Our Holy Master Prophet Muhammad (May peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) PART VIII

                                                          8th year of Hijra

Opposition spills abroad

    Jews since beginning of Islam continued as sworn enemies of Islam, despite repeated warnings and punishments they continued with wickedness. Now thyat their cosponsors Makkahn was kept at bay by the Hudabia Accord, they started colliding with Christian tribes falling along the border with Byzantine Empire. They Ghassarian governor of the area was supporting them, moreover they were in constant communication with their accomplices in Iraq.

Ghūzw? Mu’tah

(Jamadi awal)

     There were reports that Christian tribes along the Syrian border were concentrating forces. A fact finding party of fifteen, found a large army stationed there, instead of reporting back to Medina  (as they were instructed), the Muslims overstepped their mandate, started expounding and preaching message of Islam to the enemy soldiers, who were infuriated, and killed them, by raining arrows at them.

     When news of this awful incident reached Medina, an expedition was planned to punish the Syrians, however the news of Muslim army arrival scared away the enemies. Holy Prophet (?allallāhu ‘alaihi wa sallam) wrote to the Roman Emperor, explaining the events, and complaining of unprovoked amassing of Syrian forces at the border, and brutal murder of fifteen innocent Muslims.

      When the messenger carrying Holy Prophet’s message reached Mu’tah, he was stopped, arrested by the order of the governor. The latter was taken, and the messenger was tortured to death.

    To avenge, an army of 3,000  Muslims embarked under command of Zaid Bin Heritha. Holy Prophet (?allallāhu ‘alaihi wa sallam) while giving him the standard, instructed: “in case he fells, Jafar Bin Abi Talib will take the standard, after him Abdullah Bin Rawaha, after him, Muslim will be free to choose leader from among themselves.”

     It was the first occasion that a large army was embarking without Holy Prophet (?allallāhu ‘alaihi wa sallam). Holy Prophet (?allallāhu ‘alaihi wa sallam) walked along for some distance to bid the army farewell, giving parting instructions:

• “Always fear Allāh, especially deal justly with Muslims accompanying you.
• Fight the Syrian enemy in the name of Allāh, they are your as well as Allāh’s enemies.
•  Spare monks and those engaged in worship of Allah, no place of worship is to be destroyed.
• Spare women, children, blinds and old.
• No tree is to be cut; no building destroyed.”

When Muslim neared Syrian border, they hard that the Byzantine Emperor in person was in command of the Roman army numbering 100,000, plus 100.000 raised locally. Naturally, the very thought of confronting a huge army of 200,000 with a humble army of 3000, worried Muslims. Some were of the opinion to stop and inform Holy Prophet (?allallāhu ‘alaihi wa sallam), and wait for fresh instructions and arrival of reinforcements. However, Abdullah Bin Rawaha’s address electrified them, he said: “We set out from our homes to die as martyrs in the way of Allāh, and now when martyrdom is in sight you are flinching back. In past we never fought because of our number or equipment; we rather fought with the strength of our faith. What matters if the enemy is far superior in number and has better equipment, we either will win or martyred in the way of Allāh!” Thus with renewed zest, Muslim army consolidated its ranks.

  When battle started, Muslim commander Zaid fought bravely fell, Jaffer took over. As enemy pressure increased Muslim’s physical inferiority became apparent.  Jaffer dismounted his horse, hamstrung it, fought with one hand, holding the standard in the other, soon he lost his right hand, he held the standard in the left hand, when he lost it also, he clasped the standard with stumps of his arms to his chest. When he fell, there was no chance of counseling, Khalid Bin Waleed moved forward, held the standard; fight continued till the evening.

     Next morning, Khalid Bin Walid rearranged the lines, according to his ingenious plan: he replaced the front lines with rear ones; right flank was swapped with left. Soldiers with loud voices were appointed at different points in the lines, with instructions to keep on raising strength and faith enhancing slogans alternately from time to time,. 

    Next day when enemy soldiers came face to face, wondered by noticing new faces to deal with. Then repeatedly raised slogans, at different points in different voices, convinced the enemy that Muslims had received reinforcements during the night; it fretted the enemy to retreat. Thus Khalid’s novel stratagem gave Muslims victory at Mu’ta, despite small number.

     As these events were occurring at Mu’ta battlefield, they were revealed to the Holy Prophet (?allallāhu ‘alaihi wa sallam) in a vision in Medina. Next morning Holy Prophet (?allallāhu ‘alaihi wa sallam) called Muslims to gather in Masjid Nabvi, and related details of the battle with tears in eyes:

 “I am going to tell you about our army that left for Syrian border. The army stood bravely and fought; first Zaid, than Jafar and then Abdullah held the standard, all fell one after another. Then Khalid Bin Waleed appointed himself to hold the standard. He was sword among the swords of Allāh. He saved the Muslim army and is now returning victorious.” 

Bibliography

Ahmad, Mirza Bashir, 1996. Seerat Khatamannabiyyeen. Islam International Pub. Ltd.    

        Islamabad, Tilford, U.K.

Ahmad, Mirza Bashir-ud-Din Mahmud, 1998 ed. Life of Muhammad. Islam International

        Publications Ltd. Tilford, Surray, UK.

Khan, Muhammad Sharif, 2006. Our Master Prophet (saw)

                                                                     2006. Part I. Al Nahal, 17 (3):8-38.

                                                                      2007. Part II                18 (1-2): 1-47.

                                                                      2010. Part III A          Issue 1: 18-25.

                                                                                 Part III B          Issue 2: 14-41.

Skeikh, Muhammad Ismael Pani Patti. Hamāra āqā. Nazarat Isha‘at, Sadar Anjuman

        Ahmadiyya, Rabwah, Pakistan.

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