THE EXPEDITION OF DHATUR-RIQA
Ibn Ishaq related: After the invasion of Banu Nadir, Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, remained in Madinah for the month of Rabee‘ ul-Akhir and some part of Jumada. Then he invaded Najd to checkmate the two tribes of Muharib and Banu Tha‘labah of Ghatafan. He appointed Abu Dharr to look after the affairs of Madinah and, according to Ibn Hisham, it was ‘Uthman Ibn Affan who was appointed. The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, advanced till he reached Nakhl. The expedition was known as the expedition of Dhatur-Riqa‘. Ibn Hisham said that it was called so because their flag became tattered in the battle. It is also said that the name DhaturRiqa‘ belonged to a tree located at the scene.
Ibn Ishaq said: They confronted a host of Ghatafan (warriors) and they came close to fighting but it was averted because there was mutual fear between the two forces such that Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, led the Companions in the “Fear Prayer.”
Ibn Hisham had traced the chain of the Hadith of the “Fear Prayer” from ‘Abdul-Warith Ibn Sa‘eed AtTannoori from Yoonus Ibn ‘Ubaid from AlHasan from Jabir Ibn ‘Abdullah and the second chain is through ‘AbdulWarith from Ayyoob from Abu Az-Zubair from Jabir. The third chain is through ‘AbdulWarith from Ayyoob from Nafi‘ from Ibn ‘Umar. However, in all of these chains, neither Ghazwat of Najd nor that of Dhatur-Riqa‘ was mentioned. Nevertheless, there is no contradiction in the timing and place of the two.
The fact of the expedition of Dhatur-Riqa‘, which took place in Najd against Banu Muharib and Banu Tha‘labah of the Ghatafan, occurring before the Battle of Khandaq is disputable. Al-Bukhari argues that it occurred after Khaibar drawing the evidence for it from the fact that Abu Moosa Al-Ash‘ari witnessed it, as shall be pointed out soon. Meanwhile, his arrival was in the nights of Khaibar in the company of Ja‘afar and his companions. The same is also true of Abu Hurairah and he has narrated: “I offered the ‘Fear Prayer’ with the Messenger of Allah in the expedition of Najd.” That which also indicates that it came after the Battle of Khandaq is that Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, permitted Ibn ‘Umar to participate in fighting for the first time in the Battle of Khandaq , it is recorded in the Saheeh that he said: “I partook in the military expedition with the Messenger in the direction of Najd,” and he mentioned the “Fear Prayer.”
The Story of Gawrath Ibn Al-Harith
Jabir related that a man from Banu Muharib called Gawrath said to his people from the Ghatafan and Muharib: “Shouldn’t I kill Muhammad for you?” They responded: “Yes. And how are you going to accomplish that?” He said: “I shall assassinate him.” Then he approached the Prophet while he was sitting and the Messenger of Allah’s sword was in his lap. So he said: “Muhammad, may I look at this sword of yours?” and the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, replied: “Yes.” He took the sword, unsheathed it and began to brandish it and Allah restrained him. He said: “Muhammad, aren’t you afraid of me?” “No, I do not entertain any fear of you,” the Prophet said. The man insisted: “You are not afraid of me while there is a sword in my hand?” Again the Prophet responded calmly: “No, Allah will protect me from your harm.” Then he sheathed the sword and returned it to him and Allah revealed: O you who believe! Remember the Favor of Allah unto you when some people desired (made a plan) to stretch out their hands against you, but (Allah) withheld their hands from you. So fear Allah. And in Allah let Believers put their trust. (Surah Al-Ma’idah 5:11)
Jabir narrated that he took part in the expedition of Najd along with Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, and when the time for the afternoon rest approached he was in a valley with plenty of thorny trees; he dismounted under a tree and rested in its shade and hung his sword (on it). The people dispersed amongst the trees seeking shade. While we were in this state, Allah’s Messenger called us and we came and found a Bedouin sitting in front of him. The Prophet said, “This (Bedouin) came to me while I was asleep, and he took my sword stealthily. I woke up while he was standing by my head, holding my sword without its sheath. He said, ‘Who will save you from me?’ I replied, ‘Allah.’ So he sheathed it (i.e. the sword) and sat down, and here he is.” But Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, did not punish him in spite of what he had done.
The Story of the One Whose Wife Was Killed in the Expedition
Jabir Ibn Abdullah narrated: We proceeded in the company of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, for the Battle of Dhatur-Riqa‘. One of the Muslims killed the wife of one of the disbelievers. He (the husband of the woman killed) took an oath saying: I shall not rest until I draw blood from one of the Companions of Muhammad.
He went out following the footsteps of the Prophet. The Prophet encamped at a certain place. He said: “Who will keep watch on us?” A person from the Muhajiroun (Emigrants) and another from the Ansar (Helpers) volunteered. He said: “Go to the mouth of the mountain pass.” Volunteers were ‘Ammar Ibn Yasir and ‘Abbad Ibn Bishr. When they went to the mouth of the mountain pass the man from the Ansar asked the man from the Muhajiroun: “Which section of the night do you wish that I stand guard while you lie down, the first part or the last?” The Muhajiroon said: “Stand guard in the first part.” So, the Muhajiroon lay down to sleep while the man from the Ansar stood praying.
The man (enemy) came to them. When he saw the person he realized that he was the watchman of the Muslims. He shot him with an arrow and hit the target. But the Ansari took the arrow out and threw it away and remained standing (in prayer). He (the enemy) then shot a second arrow and then a third one, hitting the target on each occasion. Each time, the Ansari would remove the arrow and throw it away while still standing in prayer. Then he (the Ansari) bowed and prostrated and awoke his companion. When he (the enemy) perceived that they (the Muslims) had become aware of his presence, he ran away.
When the man from the Muhajiroun saw the man from the Ansar bleeding, he exclaimed: “Subhan-Allah (Glory be to Allah)! Why did you not wake me up the first time when he shot at you?” He replied: I was busy reciting a chapter of the Qur’an and I did not like to break it till I completed it. When he shot at me repeatedly I bowed and stirred you. I swear by Allah, had I not feared that I would be neglectful of the duty post which Allah’s Messenger commanded me to man, my life would have been terminated before I break its recitation or I succeed in completing it.” This is how Ibn Ishaq has related it in Al-Maghazi and Abu Dawood had related it from Abu Tawbah from Ibn Al-Mubarak from Ibn Ishaq.
The Story of Jabir’s Camel During This Expedition
Jabir Ibn Abdullah narrated: I went out with Allah’s Messenger to the expedition of Dhatur-Riqa‘ of Nakhl riding my slow and exhausted camel. On our return journey, the army proceeded while I lagged behind. The Prophet came up to me and said, “O Jabir.” I replied, “Yes?” He said, “What is the matter with you?” I replied, “My camel is slow and tired, so I am left behind.” The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said: “Make it kneel.” I did so and the Prophet also did so (with his own camel). Then he said: “Give me the stick in your hand (or break a branch from a tree for me).” I did as he ordered. So, he got down and poked the camel with this stick several times and then ordered me to ride. I rode the camel and it became so fast.
While I was discussing with Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, he asked me: “Will you sell your camel to me, O Jabir?” I said: “I will rather give it to you as gift.” “No, I will pay its worth.” The Prophet insisted. “Then make an offer,” I said. The Messenger of Allah said: “I have taken it for a dirham.” I said: “No.” The Prophet bargained further: “Then for two dirhams,” “No,” I insisted. The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, kept jerking up the price till he offered one uqiyah (of gold).” “Have you been pleased, O Messenger of Allah?” He said: “Yes.” “Then it is yours,” I said. The Prophet then said: “I have taken it.”
In the course of our discussion, he asked me: “Have you got married?” I replied in the affirmative. He asked, “A virgin or a matron?” I replied, “I married a matron.” The Prophet said, “Why have you not married a virgin, so that you may play with her and she may play with you?” Jabir responded, “O Messenger of Allah, my father had been martyred in the Battle of Uhud and left for me seven sisters (young in age) so I liked to marry a matron who could collect them all and comb their hair and look after them.” The Prophet said, “You will attain by Allah’s leave. When we reach Sirar, we will order camels to be slaughtered, spend the day there so that when she (Jabir’s wife) hears of our return she will dust her cushion.” I said: “We do not have a cushion.” He replied: “You will have. When you arrive, I advise you to associate with your wife (that you may have an intelligent son).” When we arrived at Sirar, the Messenger did as he said. He ordered that camels be slaughtered and we stayed for the day there.
At nightfall, the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, entered Madinah and we entered with him. I related to the woman about the events including all that Allah’s Messenger said to me. She said: “Please listen and obey (the Prophet).” In the morning, I took hold of the camel and headed to him till I tethered it by the entrance of the Messenger of Allah’s house, then I sat in the mosque nearby. When the Messenger came out and saw the camel he said: “What is this?” They said: “Jabir brought this camel.” “So where is Jabir?” the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, asked. I was called by him and when I came, he said, “O son of my brother, take hold of your camel for it is yours.” Then he called Bilal and said to him: “Go with Jabir and weigh for him one uqiyyah (of gold).” So I went with him and Bilal weighed for me one uqiyyah and added a little more for me. He added: “It never ceased to increase (in its blessing) in my possession till it was taken on the Day of Harrah. Something similar has been related in the Saheeh from Jabir.
By: Ibn Katheer
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