Zayd's Raid on the Region of Hisma
Time and Place of the Raid
This raid took place in Jamadi al-Akhir in the year 7 A.H. in the region of Harrah al-Rajula. [1]
Background of this Raid
An attack by some members of Bani Judam on Dihyah ibn Khalifah
Ibn Ishaq writes: “The Prophet of Allah sent Dihyah ibn Khalifah al-Kalbi to go to the Casear of Rome, and he was also carrying some merchandise with him (for trade). When returning from the Caesar, and having reached the area known as Shinar, an individual from the Ghatafan tribe named Hunayd Dulayi al-Judami along with his son attacked Dihyah and took his merchandise. When Dihyah arrived back in Medina, Prophet Muhammad had already been informed of his meeting with Heraclius. Thereafter, Dihyah said,
”O Prophet of Allah, after leaving Heraclius, I was on my return journey when I reached to Hisma and it was there that I was attacked and robbed of my wealth by some people from the clan of Judam.”
Thereafter, Dihyah asked the Prophet that Hunayd and his son should be killed in response to their unprovoked attack against him. [2]
Account of the Raid
The dispatch of soldiers by the Prophet
Prophet Muhammad sent Zayd ibn Haritha along with Dihyah al-Kalbi and five hundred people to this raid. [1]
The joining of all the forces at Harrah
The Muslim army travelled at night and remained hidden during the day; they also had a guide from Bani Udrah with them and he took them through Awlaj from the direction of Harrah al-Rajula. [1]
The Prophet wrote a letter to Rifaah ibn Zayd and asked him, along with his confederates, to join Zayd’s army. The Ghatafan clan from Judam and Wail and those who were with him, such as Salaman and Sad ibn Adim moved towards Harrah al-Rajula when Rifaah ibn Zayd brought them the letter from the Prophet. Rifah ibn Zayd went along with a number of people from Bani Dabib to a area in the plains of Rubbah.
At this point, the guide led Zayd and his soldiers to Rifaah and his men. [3]
The Muslims’ attack on Bani Judham
In the morning, the Muslims began the attack with spears from the direction of Harrah and killed Hunayd, his son and many others. [3]
The Post-Raid Account
The spoils of war captured by the Muslim army
The Muslims took one hundred women and children captive; in addition, they also captured around one thousand camels and five hundred sheep, and each of the people in the Muslim army received their share of the spoils of war which amounted to seven camels and seventy sheep. [1]
The Muslim Army meets with Bani Dabib
Ibn Ishaq writes, “Bani Dabib were settlers in Wadi al-Madan in the Harrah area. When the Muslims reached Madan, the people from the tribe of Bani Dabib, who had been informed of their presence, mounted their horses and went towards the Muslims. One person, Hassan ibn Millah al-Dabibi had a long standing friendship with Dihyah as it was Dihyah who had taught him Surah al-Fatihah. When they came face to face with the Muslim forces, Hassan went forward and said,
”We are a Muslim tribe.”
One of the soldiers took them to Zayd ibn Harithah and Hassan said to Zayd,
“We are Muslims.”
Zayd replied,
”Then you must be able to recite Surah al-Fatihah,”
and so Hassan recited the surah. Zayd ibn Harithah then said,
”Announce to the soldiers, ‘Verily Allah has made the land, lives and wealth of this tribe forbidden to us (as they are Muslims), except if someone plans betrayal and deceit.”
Zayd then prohibited the Muslim forces from entering their region. Thereafter, Bani Dabib returned to their clan.’ After resting, they moved towards Rifaah ibn Zayd near the well at Rubbah where he was positioned in the plains. When they reached there in the morning, Hassan ibn Millah said to Rifaah,
“You stay here and drink goat milk, all the while you deceived Bani Judam with the letter you brought for them?! Now the ladies of Bani Judam have been taken captive and their wealth has been confiscated!”
Upon hearing this news, he quickly mounted his camel and moved with his people. After traveling for three days, they reached the city of Medina and went straight to the mosque to meet the Prophet of Allah. When the Prophet saw them, he gestured to them to come closer to him and Rifaah gave him a letter.
The Prophet gave the letter to a youth next to him and said,
“O youth! Read this aloud.”
After reading the letter, the Prophet understood that this was his very own letter to the people of Bani Judam. They then informed him of the events that had transpired.
The Respect of a Muslim
The Prophet of Allah said,
“So what should we do about the dead?”
Everyone became silent, and so the Prophet repeated his question. Abu Zayd ibn Amr said,
“O Prophet of Allah, set the living loose and we will disregard those who were killed.”
The Prophet said,
“Abu Zayd is correct.”
Then he turned to Ali and said,
“Go with them, Ali.”
Ali said,
“Zayd will not obey me, O Prophet of Allah!”
The Prophet replied,
“Take my sword with you as a sign (that you have been commanded by me to execute my orders).”
Ali said,
“O Prophet of Allah! I do not have a ride to take me there.”
One of them then said,
“This camel is yours – take it.”
All of those who ordered to go mounted and moved. [4] Zayd ibn Harithah placed Rafi ibn Makith on a she-camel which had been taken from the spoils of war as a bearer of tidings and sent him towards the Prophet of Allah. Ali, after meeting him, asked him to dismount from the she-camel and return it to its rightful owner. He said,
“O’ Ali, why should I do that?”
He replied,
“This is their wealth that they have recognized as being theirs, and they have the right to take it.”
At that point, Ali put Rafi on his own mount and continued on his way until he reached the Muslim army at Fifa al-Fuhlatayn. Ali met with Zayd ibn Harithah and said to him,
“The Prophet of Allah has given an order that whatever wealth and people you have taken (as slaves) from these people must be returned.”
Zayd replied,
“Show me a sign from the Prophet of Allah (that what you say is true).”
Ali said,
“This is the sword of the Prophet of Allah.”
Zayd immediately recognized the sword, dismounted from his ride and announced to the soldiers,
“Anyone who has taken wealth or captives as spoils must return them, because a messenger from the Prophet of Allah has sent a message stating such.” [5]
Bani Dabib began to take back their people and wealth and even removed some of the women’s jewelry that the soldiers had weaved into their fittings. [6]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Muhammad bin Umar al-Waqidi, al-Maghazi Volume 2 Page 558
- ↑ Muhammad bin Umar al-Waqidi, al-Maghazi Volume 2 Page 555-557; al-Sirah al-Nabawiyyah of Ibn Hisham Volume 2 Page 612
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Sirah of Ibn Hisham, Volume 4, Page 261
- ↑ Sirah Ibn Hisham Volume 4 Page 161-164
- ↑ Muhammad bin Umar al-Waqidi, al-Maghazi Volume 2 Page 559-560
- ↑ Sirah Ibn Hisham Volume 4 Page 264