Lesson 95

Battles Overview
[32] The Battles – Their Causes and
Legitimacy
After the Prophet (SAWS) had settled in Al-
Madînah, he supported the Jews, from Banu
Qaynuqâ`;
Banu Quraydhah and Banu An-Nadîr in their
religion and properties, and he set up some
laws to regulate their rights and duties in the
new community.
 Despite that, the Jews still showed their
contempt and enmity towards the Muslims.
Together with the hypocrites, they made a
coalition against the new Muslim state.
The "hypocrites" were a group of Arabs in Al-
Madînah who pretended to be Muslims while,
in fact, they were unbelievers.
 They used to back enemies of Muslims,
including the Jews who betrayed their Muslim
neighbors.
The head of those hypocrites was `Abdullâh ibn
Ubayy ibn Salûl.
Yet, the Prophet (SAWS) accepted the presence
of these two groups (the Jews and the
hypocrites) and did not fight them, nor did
they fight him.
Instead, he used to counter their denial with
irrefutable proofs and ultimate wisdom.
The Prophet (SAWS) never fought anybody to
force them to embrace the religion of Allah,
but he only invited them and argued with them
to convince them with conclusive evidence
and proofs.
However, the Qurayshis (the disbelievers of
Makkah) were hostile to him, resisted his
call, opposed him and caused him and the
Muslims much harm, until they were forced
to leave their homes.
The Qurayshis also seized their properties and
fortified their money.
The Qurayshis even continued to harm those left
behind who were too poor to immigrate with
the Prophet (SAWS) and his companions.
Therefore, Allah (SWT), because of all this, has
permitted His Prophet (SAWS) to fight them,
as well as any other aggressor or those who
obstruct the spread of the call.
The first action took by the Prophet (SAWS) was
to confiscate the goods of Quraysh (the tribe of
Quraysh) which they used to take to or bring
from the Levant (Syria nowadays).
After that, and whenever there was a need to
fight those opposing Allah’s call, whether
from Quraysh or anyone else,
he (SAWS) would himself go to fight along with
the Muslim fighters, but sometimes he would
send the fighters with a leader that he chooses
for them.
The historians called the mission in which the
Prophet (SAWS) had himself participated
(whether he fought or not) a "Ghazwah"
(battle),
while they called the mission where he had sent
other leaders a "Sariyyah" (expedition).
[33] The total number of battles and
expeditions
In the first year of the immigration (Hijrah),
the Prophet (SAWS) sent out two
expeditions.
In the second year, he sent out one expedition
and he went out himself to seven battles, the
largest of which was the battle of Badr:
Battle of Wadân: a village between Makkah
and Al-Madînah.
 He went out on this mission to intercept a
caravan of Quraysh, only to find that they had
got beyond his reach; so he returned.
Battle of Buwât: in Juhaynah Mountain situated
between Al-Madînah and Yunbu`.
He wanted to intercept a Qurayshi caravan, but
when he found that they had already preceded
him, so he returned.
Battle of Al-`Ashîrah: a place in the middle of
Yunbu`. We will elaborate further when we
talk about the Great Battle of Badr.
The First Battle of Badr: Badr is a place
between Makkah and Al-Madînah, nearer to
the south west of Al-Madînah.
He went out in pursuit of those who attempted to
attack a suburb of the Al-Madînah, but did not
find them.
The Great Battle of Badr: will be explained in
details in the coming pages.
Battle of Banu Qaynuqâ`: They were a group
of Jews around Al-Madînah who had breached
the covenant of the Muslims and betrayed
them.
The Prophet (SAWS) went out and besieged them
for 15 nights, whereupon they asked him to let
them go away with their women and children,
leaving their property to the Muslims. He
agreed and expelled them.
Battle of As-Suwayq: Abu Sufyân came to Al-
Madînah with 200 people and burned some of
the palm trees.
When the Prophet (SAWS) encountered them,
they ran away leaving their suwayq (sacks of
wheat and barley flour) behind. This is why it
was called the battle of As-Suwayq.
In the third year, he (SAWS) fought four
battles, and one expedition, as follows:
Battle of Ghatafân: a branch of the tribe of
Qays.
The Prophet (SAWS) heard that they were
gathering to invade Al-Madînah, so he went
out to fight them, but they fled into the
mountains.
Battle of Bahrân: just outside of Al-Madînah
where the tribe of Banu Sulaym lived.
They planned to invade Al-Madînah, but when
the Prophet (SAWS) went to fight them, they
scattered.
Battle of Uhud: the most important battle in the
third year. It will be explained in detail in the
coming pages.
Battle of Hamrâ' Al-Asad: also will be
mentioned when describing the Battle of
Uhud.
In the fourth year, he (SAWS) sent out three
expeditions and fought three battles as
follows:
Battle of Banu An-Nadîr': one of the Jewish
tribes in Al-Madînah, which will be explained
later.
Battle of Thât Ar-Riqâ`: the name of some
rocks that have red, white and black spots.
They are found in the mountains towards Najd
(the middle of the Arabian penninsula).
The Prophet (SAWS) was told that some of the
Najdi tribes were preparing to fight him, so he
went to meet them with 700 fighters.
When they got there, the men of the tribe fled to
the mountains and left behind their women
who were taken back as captives by the
Muslims.
The Second Battle of Badr: will be discussed
following the Battle of Uhud.
In the fifth year, he (SAWS) fought four
battles; the most famous of which is the
Battle of Al-Khandaq. They are as follows:
Battle of Dûmat Al-Jandal: a place between
Al-Madînah and Damascus, at a distance of
about 5 nights from Damascus and 15 nights
from Al-Madînah.
The Prophet (SAWS) was told that there was a
group of Bedouins living there who used to
attack anyone who passed by, and that they
wanted to get closer to Al-Madînah.
He went out with one thousand fighters, but
when they knew of his approach they fled
away and left their cattle, which the Muslims
took as booty.
Battle of Banu Al-Mustaliq: a branch of the
tribe of Khuzâ`ah.
They assisted Quraysh in fighting the Muslims at
the battle of Uhud, and then gathered to fight
the Muslims by themselves.
The Prophet (SAWS) went out to meet them in a
large group.
The two parties met at Al-Muraysî`, a spring
owned by the Khuzâ`ah tribe. The unbelievers
were defeated, with many dead and wounded.
The Prophet (SAWS), then married the daughter
of their leader, Juwayriyah bint ul-Hârith, and
freed all the women captives.
It is when the Muslims were returning from that
battle, that the famous Ifk (false accusation)
incident took place.
Battle of Al-Khandaq and Battle of Banu
Quraydhah (the last Jewish tribe left in Al-
Madînah) will be discussed in the coming
pages.
In the sixth year, he (SAWS) sent out eleven
expeditions and fought three battles, as
follows:
Battle of Banu Lihyân.
Battle of Al-Ghâbah.
Battle of Al-Hudaybiyah.
In the seventh year, he (SAWS) fought one
battle, which is the battle of Khaybar, and
sent out 3 expeditions.
In the eighth year, he (SAWS) fought four
battles, and sent out 10 expeditions.
Battle of Mu'tah.
The Conquest of Makkah: the largest, most
important battle in that year.
Battle of Hunayn: the second most important
battle that year.
Battle of At-Tâ'if; and all will be discussed
below.
In the ninth year, he (SAWS) fought one battle
(Tabûk), and sent out one expedition.
In the tenth year, he (SAWS) sent out two
expeditions and made the “Farwell
Pilgrimage.”
The total number of battles in which the Prophet
(SAWS) joined was twenty-seven, while the
total number of expeditions with other leaders
was thirty-five expeditions.
Let us talk briefly about the most important
battles.