15. THE EXPEDITION OF HAWAZIN ON THE DAY OF HUNAIN
Allah, the Almighty, says: “Truly, Allah has given you victory on many battlefields, and on the Day of Hunain (battle) when you rejoiced at your great number but it availed you naught and the Earth, vast as it is, was straitened for you, then you turned back in flight. Then Allah did send down His Sakinah (calmness, tranquility and reassurance, etc.) on the Messenger (Muhammad), and on the Believers, and sent down forces (angels) which you saw not, and punished the disbelievers. Such is the recompense of disbelievers. Then after that Allah will accept the repentance of whom He will. And Allah is OftForgiving, Most Merciful.” (Soorah At-Tawbah 9:25-27)
Muhammad Ibn Ishaq Ibn Yasar has mentioned in his book that the Messenger of Allah’s march to Hawazin took place after the Conquest (of Makkah) on the 5th of Shawwal, in the 8th year. He also claimed that the Conquest occurred ten days toward the end of the month of Ramadan and 15 days before his march against them.
Ibn Ishaq related that when the Hawazin heard that Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, had conquered Makkah, its ruler, Malik Ibn ‘Awf An-Nasri, convened a meeting which was attended by all the Hawazin of Thaqeef, the people of Nasr and Ju‘sham, Sa’d Ibn Bakr and a few from Banu Hilal. None was present from Qais of Ailan aside from these. Ka‘b and Kilab of the Hawazin stayed away and no one of repute attended. Among Banu Ju‘sham was Duraid Ibn As-Simmah, an elderly and experienced man who was known for his valuable advice and experience in warfare.
Thaqeef had two chiefs: Qarib Ibn Al-Aswad Ibn Mas‘ood Ibn Mu‘attib, who was the leader of Al-Ahlaf, and Dhul-Khimar Subai’ Ibn Al-Harith, who was the leader of Bani Malik and his brother Ahmar Ibn Al-Harith. However, the overall affairs were in the hands of Malik Ibn ‘Awf An-Nasri. When he decided to march against the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, he was accompanied with his men, their wealth, women and children. When he camped at Awtas, the people gathered around him and included in them was Duraid Ibn As-Simmah, who was sitting in a hawdaj (howdah-like carriage) in which he was carried. As soon as he dismounted he asked: “In what valley are you?” They said: “Al-Awtas.” So he said: “It is suitable for the horse. Neither a rocky mount nor a dusty plain, but why do I hear the growl of camels, the braying of asses, the cries of children, and the bleating of sheep?” They informed him: “Malik brought the army with their wealth, wives, and children.” Duraid asked: “Where is Malik?” Malik was summoned for him and he said to him: “Malik, you have become the leader of your people and today will be a precipitation of events of the subsequent days. Why do I hear the growl of camels, the braying of asses, the cries of children, and the bleating of sheep?” Malik answered: “I have brought the army along with their children, wives, and wealth.” Duraid asked: “Why did you do such a thing?” Malik replied: “I want to place behind every soldier his family and wealth so that they might encourage him to fight without thinking of retreat.” Duraid said exasperatedly: “You are no more than a shepherd of sheep! By Allah, do you think anything will change the situation of a defeated man? In case things go well nothing will help but a man with a sword and spear; and in case it goes against you, you will be debased in your family and wealth.”
He then asked: “What happened to Ka‘b and Kilab?” He was told: “No one is present from them.” So he said: “Boldness and might are absent. If it were a day of sublimity, Ka‘b and Kilab wouldn’t have been absent. I wish you would act in a similar manner as Ka‘b and Kilab. Who among your clan is present?” They informed him: “ ‘Amr Ibn ‘Amir, ‘Awf Ibn ‘Amir.” He said: “Those two weak branches of ‘Amir who can neither benefit nor harm.” Then he turned to Malik and said: “Malik, you have erred. When you advance the mass of the Hawazin to encounter the cavalry, let them ascend to a high and inaccessible part of their land and confront the Subway riding your horses. In case the fight is to your advantage, those in the back can proceed and join you, and in the event that it goes against you, you would have rescued your families and property.” Malik said: “By Allah, I will not do what you have asked. It appears you have grown old both physically and mentally.” Then Malik said: “Hawazin, you will either follow me or I will pierce myself with this sword until it comes out from my back.” He simply detested to allow Duraid have a say in the matter. When Hawazin chose to follow Malik, Duraid said: “This is a day I will neither witness nor miss.” Then Malik addressed his men: “Once you see them, break your scabbard and assault them as a single man.”
Imam Ahmad related on the authority of Umayyah Ibn Safwan Ibn Umayyah from his father that Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, borrowed some armor (from Safwan). He asked: “O Muhammad, do you wish to take them by force?” The Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, replied: “No, they are warranted loans until we return them to you.” Eventually, some of them were lost and the Messenger of Allah went to compensate him for them, but Safwan said: “O Messenger of Allah, I have never had a desire for Islam more than today.”
Abu Dawood related on the authority of ‘Abdul-Azeez Ibn Rufai’ from some people from the descendants of ‘Abdullah Ibn Safwan who reported that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, asked: “O Safwan, do you have any weapons?” He (Safwan) asked: “As a loan or (will you take them) by force?” He replied: “As a loan.” So he lent him between thirty to forty coats of mail. The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, fought in the Battle of Hunain. When the polytheists were defeated, Safwan’s coats of mail were collected and it was noticed that some of them were lost. The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said to Safwan: “We have lost some of your coats of mail. Should we compensate you for them?” He replied: “No, O Messenger of Allah, for I have in my heart today what I did not have that day.”
I say: Based on the statement of ‘Urwah, Az-Zuhri and Moosa Ibn ‘Uqbah the total number of the two armies which he (the Prophet) took to the Hawazin was 14,000 soldiers. This is because he arrived in Makkah with 12,000 men (according to their own opinion) and 2,000 more joined them from the freed (people of Makkah).
Ibn Ishaq related that he (the Messenger of Allah) left Makkah on the 5th of Shawwal and added that he appointed ‘Attab Ibn Aseed Ibn Abul-Ees Ibn Umayyab Ibn Abd Shams Al-Umawi to oversee the affairs of the people of Makkah on his behalf.
I say: His age (i.e. ‘Attab’s) was close to twenty. Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, proceeded to confront the Hawazin, and he cited the poem of ‘Abbas Ibn Al-Mirdas: Inform the Hawazin, the high and the low of them From me is a letter, a clear counsel
I think Allah’s Messenger will reach you in the morning With an army like pillars in the expanse of the land Among them is Sulaim, your brother, who would not let you be And the Muslims who are ardent servants of Allah On his right flank is Banu Asad The land itself trembles in awe of him In his front are ‘Aws and ‘Uthman.
Abu Dawood related on the authority of As-Salooli that Sahl Ibn Al Hanafiyyah narrated to him that on the Day of Hunain we traveled with the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, for a long time until evening came and I attended the prayer along with the Messenger of Allah.
A horseman came and said: “O Messenger of Allah, I went ahead of you and climbed a certain mountain where I saw the Hawazin gathered together with their women, cattle, and sheep at Hunain.”
The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, smiled and said: “That will be the booty of the Muslims tomorrow, if Allah wills.” He then asked: “Who will be on guard tonight?” Anas Ibn Abu Marthad AlGhanawi said: “I shall, O Messenger of Allah.” He said: “Then mount your horse.” He mounted his horse, and came to the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him.
The Messenger of Allah said to him: “Proceed to the top of this ravine. We should not be exposed to danger from your side.” In the morning, the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, came out to his place of prayer, and offered two raka‘ahs. He then asked: “Have you seen any sign of your horseman?” The people said: “We have not, O Messenger of Allah.” The announcement of the time for prayer was then made, and while the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, was praying, he glanced toward the ravine. When he finished his prayer with the utterance of the salutation, he said: “Be cheerful, for your horseman has returned.” We began to look between the trees in the ravine, and there he was.
He stood beside the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, greeted him, and said: “I continued until I reached the top of this ravine, where the Messenger of Allah commanded me, and in the morning I looked down into both ravines but saw no one.”
The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, asked him: “Did you dismount during the night?” He replied: “No, except to pray or to relieve myself.” The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said: “You have ensured your entry to (Paradise). No blame will be attached to you from this day onward.”
By: Ibn Katheer
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