Nakhla raid
Encyclopedia
The Nakhla Raid was the seventh Caravan Raid
and the first successful raid against the Meccans. Abdullah ibn Jahsh was the Commander .
It took place in Rajab 2 A.H., i.e. January 624 A.H. Muhammad despatched ‘Abdullah bin Jahsh Asadi to Nakhlah at the head of 12 Emigrants with six camels.
), Muhammad sent Abdullah ibn Jahsh in Rajab with 8 or 12 men on a fact-finding operation.
Abdullah ibn Jahsh was a maternal cousin of Muhammad. He took along with him Abu Haudhayfa , Abdullah ibn Jahsh, Ukkash ibn Mihsan, Utba b. Ghazwan, Sa’d ibn Abi Waqqas, Amir ibn Rabia, Waqid ibn Abdullah and Khalid ibn al-Bukayr.
Muhammad
gave Abdullah ibn Jahsh a letter, but not to be read until he had traveled for two days and then to do what he was instructed to do in the letter without putting pressure on his companions. Abdullah proceeded for two days, then he opened the letter; it told him to proceed until he reached at Nakhla
, between Mecca
and Taif, lie in wait for the Quraysh and observe what they were doing.
Abdullah ibn Jahsh, sensing an opportunity for attack, told his companions that whoever chose martyrdom was free to join him and whoever did not could go back. All the companions agreed to follow him (a few biographers write that two Muslims decided not to be martyrs and chose to return to Medina
). Sa’d ibn Abi Waqqas and Utbah ibn Ghazwan lost a camel that they were taking turns to ride. The camel strayed and went to Buhran, so they went out looking for the runaway camel to Buhran and fell behind the group.
At Nakhlah, the caravan passed carrying loads of raisins (dried grapes), food stuff and other commodities. Notable polytheists were also there such as ‘Amr bin Al-Hadrami, ‘Uthman and Naufal, sons of ‘Abdullah bin Al-Mugheerah and others... The Muslims held consultations among themselves with respect to fighting them taking into account Rajab which was a sacred month (during which, along with Dhul Hijja, Dhul Qa‘da and Muharram, war activities were suspended as was the custom in Arabia then).
One of Abdullah ibn Jahsh’s men, Ukkash ibn Mihsan, was shaven in head to hide the real purpose of their journey and to give the Quraysh the impression of lesser Hajj
(Umra
); for it was the month (Rajab
) when hostilities were forbidden. When the Quraysh saw the shaven head of Ukkash, they thought that the group was on its way for pilgrimage
and they felt relieved and began to set up camp. Due to the prevalence of a sacred month, either at the beginning of Rajab, or at the end of it (the opinion among the historians vary), Rajab being one of the four sacred months when there was a total ban on warfare and bloodshed in the Arabian Peninsula
, Abdullah ibn Jahsh was at first hesitant to attack the caravan.
Nevertheless, after much deliberation, the group did not want this rich caravan to escape. So they decided to take a large booty.
While they (the Quraysh) were busy preparing food, the Muslims attacked.At last they agreed to engage with them in fighting. In the short battle that ensued, Waqid ibn Abdullah killed Amr ibn Hadrami by an arrow, the leader of the Quraysh caravan. Nawfal ibn Abdullah escaped. The Muslims took Uthman ibn Abdullah and al-Hakam ibn Kaysan as prisoners. Abdullah ibn Jahsh returned to Medina with the booty and with the two captured Quraysh men. The followers planned to give one-fifth of the booty to Muhammad.
was furious about what had happened. He rebuked them (the Muslims) for fighting in the sacred month, saying: "I did not instruct you to fight in the sacred month"
According to Ibn Qayyim, he said "most of the scholars have explained the word Fitnah here as meaning Shirk
"
This revelation
permitted the Muslims to conduct war even during the sacred months. Abdullah ibn Jahsh divided the booty, but Muhammad refused to take his share from the raid and paid blood money for the killed man. As for the two captives, ransom was demanded of them for their freedom. However, the Mohammed refused to accept the ransoms from the Quraysh until he was sure that two of his men, Sa’d ibn Abi Waqqas and Utbah ibn Ghazwan, had not been killed. When Sa’d and Utbah returned unharmed, Muhammad released the two Quraysh prisoners on payment of their ransom of one thousand six hundred (1,600) Dirhams. It was said that soon after his release, Hakam ibn Kaysan became a Muslim.
Later, he was killed at the Expedition of Bir Maona
. The other prisoner, Uthman ibn Abdullah returned to Mecca and died as an unbeliever.
This successful raid on the Quraysh caravans gravely alarmed the Meccans, because their prosperity completely depended upon the regular and un-interrupted trade to Syria.
The trading with Abyssinia and Yemen was of lesser importance. The Nakhla attack also greatly unnerved the Meccans because of its timing, during the sacred months, and because it showed the growing strength of the new Muslim community. So they resolved to avenge the attack, however, the Quraysh restrained their hostility for the time being. A few of the new Muslims still resided at Mecca, including Mohammed's daughter, Zaynab
. The Quraysh, still licking their wounds from the caravan attack, did not move to take action against the remaining Muslims at Mecca.
's biography of Muhammad, as well as the Quran , and other historical sources.
Caravan raids
The Caravan raids refer to a series of raids which Muhammad and his Companions participated in. The raids were generally offensive and carried out to gather intelligence or seize the trade goods of Caravans financed by the Quraysh,...
and the first successful raid against the Meccans. Abdullah ibn Jahsh was the Commander .
It took place in Rajab 2 A.H., i.e. January 624 A.H. Muhammad despatched ‘Abdullah bin Jahsh Asadi to Nakhlah at the head of 12 Emigrants with six camels.
Background and participants
After his return from the first Badr encounter (Battle of SafwanBattle of Safwan
The Invasion of Safwan also known as the Preliminary Badr Invasion occurred directly after the Invasion of Waddan in the year 2 AH of the islamic calendar. The expedition was ordered by Muhammad after he received intelligence that Kurz ibn Jabir al-Fihri rustled some grazing cattles belonging to...
), Muhammad sent Abdullah ibn Jahsh in Rajab with 8 or 12 men on a fact-finding operation.
Abdullah ibn Jahsh was a maternal cousin of Muhammad. He took along with him Abu Haudhayfa , Abdullah ibn Jahsh, Ukkash ibn Mihsan, Utba b. Ghazwan, Sa’d ibn Abi Waqqas, Amir ibn Rabia, Waqid ibn Abdullah and Khalid ibn al-Bukayr.
Muhammad
Muhammad
Muhammad |ligature]] at U+FDF4 ;Arabic pronunciation varies regionally; the first vowel ranges from ~~; the second and the last vowel: ~~~. There are dialects which have no stress. In Egypt, it is pronounced not in religious contexts...
gave Abdullah ibn Jahsh a letter, but not to be read until he had traveled for two days and then to do what he was instructed to do in the letter without putting pressure on his companions. Abdullah proceeded for two days, then he opened the letter; it told him to proceed until he reached at Nakhla
Nakhla
Nakhla can refer to:* Adel Nakhla, an American-Egyptian civilian translator.* Nakhla tobacco, an Egyptian tobacco company.* Nakhla meteorite, a Mars meteorite that landed in the Nakhla region of Abu Hommos, Alexandria, Egypt*Nakhla, Algeria...
, between Mecca
Mecca
Mecca is a city in the Hijaz and the capital of Makkah province in Saudi Arabia. The city is located inland from Jeddah in a narrow valley at a height of above sea level...
and Taif, lie in wait for the Quraysh and observe what they were doing.
Abdullah ibn Jahsh, sensing an opportunity for attack, told his companions that whoever chose martyrdom was free to join him and whoever did not could go back. All the companions agreed to follow him (a few biographers write that two Muslims decided not to be martyrs and chose to return to Medina
Medina
Medina , or ; also transliterated as Madinah, or madinat al-nabi "the city of the prophet") is a city in the Hejaz region of western Saudi Arabia, and serves as the capital of the Al Madinah Province. It is the second holiest city in Islam, and the burial place of the Islamic Prophet Muhammad, and...
). Sa’d ibn Abi Waqqas and Utbah ibn Ghazwan lost a camel that they were taking turns to ride. The camel strayed and went to Buhran, so they went out looking for the runaway camel to Buhran and fell behind the group.
The attack
- Amr ibn al-Hadrami. He was the leader of the caravan.
- Uthman bin Abdullah ibn al-Mughirah.
- Nawfal bin Abdullah ibn al-Mughirah, UthmanUthmanUthman ibn Affan was one of the companions of Islamic prophet, Muhammad. He played a major role in early Islamic history as the third Sunni Rashidun or Rightly Guided Caliph....
’s brother. - Al-Hakam ibn Kaysan, the freed slave (Mawla) of Hisham ibn al-Mughirah.
At Nakhlah, the caravan passed carrying loads of raisins (dried grapes), food stuff and other commodities. Notable polytheists were also there such as ‘Amr bin Al-Hadrami, ‘Uthman and Naufal, sons of ‘Abdullah bin Al-Mugheerah and others... The Muslims held consultations among themselves with respect to fighting them taking into account Rajab which was a sacred month (during which, along with Dhul Hijja, Dhul Qa‘da and Muharram, war activities were suspended as was the custom in Arabia then).
One of Abdullah ibn Jahsh’s men, Ukkash ibn Mihsan, was shaven in head to hide the real purpose of their journey and to give the Quraysh the impression of lesser Hajj
Hajj
The Hajj is the pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia. It is one of the largest pilgrimages in the world, and is the fifth pillar of Islam, a religious duty that must be carried out at least once in their lifetime by every able-bodied Muslim who can afford to do so...
(Umra
UMRA
UMRA is an abbreviation that stands for:*Unión Militar Republicana Antifascista, an anti-fascist organization for military members in Spain during the Second Spanish Republic...
); for it was the month (Rajab
Rajab
Rajab is the seventh month of the Islamic calendar. The lexical definition of Rajaba is "to respect", of which Rajab is a derivative.This month is regarded as one of the four sacred months in Islam in which battles are prohibited...
) when hostilities were forbidden. When the Quraysh saw the shaven head of Ukkash, they thought that the group was on its way for pilgrimage
Pilgrimage
A pilgrimage is a journey or search of great moral or spiritual significance. Typically, it is a journey to a shrine or other location of importance to a person's beliefs and faith...
and they felt relieved and began to set up camp. Due to the prevalence of a sacred month, either at the beginning of Rajab, or at the end of it (the opinion among the historians vary), Rajab being one of the four sacred months when there was a total ban on warfare and bloodshed in the Arabian Peninsula
Arabian Peninsula
The Arabian Peninsula is a land mass situated north-east of Africa. Also known as Arabia or the Arabian subcontinent, it is the world's largest peninsula and covers 3,237,500 km2...
, Abdullah ibn Jahsh was at first hesitant to attack the caravan.
Nevertheless, after much deliberation, the group did not want this rich caravan to escape. So they decided to take a large booty.
While they (the Quraysh) were busy preparing food, the Muslims attacked.At last they agreed to engage with them in fighting. In the short battle that ensued, Waqid ibn Abdullah killed Amr ibn Hadrami by an arrow, the leader of the Quraysh caravan. Nawfal ibn Abdullah escaped. The Muslims took Uthman ibn Abdullah and al-Hakam ibn Kaysan as prisoners. Abdullah ibn Jahsh returned to Medina with the booty and with the two captured Quraysh men. The followers planned to give one-fifth of the booty to Muhammad.
Aftermath
The Quraysh also spread everywhere the news of the raid and the killing by the Muslims in the sacred month. Because of the timing, and because the attack was carried out without his sanction, MuhammadMuhammad
Muhammad |ligature]] at U+FDF4 ;Arabic pronunciation varies regionally; the first vowel ranges from ~~; the second and the last vowel: ~~~. There are dialects which have no stress. In Egypt, it is pronounced not in religious contexts...
was furious about what had happened. He rebuked them (the Muslims) for fighting in the sacred month, saying: "I did not instruct you to fight in the sacred month"
Mentioning in Quran
Muhammad initially disapproved of that act and suspended any action as regards the camels and the two captives on account of the prohibited months . The polytheists, on their part, exploited this golden opportunity to calumniate the Muslims and accuse them of violating what is Divinely inviolable. This idle talk brought about a painful headache to Muhammad’s Companions, until at last they were relieved when Muhammad revealed a verse regarding fighting in the sacred months:According to Ibn Qayyim, he said "most of the scholars have explained the word Fitnah here as meaning Shirk
Shirk
Shirk may refer to:* "Shirk", to avoid work or other responsibilities* Shirk , in Islam, the sin of idolatry or associating beings or things with Allah* "Shirk break", a synonym for coffee break*Susan Shirk, US academic...
"
This revelation
Revelation
In religion and theology, revelation is the revealing or disclosing, through active or passive communication with a supernatural or a divine entity...
permitted the Muslims to conduct war even during the sacred months. Abdullah ibn Jahsh divided the booty, but Muhammad refused to take his share from the raid and paid blood money for the killed man. As for the two captives, ransom was demanded of them for their freedom. However, the Mohammed refused to accept the ransoms from the Quraysh until he was sure that two of his men, Sa’d ibn Abi Waqqas and Utbah ibn Ghazwan, had not been killed. When Sa’d and Utbah returned unharmed, Muhammad released the two Quraysh prisoners on payment of their ransom of one thousand six hundred (1,600) Dirhams. It was said that soon after his release, Hakam ibn Kaysan became a Muslim.
Later, he was killed at the Expedition of Bir Maona
Expedition of Bir Maona
The Expedition of Bir Maona , took place 4 months after the Battle of Uhud in the year 4 A.H of the Islamic calendar.Muhammad sent missionaries to preach Islam, at the request of Abu Bara...
. The other prisoner, Uthman ibn Abdullah returned to Mecca and died as an unbeliever.
Affect
The Islamic name of this first successful raid is the ‘Nakhla Raid.’ It was also the first raid on which the Muslims seized their first captive and inflicted their first casualty.This successful raid on the Quraysh caravans gravely alarmed the Meccans, because their prosperity completely depended upon the regular and un-interrupted trade to Syria.
The trading with Abyssinia and Yemen was of lesser importance. The Nakhla attack also greatly unnerved the Meccans because of its timing, during the sacred months, and because it showed the growing strength of the new Muslim community. So they resolved to avenge the attack, however, the Quraysh restrained their hostility for the time being. A few of the new Muslims still resided at Mecca, including Mohammed's daughter, Zaynab
Zaynab
Zainab may refer to:* Zaynab , Egyptian novel*Zaynab...
. The Quraysh, still licking their wounds from the caravan attack, did not move to take action against the remaining Muslims at Mecca.
Sources
This event is mentioned in Ibn HishamIbn Hisham
Abu Muhammad 'Abd al-Malik bin Hisham , or Ibn Hisham edited the biography of Muhammad written by Ibn Ishaq. Ibn Ishaq's work is lost and is now only known in the recensions of Ibn Hisham and al-Tabari. Ibn Hisham grew up in Basra, Iraq, but moved afterwards to Egypt, where he gained a name...
's biography of Muhammad, as well as the Quran , and other historical sources.