Zayd’s Retaliatory Raid of Bani Badr
Location and Time
This expedition occurred in the year 3 A.H., [1] [2] in the valley of Qura, which lies just past the fortress of Khaybar. [3] Additionally, Waqidi states that the date of the expedition has also been recorded as taking place in the month of Ramadhan in the year 6 A.H.. [4]
Background
Waqidi, basing his recording of the event with a chain of narrators from Abdullah ibn Jafar who narrates from Abdullah ibn Hasan ibn al-Hasan ibn Ali ibn Abi Talib, who is the very same Hasan Muthanna (his mother is from the tribe of Bani Fazarah - the subject of this tradition) narrates that Prophet Muhammad sent Zayd ibn Harithah towards Syria with his companion’s commodities for trading. Zayd was accompanied by a small group of people. When Zayd’s expedition reached Qura, a number of people of Bani Badr from the tribe of Bani Fazarah attacked them with the intention to kill them and loot their caravan. Once Bani Badr thought that all of Zayd’s group had been killed, they left with the merchandise. [3]
Events of the Revenge Attack
Afterwards, Zayd and his surviving companions returned to Medina. During the month of Ramadhan, in the year 6 A.H., Prophet Muhammad sent Zayd ibn Harithah towards Bani Badr for a retaliatory attack, ordering them to travel at night and hide during the days. However, Bani Badr became aware of the expedition and positioned themselves on the mountain tops overlooking the regional pathways. Zayd ibn Harithah travelled hastily during the night so that he would reach Bani Badr by morning. He ordered his companions not to disperse and to wait until they hear the takbīr at which point they should also repeat the takbīr (and then begin the battle). After surrounding the enemy, Zayd call out the takbīr as did his companions and the attack commenced in which Abdullah ibn Masadah and his nephew, Qays ibn Numan ibn Masadah, and one other person were killed. Additionally, Qays ibn Muhassir killed a woman named Umm Qirfah and captured her daughter, Salmah bint Akwa, who he gave to Prophet Muhammad from the spoils of war. The Prophet subsequently gave her to Hazn ibn Abi Wahab who married her. [5]