the caravan of the Banu Damrah was raided.[19] Negotiations began and the two leaders signed a treaty of non-aggression. Banu Damrah pledged to not attack Muslims or side with the Quraysh; and Muhammad pledged to not attack the caravans of Banu Damrah or seize their goods.[10][19]
According to Muslim scholar Muhammad al-Zurqani, the provisions of the pact/treaty go as follows:
This document is from Muhammad, the messenger of God, concerning the Banu Darmah. In which he (Muhammad) established them safety and security in their wealth and lives. They can expect support from the Muslims, unless they betray this agreement and break this treaty. They are also expected to respond positively if the prophet sought their help.[14][18][20]
Buwat caravan raid (5th raid)
The fifth raid, known as the
According to Muslim scholars Ibn Hisham and Ibn Ishaq's the purpose of these raid were to plunder this rich Quraysh caravan, it is mentioned in their biography of Muhammad (the earliest surviving biography of Muhammad from the 7th century) that for these caravan raids Muhammad gave permission to "plunder" the caravans of theirs enemies and seize their goods and property(s) and said: "Go forth against this caravan; it may be that Allah will grant you plunder.[15][22] The Muslim scholar Al-Waqidi also mentions the same.[16]
No battle took place and the raid resulted in no booty. This was due to the caravan taking an untrodden unknown route. Muhammad then went up to Dhat al-Saq, in the desert of al-Khabar. This was the first raid where a few Ansars took part.[13][18][23] The caravan was led by 100 Quraysh and 2,500 camels were with them.[21]
Sixth raid
Two or three months after Muhammad's return from Buwat, he appointed Abu Salamah Ibn Abd al-Assad to take his place in Medina while he was away commanding another raid. Between 150 and 200 followers joined this operation to al-Ushayra,
They had 30 camels that they rode upon by turns. When they arrived at al-Usharayh, they expected to raid a rich Meccan caravan heading towards Syria led by
In this operation, Muhammad entered into an alliance with Banu Madlaj, a tribe inhabiting the vicinity of al-Ushayra. He also concluded another treaty that was made with Banu Damrah previously.[24] All those treaties established good political connections for him.[18]
Nakhla raid
The Nakhla Raid was the seventh
It took place in Rajab 2 A.H., i.e. January 624 A.H. Muhammad despatched 'Abdullah bin Jahsh Asadi to Nakhlah at the head of 12 Emigrants with six camels.[18][27][28][29]
After his return from the first Badr encounter (
Muhammad initially disapproved of that act and suspended any action as regards the camels and the two captives on account of the prohibited months . The Arab Pagans, exploited this opportunity to accuse the Muslims of violating what is Divinely inviolable (fighting in the months considered sacred to the Arab pagans[32]). This idle talk brought about a painful headache to Muhammad's Companions, until at last they were relieved when Muhammad revealed a verse regarding fighting in the sacred months[32][33]
"They ask you concerning fighting in the sacred months (i.e. 1st, 7th, 11th and 12th months of the Islamic calendar). Say, 'Fighting therein is a great (transgression) but a greater (transgression) with God is to prevent mankind from following the way of God, to disbelieve in Him, to prevent access to Al-Masjid-Al-Harâm (at Makkah), and to drive out its inhabitants, and Al-Fitnah is worse than killing." [Quran 2:217][32][33]
According to Ibn Qayyim, he said "most of the scholars have explained the word Fitnah here as meaning Shirk"[34]
Aftermath after new Quran verse revealed
According to Ibn Kathir, Muhammad refused to accept ransom until he was sure his companions were safe. He also threatened to kill the captives "For we fear for their safety with you. If you kill them, we will kill your people", Ibn Kathir cites
Soon after his release, al-Hakam bin Kaysan, one of the two prisoners captured, became a Muslim.[18][23][35] Mubarakpuri mentions that the Quran verse 47:20 was also sent down, dispraising the hypocrites and cowards who are scared of fighting, and exhorted Muslims to fight.[36]
Nejd caravan raid (8th raid)
The
After receiving intelligence,
Expedition of Zaid ibn Haritha in Al-Is (9th raid)
The
Zaid bin Haritha, at the head of a 170 horsemen, set out to a place called Al-'Ais, intercepted a caravan of Quraish led by
Abu al-Aas was released at the insistence of Muhammad's daughter Zainab bint Muhammad.[38] The whole caravan, including a large store of silver was captured and some of those who guarded it, taken prisoners.[39]
Expedition of Abu Ubaidah ibn al Jarrah (10th raid)
The expedition of Abu Ubayda ibn al-Jarrah,[40] also known as the "Expedition of Fish"[41] and "Invasion of al-Khabt",[42] took place in October 629 AD, 8 AH, 7th month, of the Islamic calendar,[40] or according to some scholars in 7 AH, 4th month.[13][42]
Muhammad sent
This expedition is famous because the Muslims were short of supplies and food was running out, and they were fighting for survival, they suffered from famine. In the end, the Muslims found a sperm whale that came ashore and ate it for twenty days. Ibn Hisham mentions the incident in detail. This is why it is also known as the 'expedition of fish.' They brought some of the stale meat to Muhammad and he ate it too.[42][43]
Expedition of Abu Qatadah ibn Rab'i al-Ansari, Batn Edam (11th raid)
The expedition of Abu Qatadah ibn Rab'i al-Ansari,[44] to Batn Edam (also spelt Idam) took place in November 629 AD, 8 AH, 8th month, of the Islamic calendar[13]
Muhammad was planning on attacking Mecca, with view of securing a complete news black-out concerning his military intentions, then Muhammad despatched an 8-man platoon under the leadership of Abu Qatadah bin Rab'i in the direction of Edam, a short distance from Medina, in Ramadan 8 A.H., in order to divert the attention of people from his main target of attacking Mecca, with which he was pre-occupied.[42]
According to Ibn Sa'd, Ibn Hisham, and many Sunni hadith collections,[45] a Bedouin caravan passed by and they greeted the Muslims with Assalamu Alaikum. But Abu Qatadah attacked the caravan anyway and killed the people. They returned to Muhammad with the flock they captured and told him the story.
Muhammad then had revealed to him the verse 4:94.[46][47] Ibn Kathir interprets this as, God asking Muslims to be more careful when killing Muslims accidentally.[46]
Permission to fight
fg The permission to fight was given in many stages during Muhammad's prophetic mission:
- At first, the Muslims were not allowed to fight
- Then, The Muslims were only allowed to fight the Meccan Quraysh, because they were the first to oppress the Muslims in Mecca. Muslims were allowed to seize their goods, but not those tribes which the Muhammad made a treaty with.
- Then, Muhammad and the Muslims were allowed to fight pagan tribes that allied with the Quraysh.
- Then Muhammad and the Muslims were allowed to fight the Jewish tribes of Medina, when these tribes violated the Constitution of Medina and their pact with the Muslims.
- If the People of the Book paid a tax (jizya) for protection from foreign enemies, then the Muslims were forbidden to fight them.
- Muslims were required to make peace with any polytheists, Jews or Christians who embraced Islam, and were required to embrace them as fellow Muslims.[48]
- Then, Muhammad and the Muslims forgave the Meccans for their crimes against them after the Muslims returned to Mecca.
See also
References
- ISBN 978-0-19-881078-0.
- ISBN 978-0-8061-3860-2
- ^ a b John Esposito, Islam, Expanded edition, Oxford University Press, p.4-5
- ^ Watt (1953), pp. 16-18
- ^ Loyal Rue, Religion Is Not about God: How Spiritual Traditions Nurture Our Biological,2005, p.224
- ^ Ismāʻīl ibn ʻUmar Ibn Kathīr, Ṣafī al-Raḥmān Mubārakfūrī, Tafsir Ibn Kathir: (abridged), p. 582
- ^ Mubarakpuri, The Sealed Nectar (Free Version), p. 126.
- ^ Quran 22:39
- ISBN 978-0-19-577307-1.)
What appears to be the earliest passage implies that the Emigrants wanted to fight, since it speaks of God permitting them to do so....disinclination to obey this command, there are several references to the un-willingness of many to fight. 1 A fresh incentive is therefore given; the Muslims are told that God prefers fighters to those who sit still, that is, remain inactive at home; for the fighters there is a 'mighty hire', a reward in Paradise.
(free online - ^ a b c d e f g Mubarakpuri, The Sealed Nectar (Free Version), p. 127.
- ^ a b c d Mubarakpuri, When the Moon Split, p. 147.
- ^ ISBN 978-983-9154-17-7
- ^ ISBN 978-9957-05-164-8.Note: Book contains a list of battles of Muhammad in Arabic, English translation available here
- ^ a b c d Muḥammad Ibn ʻAbd al-Wahhāb, Mukhtaṣar zād al-maʻād, p. 345.
- ^ a b ʻAbd al-Malik Ibn Hishām, The life of Muhammad, Apostle of Allah, p. 95, Folio Society, 1964. Translated by Michael Edwardes. Quote: "Go forth against this caravan; it may be that God will grant you plunder." (archive)
- ^ ISBN 1-136-92114-1, Routledge, 2013
- ^ Sahih al-Bukhari, 5:57:74
- ^ a b c d e f Mubarakpuri, The Sealed Nectar (Free Version), p. 126
- ^ ISBN 978-983-9154-17-7
- ^ Mubarakpuri, The Sealed Nectar: Biography of the Noble Prophet, p.244. (see footnote)
- ^ a b c Mubarakpuri, The Sealed Nectar (Free Version), p. 128
- ^ Calcutta Review, Volumes 86-87, p. 93, University of Calcutta and Indiana University, 2008. Quote: "On another occasion Muhammad himself left the town with 200 proselytes to plunder a caravan"
- ^ a b Muḥammad Ibn ʻAbd al-Wahhāb, Mukhtaṣar zād al-maʻād, p. 346.
- ^ a b Mubarakpuri, When the Moon Split, p. 148.
- ISBN 978-983-9154-17-7
- ^ Nakhla Raid, 2008
- ^ Nakhla Raid Quran Verse, 2008
- ISBN 978-1-4535-3785-5Note: Book contains a list of battles of Muhammad in Arabic, English translation available here [1] Archived 2011-07-26 at the Wayback Machine
- ISBN 978-9960-899-55-8
- ISBN 978-9960-899-55-8
- ^ ISBN 1-86179-676-5. (online)
- ^ a b c d Mubarakpuri, The Sealed Nectar (Free Version)[permanent dead link], p. 129
- ^ ISBN 978-983-9154-17-7
- ISBN 978-9960-897-18-9
- ^ Tafsir ibn Kathir, on 2:217 Archived 2010-01-09 at the Wayback Machine, free online text version
- ^ Mubarakpuri, The Sealed Nectar (Free Version), p. 130
- ^ Mubarakpuri, The Sealed Nectar (Free Version), p. 153
- ^ a b Mubarakpuri, The Sealed Nectar (Free Version), p. 205
- ^ Muir, The life of Mahomet and history of Islam to the era of the Hegira, Volume 4, p. 6.
- ^ a b Abu Khalil, Atlas of the Prophet's biography: places, nations, landmarks, p. 218.
- ^ Muir, The life of Mahomet and history of Islam to the era of the Hegira, Volume 4, p. 104.
- ^ a b c d e Mubarakpuri, The Sealed Nectar (Free Version), p. 206
- ^ Muir, The life of Mahomet and history of Islam to the era of the Hegira, Volume 4, p. 106.
- ^ Abu Khalil, Atlas of the Prophet's biography: places, nations, landmarks, p. 218.
- ^ Sahih Muslim, 43:7176
- ^ a b Tafsir ibn Kathir Juz, Pg 94, By Ibn Kathir, Translation by Muhammad Saed Abdul-Rahman
- ^ Say not to anyone who greets you: "You are not a believer;", Tafsir Ibn Kathir, Text Version
- ^ Mubarakpuri, When the Moon Split, p. 145.
Notes (main sources used)
- ISBN 978-9960-897-28-8
- Mubarakpuri, Saifur Rahman Al (2005), The Sealed Nectar (Free Version), Darussalam Publications, ]. Note: This is the free version available on Google Books
- Mubarakpuri, Saifur Rahman Al (2005), The sealed nectar: biography of the Noble Prophet, Darussalam Publications, ISBN 978-9960-899-55-8
- Muḥammad Ibn ʻAbd al-Wahhāb, Imam (2003). Mukhtaṣar zād al-maʻād. Darussalam publishers Ltd. ISBN 978-9960-897-18-9.
- Abu Khalil, Shawqi (1 March 2004). Atlas of the Prophet's biography: places, nations, landmarks. Dar-us-Salam. ISBN 978-9960-897-71-4.
- Muir, William (1861), The life of Mahomet and history of Islam to the era of the Hegira, Volume 4, Smith, Elder & Co, Original from: Harvard University (according to Google books).