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running between the two hills of Makkah, Safa and Marwah, the Prophetpeace be upon him with the
Muslims halted at the latter spot to slaughter the sacrificial animals and shave their heads.
The main body of the pilgrims had now performed the basic rites of the lesser pilgrimage, but there
remained those who were entrusted the charge of the weapons. The Prophet had these relieved, and
they went through the same devotions as the others did.
On the morning of the fourth day of the pilgrimage, the notables of Quraish asked 'Ali bin Abi Talib
to tell the Prophet peace be upon him to leave Makkah along with his Companions. He, of course,
could not conceive of violating the terms of Al-Hudaibiyah Treaty, therefore he ordered his men to
depart for a village called Sarif where he stayed for some time.
It was during this visit of the Prophet peace be upon him to Makkah for pilgrimage that his uncle
'Abbas offered the hand of his sister-in-law, Maimuna - the daughter of Harith, to him. The Prophet
peace be upon him was kind enough to accept this offer since it was an effective step towards
cementing the ties of relationship between the Prophet peace be upon him and the influential men of
Makkah. The wedding took place in Sarif.
Narrators attached different designations to this lesser pilgrimage. Some called it the compensatory
lesser pilgrimage, performed instead of that uncompleted of Hudaibiyah; and the other one, given
preponderance by jurists, is the lesser pilgrimage consequent on certain terms of a treaty already
agreed upon. On the whole, compensatory, judicial consent, retribution and reconciliation are all
terms applicable to that visit.
Some military operations, directed against some still obdurate desert Arabians, took place at the
conclusion of the lesser pilgrimage, of which we could mention:
·
1. A platoon of 50 men led by Ibn Abi Al-'Awja' was despatched by the Prophet peace be
upon him to the habitations of Bani Saleem inviting them to embrace Islam, but all the words
fell on deaf ears. Fierce fighting erupted between both parties during which the Muslim leader
was wounded, and two of the enemy were captured.
·
2. Ghalib bin 'Abdullah at the head of 200 men was despatched to Fadak where they killed
some rebels and a lot of booty fell to their lot.
·
3. Banu Quda'a had gathered a large number of men to raid the Muslim positions. On
hearing the news, the Prophet peace be upon him despatched Ka'b bin 'Umair Al-Ansari at the
head of 15 men to deal with this situation. They encountered the army, and called them to
enter into the fold of Islam but the rebels gave a negative response and showered the
Muslims with arrows killing all of them except one who was carried back home later seriously
wounded.
There was also an insignificant skirmish that occurred in Rabi' Al-Awwal 8 A.H. Shuja' bin Wahab Al-
Asadi, along with 25 men, marched towards Bani Hawazin tribe where they encountered no
resistance but managed to gain some booty.
The Battle of Mu'tah
It was the most significant and the fiercest battle during the lifetime of the Messenger of Allâh peace
be upon him, a preliminary and a prelude to the great conquests of the land of the Christians. It
took place in Jumada Al-Ula 8 A.H. / September 629 A.D. Mu'tah is a village that lies on the borders
of geographical Syria.
The Prophet peace be upon him had sent Al-Harith bin 'Umair Al-Azdi on an errand to carry a letter
to the ruler of Busra. On his way, he was intercepted by Sharhabeel bin 'Amr Al-Ghassani, the
governor of Al-Balqa' and a close ally to Caesar, the Byzantine Emperor. Al-Harith was tied and
beheaded by Al-Ghassani.
Killing envoys and messengers used to be regarded as the most awful crime, and amounted to the
degree of war declaration. The Prophet peace be upon him was shocked on hearing the news and
ordered that a large army of 3000 men be mobilized and despatched to the north to discipline the
transgressors. It was the largest Muslim army never mobilized on this scale except in the process of
the Confederates Battle.
Zaid bin Haritha was appointed to lead the army. Ja'far bin Abi Talib would replace him if he was
killed, and 'Abdullah bin Rawaha would succeed Ja'far in case the latter fell. A white banner was
raised and handed over to Zaid.
The Prophet peace be upon him recommended that they reach the scene of Al-Harith's murder and
invite the people to profess Islam. Should the latter respond positively, then no war would ensue,
otherwise fighting them would be the only alternative left. He ordered them:
"Fight the disbelievers in the Name of Allâh, neither breach a covenant nor entertain treachery, and
under no circumstances a new-born, woman, an ageing man or a hermit should be killed; moreover
neither trees should be cut down nor homes demolished." At the conclusion of the military
preparations, the people of Madinah gathered and bade the army farewell. 'Abdullah bin Rawaha
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