The Battle of Dumat al-Jandal
Time and Place of the Battle
Waqidi narrates that this battle took place in the month of Shaban, in the year 6 A.H. in an area known as Dumat al-Jandal [1].
Cause of the Battle
Reason for People being sent to Dumat al-Jandal
Waqidi narrates that Prophet Muhammad called upon Abd al-Rahman bin Auf al-Zuhri and said to him, “Prepare yourself today because tomorrow, I will send you to a battle.” After a while, the Prophet gave him an order to leave towards Dumat al-Jandal that same night and when he reaches there, he was to invite the people of that region to Islam [1]. Meanwhile, the companions of Abd al-Rahman, who numbered around seven hundred, left at dusk and camped near a river. After the Prophet had prayed his morning prayers, he saw Abd al-Rahman bin Auf amongst a group of Muhajirin with his sword drawn and a turban on his head. The Prophet asked him,
“Why did you not join your companions?”
He replied,
“O Prophet of God, as I put on my travelling clothes, I had a sudden urge to see you before I leave.”
The Prophet brought him closer and sat him down and then proceeded to unraveled Abd al-Rahman’s turban and then tied a black turban around his head and left the end piece of cloth of the turban to drape over the shoulder, and said to him,
‘Tie your turban in such a manner son of Auf.’ [2]
Advice of the Prophet to the Commander of the Battle
The Prophet said to his commander, “By the name of God and in the path of God, go towards this battle. Battle with those who deny God and deny them from the path of cunning, trickery and crime; and do not kill any children.” [3]
Narrative of the Battle
Abd al-Rahman left Medina and joined his companions and they travelled until they reached Dumat al-Jundal. The people of that place were Christians and belonged to the tribe of Kalb, and their leader was Asbagh bin Amr al-Kalbi. Abd al-Rahman invited him and his tribe to Islam, however they did not accept, rather they wanted to fight. Abd al-Rahman waited three days and kept inviting them towards Islam. On the third day, he wrote a letter to the Prophet and informed him of the events that had occurred and sent the letter along with a man from the tribe of Juhaynah by the name of Rafi bin Makith to deliver to the Prophet. While writing the letter, he remembered that he had wanted to marry someone from amongst the people of Dumat al-Jandal, and so he made this known in the letter to the Messenger of God. The Prophet, in reply, told him to marry Tamadhur, the daughter of Asbagh, and because of this, Abd al-Rahman ended up marrying her and brought her back with him to Medina. [4]