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their claim by saying that it was strategically necessary to carry out this campaign in order to quell
the rebellious bedouins in order to meet the exigencies of the agreed upon encounter with the
polytheists, i.e. minor Badr Battle in Sha‘ban, 4 A.H. The most authentic opinion, however, is that
Dhat Ar-Riqa‘
campaign took place after the fall of Khaibar. This is supported by the fact that Abu
Hurairah and Abu Musa Al-Ash‘ari (May Allah be pleased with her) witnessed the battle. Abu
Hurairah embraced Islam only some days before Khaibar, and Abu Musa Al-Ash‘ari came back from
Abyssinia (Ethiopia) and joined the Prophet (Peace be upon him) at Khaibar. The rules relating to
the prayer of fear which the Prophet (Peace be upon him) observed at
Dhat Ar-Riqa‘
campaign, were
revealed at ‘Asfan Invasion and this beyond a shadow of doubt took place after
Al-Khandaq
(the
trench) Battle in late 5 A.H.
THE INVASION OF BADR, THE SECOND:
When the Muslims destroyed the power of the Arab-desert tribes and guarded themselves against
their evils, they started preparations to encounter their great enemy. A year elapsed since they
fought Quraish at Uhud. So it was due time to meet them and start war again in order to determine
which of the two parties was worthy of survival.
In Sha‘ban 4 A.H., January 626 A.D., the Messenger of Allâh (Peace be upon him) set out to Badr
accompanied by one thousand and five hundred fighters and ten mounted horsemen, and with ‘Ali
bin Abi Talib as standard bearer. ‘Abdullah bin Rawahah was given authority over Madinah during
the Prophet ’s absence. Reaching Badr, the Muslims stayed there waiting for the idolaters to come.
Abu Sufyan’s forces comprised two thousand footmen and fifty horsemen. They reached Mar Az-
Zahran, some distance form Makkah, and camped at a water place called Mijannah. Being reluctant,
discouraged and extremely terrified of the consequences of the approaching fight, Abu Sufyan
turned to his people and began to introduce cowardice-based flimsy pretexts in order to dissuade his
men from going to war, saying: “O tribe of Quraish! Nothing will improve the condition you are in
but a fruitful year — a year during which your animals feed on plants and bushes and give you milk
to drink. And I see that this is a rainless year, therefore I am returning now and I recommend you
to return with me.”
It seems that his army were also possessed of the same fears and apprehensions, for they readily
obeyed him without the least hesitation.
The Muslims, who were then at Badr, stayed for eight days waiting for their enemy. They took
advantage of their stay by selling goods and earning double as much the price out of it . When the
idolaters declined to fight, the balance of powers shifted to rest in favour of the Muslims, who thus
regained their military reputation, their dignity and managed to impose their awe-inspiring presence
over the whole of Arabia. In brief, they mastered and controlled the whole situation.
This invasion had many a name. It is called ‘Badr the Appointment’, ‘Badr, Second’, ‘Badr, the
Latter’, and ‘Badr Minor’.
THE INVASION OF DOUMAT AL-JANDAL:
With the Messenger’s return from Badr, peace and security prevailed the whole area; and the
Islamic headquarters, Madinah, enjoyed full security. The Prophet (Peace be upon him) then
deemed it fit and appropriate to head for the most distant areas of Arabia in order to subdue all
hostile elements in order to force undisputed recognition out of friend and enemy alike.
After a six-month lull of military activities, the Prophet (Peace be upon him) was reported that some
tribes, in the vicinity of Doumat Al-Jandal, on the borders of Syria, were involved in highway
robbery and plundering, and were on their way to muster troops and raid Madinah itself. He
immediately appointed Siba‘ bin ‘Arfatah Al-Ghifari to dispose the affairs of Madinah during his
absence, and set out at the head of 1000 Muslims in late Rabi‘ Al-Awwal, 5 A.H. taking with him a
man, named Madhkur, from Bani ‘Udhrah, as a guide.
On their way to Doumat Al-Jandal, they used to march by night and hide by day, so that they might
take the enemy by surprise. When they drew near their destination, the Muslims discovered that the
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