The Raid of Qardah
Location and Time
The raid of Qardah occurred in the month of Jamadi al-Thani in the year 3 A.H. in the region of Qardah (also known as Qirada and Dhāt ʿIrq), [1] which is located on the route to Iraq from Nejd, between Rabadha and Ghumra. [2]
Background
Departure of the caravan of the Polytheists to Syria
One day, Safwan ibn Umayyah, a member of the tribe of Quraysh, said the following to his followers,
“What has happened to us, that we are handicapped in our own city – we have been forced to eat into our own wealth and savings and cannot earn freely? Previously for trade, we travelled to Syria in the summer and Abyssinia in the winter, but now that Muhammad and his companions have effectively closed our route to Syria, we do not know what direction to take, as all the inhabitants along the way have allied with him.”
Aswad ibn Mutallib replied,
“Stop taking the route along the coast and go via Iraq instead.”
“I don’t know that route,”
Safwan replied. Aswad said,
“I will introduce you to the best of guides that can traverse that route even with his eyes closed! His name is Furat ibn Hayyan.”
Safwan agreed and sent somebody to tell Furat that,
“I want to go to Syria, but seeing as Muhammad and his allies have closed the coastal routes to me, I wish to go via Iraq.”
When Furat met Safwan, he confidently proclaimed,
“I can take you to Syria via a route in Iraq that nobody from amongst Muhammad’s companions will even come near us. Get yourself ready to leave quickly so that they do not become aware of our plans and close that route as well.” [3]
News of the Caravan Reaches the Prophet
One of the polytheists from Mecca arrived in Medina to meet a person from the Jewish tribe of Bani Nadir. While there, Salit ibn Numan, who was a Muslim, visited him and they shared some wine, since at that time alcohol had not been forbidden yet in Islam. While the polytheist was under the influence of the wine, he mentioned that a caravan of the Quraysh carrying gold, silver, a valuable silver dish as well as other items had left for Syria and that they were travelling via Iraq. Salit ibn Numan got up and went to the Prophet almost immediately, and informed him of the caravan. [4]
Events of the Raid
Prophet Muhammad ordered Zayd ibn Harithah, his adopted son, to command a unit of 100 troops on horseback to intercept the caravan. Zayd’s division reached the caravan at Qardah, and made a sudden attack. The leaders of the caravan fled without resistance, however the Muslims captured the guide, Furat ibn Hayyan. [4]
Events after the Raid
After the Muslims had seized the caravan, they presented the captured goods to Prophet Muhammad. The Prophet separated the khums, which amounted to 20,000 dirhams, and distributed the rest among the people who has taken part in the expedition. Furat ibn Hayyan was told that if he becomes a Muslim he would be released, which he accepted and was freed. [3]