"THE PRAISED ONE" THE LIFE OF THE PROPHET MUHAMMED. PART 10

THE INVASION OF TABUK

The Prophet (pbuh) appointed Itab bin Usaid as the governor of Makkah and returned to Madinah. From that time on, people began to accept Islam in large numbers, presenting themselves to the Prophet (pbuh) and seeking protection. There was no longer any reason to doubt the prophethood of Muhammad (pbuh). Islam spread rapidly throughout the world, except in the Byzantine Empire (the Romans), which was still the most powerful society on earth. Their leader, Caesar, thought that Islam was growing too powerful and that if his society did not stop them, they would become too powerful to conquer.

This battle began when a Byzantine, Sharhabeel bin Amr Al-Ghassinni, killed a messenger of the Prophet (pbuh) who was on an errand, Al-Harith bin Umair Al-Azdi. However, the Prophet (pbuh) and his companions did not aim to avenge the messenger's death. Instead, the Byzantines started preparing a massive army and pro-Roman Ghassanide tribes to launch a battle against the Muslims.

News of the Byzantine preparations reached the Muslims. Some Nabateans who traded in oil moved from Ash-Sham to Madinah and reported to the Muslims about the weapons the enemies were carrying and that their soldiers numbered over 40,000. The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), the most pious of men, thought that if they were attacked in Madinah and defeated, their land would be taken as well. And if they were able to go far to meet the enemies and win, it would demonstrate their strength. Therefore, he ordered the Muslims to prepare for war.

Therefore, the Prophet (pbuh) ordered the Muslims to prepare for war. However, the hypocrites among the Muslims, who were notorious for their evil plots, planned to attack the Muslims from the rear while the Byzantines were attacking, in an attempt to take advantage of the Prophet's (pbuh) strategy to meet the enemy outside Madinah. But their plan failed once again. They tried to present excuses to dissuade the Prophet (pbuh) from going to war, but their efforts were unsuccessful.

In preparation for battle, the Muslims contributed generously. Abdul Rahman bin Awe donated 200 silver ounces, Abu Bakr donated his entire wealth, leaving nothing for his family, Umar donated half of his possessions, Uthman donated 100 camels, 100 horses, and some money, and other companions also contributed. With these resources, the Muslims set out with over 40,000 soldiers to meet the enemies at Tabuk. Meanwhile, Muhammad bin Maslamah Al-Ansari was appointed to govern Madinah, and Ali was entrusted with the protection of the Prophet's (pbuh) family.

This Muslim army, specifically assembled for this war, was dubbed "THE ARMY OF DISTRESS" due to the immense hardships they faced while marching northwards to Tabuk. The Byzantine Empire, not being an Arab land, was located many miles north of the Arab territories. No Arab army had ever successfully crossed the desert northwards to Tabuk, so when the Byzantine army heard that the Muslims were approaching, they were confident that the Muslims would not be able to traverse the desert. However, the Muslims did not find things easy either, despite their generous contributions. Their equipment was inadequate, and their provisions were insufficient, leading to a point where they had to resort to eating leaves from trees, which caused their mouths to become swollen.

When they arrived at Al-Hijr, the native land of Thamud, the Prophet (pbuh) permitted them to drink from the well that Prophet Salih's (A.S.) she-camel used to drink from, but ordered them not to enter their houses, lest they suffer some of the curses that befell the people of Thamud. After quenching their thirst, they continued their journey until they faced another water shortage. The situation became dire, and the Prophet (pbuh) prayed to Allah, and rain fell heavily that day. The rain refreshed their strength, and they were now closer to Tabuk. They slept deeply, but overslept and couldn't get up on time for Fajr prayers. The Prophet (pbuh) said, "If God permits, we will arrive at Tabuk tomorrow. When we get there, do not touch its water until I permit you to do so. Also, when we get to Tabuk, a severe wind will blow, so tie all the camels and no one should stand." Early in the morning, they marched straight to Tabuk and found a spring with a small amount of water. The Prophet (pbuh) scooped out some water, washed his face and hands, and poured it back into the spring, and instantly, plenty of water started to gush out. However, a strong wind blew, and one Muslim who disobeyed and stood up was swept away. They built their tents and waited for the enemies, but as they waited, the Prophet (pbuh) continued to motivate them.

Soon, the Byzantines and their allies discovered that the Muslims had arrived in Tabuk, and they were surprised that this Arab army had successfully crossed the desert into their lands. This showed that the Muslim army was no ordinary force. The Byzantines and their allies immediately fled, but the Muslims did not pursue them, as they only fought those who attacked them.

The people of Ailah, Yahna, and Rawba came to the Prophet (pbuh) and made peace with him, agreeing to pay the jizya (a tax paid by non-Muslims in exchange for protection). All the other tribes allied with the Byzantines also did the same. The Prophet (pbuh) wrote a letter of acceptance and assured them of his protection.

The Muslims achieved victory without a fight, and many societies paid tribute to them. On their way back to Madina, some hypocrites tried to kill the Prophet (pbuh). While Hudhayfa ibn al-Yaman was riding the Prophet's (pbuh) she-camel, they passed by a mountain, and twelve hypocrites intended to kill the Prophet (pbuh) at the top of the valley. Hudhayfa recognized them despite their covered faces and informed the Prophet (pbuh). As they proceeded, the Prophet (pbuh) shouted at them, making them aware that he knew of their intentions. Allah then cast fear into their hearts, and they fled.

Because of this,

hudhayfa was named "the confidant of the messenger of Allah.” With this

Allah said,

يَحۡلِفُوۡنَ بِاللّٰهِ مَا قَالُوۡا ؕ وَلَقَدۡ قَالُوۡا كَلِمَةَ الۡـكُفۡرِ وَكَفَرُوۡا بَعۡدَ اِسۡلَامِهِمۡ وَهَمُّوۡا بِمَا لَمۡ يَنَالُوۡا‌ ۚ وَمَا نَقَمُوۡۤا اِلَّاۤ اَنۡ اَغۡنٰٮهُمُ اللّٰهُ وَرَسُوۡلُهٗ مِنۡ فَضۡلِهٖ‌ ۚ فَاِنۡ يَّتُوۡبُوۡا يَكُ خَيۡرًا لَّهُمۡ‌ ۚ وَاِنۡ يَّتَوَلَّوۡا يُعَذِّبۡهُمُ اللّٰهُ عَذَابًا اَلِيۡمًا ۙ فِى الدُّنۡيَا وَالۡاٰخِرَةِ‌ ۚ وَمَا لَهُمۡ فِى الۡاَرۡضِ مِنۡ وَّلِىٍّ وَّلَا نَصِيۡرٍ‏

"They swear by Allah that they said nothing (evil), but indeed they uttered blasphemy, and they did it after accepting Islam; and they meditated a plot which they were unable to carry out: this revenge of theirs was (their) only return for the bounty with which Allah and His Messenger had enriched them! If they repent, it will be best for them; but if they turn back (to their evil ways), Allah will punish them with a grievous penalty in this life and in the Hereafter: They shall have none on earth to protect or help them." (Qur'an 9:74)

These hypocrites tried to mix in with the Muslims, but they were all identified. The Muslims suggested that they should be killed, but the Prophet (pbuh) forgave them. When they arrived in Madina, those who had not accompanied the Prophet (pbuh) to Tabuk came to him and gave their reasons for not going. All of them were forgiven except for three individuals. As a result, the Muslims did not speak to them for forty days, until Allah sent a revelation, and then they were forgiven and welcomed back into the community.

FAREWELL PILGRIMAGE

From this time on, Islamic society was established throughout all the Arab lands, and people from the rest of the world were also accepting Islam in large numbers. On Dhul Hijjah, the Prophet (pbuh) chose Abu Bakr to lead the Muslims to Makkah and perform Hajj. At that time, Abu Bakr abolished all pagan practices that pilgrims used to perform during Hajj, such as circumambulating the Ka'bah unclothed.

In the tenth year of Al-Hijra, the Prophet (pbuh) sent Muadh (r.a.) to Yemen to carry out certain tasks and told him, "O Muadh, you may not see me after this current year. You may even pass by this mosque of mine and my tomb." When Muadh (r.a.) heard these words from the Prophet (pbuh), he realized that the Prophet's (pbuh) death was near.

The Prophet (pbuh) had lived for over sixty years and had been a prophet for over twenty years. He intended to perform his last pilgrimage (Umrah). He prepared and announced his intention, and over 30,000 Muslims also prepared to go with him. They set out on the last four days of Dhul Qa'dah in the tenth year to Makkah.

When they arrived at Dhul-Hulaifa, he stopped, prayed two rak'ahs, and spent the night there. Then he told his companions, "Someone was sent to me this night from Allah, and he told me, 'Pray in this blessed valley and say: I intend Umrah combined with Hajj.'" He performed his ritual bathing before the noon prayer, and Aisha (r.a.), his wife, perfumed him. He wore his cloth and garment and mounted his she-camel, then proceeded to Makkah.

The Prophet (pbuh) and his companions entered Makkah after the dawn prayers at Dhi Tuwa on the fourth of Dhul Hijjah during the tenth year. Immediately upon entering the sacred mosque (Al-Masjid Al-Haram), he circumambulated the Ka'bah, praising the Almighty Allah, "Labaik, Allahumma labaik, labaik la sharika laka labaik, inal-hamdu wa al-ni'matu laka wal-mulk, la sharika laka." ("Here I am, O Allah, at thy service, here I am, thou art without partner, and here I am. All praise and blessings are thine, and dominion! Thou art without partner!")

Then he pbuh walked between As-Safar and Al-Marwa.He then slaughtered sacrificial animals. The prophet pbuh then moved to Mina on the eight day of Dhul hijja, there he performed the five daily prayers and moved again to Arafa. At Arafa,he sat under a tent for a while till when the sun went down, then he pbuh went down the valley intending to leave but to his greater surprise, there were about 100,000 Muslims waiting for him. 

He pbuh then delivered this speech, his farewell sermon,

"O people! Listen to what I say. I do not know whether I will ever

meet you at this place once again after this year. It is unlawful for

you to share the blood of another or take the fortune of another. They

are unlawful as sharing blood on such a day as today and in such a

month as this haram month and such a city as this city Maka and

surroundings."

"Behold! All practices of paganism and ignorance are now under my

feet. The blood revenge of the days of ignorance is remitted. Usury is

forbidden, and I make a beginning by remitting the amount of interest

which Abass bin Abd Almuttalib has to receive, verily it is remitted

entirely."

"O people! Fear Allah concerning women. Verily you have taken them on

the security of Allah! It is incumbent on them to honor their

conjugal rights and not to commits abominable acts, and if they do, you

have authority to chastise them but not severely. And if they become

faithful, cloth, feed and protect them suitably.

 "Verily, I have left amongst you the book of Allah and the

sunnah(tradition) which if you hold fast,you shall never go astray”.

 "O people! I am not succeeded by any prophet and you are not

succeeded by any nation, so I recommend you to worship your lord, to

pray five times daily, to fast during Ramadan and to offer the Zakar

willingly. I recommend you to do pilgrimage to the ka'ba and to obey

those who are in charge of you then you will be rewarded to enter the

Paradise of your lord.”

“And if you are ask about me, what will you say?

They replied, “we bear witness that you have conveyed the message and

discharged your ministry."

He pbuh then raised his forefinger upwards and then pointed it to the cloud and said, "O Allah, bear witness!, O Allah, bear witness!, O Allah, bear witness!.

As soon as the sermon was over, then a revelation came, Allah said,

 اَ لۡيَوۡمَ اَكۡمَلۡتُ لَـكُمۡ دِيۡنَكُمۡ وَاَ تۡمَمۡتُ عَلَيۡكُمۡ نِعۡمَتِىۡ وَرَضِيۡتُ لَـكُمُ الۡاِسۡلَامَ دِيۡنًا‌

...This day I have perfected your religion for you, completed my favor upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion...... (Quran 5:3)

As soon as this revelation arrived, Umar (r.a.) burst into tears. When asked why, he said, "Nothing succeeds perfection but imperfection." After the sermon, Bilal (r.a.) called the adhan, and they performed the prayer. Thereafter, the Prophet (pbuh) proceeded to Muzdalifa.

At Muzdalifa, after performing the sunset and evening prayers and offering numerous supplications, he moved to Al-Mash'ar Al-Haram after the dawn prayer. There, he supplicated extensively before heading to Mina the next day. In Mina, he threw seven stones at the midpoint leading to Jamrat al-Aqaba while praising Allah. He then proceeded to the sacrificial area, slaughtered animals, and delivered another sermon similar to the first one.

Afterward, he visited the Ka'bah, encouraged his uncles to continue their good work of supplying water to pilgrims, and spent the 11th, 12th, and 13th days in Makkah and Mina, teaching about Islam, delivering sermons, and supplicating to Allah. Finally, he returned to Madina.

THE PROPHET PBUH LAST MOMENTS

One day, the Prophet (pbuh) went to Uhud and observed a farewell prayer, praying for the martyrs. He then delivered a sermon, saying, "I am to precede you, and I have been made a witness upon you. By Allah, we will meet at the Fountain very soon. I have been given the keys to worldly treasures. By Allah, I do not fear that you will turn pagans after me. But I do fear that the acquisition of worldly riches will entice you to strike one another."

From this sermon, it became clear to the companions that the Messenger of Allah was close to death. On another day, he asked Abdullah bin Harith (his servant) to accompany him, saying that he had been asked to go with him. They went to Al-Baqee cemetery and prayed for the dead Muslims. The Prophet (pbuh) then told Abdullah, "I have been given the opportunity, just like the other prophets, to choose either a long, rich life or Paradise, or to meet Allah right now and Paradise." Abdullah begged him to choose a long, rich life and Paradise, but the Prophet (pbuh) said, "I have already chosen to meet Allah right now and Paradise."

On Monday, the 29th of Safar, the Prophet (pbuh) had a headache on his way back from a funeral. This marked the beginning of his final illness.

A WEEK TO DEATH

In the last week of his life, the Prophet (pbuh) requested to be taken to his wife Aisha's house, which was adjacent to the mosque. This is where he stayed until he passed away. Meanwhile, his headache became increasingly severe, and Aisha continually recited Suratun Naas, Falak, and other dua's for his relief.

FIVE DAYS TO DEATH

The Prophet's (pbuh) headache became increasingly severe, and he suffered greatly, to the point of fainting, as mentioned in other books. He then said, "Pour water (seven Qirab) on me so that I can go out and talk to my people." They did as he requested, and he went out, leaning against the walls, and then sat down.

He continued, "May Allah's curse be upon the Jews and Christians who have made the graves of their prophets places of worship. Do not make my grave a place of worship." He then said, "Whoever I have wronged, I offer myself to them, so that they may do the same to me."

After the noon prayer, the speech continued. A man approached the Prophet (pbuh) and said, "You owe me three dirhams." The Prophet (pbuh) asked Fadl to pay the debt on his behalf.

He then said, "I admonish you to be good to the Ansar (the Helpers). They are my family; they gave me their word and kept it. They gave me shelter and protected me. Appreciate this favor and overlook their faults." He added, "Abu Bakr is the one I feel most secure with. I have affection and brotherhood for him. No gate shall be kept closed in the mosque except for that of Abu Bakr."

LAST FOUR DAYS

Though he pbub was in pain but he still called his companions to advise them. He requested three things to be done after his death.

• To drive all Christians and Jews out of Makka.
• To honor delegations.
• Not certain.

On this day, the Prophet's (pbuh) pains increased to the extent that he recited a short and single verse during the sunset prayer. In the evening, he was unable to attend the congregational prayer due to the severity of his pains. He asked Aisha (r.a.), "Have the people prayed?" Aisha (r.a.) replied, "No, they are waiting for you."

The Prophet (pbuh) then asked Aisha (r.a.) to provide him with water to wash down so that he could gain more strength and go to the mosque. After washing down, he tried to stand up but fainted. This happened three times. He then asked Aisha (r.a.) to go and inform Abu Bakr to lead the prayer. Aisha (r.a.) was hesitant, but the Prophet (pbuh) told her, "You (women) are like the women who tried to entice Yusuf into immorality. Convey my request to Abu Bakr to lead the prayer."

And from that day on, Abu Bakr led the rest of the prayers, a total of 17 prayers while the Prophet (pbuh) was still alive.

TWO DAYS TO DEATH

On this day, Saturday, the Prophet (pbuh) managed to go to the mosque with the help of two companions. It was time for prayers, and Abu Bakr was about to lead them. As soon as he saw the Prophet (pbuh), he wanted to join the front line, but the Prophet (pbuh) signaled him to keep standing. The Prophet (pbuh) then asked the two companions to sit him beside Abu Bakr, which they did. The Prophet (pbuh) led the prayers while sitting beside Abu Bakr, reciting in a low tone so that Abu Bakr could repeat every takbir louder for the congregation.

A DAY TO DEATH

The prophet pbuh on this day(Sunday) freed his slaves, paid as much charity as he could.

          

THE DAY HE PASSED ON

On Monday, during the dawn prayer, the Prophet (pbuh) was unable to attend the mosque, but he looked out at the Muslims through Aisha's window as they stood in line to pray. They saw him and thought he was coming to join them, but he signaled them to proceed with the prayer while he lay down.

Fatima (r.a.) narrated: "When it was daytime, the Prophet (pbuh) called me and said two things to me. I cried at the first one and laughed at the second one. The first thing he said was that he would not recover from his illness, which made me cry."

The second thing he said was that I would be the first among his family to join him in Paradise, which made me laugh."

The Prophet (pbuh) then called for his grandsons, Al-Hasan and Al-Husain, and kissed them, asking Allah's blessings upon them. He also called for his wives and advised them.

Finally, he addressed the Muslims, saying: "Perform salah and be attentive to your slaves. Perform salah and be attentive to your slaves. Perform salah and be attentive to your slaves."

LAST MOMENTS

Aisha (r.a.) reported that one of Allah's bounties upon her was that when the Prophet (pbuh) was about to die, he mixed his saliva with hers and died in her house, kneeling on her chest.

While the Prophet (pbuh) was kneeling on Aisha's chest, Abdul Razak (son of Abu Bakr) came in, holding a siwak (a root plant for brushing teeth). The Prophet (pbuh) looked at it, and Aisha asked if he desired to brush his teeth. He replied yes, so Aisha took the siwak and gave it to him. However, it was too hard, so Aisha asked if she should make it soft for him. He replied yes again. Aisha then chewed the siwak and dropped it back into the Prophet's (pbuh) mouth. He brushed his teeth very well and washed his face with water.

Then, he raised his hand and prayed to Allah, saying: "The prophets, the martyrs, and the good doers are those you have blessed. O Allah, forgive me and have mercy on me, and add me to the most exalted companionship. To Allah, we come from, and to Him, we turn back for help and our last abode."

Then, he passed away. He was 63 years and four days old, on Monday, the 12th of Rabi' al-awwal.

THE REACTION OF THE MUSLIMS UPON THE PROPHET DEATH

The news of the Prophet's (pbuh) death spread quickly, and all the Muslims gathered in the mosque. Umar (r.a.) stood up and addressed the crowd, saying that the Prophet (pbuh) was not dead and that he would return. However, Abu Bakr (r.a.) entered the mosque and did not say a word. Instead, he went straight to Aisha's house, where the Prophet (pbuh) lay, and uncovered his face. It was then that Abu Bakr (r.a.) fully realized and believed that the Prophet (pbuh) had indeed passed away.

He kissed him, cried, and left to the mosque. He said to the Muslims, “Those of you who worship Muhammad, Muhammad is dead. But those of you who worship Allah, Allah never die, and he is everlasting. Allah said;

وَمَا مُحَمَّدٌ اِلَّا رَسُوۡلٌ  ۚ قَدۡ خَلَتۡ مِنۡ قَبۡلِهِ الرُّسُلُ‌ؕ اَفَا۟ٮِٕنْ مَّاتَ اَوۡ قُتِلَ انْقَلَبۡتُمۡ عَلٰٓى اَعۡقَابِكُمۡ‌ؕ وَمَنۡ يَّنۡقَلِبۡ عَلٰى عَقِبَيۡهِ فَلَنۡ يَّضُرَّ اللّٰهَ شَيۡـــًٔا‌ ؕ وَسَيَجۡزِى اللّٰهُ الشّٰكِرِيۡنَ

'Muhammad pbuh is no more than a messenger, and indeed many messengers have passed away before him. If he dies or is killed, will you then turn back on your heels as disbelievers?, and he who turn back on his heels, not the least harm will he do to Allah, and Allah will give reward to and those who are grateful.'(Quran 3:144).

As Abu bakr recites this verse, it touched their hearts and all of them recited it together.

Ummar narrated, ”as this aya was being recited ,it touched my heart to an extend that ,this is the moment I truly believed that the messenger of Allah is dead and I collapsed.

BURIAL OF THE PROPHET PBUH

As some people mourned the Prophet's (pbuh) death, others discussed who would succeed him. Soon, news reached Umar and Abu Bakr that some Ansars had met to discuss the succession. People argued over who would succeed the Prophet (pbuh), leaving his body in the room until nightfall. Finally, Umar suggested Abu Bakr, and they agreed to pledge their loyalty to him. Abu Bakr said to the Muslims, "Obey me as long as I obey Allah and His Messenger. But if I disobey them, then you owe me no obedience."

At dawn on Tuesday, Al-Abbas, his two sons Al-Fadl and Qathm, Ali, and two others bathed the Prophet (pbuh). They were unsure where to bury him, but Abu Bakr recalled the Prophet's (pbuh) saying, "Prophets are buried where they die." So, they removed the bed and dug a grave in the room, where the Prophet (pbuh) was buried. The Muslims then entered in groups of ten to pray for him until Wednesday.

May Allah reward us for following the story to the end. May He grant us some of the Prophet's (pbuh) morals and the ability to obey his teachings. The end.

The Prophet (pbuh) came and is now gone, but his words and work remain and will forever stay with us. Muhammad (pbuh) was ranked number one in Michael H. Hart's book "The 100." As Rev. R. Bosworth-Smith said, "Mohammed is a threefold founder of a nation, of an empire, and of a religion."

Lewis Mumford said, "Fellow inhabitants of the planet! Search for the ideal Prophet, who in the 7th century, has shown you the way to total success."

Thomas Carlyle, a British author, said, "The lies that we (Christians) have heaped round this man (Muhammad) are disgraceful to ourselves only."

The Encyclopedia Britannica, 11th Edition, states, "Muhammad is the most successful of all Prophets and religious personalities."

May Allah help us. This is our last episode for the story "THE PRAISED ONE." May Allah grant us knowledge, shower us with blessings, and accept us in paradise. Amiin

"THE PRAISED ONE" THE LIFE OF PROPHET MUHAMMED PBUH. PART 9

THE CONQUEST OF KHAIBA

As we mentioned earlier, letters were sent to various lands, and the majority of people believed in the Prophet's message. However, the people of Khaibah, a town just a few miles away from Madina, were an exception. The Nadj tribe and Jews living in Khaibah had previously tried to invade the Muslims several times but failed. Therefore, the Prophet (pbuh) thought it was essential to establish peace with them to propagate Islam effectively. So the prophet pbuh thought that he has to settle peace with them in other to be able to propagate Islam well. Meanwhile Allah has already promised the Muslims that,

وَعَدَكُمُ اللّٰهُ مَغَانِمَ كَثِيۡرَةً تَاۡخُذُوۡنَهَا فَعَجَّلَ لَكُمۡ هٰذِهٖ وَكَفَّ اَيۡدِىَ النَّاسِ عَنۡكُمۡ‌ۚ وَلِتَكُوۡنَ اٰيَةً لِّلۡمُؤۡمِنِيۡنَ وَيَهۡدِيَكُمۡ صِرَاطًا مُّسۡتَقِيۡمًاۙ

”Allah has promised you many gains that ye shall acquire, and He has given you these beforehand; and He has restrained the hands of men from you; that it may be a Sign for the Believers, and that He may guide you to a Straight Path." (Quran 48:20)

Messages were sent to them but they paid no heed to them. Then the prophet pbuh called out his army to go and attack them.                                              

On hearing this, the hypocrites sent information to the Jews about the Prophet's (pbuh) plans. The Jews then sought military help from other tribes around Khayba, promising to give them half of their outputs if they helped defeat the Muslims. The Muslims set off towards Khayba on Muharram 7 A.H. Several incidents occurred throughout the journey.

As they marched down a valley, the Muslims began to praise Allah loudly, saying "Allahu Akbar! Allahu Akbar! There is nothing worthy of worship except Allah!" The Prophet (pbuh) then asked them to lower their voices, saying, "The One you are invoking is neither absent nor deaf; He is close to you, all-hearing."

As they approached the valley closer to Khayba, the Prophet (pbuh) chose a suitable plot to serve as the army's headquarters. He asked them to encamp there while he prayed to Allah to grant them victory and the good of the village. There, he announced that the banner would be given to a companion whom Allah and His Prophet (pbuh) loved. All the companions hastened to collect it, but the banner was given to Ali ibn Abi Talib (r.a.). Ali promised to fight until they all became Muslims. However, the Prophet (pbuh) said, "Take things easy and invite them to Islam, and brief them on their duties towards Allah." Ali (r.a.) replied, "I swear by Allah that if anyone should be guided through your example, that would surely outweigh the best of our camels."

The battle then began, and Khaiba was surrounded by several forts. The Prophet (pbuh) developed a strategy by attacking one fort after another. They first attacked the fort called Na'im. The battle commenced when Muhab, the leader of the fort, invited Amr, a Muslim, for single combat. Amr managed to strike Muhab but was also wounded and died from that wound. Ali then went out to fight Muhab in single combat and killed him.

The real fighting started and lasted for several days. The Jews tried their best but could not win, so they fled to another fort called As-Sa. The Muslims attacked that fort for several days, and the Jews fled to another fort. The Muslims laid siege to their entire fortress, one after the other. The enemies fled to the second part of Khaiba, Al-Katiba.

There is a difference of opinion here. According to Ibn Ishaq, the Muslims attacked and defeated all three forts in this part, and the enemies surrendered. However, Al-Waqidi says that the enemies requested a peace treaty just when the Muslims were about to attack the third fort. In any case, the enemies found the attack unbearable and requested a peaceful treaty. They sent Ibn Abi-Huquiq to the Prophet (pbuh) for negotiation. The Prophet (pbuh) agreed not to attack them in exchange for their leaving all their lands, gold, and belongings to the Muslims and leaving Khaiba.

All of them left, and from that day on, Khaiba became an Islamic state. However, the enemies did not leave entirely; they still lingered, cultivating the rich land. They sent a message to the Prophet (pbuh) pleading that he grant them half of the land while he takes the other half. The noble Prophet (pbuh) agreed to this. The Muslims shared the goods and lands, and from that day on, they became rich, having gained much wealth from Khaiba, just as Allah had promised them.

Aisha (r.a.), the wife of the Prophet (pbuh), narrated, "Now we can eat our fill of dates." Ibn Umar (r.a.) said, "We never ate our fill until we had conquered Khaiba."

LESSER PRIGRIMAGE” UMRAH”

In the month of Dhul Qa'da, year 7 A.H., the Prophet (pbuh) asked his people to prepare for a lesser pilgrimage to Makka. One of the clauses in the Hudaybiya treaty stated that the Muslims would be allowed to perform a peaceful Umra this time around. About 2000 men, along with some women and children, set off to Makah. They sent 50 camels to slaughter as a sacrifice to Allah, hoping their Umra would be accepted. They also carried their swords along for uncertainties.

Quraish did exactly as they had promised, vacating the city to the hills and observing the Muslims closely as they performed their circumbulation steadfastly. Meanwhile, the Muslims had left 200 men a few miles away from Makka for uncertainties, and two men were left to look after the weapons. They later performed their Umra when the Prophet (pbuh) and the rest of the Muslims had finished. They then walked between the two hills, Safa and Marwah, after which they slaughtered their animals and shaved their heads as required.

After four days, the leaders of Quraish asked Ali ibn Abu Talib to tell the Prophet (pbuh) that he and his companions should leave because they had already spent the three days they were supposed to spend. The Prophet (pbuh) did not want to break the treaty, so he and his companions left for a nearby village called Sarif. That was when the Prophet's (pbuh) uncle, Al-Abbas, handed his sister-in-law Maimuna's hand in marriage to the Prophet (pbuh), and he accepted. The marriage took place in the Sarif village.

In Sarif, the Prophet (pbuh) propagated Islam before they later went back to Madina. Abi al-Awja led 50 men to invite the people of Bani Saleem to Islam. The people refused to accept Islam and fought the Muslims. Even their leader was wounded, but the Muslims managed to capture two of them. Banu Quda prepared to raid the camp of the Muslims, and when the news got to the Prophet (pbuh), he dispatched 15 of his companions to invite them to Islam. Unfortunately, all of them were killed except for the leader, Umai an-Ansar, who was wounded.

THE BATTLE OF MU’TA

Al-Harith bin Umair Al-Azdi was sent by the Prophet (pbuh) to deliver a letter to the ruler of Busra. However, on his way, the governor of Al-Balqa, Sharhabeel bin Amr Al-Ghassani, captured and killed him. Killing a messenger was prohibited by all tribes at that time, so the Prophet (pbuh) prepared an army of 3000 men to avenge Al-Harith's murder.

The army, led by Zaid ibn Haritha, who was like a son to the Prophet (pbuh), set off towards the north of Madina in Jumada Al-ula 8 A.H. The Prophet (pbuh) reminded them to first invite the enemy to Islam before fighting. When they arrived at Ma'am, a town near Syria, they received information that Heraclius, the king, had raised an army of 200,000 men from the Lakham, Judham, and Balqain tribes.

The Muslim army began to fear and deliberated for two days on what to do, but their spirits were lifted by motivational words from Abdullah bin Rawaha. They then moved to encounter the enemy at Mu'ta. The battle began, with 3000 Muslims fighting against 200,000 disbelievers. The Muslims fought valiantly, but their leaders, Zaid bin Haritha and Jafar ibn Abu Talib, were killed. Abdullah bin Rawaha assumed leadership but was also killed, and then Khalid bin Al-Waleed took the banner and changed strategy.

They were fighting in two flanks, so Khalid bin Al-Waleed changed the soldiers in the right flanks with the left, giving the impression that fresh soldiers had arrived. They then started to withdraw slowly and gently. The enemies, observing this, thought the Muslims were pulling them into a trap, so they stopped pursuing them and left. A large number of enemies died, but only twelve Muslims were killed.

However, their aim to avenge Al-Harith's death was not achieved.

THE CONQUEST OF MAKKAH

The conquest of Makkah was a significant event in both heaven and earth. From that moment on, people began to enter Islam in large numbers. Ibn Al-Qaiyum considered this event the greatest, in which Allah honored His religion, Messenger, and mankind.

The question is, how did it happen? The Hudaybiyyah treaty had a clause that stipulated a ten-year peace agreement between the Muslims and Quraish. As part of the treaty, both parties had to choose an Arab tribe as an ally, either Khuza'ah or Banu Bakr. Banu Bakr chose Quraish as their ally, while Khuza'ah chose the Muslims. However, Banu Bakr's hatred and desire for revenge led them to break the treaty and attack Khuza'ah with Quraish's help, killing many people.

Realizing the danger ahead, Quraish leaders held an emergency meeting and decided to send Abu Sufyan, their leader, to the Muslims to request a renewal of the treaty. Abu Sufyan traveled to Madinah and visited his daughter, Umm Habiba, who was the wife of the Prophet (pbuh). When he arrived, the Prophet (pbuh) was not present, and Abu Sufyan was about to sit on a carpet when Umm Habiba folded it up. He asked his daughter, "Do you think the carpet is too good for me, or am I too good for the carpet?" Umm Habiba replied, "The carpet is for the Messenger of Allah, and you are unclean and cannot sit on it."

This encounter highlights the changing dynamics between the Muslims and Quraish, as well as the growing recognition of the Prophet's (pbuh) authority and the sanctity of Islamic practices. The stage was set for the eventual conquest of Makkah, which would mark a significant milestone in Islamic history.

Then, Abu Sufyan angrily went to see the Prophet (pbuh) to discuss the issue. However, the Prophet (pbuh) did not give him any answer, so he sought help from his closest companions, Ali, Abu Bakr, and Umar. But they all turned their backs on him, and he left in disappointment.

The leaders of Khuza'ah then went to the Prophet (pbuh) and sought his help in avenging the murder of their loved ones. The Prophet (pbuh) asked his soldiers to prepare, and on the 10th of Ramadan 8 A.H., about 10,000 soldiers set out to Makkah.

When they arrived at Al-Juhfa, Al-Abbas ibn Abdul-Muttalib, the Prophet's (pbuh) uncle, who was still one of the few Muslims in Makkah, joined them with his family. When they reached Al-Abwa, they met Abu Sufian Al-Harith and Abdullah ibn Omayya coming to the Prophet (pbuh), but the Muslims turned their backs on them due to the breach of the treaty.

Ali advised them to seek pardon from the Prophet (pbuh), which they did. The Muslims then marched straight to Makkah but stayed at the outskirts. The Prophet (pbuh) did not want to take them by surprise, so he asked his companions to light fires to give them a full opportunity to surrender.

Quraish saw the light and asked Abu Sufyan, their leader, and two others to find out what was wrong. When they approached, the Muslims wanted to kill them, but Al-Abbas went to them and advised Abu Sufyan to submit himself to Allah and then go back and ask his people to do the same, or else he would be killed.

Abu Sufyan wholeheartedly begged for pardon and forgiveness and then accepted Islam. The Prophet (pbuh) said to him, at the request of Al-Abbas, "Whoever takes refuge in their own house, Abu Sufyan's house, and the sacred mosque will be safe." In the morning of 17th Ramadan 8 A.H., Abu Sufyan did as he was asked. He hurried to Makkah and called the people to assemble, shouting at the top of his voice, advising them to surrender, as they could not fight against a 10,000-strong army. He told them to seek refuge in his house, the sacred mosque, and their own houses, but only a few listened to him, while the rest mocked him and departed.

The Prophet (pbuh) then divided his army into flanks. The left flank, led by Az-Zubair bin Awwam, was to attack Makkah from the upper side, while the right flank, led by Khalid ibn Al-Waleed, would attack from the lower side. The Prophet (pbuh) commanded them not to kill unless someone failed to surrender. There was no real fight, but the right flank, led by Khalid ibn Al-Waleed, penetrated through the heart of the town and succeeded in killing twelve people who failed to obey their commands, while two of their own were also killed.

The right flank arrived at the first destination, planted a banner besides Al-Fath mosque, and waited for the arrival of the Prophet (pbuh). From that day on, the Muslims had conquered Makkah forever. A camp was set up, and when the Prophet (pbuh) arrived, he performed a prayer to thank Allah and afterwards proceeded to the Ka'ba with his companions. He knocked down all 360 idols while reciting the verses of the Quran,

 وَقُلۡ جَآءَ الۡحَـقُّ وَزَهَقَ الۡبَاطِلُ‌ؕ اِنَّ الۡبَاطِلَ كَانَ زَهُوۡقًا

”And say: "Truth has (now) arrived, and Falsehood perished: for Falsehood is (by its nature) bound to perish.”(17:81)

After knocking down the idols, the Prophet (pbuh) went around the Ka'ba, praising Allah. When he faced the opposite door, he prostrated, then went out and stood in front of his companions, including the emigrants, helpers, and the people of Quraish. He addressed them, praising Allah for making this possible and emphasizing the importance of following Islamic principles.

He forbade practices that Islam objects to and encouraged those that Islam accepts. He also established a law that anyone who kills another person shall pay a penalty of 100 camels, 40 of which should be pregnant. After praising Allah, advising his companions, and outlining the Islamic laws, the Prophet (pbuh) declared that Makkah would from that day on be governed by these laws, making it an Islamic nation.

Then, he asked the people of Makkah, "O people of Quraish! What do you think of the treatment that I am about to accord to you?" The people replied, "O noble brother and son of a noble brother! We expect nothing but goodness from you."

Then the prophet pbuh said to them; *”I speak to you in the same words as Yusuf spoke unto his brothers: He said 

قَالَ لَا تَثۡرِيۡبَ عَلَيۡكُمُ الۡيَوۡم

‘No reproach on you this day' (Quran12:92).Go, you're free

The Prophet (pbuh) commanded that the keys of the Ka'ba and the supply of water to the pilgrims should remain with Uthman bin Talha and his family forever. Four people were killed, whom the Prophet (pbuh) deemed lawful to kill. However, he forgave all others who had harassed and tortured him and his companions, including those who had tried to kill him, his daughter, and his uncle Hamzah. Many of them accepted Islam.

The Prophet (pbuh) entered Umm Hani's house and performed a prayer of victory. The next day, he addressed his companions, "Allah has made Makkah a sanctuary, and it will remain so after me. It was made legal for me to fight in it for a few hours of the day. It is not allowed to uproot its shrubs, cut its trees, disturb its game, or pick up its fallen things except by one who will announce." After the speech, he went to Mount Safa, turned to face the Ka'ba, raised his hands, and prayed to Allah.

The Madenese around him were nervous about where the Prophet (pbuh) would stay now that he had become victorious over his people. He recognized their worry and asked them to voice their concerns, which they did. The Prophet (pbuh) reassured them, "I lived with you, and I will die with you."

The Makkans realized that their only option was to accept Islam, and so they all went out to meet the Prophet (pbuh) with their men in front. The Prophet (pbuh) accepted them and taught them the Islamic way of life. He then ensured that all idols in the vicinity of Makkah were destroyed and sent some of his companions to invite nearby villages to Islam. He lived in Makkah for 19 days to build a new Makkah before returning to Madinah.

HUNAIN GHAZWAH

The Prophet (pbuh) and his companions set out to meet the enemy at Hunain, with 12,000 men. The Prophet (pbuh) warned them, "Look up to Allah, not to your strength." When they arrived at Hunain, the enemy was already set to attack them, hiding in the valley. The enemy leader, Malik, commanded them to attack the Muslims as they were setting up their camp. The Muslims were taken unaware and forced to retreat, but the Prophet (pbuh) stayed back to fight, motivating them to return to the battle. Only a few stayed with him, including Abu Safyan, Al-Abbas, and some helpers.

The Prophet (pbuh) prayed to Allah, "Allaahuma anzil'Naswrak!" (O Allah, send down your help!). He then asked Al-Abbas to call the Muslims back to the battlefield. Al-Abbas shouted, "O my people, come back for Allah's sake!" The believers responded and came back to the battle, fighting like wild cows. Allah sent his angels to help them, and the Muslims emerged victorious.

The enemy tribe, Huwazin, had many warriors and was joined by other tribes, including Thaqif. They brought their families and wealth to the battlefield, but this did not stop them from retreating when the Muslims counterattacked. The Prophet (pbuh) had foretold the victory, saying, "If Allah permits, they will all be Muslim spoils tomorrow." The battle took place on Wednesday, 10th of Shawwal, and the Muslims were initially taken unaware by the enemy's arrows. However, the Prophet's (pbuh) prayer and the return of the believers to the battlefield turned the tide of the battle.

لَـقَدۡ نَصَرَكُمُ اللّٰهُ فِىۡ مَوَاطِنَ كَثِيۡرَةٍ‌ ۙ وَّيَوۡمَ حُنَيۡنٍ‌ ۙ اِذۡ اَعۡجَبَـتۡكُمۡ كَثۡرَتُكُمۡ فَلَمۡ تُغۡنِ عَنۡكُمۡ شَيۡـًٔـا وَّضَاقَتۡ عَلَيۡكُمُ الۡاَرۡضُ بِمَا رَحُبَتۡ ثُمَّ وَلَّـيۡتُمۡ مُّدۡبِرِيۡنَ‌ۚ

( 25 )   Allah has already given you victory in many regions and [even] on the day of Hunayn, when your great number pleased you, but it did not avail you at all, and the earth was confining for you with its vastness; then you turned back, fleeing.

ثُمَّ اَنۡزَلَ اللّٰهُ سَكِيۡنَـتَهٗ عَلٰى رَسُوۡلِهٖ وَعَلَى الۡمُؤۡمِنِيۡنَ وَاَنۡزَلَ جُنُوۡدًا لَّمۡ تَرَوۡهَا‌ ۚ وَعَذَّبَ الَّذِيۡنَ كَفَرُوۡا‌ ؕ وَذٰ لِكَ جَزَآءُ الۡـكٰفِرِيۡنَ

(26)   Then Allah sent down His tranquility upon His Messenger and upon the believers and sent down soldiers angels whom you did not see and punished those who disbelieved. And that is the recompense of the disbelievers. (Quran 9:25, 26).

The Prophet (pbuh) fetched a handful of dust and threw it at the enemies' faces, saying, "May your faces be shameful." From that moment on, their faces became thick, and the believers killed about 70 of them, while the rest fled, leaving their wealth and families behind. The Muslims captured their women and children and took their wealth, sharing it among themselves. There were 6,000 captives, 24,000 camels, over 40,000 sheep, and 400 silver ounces.

The Muslims pursued those who fled until they gave up. They later came to the Prophet (pbuh), accepted Islam, and their relatives were released to them. The Prophet (pbuh) shared the spoils among the Makkans and other Arab tribes, leaving out the Ansar (the Madinese). The Madinese got worried and complained to each other, which spread throughout. Sa'd bin Ubadah, a Madinese, asked the Prophet (pbuh) why the spoils were distributed, leaving out the Madinese.

The Prophet (pbuh) asked Sa'd, "What do you think of that?" Sa'd replied, "O Messenger of Allah, you know I am just a member of this group." The Prophet (pbuh) said, "Assemble all the Madinese in my presence." When they assembled, the Prophet (pbuh) praised Allah and said to them, "I have heard that you are angry with me. Did I not come to you when you were astray, and Allah guided you? Were you not poor, and Allah made you rich? Were you not foes, and Allah made you love each other?" They all said, "Yes, O Messenger of Allah."

The Prophet (pbuh) advised them about the consequences of seeking too much worldly wealth and asked them, "Are you not happy if, while some people go home with sheep and camels, you will go home with the Messenger of Allah?" He continued asking similar questions until the Madinese wept, and tears dropped from their eyes. They did not believe the Messenger of Allah would keep his promise and return with them now that he had become victorious over his people. All of them said, "Yes, O our noble Prophet (pbuh), we are satisfied."

"THE PRAISED ONE" THE LIFE OF THE PROPHET MUHAMMED PBUH. PART 8

  THE BATTLE OF UHUD

The people of Quraish, hoping to avenge their defeat at Badr, approached their leaders and requested support in terms of strength and finances. All the businessmen donated their profits to help organize a large army to defeat the Muslims. Among these leaders, who were eager to avenge the death of their people, were Abu Safyan bin Harb, Ikrimah bin Abi Jahl, Safwan bin Umayyah, and Abdullah bin Abi-Rabi. They utilized all their resources to launch an army three times the size of the one they sent to the Battle of Badr. They also sought the support of other tribes, including the Kinana and Tihamah tribes, and succeeded in gaining their alliance.

Jubayr bin Al-Mut'im, another leader, instructed his Abyssinian slave Wahshi, who was skilled in spear fighting, to kill Hamza, the Prophet's uncle, in revenge for his uncle's death, promising to set him free if he succeeded. Hind, Abu Safyan's wife, also encouraged Wahshi, promising to clothe him in gold and silk if he accomplished the task, as Hamza had captured her brother and father.

The Quraish had completed their preparations and launched an army of three thousand warriors, including seven hundred mailed soldiers, two hundred mounted cavalry, and three thousand camels. They also brought along fifteen women to boost their morale on the battlefield. The army was led by Abu Safyan bin Harb, assisted by Khalid bin Al-Waleed and Ikrimah bin Abi Jahl, with their flag raised by Abd Ad-Dar.

As the Quraish planned to set out, Al-Abbas bin Abdul Muttalib, the Prophet's uncle and a Muslim living in Makkah, sent a message to the Prophet (pbuh) informing him of the Quraish's plans. The message was received while the Prophet (pbuh) was at the Quba mosque, and he quickly rushed to Madina. The Prophet (pbuh) convened a meeting with the Muslims, both emigrants and Ansar, and successfully put his army on high alert. All of them were armed, even during prayer, due to the emergency.

Sa'd bin Mu'adh and a group of companions volunteered to protect the Prophet (pbuh) by guarding him and watching his house overnight. The Prophet (pbuh) also dispatched some companions to patrol and monitor the enemy's movements. On Friday, 6th Shawwal, 3 A.H., the Quraish army set out, taking the western road to Ainain, which is closer to the Uhud mountain. The Muslim patrol team sent news of the Quraish movements to the Prophet (pbuh), who then convened another meeting. He told them that he had dreamt that some of his men and a member of his household had been killed in the battle and suggested that they should stay in Madina and defend themselves there.

However, a hypocrite, Abdullah bin Ubai, supported the Prophet's idea but with ulterior motives. Hamza and most of the companions suggested that they should go out and fight the enemy outside, which the Prophet (pbuh) accepted since they were the majority. On that day, the Prophet (pbuh) led the Jumu'ah prayers, boosting their morale with his noble and sweet talks. He added, "If you remain steadfast, Allah will help you with His power." After the prayers, he entered his house with Abu Bakr and Umar and donned two armors. Meanwhile, a large number of people waited for him outside.

The noble prophet pbuh then divided his companions into three groups.

• AlMuhajireen battalions to be led by Musab bin Umay.
• Al-Ansari-Aws battalion to be led by Said bin Hudair.
• Al-Ansari-Khazraj battalion to be led by. Al-hubab bin Al-Mundhir.

The Muslims, numbering only 1,050 horsemen, set out to Uhud. Their number was three times lesser than that of the Quraish army. On their way, they met an army of Jews who offered to help them, but the Prophet (pbuh) refused since they were not believers. At a place named Ash-Shaikhan, the Prophet (pbuh) paraded the army. When they reached Ash-Shawt, after performing the dawn prayer, Abdullah bin Ubai, the hypocrite among the Muslims, refused to continue with their journey and took about one-third of the army with him back to Madina. This was because the Prophet (pbuh) did not agree to his suggestion that they should stay in Madina and fight.

The Muslim army, now reduced to 700, continued on. The hypocrite withdrew from the battle at the point where the Prophet (pbuh) and his army were closer to the disbelievers, such that they could see each other. The number of disbelievers was so huge that all the paths leading to Uhud were blocked except a small and short path. The Prophet (pbuh) asked Abu Khaithama to lead them through the short path. They camped right below the hillock of Uhud at the slope of the valley, facing Madina and the enemy.

The Prophet (pbuh) paraded his army once again, making them stand in front of the mountain. He selected 50 archers and placed them on top of the mountain, facing their backs, and told them, "Keep the enemies away from us with your arrows and do not let them attack us from behind, whether we are winning or losing." The Prophet (pbuh) gave a sword to Abu Dujanah, and the battle started. Though the enemy's number was huge, they were tired from the journey, and the Muslims had been positioned well, so the Muslims were winning.

Despite the encouragement from their leaders, women, and poets, the Muslims were in the upper hand. As the battle was ongoing, Hamza, the Prophet's uncle, was busily fighting the enemy when Wahshi targeted him. Wahshi narrated, "I was watching Hamza while he was killing men with his sword. I aimed my spear until I was sure it would hit the mark and held it at him. He came towards me but fell. I left him until he died, then I took my spear and went back to the camp because I did not want to kill anyone but him to gain my freedom."

The Muslims had the advantage and were winning, killing as many of the disbelievers as they could. However, when the disbelievers realized they were being defeated, they started to retreat. Seeing this, 40 of the Muslims who were placed on top of the mountain ran to their camp to collect their belongings, as the disbelievers had left them behind. Khalid bin al-Walid, one of the commanders of the disbelievers, saw this and instructed his army to return and attack the Muslims from behind. This was a significant blow to the Muslims, and everything turned upside down for them. They started to lose the battle, and the disbelievers killed many more of them.

There were even rumors that the Prophet (pbuh) had been killed. Meanwhile, some of the disbelievers targeted the Prophet (pbuh), but he was protected by a number of companions who died one after the other until the battle was over. At one point, he (pbuh) shouted, "Who will die for us?" Five Ansars volunteered and stood in front of the Prophet (pbuh), fighting until they were all killed. Then Abu Dujana positioned himself in front of the Prophet (pbuh). When the battle was over, Abu Dujana was found dead, killed by many arrows targeted at the Prophet (pbuh), who had been seriously injured in his cheek. Talha also protected the Prophet (pbuh) very well, to the extent that the Prophet said to him, "Talha, after this job, is eligible for paradise."

With this defeat, it seemed that Quraish had avenged the Battle of Badr. Abu Safyan called out loudly to his people, "You have done well; victory in war goes by turn today in exchange for Badr!" The Prophet (pbuh) heard this and asked Umar to reply, "Allah is Most High and Most Glorious, we are not equal, our dead are in paradise, and yours in hellfire." The Muslims started to retreat and climbed the mountain, but the disbelievers were still following them, aiming to kill the Prophet (pbuh). The Muslims tried as much as they could to drive them away. On this account, the Prophet (pbuh) told Sa'd, "Drive them off." He (pbuh) repeated it, then Sa'd took an arrow and shot three times, killing one person each time, which made them return to their camp and prepare to leave.

Before they left, they mutilated the bodies of the dead Muslims, cutting off their noses, ears, genitals, and other parts of their bodies. Hind, the wife of Abu Safyan, even opened the chest of Hamza, took out his heart, and chewed it, but later spat it out. When the disbelievers left, the Prophet (pbuh) went back to the war field to see the dead bodies of his people. On this day, the Prophet lost close relatives and friends, such as his uncle Hamza, Mus-hab bin Umay, and others, just as he had dreamt of before the battle. He stood by them and asked his companions to be in a mood of prayer, so they stood in lines, and then he said to Allah, "My Lord, forgive my people, for they have no knowledge."

This prayer was for those who took off from the mountain to look for things. So Allah replied,

وَمَا كَانَ لِنَفۡسٍ اَنۡ تَمُوۡتَ اِلَّا بِاِذۡنِ اللّٰهِ كِتٰبًا مُّؤَجَّلًا ؕ وَ مَنۡ يُّرِدۡ ثَوَابَ الدُّنۡيَا نُؤۡتِهٖ مِنۡهَا ‌ۚ وَمَنۡ يُّرِدۡ ثَوَابَ الۡاٰخِرَةِ نُؤۡتِهٖ مِنۡهَا ‌ؕ وَسَنَجۡزِى الشّٰكِرِيۡنَ

"And it is not [possible] for one to die except by permission of Allah at a decree determined. And whoever desires the reward of this world - We will give him thereof; and whoever desires the reward of the Hereafter - We will give him thereof. And we will reward the grateful." (Quran 3:145).

And to the dead he pbuh said, “There will not be a moment as sad to me like this day” He then asked Allah's grace, provisions, mercy upon them.

Allah replied, 

وَلَا تَحۡسَبَنَّ الَّذِيۡنَ قُتِلُوۡا فِىۡ سَبِيۡلِ اللّٰهِ اَمۡوَاتًا ‌ؕ بَلۡ اَحۡيَآءٌ عِنۡدَ رَبِّهِمۡ يُرۡزَقُوۡنَۙ

فَرِحِيۡنَ بِمَاۤ اٰتٰٮهُمُ اللّٰهُ مِنۡ فَضۡلِهٖ ۙ وَيَسۡتَبۡشِرُوۡنَ بِالَّذِيۡنَ لَمۡ يَلۡحَقُوۡا بِهِمۡ مِّنۡ خَلۡفِهِمۡۙ اَ لَّا خَوۡفٌ عَلَيۡهِمۡ وَلَا هُمۡ يَحۡزَنُوۡنَ‌ۘ

“Do not think that those, who were killed for Allah's sake are dead. Nay, they are alive. With their lord they have provisions. They are jubilant because of that which Allah hath bestowed upon them of his bounty, rejoicing for the sake of those that have not yet joined them because they have nothing to bear or grieve over “ Quran 3.169-170. Then they were buried at the same place they died as martyrs. 

PRE-BATTLE OF THE TRENCH

The Muslims had suffered significant losses, creating weaknesses in their army and making them vulnerable to attacks. Their enemies saw this as an opportunity to end Islam and launched several attacks on the Muslims.

One such attack was by the leaders of the Banu Asad bin Khuzaimah tribe, Talha and Salamah, who prepared an army to attack the Muslims. However, the Prophet (pbuh) learned of their plan through Allah's grace and selected 150 men led by Abu Salamah to take them by surprise. They successfully attacked the tribe, taking their belongings and forcing them to flee their homeland without killing them. On their way back, Abu Salamah died from an injury he suffered in the Battle of Uhud.

In Muharram, 4 A.H., Khalid bin Safyan Al-Hudhali organized a group of men to raid the Muslims, but the Prophet (pbuh) learned of their plan and dispatched a group of men led by Abdullah bin Unais to stop them. They succeeded in killing the leader of the rebels, and the Prophet (pbuh) rewarded Abdullah by giving him a stick and saying, "This will serve as a sign of recognition for you and me on the Day of Resurrection." According to narrations, Abdullah kept the stick with him until his death and requested that it be placed in his shroud.

In Safar, 4 A.H., a tribe called Udal and Qara came to the Prophet (pbuh) in Madina and told him that there were Muslims in their homeland who needed guidance. The Prophet (pbuh) sent six companions with them, although another narration says they were ten. Unfortunately, the tribe killed all of them except two, who were sold as slaves to the Makkans and later killed.

On another occasion, Amir bin Malik from a tribe outside Madina came to the Prophet (pbuh) and was invited to embrace Islam. Amir requested that the Prophet (pbuh) send some of his companions to their village. The Prophet (pbuh) expressed concerns about their safety, but Amir promised to protect them. The Prophet (pbuh) sent 70 companions with Amir, but when they reached a place called Ma'una Well, Amir failed to keep his promise, and all the companions were killed except their leader, Ka'b bin Zaid bin Najjar, who was wounded. It is narrated that the Prophet (pbuh) prayed against these people for thirty days.

Invasion on bani Nadeer,

The Prophet (pbuh) visited the Banu Nadeer, one of the Jewish tribes in Madina, to resolve a murder case. He was accompanied by Umar, Ali, Abu Bakr, and others. The Banu Nadeer asked them to sit beneath a wall while they prepared for the meeting. However, they had sinister intentions, tying a large rock on top of the wall, planning to kill the Prophet (pbuh) and his companions. Allah revealed their plan to the Prophet (pbuh), who immediately ordered his companions to leave.

Due to this incident and other open displays of hatred and attempts to harm them, the Muslims expelled the Banu Nadeer from Madina under the cover of night. This event marked a significant turning point in the relations between the Muslims and the Jewish tribes in Madina.

Najd invasion

The Second Badr invasion occurred when the Quraish met the Muslims at Badr, intending to fight. However, they were intimidated by the strong Muslim army and decided not to engage in battle.

Additionally, there was the invasion of Dumat Al-Jandal, who planned to raid Madina. However, the Prophet (pbuh) learned of their intentions and took measures to stop them.

These events, along with other invasions, ultimately led to the Battle of Ahzab (Trench). This battle was a significant confrontation between the Muslims and their enemies, who had united to attack Madina. The Muslims, however, were well-prepared and successfully defended their city.

THE BATTLE OF AHZAB/THRENCH

The Battle of Ahzab is also known by different names, such as the Battle of the Trench and the Confederate, which reflects the severity of the threat it posed to the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and his companions.

The Jews, including the Banu Nadir and Banu Kanuka, who had broken the treaty and caused significant problems for the Muslims, were expelled from Madina. However, they did not go far and instead settled in Khaibar, hoping that the enemies of the Muslims would defeat them and allow them to return. Their plans failed when the Makkans and other tribes' attempts to raid the Muslims were unsuccessful.

The Jews then held a meeting with their people who were still in Madina, the Banu Qurayza, and agreed to take back their land from the Muslims. To achieve this, they planned to attack with a large army. They went to Makkah, encouraged the Makkans to attack the Muslims, and promised their full support. They succeeded in recruiting an army of over 24,000 soldiers, led by Abu Safyan, which included many tribes from around Arabia.

This army gathered at the outskirts of Madina, planning to attack from outside while the Jews would attack from within. This coalition of tribes was known as the Confederates. The sheer number of the Confederate army caused fear among the Prophet (pbuh) and his companions.

Note: The number of Confederates is disputed, with some sources citing 4,000 and others 24,000, which is the majority view. However, it is possible that the Arab tribes could have sent a large army, given that the Makkans alone had sent over 3,000 fighters to the Battle of Uhud. Ultimately, Allah knows best.

At this critical stage, the Prophet (pbuh) summoned his companions to deliberate on how to respond to the impending battle. Some suggested fighting to the best of their ability, as that seemed to be the only option. However, Salman Al-Farsi, a companion who had converted from idolatry to Christianity, then to Judaism, and finally to Islam, observed that Madina was surrounded by mountains and suggested digging a trench at the unguarded spot where the enemies would likely attack. His suggestion was well-received, and they agreed to implement it.

The Prophet (pbuh) and his companions worked tirelessly to dig the trench, despite their hunger and fatigue. It is narrated that the Prophet (pbuh) would tie a stone to his stomach to suppress his hunger pangs. Each group of ten companions was allocated a section of forty yards to dig.

During the digging process, several prophetic signs appeared. Jabir bin Abdullah, noticing the Prophet's (pbuh) hunger, slaughtered a sheep, cooked some barley, and sent it to him. The Prophet (pbuh) collected the food, called all the companions, and they ate together until they were satisfied, with some food still remaining.

Additionally, a Muslim woman presented a handful of dates to the Prophet (pbuh), who then dropped them on his cloak and invited all the companions to eat. Miraculously, the dates seemed to increase as they ate.

The most remarkable incident during the digging process was when a rock stood out as an obstacle. Despite their efforts, the companions couldn't break it. Salman Al-Farsi suggested diverting the trench around the rock, but the Prophet (pbuh) insisted on breaking it. He took a pickaxe, told everyone to step back due to the splinters, and said, "BISMILLAHI AL-RAHMANI AL-RAHIIM" (In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful). With one strike, the rock cracked, emitting a bright light. Salman narrated that he saw the light himself.

The Prophet (pbuh) then shouted, "ALLAHU AKBAR! (God is the Greatest) I have been given the keys to Rome; its red palaces have been illuminated for me, and my nation has vanquished." With a second blow, the rock broke, and he exclaimed, "Allah Akbar! I swear by Allah, I have been given the keys to Syria; I can see its palaces."

With a third blow, the rock shattered, and a special light was seen by all the companions. The Prophet (pbuh) then said, "Allah Akbar! I swear by Allah, I have been given the keys to Yemen; I can see the gates of San'a from my place. I can also see other cities of the world where the banner of Islam will flutter one day." All the companions shouted in unison, "Allahu Akbar! Allahu Akbar!" (God is the Greatest! God is the Greatest!)

The Muslims were motivated by these revelations, and indeed, the keys to Islamic victory were found as a result of Salman's innovative idea. As the Muslims completed digging the trench, their enemies arrived at a place called Al-Aryal and Uhud, unaware of the trench. They were surprised to see the trench, and even Abu Safyan himself said, "This is not the behavior of the Arabs."

The enemies tried every possible means to cross the trench, but no matter how hard they tried, the Muslims pushed them back with their arrows. This continued for several days, and things became extremely difficult for the Muslims due to the harsh weather and food shortage. There was no face-to-face fight, only arrow shooting.

Meanwhile, the Jews (Banu Qurayza), who had a treaty with the Muslims to defend each other in war, turned against them. They were waiting for the Quraish to cross the trench so that they could attack from within. They stopped and broke all food supplies connected to the Muslims.

The Prophet (pbuh) prayed to Allah to help them win their enemies. Allah accepted the prayer and sent a heavy sandstorm to blow in the location of the enemies. The storm blew their tents away, and they could not light a fire. The Prophet (pbuh) then sent Hudhayfa ibn al-Yaman to cross the trench and check on the enemies. He sat near them, but since there was no fire or light, they could not recognize him. He heard Abu Safyan commanding his people to leave, saying, "We have had enough! Our horses and camels are dying, the tents keep blowing away, most of our equipment has been lost, and we cannot cook food. There is no reason to stay!"

Hudhayfa then returned to tell the Prophet (pbuh). Early in the morning, the Muslims rejoiced at the enemies' departure. However, it was not yet over. Angel Gabriel appeared to the Prophet (pbuh) and told him to punish the Jews (Qurayza) for betraying and turning against them despite their treaty. The Prophet (pbuh) then turned his companions towards their location and besieged them for twenty-five days until they gave up and asked the Prophet (pbuh) to allow them to be judged. The Prophet (pbuh) asked their own man, Sa'd ibn Muad (the leader of the Aws tribe), to judge them. Sa'd ibn Muad had converted to Islam in the early years and had been wounded during the battles. He was just and had helped the Jews over the years. He requested to judge them by their own book and law, which demanded that they be executed, and their children and women be captured. In other narrations, they were banished.

A few days later, Sa'd ibn Muad died of his wounds. Angel Gabriel appeared at midnight and asked the Prophet (pbuh), "Who is this dead man?" When he arrived, the doors of heaven opened, and the throne of Allah shook. In the morning, the Prophet (pbuh) learned that Sa'd was dead. Those who worked at his grave saw some light in his grave. The Prophet (pbuh) said three times, "SUBAHANNALLAH! ALLAHU AKBAR!" (Glory be to Allah! God is the Greatest!) and explained that the grave was tight for this man, but Allah had made it easy. In another narration, the Prophet (pbuh) explained that the land was overcrowded by angels, each one present to receive Allah's blessings due to the death of the pious man Sa'd ibn Muad.

THE TREATY OF HUDAYBIYYA

From that moment on, after the Jews (Bani Qurayza) were cleared, Madina became a city full of Muslims, an Islamic city. Several invasions took place against other tribes, and military campaigns were launched to ensure strong security for the Muslim community. Every attempt made on the life of the Prophet (pbuh) was unsuccessful, as the assassins always ended up embracing Islam. The number of Muslims increased daily, with people coming from all directions of Arabia, and captives also converted due to the good treatment they received. As a result, the Muslim army grew in size, increasing from 300 in the Battle of Badr to 700 in the Battle of Uhud and eventually to 3000 in the Battle of Ahzab.

One night, the Prophet (pbuh) had a dream in which Allah commanded him to embark on Umra (lesser pilgrimage to the Ka'ba). As mentioned earlier, one of the ways the Prophet (pbuh) received revelations was through dreams. When he shared the dream with his companions, they were overjoyed. 1400 companions prepared to embark on the Umra, but they were unarmed, indicating to the disbelievers that they came in peace.

As the Muslims approached Makka, the Makkans learned of their arrival and sent an army to prevent them from entering the city. The Prophet (pbuh) heard this and changed their route to the south of Makka to avoid meeting the Quraish army. When they arrived at a place called Hudaybiyya, south of Makka, the Prophet's (pbuh) horse knelt down and refused to move further. The Prophet (pbuh) realized that Allah was sending a message through the horse, so he asked his companions to camp there.

After setting up camp, they discovered that the spring had no water, so the Prophet (pbuh) asked a companion, Najiyah, to pour a bowl of water into the hollows and stir it with his arrow. After Najiyah stirred the hollows, water started pumping out. The Prophet (pbuh) then sent messengers to inform Quraish that they had come to perform Umra and return peacefully, but Quraish refused to allow them to enter Makka.

The Prophet (pbuh) then sent his son-in-law, Uthman ibn Affan, as a messenger. However, Quraish again refused to allow them entry, and Uthman's delayed return caused worry among the Muslims, who swore to avenge him if anything happened. But Uthman appeared shortly, unharmed. Some of the Quraish army wanted to attack the Muslims, but they were caught and released by the Prophet (pbuh) on the condition that they would not try such a thing again.

Later, Quraish sent Suhayl ibn Amr to the camp to negotiate a treaty with the Muslims. The terms of the treaty, agreed upon by the Prophet (pbuh) and his followers and Suhayl ibn Amr, the representative of Quraish, were as follows:

Firstly, the Prophet (pbuh) asked Ali ibn Abu Talib to write "BISMILLAHI RAHMANIRRAHIIM" (In the name of Allah, the most gracious, the most merciful) at the top of the paper. However, Suhayl rejected this and suggested writing "BISMIKA ALLAHUMMAH" (In thy name, O Allah) instead. The Prophet (pbuh) agreed, and Ali wrote accordingly.

Secondly, the Prophet (pbuh) asked Ali to write, "This is a treaty between Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah, and Suhayl ibn Amr." Suhayl objected again, saying, "I don't recognize you as the Messenger of Allah. If I did, I wouldn't be here." The Prophet (pbuh) agreed again, and Ali wrote, "A treaty between Suhayl and Muhammad ibn Abdullah."

The terms of the treaty included:

- A cessation of hostilities for a specified period

- The Muslims would return to Madina without performing Umra and could return the following year to perform the pilgrimage for three days

- Those who wanted to leave Islam and return home would be allowed to do so, but children could only join the Muslims with their parents' permission. This meant that some Muslims with the Prophet (pbuh) would have to return to Makka.

- The saddest part was that Suhayl's son had joined the Prophet (pbuh) earlier but was not allowed to join the Muslims in Madina. He cried bitterly.

- The treaty also stipulated that any Quraish prisoners captured by the Muslims would be returned, but any Muslim captives would not be returned to the Muslims.

All these terms were agreed upon by both parties, and the treaty was signed. The Muslims were unhappy with these terms and felt that the treaty should not have been signed. However, Allah's Messenger (pbuh) knew what he was doing, and as we can see, the terms may seem to favor the disbelievers, but that is not how Allah and his Prophet (pbuh) saw it.

Umar was equally angry and disturbed to an extend that he asked the prophet pbuh ”Are you not a prophet and are we not on a straight path? so how should we suffer for doing good?". Then Allah revealed an Aya.

اِنَّا فَتَحۡنَا لَكَ فَتۡحًا مُّبِيۡنًا

“Verily, we have given you (o Muhammad pbuh)manifests victory”  Quran 48:1.

And Umar was happy once again. Before they left for Madina, the Prophet (pbuh) shaved his hair and slaughtered his animal, then asked his companions to do the same, as their Hajj had been accepted. When they arrived in Madina, all the Muslims who did not have their parents' permission were sent back to Makka, and those who had permission were also asked to evacuate Makka and move to Madina, as stated in the treaty. However, the Muslims who were sent back did not return to Makka but instead settled on the outskirts of the city. They were joined by those who had their parents' permission and a number of early Muslims who had migrated to Abyssinia to seek asylum from the just King Negus. Day by day, their numbers grew. And Allah's plan is the best; these Muslims began to worry the Quraish caravans, so the people of Quraish asked the Prophet (pbuh) to come and take them, as they could no longer stay with them. So the Prophet (pbuh) sent for them.

As mentioned earlier, this treaty provided an opportunity for the Muslims, as Islam could now be propagated peacefully in and around the Arabian lands. So the Prophet (pbuh) started sending letters to kings all over Arabia and other lands.

THE SPREAD OF ISLAM BEYOND ARABIA

The Treaty of Hudaybiyya served as a catalyst for the spread of Islam worldwide. One of the treaty's clauses stipulated a ten-year ceasefire, ensuring a decade of peace. If Islam had been allowed to spread peacefully from the outset, there would have been no need for battles. Upon examining the early stages of Islam, we notice that Allah never permitted Muslims to kill others. With the treaty in place, the Prophet (pbuh) seized the opportunity to send messengers with letters to kings and rulers across various lands, including Africa and beyond the River Euphrates. These messengers were carefully selected based on their experience and knowledge.

They were given a silver seal which they wrote on them,

ٱللَّٰهُ

رَسُولُ

مُحَمَّدٌ

In the seventh year A.H., messengers were dispatched to authenticate the credentials of the prophets and deliver invitation letters to various kings and rulers. In summary, these letters emphasized that:

• Allah is one and Muhammad (pbuh) is His servant and messenger.
• There is no salvation except through submission to Allah.
• The kings should direct their people towards Allah.
• If they accept the letter in good faith, they will find peace in this world and the hereafter.
• If they reject the letter, they will lose their kingdoms and be losers in the hereafter.

The letters were tailored to each king's specific circumstances, taking into account their throne's power and religious affiliations. Some kings, convinced by the authenticity of the letters, believed in the Prophet (pbuh). For instance, Dr. Hameedullah (Paris) recently verified the authenticity of the letter sent to the King of Ethiopia (the Negus) using modern technology. While many letters were sent, I will only narrate a few examples.

A letter to Abyssinian/Ethiopian king

Ibn Ishaq narrated that below include some of the credentials in the letter sent to Abyssinia,

"This letter is sent from Muhammad, the prophet of Allah to Negus Al-Ashama, the king of Abyssinia(Ethiopia). 

Peace be upon him who follows true guidance and believes in Allah and his Messenger. I bear witness that there is no God but Allah alone with no associate, He has taken neither a wife nor a son, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger. I call you unto the fold of Islam; if you embrace Islam you will find safety.

قُلۡ يٰۤـاَهۡلَ الۡكِتٰبِ تَعَالَوۡا اِلٰى كَلِمَةٍ سَوَآءٍۢ بَيۡنَـنَا وَبَيۡنَكُمۡ اَلَّا نَـعۡبُدَ اِلَّا اللّٰهَ وَلَا نُشۡرِكَ بِهٖ شَيۡـــًٔا وَّلَا يَتَّخِذَ بَعۡضُنَا بَعۡضًا اَرۡبَابًا مِّنۡ دُوۡنِ اللّٰهِ‌ؕ فَاِنۡ تَوَلَّوۡا فَقُوۡلُوا اشۡهَدُوۡا بِاَنَّا مُسۡلِمُوۡنَ

Say: "O People of the Book! come to common terms as between us and you: That we worship none but Allah; that we associate no partners with him; that we erect not, from among ourselves, Lords and patrons other than Allah." If then they turn back, say ye: "Bear witness that we (at least) are Muslims (bowing to Allah's Will).

Should you reject this invitation, then you will be held responsible for all the evils of the Christians of your people."

The Prophet (pbuh) sent Amr bin Omaiyah Ad-Damari with a letter to the King of Ethiopia, the Negus. At that time, Ethiopia was a Roman country, and its people believed in Jesus. The Prophet (pbuh) included a reference to Jesus in the letter, expressing gratitude for the King's protection of his brother Jaafar and the other Muslims. The letter also requested that the King allow the remaining Muslims to migrate to Madina.

The King, the Negus, accepted and believed in the Prophet (pbuh), stating that the Bible had foretold the rise of a prophet from among the Arabs. He testified to the oneness of Allah and the prophethood of Muhammad (pbuh) and sent a reply. Later, the Prophet (pbuh) announced the King's death to his companions, and they prayed for him.

The successor of the King was also sent a letter, but he did not reply, leaving it uncertain whether he converted to Islam or not.

A letter to Egypt

The Prophet (pbuh) sent Hatib bin Abi Balta'a to deliver a letter to the Vicegerent of Egypt, Muqawqas, and Alexandria. At that time, the people of Egypt were primarily Jews, and they recognized the name of the Prophet (pbuh) mentioned in their books as "AHMED". Therefore, they instantly believed in him.

Muqawqas then sent the Prophet's (pbuh) messenger, Hatib, back with a reply and some gifts.

A letter To Chosroes,Emperor Of Persia

Abdullah bin Hudhafa As-Saahmi was chosen to deliver the letter to the Emperor of Persia. When he arrived, the king requested that the letter be taken away from Abdullah, but he refused, saying, "The Prophet (pbuh) asked me to hand the letter to the king myself." He was then allowed to submit the letter to the king personally.

The emperor asked his translator to read the letter, which began: "In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. From Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah, to the Emperor of Persia." However, the king tore the letter into pieces after reading only the heading.

He then ordered his soldiers to lock Abdullah up, which they did. But somehow, Abdullah managed to escape. When the Prophet (pbuh) was informed about what had happened, he said, "May Allah tear his kingdom into pieces."

The king then sent a message to the governor of Yemen, commanding him to capture Muhammad (pbuh) and bring him to him. The governor quickly sent two soldiers for this purpose. When they arrived, the Prophet (pbuh) told them to go back and tell their superior to accept Islam, or his kingdom would collapse just like the emperor's. The Prophet (pbuh) also told them that the governor's own son would overthrow him.

The two messengers returned and conveyed the message to their superior. Shortly after, a letter arrived stating that the emperor had been killed by his son. The governor then believed in the Prophet (pbuh).

"THE PRAISED ONE" THE LIFE OF THE PROPHET MUHAMMED. PART 7

 ON THE BATTLEFIELD

[THE BATTLE OF BADR]

During that time, a country's power and superiority were measured by the number of societies and countries it controlled, as well as its military strength. Although the Makkans did not control many countries nor were they considered strong in war, they held a position of superiority and respect among the Arab lands due to the Ka'ba being situated on their land. The Ka'ba was a sacred site that attracted people from all over Arabia during the pilgrimage season, and this made Makkah a coveted prize for other Arabian countries. They envied Makkah's prestige and wanted to conquer it to gain control over the Ka'ba. As mentioned earlier, Abraha, a king, had attempted to destroy the Ka'ba but failed due to Allah's protection.

When the disbelievers in Makkah heard about the progress of the Muslims in Madinah, they suspected that the Muslims would soon attack them. They began to plot and persecute the remaining Muslims in Makkah. The polytheists in Makkah sent an ultimatum to the leader of the polytheists in Madinah, ordering him and his followers to either murder or expel the Prophet (pbuh) from Madinah, otherwise, they would send a strong army to fight them. They also sent a warning message to the Prophet (pbuh). With this message and information from a reliable source about the polytheists' plans, the Prophet (pbuh) took measures to protect himself and his followers. He asked his companions to protect him, and Sad bin Abu Waqas volunteered. Aisha (r.a.) narrated that one night, Allah's Messenger asked his companions to protect him, and Sad bin Abu Waqas stepped forward.

He protected him; pbuh house until Allah sent a revelation.

 يٰۤـاَيُّهَا الرَّسُوۡلُ بَلِّغۡ مَاۤ اُنۡزِلَ اِلَيۡكَ مِنۡ رَّبِّكَ‌ ؕ وَاِنۡ لَّمۡ تَفۡعَلۡ فَمَا بَلَّغۡتَ رِسٰلَـتَهٗ‌ ؕ وَاللّٰهُ يَعۡصِمُكَ مِنَ النَّاسِ‌ ؕ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ لَا يَهۡدِى الۡقَوۡمَ الۡـكٰفِرِيۡنَ

"O Messenger, announce that which has been revealed to you from your Lord, and if you do not, then you have not conveyed His message. And Allah will protect you from the people. Indeed, Allah does not guide the disbelieving people." Quran 5:67.

The polytheists, both in Madinah and Makkah, were plotting to destroy Islam. The Jews were also scheming against the Muslims. Not only was the Prophet (pbuh) in danger, but the entire Muslim community was at risk. The polytheists in Makkah, those in Madinah, and the Jews were all conspiring against the Muslims. However, they were unaware that Allah knows all about their plots and even what they were thinking. Allah is all-knowing and all-aware of their secrets and intentions.

Allah SWT; the most high, most merciful granted the Muslims permission to fight back who ever will try to attack them.

اُذِنَ لِلَّذِيۡنَ يُقٰتَلُوۡنَ بِاَنَّهُمۡ ظُلِمُوۡا‌ ؕ وَاِنَّ اللّٰهَ عَلٰى نَـصۡرِهِمۡ لَـقَدِيۡرُ

"permission to fight is given to those believers against the disbelievers ,who are fighting them and because they have been wronged, And surely Allah is able to give them(believers)victory.

 “Quran(22:39).

Not only this aya marked the permission to fight the disbelievers, (Quran2:190-195) and others. 

The Muslims then under the leadership of the prophet pbuh started a military campaign. All the various streets heading towards Madina and nearby towns were watched closely and every plot was revealed by Allah.

During the Muslim migration to Madina, most of them left their belongings behind to avoid drawing attention to their departure. They abandoned their properties, regardless of their nature, to ensure a peaceful exit. However, these properties were seized by the disbelievers. Later, the Muslims learned about a large caravan traveling from Syria, led by Abu Safyan, a leader of the polytheists and a member of the Quraish tribe. The Muslims saw this as an opportunity to retrieve some of their belongings and decided to act. Abu Safyan, however, got wind of their plan and sent a message to his people in Makkah, requesting help. In response, the Quraish tribe set out with a thousand men, two hundred horses, and their women, who boosted their morale with songs. Abu Safyan learned about the Muslims' camp location and changed the caravan's route. He then sent a message to the Makkans, telling them to return, as the caravan was now safe. However, they were arrogant, stubborn, and eager to destroy the Muslims. It was the month of Ramadan, and the Muslims were fasting. Unaware of the Quraish tribe's plans, they set out with only 305 people, mostly Ansar (helpers), three horses, and 70 camels. It was when they arrived at a place called Badr, a camp where the Madenese received information about caravans, that they learned about the Quraish tribe's large army approaching them.

The initial reason for invading the caravan had now changed. The Prophet (pbuh) and two of his emigrants, Abu Bakr and Umar, were ready to fight. The Prophet (pbuh) wanted to hear the Ansars' opinion, and Sad bin Muad spoke up, "We believe in you and acknowledge that what you have brought is from Allah. We have given you our word, and we are with you, even if you take us to the sea." These words greatly inspired the Prophet (pbuh) and the emigrants.

The Muslims took position facing the valley, with the wells behind them, and dug a reservoir to fill with water. They then blocked the wells, forcing the disbelievers to bypass the valley and fight the Muslims to access water. The disbelievers took position on the other side of the valley. When the Muslims learned about the disbelievers' numerical superiority, some lost hope. However, a night before the battle, rain fell on both sides, which was disastrous for the disbelievers but served as a moral booster and strength enhancer for the Muslims.

The rain on the disbelievers' side was heavier, making the ground soft and difficult to march on. In contrast, the rain on the Muslims' side was moderate, which helped to harden the sand and make it easier to march on. This natural phenomenon gave the Muslims an advantage in terms of mobility and terrain, while the disbelievers struggled with the slippery and soggy ground.

It's interesting to note how the rain seemed to favor the Muslims, making it easier for them to move around and prepare for battle. This could be seen as a sign of divine intervention or a natural advantage that boosted the Muslims' morale and physical ability to fight.

With this Allah said;

اِذۡ يُغَشِّيۡكُمُ النُّعَاسَ اَمَنَةً مِّنۡهُ وَيُنَزِّلُ عَلَيۡكُمۡ مِّنَ السَّمَآءِ مَآءً لِّيُطَهِّرَكُمۡ بِهٖ وَيُذۡهِبَ عَنۡكُمۡ رِجۡزَ الشَّيۡطٰنِ وَلِيَرۡبِطَ عَلٰى قُلُوۡبِكُمۡ وَيُثَبِّتَ بِهِ الۡاَقۡدَامَؕ

 “when we made the slumber fall upon as a reassurance from him and sent down water from the sky upon you, in order that he might purify you, and remove from you the fear of Satan and strengthen your hearts and make firm your fret thereby” (Quran 8:11)

In the morning, Friday 17th of Ramadan 2 A.H(march 17th AD) the two army drew closer to one another and stood in line. The prophet pbuh raised his hand and prayed to Allah. "O Allah, here come Quraish full of vanity and pride, who oppose thee and call thy Messenger a liar. O Allah, if this little Muslims perished today, there will be no one left in the land to worship you."

On the morning of Friday, 17th of Ramadan, 2 A.H. (March 17th AD), the two armies drew closer to each other and stood in line. The Prophet (pbuh) raised his hands and prayed to Allah, saying:

"O Allah, here come the Quraish, full of vanity and pride, who oppose You and call Your Messenger a liar. O Allah, if this small group of Muslims perishes today, there will be no one left in the land to worship You."

The prophet pbuh's prayer is never rejected and so Allah truly helped the Muslims. Allah answered; 

اِذۡ تَسۡتَغِيۡثُوۡنَ رَبَّكُمۡ فَاسۡتَجَابَ لَـكُمۡ اَنِّىۡ مُمِدُّكُمۡ بِاَلۡفٍ مِّنَ الۡمَلٰۤٮِٕكَةِ مُرۡدِفِيۡنَ

وَمَا جَعَلَهُ اللّٰهُ اِلَّا بُشۡرٰى وَلِتَطۡمَٮِٕنَّ بِهٖ قُلُوۡبُكُمۡ‌ۚ وَمَا النَّصۡرُ اِلَّا مِنۡ عِنۡدِ اللّٰهِ‌ؕ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ عَزِيۡزٌ حَكِيۡمٌ

“when Ye sought help of your lord and he answered you. saying, I will help u with a thousand of the angels,rank on rank. Allah appointed it only as good tidings, and that your hearts might thereby be at ease. Victory comes only by the help of Allah. Lo! Allah is mighty ,wise "(Quran 8:9-10).

The battle commenced when the Quraish people attempted to access the wells behind the Muslim lines. However, a few of them who approached were shot and killed. The disbelievers then sent three of their warriors forward, and the Prophet (pbuh) responded by sending Hamza, Ali, and Ubayda. Shortly after, Hamza and Ali defeated their opponents, while Ubayda and his opponent wounded each other.

Emboldened by their leader Abu Jahl, the disbelievers advanced, confident in their superior numbers and experience. However, the Prophet (pbuh) observed that despite being outnumbered, his people were resolute in their determination to fight. He commanded them to form a line and use their arrows first, instructing them to hold off using their swords until the disbelievers drew closer.

As the disbelievers approached, the Muslims unleashed a hail of arrows, felling many of them. The disbelievers continued to advance, but the Muslims held their ground, using their arrows effectively until they were able to engage in close combat.

As the battle became more difficult, the prophet pbuh kept on praying to Allah regularly for help until his cloak fell. Abu bakar went and took it from the ground and covered him, he then told the prophet pbuh that, "You have prayed enough and that Allah will surely keep his promise.”

Allah the most powerful reviled to the prophet, 

اِذۡ يُوۡحِىۡ رَبُّكَ اِلَى الۡمَلٰۤٮِٕكَةِ اَنِّىۡ مَعَكُمۡ فَثَبِّتُوا الَّذِيۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡا‌ ؕ سَاُلۡقِىۡ فِىۡ قُلُوۡبِ الَّذِيۡنَ كَفَرُوا الرُّعۡبَ فَاضۡرِبُوۡا فَوۡقَ الۡاَعۡنَاقِ وَاضۡرِبُوۡا مِنۡهُمۡ كُلَّ بَنَانٍؕ 

“Remember thy Lord inspired the angels (with the message): "I am with you: give firmness to the Believers: I will instil terror into the hearts of the Unbelievers: smite ye above their necks and smite all their finger-tips off them." (Quran 8:12).

The angels truly descended and helped the Muslims to defeat the disbelievers. For instance, the prophet pbuh fetched a hand full of sand and threw it on the enemy and said, “confusing seizes their faces!."

As he threw the sand, a sandstorm appeared and blew the sand in the eyes of the enemies. Malayka Gebriel reviled. 

فَلَمۡ تَقۡتُلُوۡهُمۡ وَلٰـكِنَّ اللّٰهَ قَتَلَهُمۡۖ وَمَا رَمَيۡتَ اِذۡ رَمَيۡتَ وَ لٰـكِنَّ اللّٰهَ رَمٰى‌ ۚ وَلِيُبۡلِىَ الۡمُؤۡمِنِيۡنَ مِنۡهُ بَلَاۤءً حَسَنًا‌ ؕ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ سَمِيۡعٌ عَلِيۡمٌ

“It is not ye who slew them; it was Allah: when thou threwest (a handful of dust), it was not thy act, but Allah's: in order that He might test the Believers by a gracious trial from Himself: for Allah is He Who heareth and knoweth (all things)." (Quran 8:17).

Incidences during the battle,

👌🏼 Umar bin khattab did not spare the life of his uncle Al-As bin hisham who was fighting at the side of the disbelievers.

👌🏼 Abu bakar saw his son Abdul Rahman who was still a disbeliever and shouted "you wicked son, where is my wealth and his son said that,     "it has been taken by the wind."

👌🏼 Ukasha bin Mihsan Al-asdi was given a log of wood by the prophet pbuh when his sword broke, this log of wood instantly turned to be a long and sharpen sword. He used this sword in all the battles he took part before his death.

                                                                

👌🏼 Bilal did not spare his master Umayyah ibn Khalaf.

Indeed, the angels assisted the Muslims in defeating the disbelievers, as confirmed by numerous narrations from both the companions of the Prophet (pbuh) and the disbelievers. One such narration is the story of Al-Abbas bin Abd al-Muttalib, the Prophet's uncle, who was captured by one of the Ansar. When he was brought before the Prophet (pbuh), he said, "O Messenger of Allah, I was not captured by this man, but by a man who was most handsome and rode a piebald horse. I don't see him among you now." The Muslim claimed to have captured him, but the Prophet (pbuh) said, "Be quiet, Allah strengthened you with the help of a noble angel."

Meanwhile, Iblis (Satan), who was always with the disbelievers, confusing them and leading them to fight the Muslims, fled to the sea upon seeing the angels' assistance to the Muslims. Two Ansar Muslims went in search of Abu Jahl, the leader of the disbelievers, and killed him after torturing him. They then showed their blood-stained sword to the Prophet (pbuh), who praised Allah, acknowledging that Abu Jahl was a significant barrier to the growth of Islam.

In the end, the Muslims emerged victorious, with 14 Muslims killed (6 emigrants and 8 Ansars) and 70 disbelievers killed, including many of their leaders. The same number were taken as prisoners. The Prophet (pbuh) ordered that the prisoners be treated well until their families came to claim them.

 Mus'ab bin Umayr was passing by and saw an Ansar tying up his brother, Abu Aziz. Musab told the Ansar to tie him securely, as their mother was wealthy and would pay a substantial ransom for him. Abu Aziz asked Musab to help him, but Musab replied that the Ansar was his brother, not him.

Later, the Prophet (pbuh) ordered his companions to dispose of the disbelievers' corpses in an abandoned well. On the third day, the Prophet (pbuh) visited the well and stood over the corpses, saying, "What an evil tribe you were regarding your prophet! You belied me, while others believed in me. You let me down, while others supported me. You expelled me, whereas others sheltered me. Would it not have been better for you if you had believed?"

Umar saw the Prophet (pbuh) talking to the dead and asked him why he was doing so. The Prophet (pbuh) replied, "By Him in whose hands is Muhammad's soul, you do not hear better what I am saying than they do." This response highlights the Prophet's ability to communicate with all creation, including the dead, and the importance of conveying the message of Islam to all.

THE BATTLE OF BADR, REACTION

The Prophet (pbuh) sent Abdullah bin Rawahah and Zaid bin Harithah to inform the Muslims in Madina about the victory. However, when they arrived, the Jews and hypocrites spread false news that the Prophet (pbuh) had been killed, as they saw Zaid riding the Prophet's she-camel. The messengers clarified the truth and shared the news of the victory, which caused the Muslims to rejoice and praise Allah.

Meanwhile, a minor dispute arose among the Muslim warriors regarding the distribution of the spoils of war. The Prophet (pbuh) received a revelation from Allah and decided to take one-fifth of the spoils and distribute the rest equally among the warriors.

On their way back to Madina, the Prophet (pbuh) ordered the execution of two prisoners, An-Nadr bin Al-Harith and Uqbah bin Abi Muait, who had severely tortured and killed Muslims in Makkah and had also mistreated the Prophet (pbuh).

The Muslim army was warmly received by their brothers at a suburb of Madina, Ar-Rawha, and from there, they entered Madina. This led to many Madenese accepting Islam. The Prophet (pbuh) consulted with Umar and Abu Bakr regarding the prisoners, and Abu Bakr suggested collecting ransom for their release, while Umar recommended executing them.

The prophet pbuh then received a revelation which says, 

فَاِذَا لَقِيۡتُمُ الَّذِيۡنَ كَفَرُوۡا فَضَرۡبَ الرِّقَابِ ؕ حَتّٰٓى اِذَاۤ اَثۡخَنۡتُمُوۡهُمۡ فَشُدُّوۡا الۡوَثَاقَ ۙ فَاِمَّا مَنًّۢا بَعۡدُ وَاِمَّا فِدَآءً حَتّٰى تَضَعَ الۡحَـرۡبُ اَوۡزَارَهَا ۛۚ  ذٰ لِكَ ‌ۛؕ وَلَوۡ يَشَآءُ اللّٰهُ لَانْـتَصَرَ مِنۡهُمۡ  وَلٰـكِنۡ لِّيَبۡلُوَا۟ بَعۡضَكُمۡ بِبَعۡضٍ‌ؕ وَالَّذِيۡنَ قُتِلُوۡا فِىۡ سَبِيۡلِ اللّٰهِ فَلَنۡ يُّضِلَّ اَعۡمَالَهُمۡ

“Therefore, when ye meet the Unbelievers (in fight), smite at their necks; At length, when ye have thoroughly subdued them, bind a bond firmly (on them): thereafter (is the time for) either generosity or ransom: Until the war lays down its burdens. Thus (are ye commanded): but if it had been Allah's Will, He could certainly have exacted retribution from them (Himself); but (He lets you fight) in order to test you, some with others. But those who are slain in the Way of Allah,- He will never let their deeds be lost." (Quran 47:4)"

The revelation from Allah permitted the Muslims to accept ransom from those who could afford it. The amount was set between 4000 to 1000 dirhams, depending on the prisoner's financial status. For those who couldn't pay, the Makkans, being more educated than the Madenese, were required to teach ten Madenese how to read and write in exchange for their freedom.

Zainab, the Prophet's daughter, offered a necklace as ransom to free her husband, Abu al-As ibn al-Rabi', but the Muslims refused. Instead, they released him on the condition that Zainab would migrate to Madina, which she did.

The disbelievers returned to Makkah with shame and feared the reaction of their people upon learning about the defeat. In Makkah, Abdullah Al-Khuza and Abu Safyan bin Al-Harith shared the outcome of the battle and the role of the Angels in helping the Muslims. Abu Lahab, upon hearing this, began to beat and torture a Muslim named Abu Rafi', which angered a Muslim woman who struck him. Seven days later, Abu Lahab died and was buried by his son three days later.

The people of Makkah were devastated by the news of the defeat, the killing of their relatives, and the capture of others. They shared tears and desired revenge in every household.

HATRED FROM THE JEWS AND OTHERS

As the news of the Muslim victory spread, the enemies of Islam became increasingly vigilant and eager to exact revenge. The Makkans were particularly desperate to avenge their defeat, while the Jews grew concerned about the growing strength and numbers of the Muslims, fearing it would threaten their own safety.

Despite the peace treaty between the Muslims and Jews, the latter began to misbehave, treating the Muslims poorly in marketplaces and localities. They constantly sought to stir up trouble and create problems between the Muslims.

On one occasion, they even managed to spark a misunderstanding among a group of Muslims, which was eventually resolved through the wise counsel of the Prophet (pbuh).

The Jews' behavior was marked by hypocrisy, as they would pretend to convert and believe in Islam during the day, only to disbelieve and plot against the Muslims at night. Their provocative and harmful actions continued both in secret and in public, posing a significant challenge to the Muslim community.

THE QAINUQA

The most wicked among them were the Qainuqa, one of the three Jewish tribes that broke their covenant with the Muslims. They resided in the quarters of Madina, were the most influential among the Jews, and were skilled in blacksmithing, goldsmithing, and weapon-making. They would jeer at Muslims, hurt those who frequented their bazaar, harass Muslim women publicly, and cause trouble among the Muslims. This behavior continued until it became unbearable to the Muslims. The Prophet (pbuh) gathered them and advised them to stop their actions, but they refused, telling him that he should not feel courageous just because he had defeated the Makkans, for they were more experienced in warfare.

Despite this, the Prophet (pbuh) advised the Muslims to be patient and not to retaliate. However, one day, a Muslim woman was humiliated by a Qainuqa man, who uncovered her genital. A Muslim man witnessed this and beat the Jew to death, and the surrounding Qainuqa men then beat the Muslim man to death. The Muslims were called to help, and this created an atmosphere of war.

On Shawwal 16, 2 AH (Saturday), the Prophet (pbuh) marched his army to the Qainuqa locality and laid siege for 15 days. Allah cast fear into their hearts, and they were all captured by the Muslims. A fake convert and hypocrite, Abdullah bin Ubai Salul, interceded on their behalf, and the Bani Qainuqa handed over their materials, wealth, and were released and banished from Madina. They went to Syria and stayed there for a while.

YAHUUDU BANI NADEER

With the banishment of the Qainuqa tribe from Madina due to their wicked behavior towards the Muslims, the remaining two Jewish tribes were now on alert. Meanwhile, the disbelievers in Makkah were still plotting to avenge their defeat. The tension between the Muslims and their enemies continued to escalate, with the Jews in Madina wary of suffering a similar fate as the Qainuqa, and the Makkans seeking revenge for their loss. This created an atmosphere of heightened alertness and preparedness among the Muslims, as they stood ready to face any future challenges or threats from their adversaries.

As-Sawiq invasion,

Abu Safyan, determined to avenge the defeat at Badr and bring joy to his people, led an army of 200 men to Madina. However, they failed to launch an attack in the afternoon and instead sought the company of the leader of the Yahuudu Bani Nadeer tribe. Under the cover of night, they raided Al-Uraid, a suburb of Madina, where some Muslims were working. The army destroyed palm trees and killed several Muslims before fleeing. When the Prophet (pbuh) received news of the attack, he set out with his companions to pursue them, but they were unable to catch up.

Meanwhile, Ka'b bin Al-Ashraf, a prominent Jew, was also seeking to harm the Muslims. He used his wealth and influence to support the Makkans in their attacks against the Muslims. He even traveled to Makkah to boost the morale of the enemy army and help them prepare for battle. His actions caused significant trouble, and the Prophet (pbuh) called upon his companions to eliminate him, describing him as an enemy of Allah. Mohammed bin Maslamah and a group of companions, including Abu Na'ilah, Ka'b's foster brother and a Muslim, volunteered to carry out the task. They successfully set up and killed Ka'b, fulfilling the Prophet's request.