THE EXPEDITION OF HUNAIN

THE EXPEDITION OF HUNAIN

During the conquest of Makka, the Qureish had laid down arms in front of the Prophet of Islam (s.a.) and then the fear of the Muslims got rooted in the minds of the Infidel tribes of Arabia. Most of them sought amnesty from the Muslims. But the naughty tribes of Bani Hawazan and bani Saqeef were still rebellious. They were still planning to be mischievous. One of the chiefs of Bani Hawazan, Malik ibne Auf Nasri, colluded with Bani Jasm and Bani Nasr to raise an army for a result oriented battle with the Muslims. Bani Saqeef who had once stoned away the Prophet (s.a.) from Taef joined hands with them. Malik ibne Auf also sent word to Bani Saad to join hands with them. Bani Saad didn’t agree with the offer saying that Mohammed (s.a.) had his upbringing with them and they wouldn’t like to fight with him. But some of their men did join the collaborators. The size of the army reached a total of 5,000. Maalik ibne Auf was named the Commander-inchief and Abu Jarol the standard bearer. They started on the campaign along with their families, children and flocks of animals! In this army was the famous warrior of Arabia, Dareed ibne Saama. His age at the time was 120 years but he was brought sitting in a litter on the back of a camel to make use of his vast experience of planning the strategies of battle. When the army halted at the Valley of Awtas he said that the place will be suitable for the movement of horses and also for undertaking combats! He also said that the place was neither too soft nor very stony. At that moment he heard the sound of children crying.and the sheep maying. He enquired of Malik ibne Auf about the sounds. He informed that women and children too were there with the army. He asked, why they were brough with the troops? He was told that with the families and children along, no one will think of showing his back to the battle field! He said that when the fear of the enemy dominates the minds of the troops, nothing can stop them from running away! If defeat was faced in these circumstances, the shame will not leave them for ever! Then he asked, “Are Bani Kalab and Bani Kaab too with you?” He replied that they had not joined with them. The old man said that if luck had favored them, they too would have joined the army! He expressed his frank opinion that they return to their respective habitations! If then the Muslims attacked them, they would be able to defend themselves and other tribes too might come to their rescue against the aggressors. Malik didn’t agree with his advice. Dareed said that then he wouldn’t have anything to do with the campaign! In fact Malik didn’t want his interference because he would claim credit if the battle was won by them! Therefore, rejecting a wise suggestion, the troops advanced forward to fight!

When the Prophet (s.a.) learned that Bani Hawazan and Bani Saqeef were advancing for a battle with the Muslims, he deputed Abd Allah ibne Hadard to reconnoiter about their movements. He returned after his investigations and reported to the prophet (s.a.) that their intention to battle was very evident and that the Muslims must be ready to repulse their attack. The Prophet (s.a.) called Hazrat Omer and told him what he had heard from Ibne Abi Hadard. Omer said Ibne Abi Hadard cannot be trusted because he is a liar. At this point Ibne Abi Hadard addressed Omer and said:

“O Omer!

If you are refuting me,

you were used to refuting the Truth in the past”

Ref: Tariq e Tabari, Vol 2, Page 346

The Prophet (s.a.) trusted the intelligence of Ibne Abil Hadard and ordered the troops to be in readiness. They loaned from Safwan ibne Omayya, who hadn’t still embraced Islam, a hundred armors and other equipment of war and on 8 Shawwal 8H moved with 12,000 troops. In this contingent there were 10,000 persons who had accompanied him from Madina. The other 2,000 were the recent converts from Makka. The numerical strength was thrice as much as that of the Infidels. This has created a subtle feeling of pride among the Muslims. Therefore seeing the strength of the army of Islam, Hazrat Abu Bakr said, “Today we shall not face defeat because of paucity of numbers!” The enemy arrived at the Valley of Hunain and entrenched the men in the crevices and passages of the passages of the hills Hunain is a valley lying on the hills between Makka and Taef and had plain grounds on one side and ravines and ditches on the other. When the Muslims reached the. Valley of Hunain in the morning, and advanced on the difficult and sloping terrain, the enemy started throwing stones and arrows on them. The Muslims didn’t expect this sudden attack on them. Pandemonium broke out in the troops. First the muqaddamat al Jaish ( the Front Guard) flew! The commander of the group was Khalid ibne Walid!! When those coming from behind saw Khalid running away, they too took to their heels! The pandemonium was such that no one bothered about the others. They were all running helter skelter. Abu Qatada who was

one of the deserters said:

“The Muslims flew!

I too flew with them.

Suddenly I noticed Omer Ibne Khattab among the deserters

I asked him,

‘What has happened to the people?’

He replied,

‘It is Allah’s Wish!””

Ref: Sahih Bukhari, Vol 3, Page 45

The books of Hadith and Seerat certainly recorded about this flight, but the Holy Quran too records the incident thus:

“And remember the Day of Hunain

when large numbers made you proud!

But the numbers didn’t benefit you in any way,

and the land, inspite of being wide,

became narrow for you

and you fled turning your backs (to the battle field)!”

When Abu Sufian saw the Muslims running away he said, “Wait! When they are vanquished, they will run to the sea shore!”. Kalda ibne Hanbal said, “Today the spell of Islam has been broken!” Some said that Laat and Manat had avenged their destruction! Although they were in the army of Islam, but their hearts were not with them. They would certainly have showed their backs if defeat looked into their faces. But the surprising fact
was that those who were there at the Bayt e Rizwan and swore to lay down “It is true that I am the Prophet (s.a.)

their lives for the Cause chose to fly! Within no time a major portion of the 12,000 men vanished in thin air! Very few persons remained with the Prophet (s.a.). According to one narration, only four persons, Ali (a.s.), Abbas ibne abd al Mutallib, Abu Sufian ibne Harit and Abd Allah ibne Masood remained steadfastly with the Prophet (s.a.). According to another narration there were ten persons with him, viz: Ali Ibne Abi Talib (a.s.), Abbas ibne Abd al Mutallib, Fazal ibne Abbas, Abu Sufian ibne Harit, Rubiah ibr Harit, Abd Allah ibne Zubair ibne Abd al Mutallib, Otba and Mautab sons of Abu Lahab and Aiman ibne Obaid. The Prophet (s.a.) was astride a pony in the battle field. Abbas and Fazal were standing on the right and left of him. Abu Sufian was at the back holding the saddle of the mule and Hazrat Ali (as.) was in the front meeting the attacks of the enemy with his sword. The other persons formed a protective circle around the Prophet (s.a.). The enemy’s pressure increased every moment. Malik ibne Auf came forward to attack the Prophet (s.a.). Aiman ibne Obaid countered his attack and was martyred defending. The history records that in the moment of trial the Prophet (s.a.) was the most steadfast. He had these words on his lips:

I am the son of Abd al Mutallib!”

When he saw the Muslims deserting the theatre of war, he turned left and right, and called them:

“O Allah’s Creatures!

Where are you heading to?”

When he found none heeding his call, he turned to his uncle, Abbas, and asked him to call the deserters in a loud voice. Abbas shouted at the top of his voice:

“O men of Ansaar!

O those who were present at

The Bayt e Rizwan!”

On this call some of the deserters came back. Hazrat Ali (a.s.) gathered them under his Standard and advanced to attack the enemy. On the other side the enemy too was alert. Both the sides attacked each other with swords. Sparks came out of the clashing swords. The Prophet (s.a.) said: “The oven of battle is hot now!”

The Standard Bearer of Bani Hawazan, Abu Jarol was riding on a camel. He was waving his black flag and attacked reciting martial poems. Hazrat Ali (a.s.) was looking for a chance to attack him. From the back he hit the legs of the camel with his sword. The camel fell down and Abu Jarol wasn’t able to keep his balance. At that moent Ali (a.s.) gave him such a blow that he was cut into two. With the killing of Abu Jarol the morale of the enemy sank low. Their men started running away. The deserters from the Muslim army who were hiding themselves in the crevices of the hills came back.and attacked the enemy in unison. Some of the enemy men were killed and others were taken captive. The fight was on when the time for meals arrived. The Prophet (s.a) said that they should stop fighting now and those taken captive should not be executed. But despite thisorder two of the captives were killed. One of them was Ibne Akwa who was functioning as a detective
for Bani Hazeel during the campaign for conquest of Makka. When Hazrat Omer found him helpless, he motionedto an Ansari to slay him. The other person killed wa Jamil ibne Maamar. He too was killed by an Ansari. When the Prophet (s.a.) asked for an explanation from him, he said that Omer had prompted him to kill the person. The Prophet (s.a) said that he had personally asked them not to kill the captives, looked angrily at Omer and turned away his face! After some days, on the intervention of Umair ibne Waheb, the Prophet (s.a.) overlookd that act of Omer. Similarly, the Prophet (s.a.) was disturbed at the killing of a woman..Looking at her dead body, he asked who had killed her? The people informed that it was Khalid ibne Walid who killed her. He asked the persons to go to him and tell:

“The Prophet of Allah (s.a.)

prohibits you from slaying

women, children and laborers.”

Ref: Tareeq e Kamil, Vol 2, Page 180

The war was over but the Muslims continued to chase the infidels. They took custody of the enemy’s animals and materials. They took lot of prisoners of war, among whom were women and children. The Prophet (s.a.) wanted one person, Behad,to be apprehended alive. Therefore the Muslims held him and his family members. Among the captives was Sheema binte Harit, who was the prophet (s.a)’s sister by the virtue of her mother being his foster mother during his childhood. When she was put to hardship by the Muslim troops, she told them that she was their Prophet (s.a.)’s foster sister. They didn’t believe it and brought her to the presence of the Prophet (s.a.). She said, “I am Sheema., your foster sister! Once you had bitten my back in your childhood! The mark is still there! “The Prophet (s.a.) recognized her and made her sit on his own quilt. He asked her, “Would you like to live with us, or do you wish to return to your own tribe?” She preferred to get back to her triber. The prophet (s.a.) gave her a slave, one camel and some sheep and sent her. away with respect.

During this campaign four Muslims were martyred and seventy infidels were killed. Thousands were taken captive. They got large amount of booty of war. In that there were 24,000 camels, 40.000 sheep and lot of silver. The captives and the booty were left in the charge of Badeel ibne Warqa Qazaee at the valley foJaarana. Those who were able to escape with their lives went to Taef. The Chief of Bani Hawazan, Malik ibne Auf was among the fugitives who reached Taef. One group went to Autas and another reached Naqla.

Ghazwa e Hunain was a big trial for the Muslims. In the beginning they were unable to meet the sudden attack of the enemy. They were under the illusion of the large force they had. If they had exercised care and forethought to the possibility of the enemy troops attacking from the caves and crevices, they wouldn’t have faced the initial setbacks. There was also a group of the capitulators of the campaign for conquest of makka who were not wholeheartedly participating in the battle. If, during this battle, the prophet (s.a.) and his near relations were not steadfast, the battle was nearly
lost..

In this victory too, Hazrat Ali (a.s.) played the major part. He never left the company of the Prophet (s.a.) for a moment and was fighting the enemy like a shield for his Master. It was his example that brought back many a deserter to the battle field!