The
Battle of Mutah
When this army set out under the
leadership of Sayyiduna Zaid رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ,
they were given the news that Caesar of Rome was there himself with one hundred
thousand soldiers. A further one hundred thousand Christian Arabs were also
joining him.
The
field of Mu’tah where the Battle of Mu’tah took place [Map showing route: Madinah → Khayber → Al-‘Ala → Tabook
→ Ma’an → Moutah / Red Sea / Domtah al-Jandal]
Mutah is the area between Karak, a
city of modern-day Jordan, and the Jordan River. Jordan is a country in Western
Asia, and Amman is its capital. At that time, the people of the Levant ruled
there. It was the first time that the army of Muslims went so far away from
Madinah for a battle. The distance between Jordan and Madinah is at least more
than one thousand kilometres.
Sayyiduna Zaid consulted about
whether he should write a letter to the Final Messenger of Allah صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّم, requesting for more
soldiers, or should he start the battle. Sayyiduna Abdullah Bin Rawahah رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ said: “Our purpose is
not victory or wealth, rather, our purpose is martyrdom.”
Having heard this, people said:
“Abdullah has spoken the truth.” Then, they moved forward and camped at Mu’tah.
The army was organized and the whole army was ready for the battle.
An astonishing battle in the history
of the mankind took place here where an army of two hundred thousand was
fighting against only three thousand devoted warriors.
According to the foretelling of the
Final Messenger of Allah صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ
وَسَلَّم, Sayyiduna Zaid رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ
was martyred. When Sayyiduna Zaid رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ
was martyred, then Sayyiduna Ja’far رَضِيَ اللهُ
عَنْهُ held the flag of Islam, and when he was martyred, Sayyiduna
Abdullah Bin Rawahah رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ
held the flag. The Beloved Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ
عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّم was observing all these incidents in
Madinah and mentioning them.¹
After the martyrdom of Sayyiduna
Abdullah Bin Rawahah رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ,
Sayyiduna Khalid Bin Waleed رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ held
the flag and fought so bravely that nine swords broke in his hand. With excellent
war skills and expertise, he took out the Islamic army from the siege of the
enemy and brought them back to Madinah. It was a victory for the Muslims as
only twelve companions رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُم
were martyred against the army of one hundred thousand soldiers². The remaining
Muslim army returned safe and sound, whereas, the enemy suffered a far greater
loss than this.³
Referance:
1 Sharh al-Zurqaani ‘ala al-Mawahib, vol. 3, pp. 344-347,
summarised
2 According to some narrations, the number of the army of
disbelievers was two hundred thousand. This battle continued for seven days,
and it has been stated that twenty thousand soldiers of the enemy were killed,
whereas, only twelve companions were martyred.
3 Sharh al-Zurqaani ‘ala al-Mawahib, vol. 3, pp. 348-349,
summarised
CAUSES
OF THE CONQUEST of MAKKAH
According to the treaty made in
Hudaybiyah, there was a ceasefire agreement between the Muslims and the
disbelievers of Quraysh for ten years. In the light of this treaty, the tribe
Banu Bakr formed an alliance with Quraysh, and Banu Khaza’ah were joined (in
alliance) with Muslims. There had been enmity between both these tribes for a
long time.
Once, Banu Bakr along with Quraysh,
attacked the ally of Muslims, Banu Khaza’ah. The people of Banu Khaza’ah
entered the sanctuary of the Ka’bah to save their lives, but they were not
spared even there. Twenty-three people of Banu Khaza’ah were killed in this attack.
Banu Khaza’ah requested the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى
اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّم for help.¹
He صَلَّى
اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّم sent a message to Quraysh saying: “Accept
any one of the (following) three things:
1. Pay blood money of the killed
people!
2. Or terminate the alliance with Banu
Bakr!
3. Or make the announcement that the
Treaty of Hudaybiyah has been ended.”
Having heard these conditions, the
representative of Quraysh announced the decision to end the treaty. As soon as
the envoy of the Final Messenger of Allah صَلَّى اللهُ
عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّم left, Quraysh realized that they had made
a very big mistake. They immediately sent Abu Sufyan to Madinah in order to
form a new treaty like before, but he was paid no attention.
Disappointed, Abu Sufyan announced
the renewal of the treaty by standing in Masjid al-Nabawi himself, but no one responded
to him. He went to Makkah and mentioned the entire situation to the chiefs of
Quraysh.
They asked him: “Did they respond to
your announcement?” To which, Abu Sufyan replied: “No.” The disbelievers of
Quraysh said: “It is nothing then; it is neither a peace treaty so that we can
be relaxed, nor is it a declaration of war so that we may prepare for it.”
In the meanwhile, the Final
Messenger of Allah صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ
وَسَلَّم prepared for the battle very secretly. The purpose behind it was
that the people of Makkah should not get to know about it and they should be
attacked when they are unaware of it.²
Referance:
1 Sharh al-Zurqaani ‘Ala al-Mawahib vol. 3, p. 276-380,
summarised
2 Sharh al-Zurqaani ‘Ala al-Mawahib vol. 3, p. 384-386, selected
and summarised
BELOVED
PROPHET’S ENTRY INTO MAKKAH
In the 8th year of migration, on
10th of Ramadan, the Final Messenger of Allah صَلَّى
اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّم left for Makkah with an army of approx.
10,000 warriors. Some tribes joined him on the way, making the number of the
army 12,000.¹
Before entering Makkah, he صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّم divided the army into
two parts. In one part, he صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ
وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّم was present himself, whereas the second part was given under
the command of Sayyiduna Khalid bin Waleed رَضِيَ
اللهُ عَنْهُ, and he was ordered to enter Makkah following the other route.²
As soon as the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّم reached the land of
Makkah, the first order that he issued was as follows:
·
The one who surrenders is ensured protection.
·
The one who shuts his door is ensured protection.
·
The one who enters the Ka’bah is ensured protection.
·
The one who enters the house of Abu Sufyan is ensured
protection.³
This merciful announcement of the
Beloved Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّم
created a peaceful environment everywhere. There was not any possibility left
for even a drop of blood to be shed, but some people of Quraysh attacked the
army of Sayyiduna Khalid Bin Waleed رَضِيَ اللهُ
عَنْهُ, resulting in three Muslims being martyred, and approximately
twelve disbelievers being killed.
Referance:
1 Sharh al-Zurqaani ‘Ala al-Mawahib vol. 3, p. 395,
summarised
2 Bukhari, vol. 3, p. 102, Hadith 4280
3 Sharh al-Zurqaani ‘Ala al-Mawahib vol. 3, p. 417-422, summarized
When the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّم saw that swords are
being used and arrows are being fired, he صَلَّى اللهُ
عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّم asked: “Why are swords being used despite
forbidding from a war?” It was humbly replied: “The disbelievers started it.”
The Beloved Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ
وَسَلَّم said: “The Lord Almighty has sealed the fate. Whatever Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ willed is better.”¹
The Final Messenger of Allah صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّم became the conqueror
of Makkah, but the state of his humility was such that he صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّم was sat upon his
(she-) camel reciting the blessed verses of Surah al-Fath with his blessed head
lowered in a way that it was touching the saddle of his camel.²
He صَلَّى
اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّم made his (she-) camel sit, performed Tawaf
and kissed the Hajr al-Aswad. Then, he صَلَّى اللهُ
عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّم commanded for all the idols to be removed
from the Ka’bah. When all the idols were removed from the holy Ka’bah, he صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّم went inside, recited
Takbeer in every corner of the Ka’bah, and offered two Rak’ah Salah there.³
Referance:
1 Sharh al-Zurqaani ‘Ala al-Mawahib vol. 3, p. 416-417,
summarised
2 Sharh al-Zurqaani ‘Ala al-Mawahib vol. 3, p. 434,
summarised
3 Bukhari, vol. 3, p. 102, Hadith 4288, summarised
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