The Battle of Sawiq

Time and Place of the War

This war occurred on the fifth of the month of Dhu al-Hijjah in the 22nd month after the migration (almost the year 2 A.H.) and lasted over five days. To get to the polytheists of Quraysh, Prophet Muhammad traveled until he reached Qarqarah al-Kadar which was around 176 kilometers from Medina. He was not able to reach Abu Sufyan and his companions, and so the chase came to an end without incident.

Background of the War

Abu Sufyan’s movement close to Medina

When Abu Sufyan entered Mecca and saw the defeat of the Quraysh soldiers which had taken place in the Battle of Badr, he took an oath that until he took his revenge on the Muslims, he would not perform the ghusl of al-janabah. As historians have noted, the ghusl al-janabah was a tradition amongst the Arabs of that time which was a remnant from the teachings of Prophet Ibrahim. In order to fulfill his oath, Abu Sufyan took anywhere from forty or two hundred riders on the desert route to Najd. He arrived near a canal in Mount Thayb which was around 22 kilometers from Medina. Abu Sufyan travelled at night until he reached the door of Huyayy ibn Akhtab who was one of the chiefs of the tribe of Bani Nadir and knocked on it. Out of fear, Huyayy did not open the door, and so Abu Sufyan then went to the house of Sallam ibn Mishkam who was the owner of their wealth in Medina. Sallam opened his door, served him and explained to him the news that was being talked about in Medina (the defeat of the polytheists in the Battle of Badr).

Sending a group of polytheists through the region of Arid by Abu Sufyan

Abu Sufyan returned to his followers in Mecca and sent some people to the region of Arid in Medina. They saw a man from the Ansar along with his confederate who were busy farming and proceeded to kill them and set fire to their palm trees, and then returned back home.

Account of the War

Immediately upon hearing of the event in regards to Abu Lubabah being killed, Prophet Muhammad appointed Bashir ibn Abd al-Mundir in charge of the city of Medina and went after the polytheists of the Quraysh until he reached Qarqarah al-Kadar which was in the region of Madan - a distance of around 176 kilometers from Medina. He was unable to get to Abu Sufyan and his companions and therefore returned back to Medina, with his companions asking the Prophet,

“Can we consider this as a war?”

He replied, “Yes.”

The war was then named the war of Sawiq (a type of barley or wheat which is boiled and becomes flour which is then mixed with yogurt, oil or honey and served as a food for travelers), because they saw a great amount of it on the ground when the polytheists were dropping it in an attempt to lighten their loads and to increase the speed of their mounts.