In April 623, the Islamic prophet Muhammad sent Ubaydah ibn al-Harith with a party of sixty armed Muhajirun (Muslim migrants to Medina) to the valley of Rabigh, in modern-day Saudi Arabia. They expected to intercept a Quraysh caravan that was returning from Syria under the protection of Abu Sufyan ibn Harb and 200 armed riders.[1][2][3][4][5] The Muslim party travelled as far as the wells at Thanyat al-Murra,[1][4] where Sa`d ibn Abi Waqqas shot an arrow at the Quraysh. This is known as the first arrow of Islam.[6][7] Despite this surprise attack, "they did not unsheathe a sword or approach one another," and the Muslims returned empty-handed;[2][3][4] however, two Meccans traders left their caravan, became Muslim, and went with the expedition back to Medina.[8]
| Expedition of Ubaydah ibn al-Harith | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the Muslim–Quraysh War | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
| Muhajirun (Muslim migrants to Medina) | Quraish of Mecca | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Ubaydah ibn al-Harith | Abu Sufyan | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| 60-80 | 200 | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| Unknown (Arrows fired) | Unknown (1 arrow fired) | ||||||
Timing
editSome say that Ubaydah ibn al-Harith was the first to whom Muhammad gave a banner on a military expedition; others say Hamza was the first.[2]
Some scholars assert that Muhammad sent out the expedition while he was in Al-Abwa' or upon his return to the Medina from the raid of Al-Abwa'.[9]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b Ibn Ishaq/Guillaume, p. 281.
- ^ a b c Ibn Saad/Bewley, p. 37.
- ^ a b Haykal, M. H. (1935). Translated by al-Faruqi, I. R. A. (1976). The Life of Muhammad, p. 256. Chicago: North American Trust Publications.
- ^ a b c Mubarakpuri, S. R. (1979). Ar-Raheeq Al-Maktum (The Sealed Nectar), p. 92. Riyadh: Darussalem Publishers.
- ^ Hawarey, Mosab (2010). The Journey of Prophecy; Days of Peace and War (Arabic). Islamic Book Trust. ISBN 9789957051648.Note: Book contains a list of battles of Muhammad in Arabic, English translation available here
- ^ Razwy, Sayed Ali Asgher. A Restatement of the History of Islam & Muslims. p. 128.
- ^ Muir, Sir William (1877). The Life of Mohammed. London.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - ^ Razwy, Sayed Ali Asgher. A Restatement of the History of Islam & Muslims. p. 128.
- ^ Al-ʻUmarī, Burayk Muḥammad Burayk (1996). Al-Sarāyā wa-al-buʻūth al-Nabawīyah ḥawla al-Madīnah wa-Makkah : dirāsah naqdīyah taḥlīlīyah السرايا والبعوث النبوية حول المدينة ومكة : دراسة نقدية تحليلية (in Arabic). Dār Ibn al-Jawzī. p. 81. Archived from the original on 2017-11-12. Retrieved 2016-03-30.