THE JOURNEY OF A LIFETIME WITH PROPHET MUHAMMAD THE PROPHET OF ALLAH 027 PERMISSION TO RETALIATE by Khadeijah A. Stephens Copyright © 1984-2012 by Allah.com Muhammad.com Mosque.com Khadeijah A. Stephens Bismillah Ir Rahman Ir Raheem Permission to Retaliate A Threat from Mecca, the Letter It is obligatory upon Muslims to protect their soul, the honor of their womenfolk, and wealth, but also to show mercy. No matter how good the philosophy of turning the other cheek may be for an individual in insignificant day-to-day affairs, it spells suicide for a community when it is implemented as an absolute value. One might have supposed that the Prophet's circumstances in Medina were easier than in Mecca, and in many respects that was indeed the case. However, in Mecca it had been easy to determine who had given themselves to Islam and who had not. In Medina the situation was somewhat different. Many of its citizens had embraced Islam, however several had done so not out of conviction but because they feared the loss of their status within their tribe as more of their fellow tribesmen started to embrace Islam. These people posed an undetectable source of treachery that was a factor the Prophet (salla Allahu alihi wa sallam) did not have to contend with in Mecca. Until this time, Medina had little or no influence on the affairs of Arabia, it had just been a place on the trade route where caravans would stop, replenish their supplies, sell their wares, then go on their way. As such it had been impervious to outside affairs, however now that the Prophet (salla Allahu alihi wa sallam) had settled there, the Koraysh viewed Medina in a different light. It was not long after his arrival that the Prophet (salla Allahu alihi wa sallam) met with neighboring tribes outside Medina - his reputation had preceded him – and gladly they contracted alliances that closed the access to the northern trade routes of the Koraysh who had previously passed through Medina. This meant that from now on the Koraysh caravans would have to use the coastal road on their journeys and their paths would not cross. However, shortly after the Prophet's arrival in Medina, the Koraysh sent a letter to Abdullah, Ubayy’s son, who was a newly elected chieftain and was among those who had not embraced Islam out of conviction. The letter read: "You have sheltered one of our men. We tell you either to kill him or throw him out of Medina. If you do not, we swear by Allah we will attack, destroy you, and seize your women." When the Prophet (salla Allahu alihi wa sallam) learned of the Koraysh letter, he went to Abdullah and asked if he intended to fight against his own kinsmen for many of them had embraced Islam and were now his supporters. Abdullah weighed the implications and decided to ignore the letter. The Koraysh had not only persecuted Muslims for their belief and robbed them of most of their possessions before and after their migration, but now the threat of war loomed large on the horizon. It was obvious they had no intention of letting Islam and its followers live in peace; their intent was annihilation. The First Attack on Medina The first physical act of aggression by the Koraysh against the Muslims of Medina was perpetrated by Kerz, Jabir's son. Kerz, together with a marauding party set off from Mecca with the intent of looting whatever property belonging to Muslims they could lay their hands on. Just outside Medina they came across and seized Sa'ad, Khaula's son and Utbah, Ghazwan's son and took them back to Mecca as prisoners together with a flock of sheep and a herd of camels. This attack was soon followed by several other acts of aggression. Permission to Fight for Defense or Revenge Under the patient guidance of the Prophet, salla Allahu alihi wa sallam, the Muslims had never taken a physically aggressive stand against their adversaries, for permission to do so had not been received from Allah. Even when they had been subjected to outrageous provocation, they had restrained themselves by reciting the Words of Allah to state their case. One must not suppose them to have been faint hearted in such matters, rather they controlled themselves and obeyed their Prophet, salla Allahu alihi wa sallam . They remembered the mercy of Allah to mankind in the Revelation of the verse: "Whosoever obeys the Messenger, Indeed he has obeyed Allah" Koran 4:80. The Companions knew they were incapable of pure obedience to Allah, and so it was that Allah in His Mercy honored His Messenger in this verse, by placing obedience to His Messenger before that of Himself. This is yet another indication to us all of the very honorable rank Allah bestowed upon His Prophet, salla Allahu alihi wa sallam, and His Mercy to us. It was about this time that Allah sent down the following verse: "Permission is given to those who fight because they were wronged. Allah has power to grant them victory: those who have been unjustly driven from their homes, just because they said, 'Our Lord is Allah ....'" Koran 22:39-40 But Allah also warned: “Fight in the way of Allah those who fight against you, but do not aggress. Allah does not love the aggressors.” Koran 2:190 This last verse is a clear warning to all Muslims that they must not be the first to aggress. It was not the Prophet, Salla Allahu alihi wa sallam, who instigated the state of war, persecuted, or pillaged, on the contrary, it was the Koraysh who were the open aggressors. Now, permission had come to the Muslims to assert themselves, stand up for their rights, and take back what had been stolen from them. Time necessitated that the Muslims should demonstrate that they were not a weak entity to be taken advantage or exterminated and now that Allah had given them permission to fight those who fought against them they prepared themselves to demonstrate their determination. With the possible threat of war on the horizon and the command to fight because of the wrongs afforded to them, the Prophet (salla Allahu alihi wa sallam) sent observation parties of migrants to monitor caravans. From time to time they received news from their allies of caravan movements. However, more likely than not, by the time the news reached them, the Koraysh caravans were nowhere to be found. Nevertheless, the time was not wasted as successful treaties were negotiated with several Bedouin tribes along the coast of the Red Sea. In Ramadan 1H, (March 623 CE) the Prophet (salla Allahu alihi wa sallam) sent out a detachment consisting of 30 Emigrants under the leadership of Hamza to intercept a Koraysh caravan. The Muslims intercepted the Koraysh at a place near the Red Sea called Saif Al-Bahr. It was a large caravan of three hundred people amongst whom was the infamous Abu Jahl. When the two parties encountered each other they prepared themselves to fight, however Majdi, Amr’s son who was on good terms with both parties, happened to be there and succeeded to prevent hostilities. It was on that occasion that the Prophet (salla Allahu alihi wa sallam) gave the Muslims their first banner which they were from now on to carry into combat. It was white in color and given to Kinaz, the son of Husain Al-Ghanawi who became the first standard bearer. In the month Shawwal, 1H (April 623 CE) the Messenger of Allah (salla Allahu alihi wa sallam) sent Ubaydah, Al Harith’s son out to lead sixty emigrants on horseback to a place called Batn Rabegh where they met Abu Sufyan heading a caravan of 200 men. Shots were exchanged but there was no actual combat, it was a demonstration that the Muslims were no longer going to be taken advantage of. It was at that time that Al-Miqdad, Amr Al-Bahrani’s son and Utbah, Ghazwan Al-Mazini’s son defected from the Koraysh caravan and joined Ubaydah. This time the white banner was carried by Mistah, Athatha’s son, the son of Al-Muttalib. In the month of Dhul Qa’dah 1H (May 623 CE) the Prophet dispatched Sa’ad, Abu Waqqas’ son at the head of cavalry of twenty with the instruction not to go further than a place called Al-Kharrar. They reached Al-Kharrar five days later only to find that the Koraysh had left the day before. The white banner was carried by Al-Miqdad, Amr’s son Eleven months had passed since the Prophet's migration when, in the autumn, news of a richly laden caravan escorted by a hundred armed men led by Umayyah, the chief of Jummah, was reported. Umayyah was one of Islam's greatest opponents and so the Prophet (salla Allahu alihi wa sallam) called upon the help of the Ansar to assist the Muhajirin in ridding themselves of their adversary and seizing the spoils of war as restitution. However, Umayyah and his caravan eluded them and there was no encounter. The Second Year after the Migration Two months into the second year after the migration, news of another caravan on its way to Syria led by Abu Sufyan arrived. The Companions set off in search of the caravan, but the news they received was old and when they reached Ushayrah, which lies in the valley of Yanbu near the Red Sea, their adversaries, as before, had long gone. The cooler winter months were upon them and the number of caravans to the north dwindled. Since the time of their ancestor Hashim, caravans had taken advantaged of these cooler months to cross the inhospitable, desolate southern part of the desert to Yemen. It was in the month of Safar 2H (623 CE) that the Messenger of Allah (salla Allahu alihi wa sallam) set out together with seventy men who were for the most part from the Emigrants. Their intention was to intercept a caravan of camels belonging to the Koraysh. They reached Al-Abwas near Waddan which is between Mecca and Medina but found that the caravan was no longer there. The Prophet (salla Allahu alihi wa sallam) appointed Sa’ad, the son of Ubaydah to attended to the affairs in Medina while he was away. The tribe of Damrah During this time the Prophet, (salla Allahu alihi wa sallam) spent fifteen days with Amr, Makhshi Ad-Darami, the chief of the tribe of Damrah and succeeded to sign a non-aggression pact with him. It was agreed that the wealth, lives and security of tribe of Bani Damrah would be protected and that they could rely on the support of Muslims providing they did oppose the religion of Allah, in return it was agreed that they too would come to the aid of the Prophet (salla Allahu alihi wa sallam) when called upon. The process took fifteen days and the white banner was carried by Hamza. Buwat In Rabi’ Al-Awwal 2H (623 CE) the Prophet (salla Allahu alihi wa sallam) marched with two hundred Companions to Buwat to intercept a Koraysh caravan of one hundred men amongst whom was Umayyah, Khalaf’s son. When they reached Buwat, the caravan had left. The Prophet (salla Allahu alihi wa sallam) appointed Sa’ad, the son of Mu’adh to attended to the affairs in Medina while he was away The Koraysh Raid of Karz, Jabir’s son When Karz, Jabir’s son and his small party of unbelievers raided the pastures of Medina in Rabi’ Al-Awwal 2H (623 CE) and looted some of their livestock, the Prophet (salla Allahu alihi wa sallam) led seventy men out in pursuit of them. However, when he reached a place called Safwan, which is near Badr, he had been unable to catch up with them. The Prophet (salla Allahu alihi wa sallam) appointed Zayd, Haritha’s son to attended to the affairs in Medina while he was away. This time the white banner was carried by Ali, Abi Talib’s son. Non-aggression pact with the tribe of Bani Madlij and their allies Bani Dhumrah In either the month of Jumada Al-Ula or Jumada Al-Akhira on its first or second day 2H (November/December 623) the Prophet (salla Allahu alihi wa sallam) led a hundred and fifty or more, but no more than two hundred Muslim volunteers, out of Medina to intercept a camel caravan belonging to the Koraysh. When they reached Dhil ‘Ushaira they found the caravan of camels had left several days before. This caravan of camels was the same caravan the Muslims had originally ridden out to intercept as the Koraysh returned from Syria and was to contribute to the reason for the battle of Badr. During this expedition the Prophet (salla Allahu alihi wa sallam) succeeded in making a non-aggression pact with the tribe of Bani Madlij and their allies Bani Dhumrah. The Prophet (salla Allahu alihi wa sallam) appointed Abd Al-Asad Al Makhzumi to attended to the affairs in Medina in his absence. This time the white banner was carried by Hamza. A Matter of Observation The month was Rajab 2H (January 624) which was one of the four sacred months in which fighting is impermissible, when the Messenger of Allah (salla Allahu alihi wa sallam) dispatched Abdullah, Jahsh' son with twelve of the Muhajirin riding six camels on a reconnaissance assignment. Before leaving, Abdullah was given written instructions and told not to read them until after two days. After the passing of two days he opened the letter and read the instructions that told him to journey on to Nakhlah, which is between Mecca and Ta’if and observe the Koraysh then return with the news. There was no order to attack the caravan. Upon reaching the valley of Nakhlah, the caravan was observed. The caravan included the prominent unbelievers Amr, Al Hadrami, Othman and Nawfal, the sons of Abdullah, Al-Mughirah and others, who were transporting consignments of raisons, and other foodstuffs. The Muslims faced the dilemma whether or not to attack because it was the month of Rajab. Abdullah, Jahsh’s son was in a quandary not knowing what to do, he was unsure if the pre-Islamic rules not to fight during the Sacred Months still applied or not, and pondered deeply upon the verse, "Permission is given to those who fight because they were wronged." 22:39. And so they concluded it was permissible to attack and arrows were fired, one of which struck Amr, Al-Hadrami’s son and he died. Othman and Al-Hakam were taken prisoner, however Nawfal escaped. Now, there was a blood feud with which to contend. Abdullah and the Muhajirin returned to Medina with their prisoners, camels, and spoils. When they reached Medina they divided the spoils among themselves, leaving one-fifth for the Prophet (salla Allahu alihi wa sallam) to distribute as charity. When Abdullah and his companions took the spoils to the Prophet (salla Allahu alihi wa sallam) and presented them to him, he declined to accept it reminding them, "I did not order you to fight in the Sacred Months." Abdullah and his companions were greatly distressed by the Prophet's refusal, and were rebuked by their fellow Muslims for their violation of the Sacred Month. The unbelievers of Medina took it upon themselves to make a great issue of the matter and accusations abounded. As for the Koraysh, they falsely accused the Prophet (salla Allahu alihi wa sallam) of being responsible for the violation of the Sacred Month of Rajab. Abdullah and his companions were devastated; it had not been their intention to disobey the Prophet (salla Allahu alihi wa sallam) and they had acted only after a great deal of heart-searching, but the fact remained they had not been given permission to fight. After a while, relief came to them when Angel Gabriel brought down the verse from Allah that said: "They ask you about the Sacred Month and fighting in it. Say: 'To fight in this month is a grave (offense); but to bar others from the Path of Allah, and disbelief in Him, and the Holy Mosque, and to expel its inhabitants from it is great with Allah. Dissension is greater than killing. They will not cease to fight against you until they force you to renounce your religion, if they are able. But whosoever of you recants from his religion and dies an unbeliever, their works shall be annulled in this world and in the Everlasting Life, and those shall be the companions of Hell, and there they shall live forever." Koran 2:217 Now that this verse had been revealed, the Prophet (salla Allahu alihi wa sallam) knew that Abdullah and his men had been absolved and accepted a fifth of the spoils which were then distributed as charity. Abdullah and his companions asked the Prophet (salla Allahu alihi wa sallam), "May we hope that this will count as a raid for which we shall receive a reward as combatants?" For they were more anxious to receive the reward of Allah than the worldly spoils they had repossessed. The Prophet (salla Allahu alihi wa sallam) in his customary manner did not reply straight away and waited until the following verse was sent down from Allah: "But those who believe and those who migrate and struggle in the Way of Allah, those, have hope of the Mercy of Allah, Allah is Forgiving, Merciful." Koran 2:218 Blood money was paid to the father of Amr and the captives released. Othman returned to Mecca where he died in disbelief. However, Hakam expressed his wish to embrace Islam and remained in Medina. Hakam later became a martyr at the encounter of Bi'r Ma'una. Permission to Retaliate 028 Back Cover Subtitles A Threat from Mecca, the Letter The First Attack on Medina Permission to Fight for Defense or Revenge The Second Year after the Migration Buwat The Koraysh Raid of Karz, Jabir’s son Non-aggression pact with the tribe of Bani Madlij and their allies Bani Dhumrah A Matter of Observation