An introduction to first infallible Hazrat Muhammad (P.B.U.H.)
Quraish Tribe
The tribe
of Quraish was taken into consideration as one of the most respectable
and honorable one amid the honorable Arab tribes of Hijaz (The land
which is now known as Saudi Arabia was known as Hijaz before the Saudi
dynasty came into existence).
The great
grand father of the Prophet (P.B.U.H.) known as Kisa Bin Kalab was
custodian of the Kaabah (The Haram of God). Quraish were divided into
many different groups and Bani Hashim was the noblest one out of them.
Hashim
was considered to be a noble, wise and honorable one among the people of
Mecca. He helped and assisted the residents of Mecca and started the
trading business in the summer and winter for the betterment of their
lives. Therefore, the people gave him the title of Syed. This is the
very reason why those who are his successors and out of his and
Prophet's race are known as Syeds. The sons of Hashim following him
known as Mutalib and Abdul Mutalib became the guardians and custodians
of Quraish. Abdul Mutalib was a great personality. This was during his
age that Abraha attacked Kaabah, but the Almighty God destroyed him.
This added to the greatness of Abdul Mutalib. He loved Abdullah very
much. Abdullah was married to the noble girl Amina at the age of
twenty-four years.
Two
months after the event of Amul-feel Amina bore a child who was named
Mohammad (P.B.U.H.). Before the Birth of the Prophet (P.B.U.H.) his
father Abdullah had passed away and after a short period his mother too
breathed her last. The Prophet's (P.B.U.H.) grandfather Abdul Mutalib
took over as his guardian. The son of Abdullah, the Prophet (P.B.U.H.)
with the grace and mercy of God grew up to be such a young man with
spiritual purity that the people of Mecca loved him and used to keep
their belongings in his custody. This is the reason he was called "Amin."
The
Prophet (P.B.U.H.), with his force of faith, backed and assisted the
poor and oppressed ones, took his meals along with them, lent ear to
their words and solved their problems.
The
Prophet (P.B.U.H.), when some of the young ones organized an association
known as the "Commitment of youths", joined them and started backing
them because their aim was supporting the tyrannized ones and waging
jihad (holy war) against the tyrants and cruel ones.
The
Prophet (P.B.U.H.), as his uncle Abu Talib (A.S.) advised him, joined
the trade caravan of Khatija (A.S.) and due to his correct and right
work became the leader of the caravan.
After
some time Khatija (A.S.) got impressed by his virtues and wished his
hand in marriage. He accepted the proposal and the richest lady of
Quraish put all her wealth into his feet (This wealth which was the
greatest possible treasure of the Arab world of those days, was later on
used by him for the sake of helping poor Muslims and spreading Islam)
and at his disposal.
Khatija
(A.S.) gave birth to Fatima (A.S.), to whose race belong all the
Infallible Imams of Islamic Ummah.
The Sagacity
of Prophet (P.B.U.H.)
After ten
years of his marriage a strong flood came to Mecca, which divested and
plundered the Khanae Kaabah. To avoid dispute, the work of
reconstruction of Kaabah was distributed among various tribes but when
the building construction was completed and the time for fixing the
Hajar-e-Aswad (a black stone fixed on a corner of Kaabah) approached,
every tribe had the desire to achieve the honor of fixing it.
They got
very close to a war. He gave the decision that the Hajar-e-Aswad be
placed on a sheet of cloth and all of them should carry it together and
erect it.
Commencement
of the Prophetic Mission
At the
age of forty years the Mohammad (P.B.U.H.) was appointed as Prophet.
One day
when he was busy offering his prayers and was worshipping God at the
Cave of Hara (The Cave of Hara is known as Kooh-e-noor is about 6 KM
from Mecca towards Mina) angel Gabriel brought him revelation from God
that he was chosen as Prophet.
After the
revelation he went to take rest at his home. Once again, the angel
Gabriel descended and reveled the revelation of God to him for starting
the religious propagation.
To start
with, Prophet (P.B.U.H.) secretly propagated and a few men secretly
accepted Islam. First of all, his wife accepted his Prophesy and then
Hazrat Ali (A.S.). He leveled the ground and made the atmosphere for
propagation ready for as long as three years.
God
commanded him to invite the people towards one single God and start a
holy war and crusade against the idols.
This was
a dangerous and perilous job because the chiefs of the tribes had
achieved the status of Kings and Monarchs and had made all the others
their slaves. Secondly it appeared to be difficult to break the idols
those, which had been worshipped by them, for ages.
But there
was no alternative except to tolerate and bear the difficulties for the
sake of achievement of the goal and high aim of monotheism and
constitution of Taw hid (One Gad).
After the
Prophet (P.B.U.H.) had extended the common invitation, people started
their resistance and enmity.
In the
beginning, they tried to stop him (P.B.U.H.) by offering bribe. But when
they did not succeed, they used power and started teasing, torturing,
plundering the assets and making fun and cracking jokes with his
followers but this attempt also failed to stop the mission of the
Prophet (P.B.U.H.).
The
polytheists boosted up their brutalities and violence and ousted the
Prophet along with his family and followers out of Mecca.
Therefore, these people were forced to live in Shaab-e-Abu Talib for
three years, so as to get themselves saved from the evil activities of
the enemy. But the enemies did not content themselves and restrict their
activities to this.
They even
besieged the Shaab-e-Abu Talib so that the food and water does not reach
them.
Some
people played upon their lives to get them food in the darkness of the
night.
So the
time kept on passing till the polytheist gave way to the strong will and
determination of the Muslims and decided to Kill the Prophet (P.B.U.H.).
They planned to select one young man from each and every tribe and
family so that no one should be able to ask them for blood money. They
fixed a particular night to attack the Prophet's house and martyr him.
Migration to
Madinah
The
Prophet (P.B.U.H.) came to know about their plan through revelation. Out
of his lovers, this was only Ali (A.S.) who chose to lie down upon his
bed and sacrifice his own life for the Prophet (P.B.U.H.). The Prophet (P.B.U.H.)
migrated from Mecca under the cover of darkness of night. The
polytheists gathered on the specified time on that night to attack the
Prophet (P.B.U.H.) but when they saw Ali (A.S.) on the bed of the
Prophet (P.B.U.H.) they were astonished and immediately started the
pursuit of the Prophet (P.B.U.H.) but they came back without achieving
their end.
The
Prophet (P.B.U.H.), after a tiresome and inconvenient journey reached
Quba, a place near Madinah, where the inhabitants of Madinah greeted and
welcomed the Prophet (P.B.U.H).
After
reaching this place the Prophet (P.B.U.H.) planned to construct the Quba
Mosque, so that the Muslims may gather there to offer their prayers and
start planning about their constructional works.
The work
of the Mosque construction proceeded swiftly. The Prophet (P.B.U.H.)
also helped during the work. After the work got accomplished the Prophet
(P.B.U.H.) offered the first ever Juma prayer in the same Mosque. The
Prophet (P.B.U.H.) delivered a short speech and waited for his
representative Ali (A.S.) to come and join him along with the ladies of
Bani Hashim and then they enter the city together.
Ali
(A.S.) remained in Mecca for 3 days after the Prophet's (P.B.U.H.)
departure and surrendered all the deposits which the people had kept
with the Prophet (P.B.U.H.) Then Ali (A.S.) left Mecca for Madinah along
with the ladies of Bani Hashim at midnight and later joined the Prophet
(P.B.U.H.) at Quba.
The
Prophet (P.B.U.H.) along with Ali (A.S.) and the ladies entered the city
of Madinah where a warm welcome of the city inhabitants was awaiting
them. Everyone was requesting the Prophet (P.B.U.H.) to be his guest.
But he (P.B.U.H.) said leave the way of my camel, I (P.B.U.H.) will
become the guest of the person on whose door the camel shall sit down.
The camel
kept moving and crossing the streets of Madinah till She sat down on the
door of Abu Ayub Ansari and the Prophet (P.B.U.H.) became the guest of
him.
After
reaching Madinah, first of all the Prophet (P.B.U.H.) laid the
foundation of the Mosque so as to start the preaching and propagation of
his religion from this great and glorious base.
The
Prophet (P.B.U.H.) immediately put and end to the war of Aus and
Khizra's tribes, which were going on for a hundred and twenty years on
the provocation of the Jews and made them, enter a truce.
The
Prophet (P.B.U.H.) created the "brotherhood" between the Muhajireen
(immigrants) and Ansar (aiders) so that they do not become a burden upon
the later and they could live their lives together.
The Jews
of Madinah who had the keys to the economy of that place felt a danger
approaching them, so they spoiled and deterred their relations with the
Muslims. They wanted to deter and finish the unity of Muslims and kill
them. But the Prophet (P.B.U.H.) was fully aware of their activities and
thus he would nullify and counter all their conspiracies.
The
Deviation of Qiblah
The
Prophet (P.B.U.H.) used to offer his prayers facing Aqsa Mosque of the
Jerusalem for a period of thirteen years in Mecca and one year and five
months in Madinah. The Jews objected to it and said if we are not on the
right path then why do you offer your prayers facing our Qiblah.
After
all, one day Jabriel (A.S.) descended from the heaven along with the
revelation at a time when the Prophet (P.B.U.H.) was busy offering his
prayer he said: God has ordered you to turn your face towards the Kaabah.
Just now.
From that
time onwards Masjid-ul Haram (Kaabah) is the Qiblah of Muslims. The Jews
felt bad about it and objected upon Muslims and said if Kaabah was your
Qiblah then why did you offer your prayers facing Masjid-ul Aqsa
(Jerusalem)?
They were
unaware of the fact that the change of Qiblah occurred for the very
reason to distinguish the friends and enemies of Islam. So that those
who obey the Prophet (P.B.U.H.) are distinguished from those who disobey
and oppose him.
1. The Battle of Badr
When the
Prophet (P.B.U.H.) gathered fighting force, and army, he first of all
made truce pacts with the tribe living all around Madinah so that the
danger of expected attacks be pacified and nullified. He simultaneously
made up his mind to attack one of the large caravans of Quraish infidels
which was to cross by Madinah and head towards Syria so that the
defenders of infidelity and polytheism be punished and, taken to task
and there pride be shattered, and at the same time they should be given
the answer for plundering the wealth, belonging and winning of the
houses of Muhajireen (immigrants) by them.
This
battle is named the battle of Badr because it took place near the
well-named Badr.
The
Prophet (P.B.U.H.) fought this battle after consulting the political
elements and had taken steps after getting full information about the
exact position of the enemy. His companions succeeded in the Shade of
faith and the polytheists were defeated.
2. The Battle of Uhad
The
victory of Muslims in the Badr battle had made the polytheists very
annoyed and angry. At the height and peak of anger Abu Sufian announced
that nobody should mourn the death of his Kith and Kin.
On the
other hand, the Jews were greatly terrified and afraid from the success
the Muslims had achieved. That was the very reason why a Jew named Kaab
Ibne Ashraf went to Mecca and recited emotion evoking poems and made the
infidels of Quraish weep over their killed ones and provoked them to
take revenge.
As a
result, the Quraish held a meeting at Darun Nadva during which they
assessed and estimated the cost of the next battle around fifty thousand
golden Dinars.
Right
from that moment, they started procuring and gathering the war weapons
and also took help and aid from the tribes living in the surroundings of
Mecca.
The Method
of Departure
The army
of polytheists consisting upon three thousand warriors headed to
Madinah.
Abbas
lbne Abdul Mutalib, who was then concealing his being a Muslim, helped
the Prophet (P.B.U.H.) by sending a speedy messenger with a letter
informing him about the circumstances. The well-armed army of
polytheists headed by Aim Sufian and another army (infantry) Commanded
by Khalid Ibne Waleed camped near the Uhad Mountain.
Having
received information about the intentions of the polytheists the Prophet
(P.B.U.H.) held a meeting, wherein the majority decided to meet the
enemy outside the city. The army of Islam moved out of the city on 7th
of the Shawwal 3rd Hijrah after the morning prayers and by the order of
the Prophet (P.B.U.H.) camped near the enemy army. The Prophet (P.B.U.H.)
stationed Abdullah lbne Jabeer along with fifty men equipped with bows
and arrows on the top of a valley, which was strategically, and Marshal
important and dangerous and ordered them "Do not move from here whether
we gain victory or loose the battle." The two armies of monotheism and
polytheists confronted each other. The battle started through Abu Amer a
soldier of Quraish army.
In the
beginning, the Islamic forces fought bravely and made the army of
infidel's retreat but very soon the situation reversed.
The
platoon of the bow and arrow men, who were stationed by the Prophet (P.B.U.H.)
to cover the valley, thinking the battle had ended, left their place in
greed of looting the booty.
Khalid
bin Waleed the infantry Commander of the enemy took advantage of the
situation and along with his soldiers went around the mountain and
captured the valley and attacked those Muslim who were busy in
plundering the booty from the rear and killed most of them.
Seventy
men out of the total number of Muslims were slain and the rest of them
ran away and the battle ended to the benefit of the enemy. But the
Prophet (P.B.U.H.), by the sacrifice and heroism of Ali (A.S.) and the
cooperation of a few others, followed and pursued the enemy and killed a
number of their soldiers. Thus saving Madinah from any fresh attack.
3. The Battle of Khandaq (Ahzab)
The Jews
who were expelled from Madinah because of their conspiracies and
dishonesty, which they practiced against Muslims by coordination with
enemies, did not sit silent and peaceful. Their chiefs approached the
Quraish leaders of Mecca and provoked them to fight the Muslims and
promised them all kind of help and assistance.
As a
result of this movement various groups and tribes joined hands and
opened a joint front against Islam. Therefore, this war is known as the
war of Ahzabs or groups.
Their
common army consisting and comprising of polytheists, arrogant, Jews,
hypocrites and the run away from Madinah, entered a pact regarding
helping each other against Islam, so that they had ventured to finish
Islam.
An army
of ten thousand warriors moved towards Madinah, in the month of Shawwal,
the 5th Hijrah, under the Command of Abu Sufian to attack Madinah.
A few
swift-moving horsemen of the Khazaa tribe reached Madinah and informed
the Prophet (P.B.U.H.) about the situation.
The
Prophet (P.B.U.H.) ordered the army of Islam to get ready and the
Commanders of the army gathered to consult each other.
As a
result of the talk, they accepted the suggestion of Hazrat Salman and
dug a trench all around the city of Madinah and the Muslims defended
themselves from behind the trench.
Three
thousand dedicated Muslims worked tirelessly day and night to dig a
trench 5 meters deep, six meters wide and twelve thousand meters long.
A few
passages and bridges were made over the trenches and watchmen deputed on
them. On the back side of the trench, bunkers were constructed and bow
and arrow men were deputed there to defend the city.
When the
army of polytheist arrived they saw that a trench was dug all around the
city, which was not possible for them to cross over. They were obliged
to camp beside the trench.
Abu
Sufian with the motive of encouraging his forces called Hayee lbne
Akhtab the leader of the Jews of Bani Nazeer tribe and requested him to
meet Kaab Bin Asad, the Chief of Jews of Bani Kariza, residing in
Madinah and pursue him to start a civil war in Madinah with the help of
his followers so as to pave the way for the attack of Polytheist.
He did
the needful, but Prophet (P.B.U.H.) had already taken precautionary
measures and deputed five hundred armed men to patrol the city and keep
vigilant, remain alert, and keep eyes upon those coming or going out of
the city so that none of the conspiracies of the enemy matures.
The
danger of internal attack was finished and the enemy army comprising of
a few groups and gangs remained on the other side of the trench.
One day,
Umro bin Abduwad heading five brave polytheists crossed over to the
other side of the trench. Umro bin Abduwad yelled, "Oh the claimants of
paradise where are you? Come here, so that I may send you to the
paradise." No one plucked the courage of replying him except Hazrat Ali
(A.S.).
Hazrat
Ali (A.S.) rushed and reached him like a lightening and after a short
conversation killed him by one stroke of his sword and raised the slogan
of Takbir "Allah-hu-Akbar" from the depth of his heart.
One of
the companions of Umro bin Abduwad ran away and fell into the trench.
Hazrat Ali (A.S.) did not give him any chance and killed him. The rest
of the three succeeded in escaping.
The might
of Ali (A.S.) arm and his speedy action brought the Islamic army a big
success and victory. Just as the Prophet (P.B.U.H) said: This one stroke
of Ali's sword is superior to the prayers of both men and Jins ("Which
they have been performing or will ever perform").
The next
day Khalid bin Waleed along with a few horsemen tried to cross the
trench for the sake of encouraging his army but the Mujahideen warriors
of Islamic forces resisted them. Since, under these circumstances the
enemy had lost their wits, the Prophet (P.B.U.H.) deputed Naeem bin
Masood to create dispute and disappointment between the Jews of Bani
Kariza and the polytheist so that they may break their mutual
commitments.
He sent
Huzaifa Yamani in the darkness of night towards the polytheist to
dishearten them about the war. He did so by giving them the news of cold
chilly wind's blowing and a perilous and dangerous storm. As a result,
the soldiers and army chiefs entered a dispute. This resulted in Abu
Sufian's departure towards Mecca along with his army in the quiet, dark
night.
When the
Muslims woke up for their morning prayers, they saw the enemy had flown
away, and no sign of them left behind. When the Prophet (P.B.U.H.)
received the news of the enemy's flight he ordered his followers to
leave the bunkers and return to the city.
The end of
Bani Kariza
After the
battle of Ahzab (groups) the Prophet (P.B.U.H.) moved towards the fort
of Bani Kariza. They were made to surrender as a result of 25 days long
siege, they surrendered to Hazrat Ali (A.S.).
After
their defeat the Bani Kariza requested the Prophet (P.B.U.H.) to allow
them to leave Madinah but the Prophet (P.B.U.H.) turned their request
down because, they after getting freedom would again conspire to break
another war just like the Jews of Bani Keenka who after getting freedom
caused the Uhud battle to take shape and the Jews of Bani Nazeer had
flared up the Khandak battle.
Finally,
they had to bow their heads to this decision of Saad Bin Ebada that all
those men who had traited and helped the enemy during the war should be
slain and their properties be confiscated.
The
Hudaibiyyah Truce
The
defeat of Quraish in the battles and repeated victory of Muslims,
particularly the defeat of Taefa-e-Bani Mustalek, and accepting Islam at
the hand of Prophet (P.B.U.H.) bewildered the Quraish.
The
Prophet (P.B.U.H.) moved towards Mecca in the month of Dhul-Qi'dah, 7
Hijrah along with fourteen hundred Muslims with the intention of
performing Hajj.
Besides
spiritual and servitude benefits, another political purpose of this
journey was to make it an errand and movement to give a permanent status
to the Muslims in the Arabian Peninsula.
When the
polytheist received the news of Prophet's (P.B.U.H.) arrival they took
oath and sweard by their idols that they would not let the Prophet (P.B.U.H.)
and his companions enter Mecca.
They sent
Khalid bin Waleed along with two hundred horsemen to stop them from
entering the city of Mecca.
On the
other side, the Prophet (P.B.U.H.) arrived the land of Hudaibia through
unknown ways to avoid any conflict and confrontation.
Firstly,
the Prophet (P.B.U.H.) sent his representatives to see Quraish and
assure them that they had not come for war & dispute but only to perform
the rituals of Hajj. But they mistreated the representatives, which made
evident that they were battle bourn.
The
Prophet (P.B.U.H.) again made his Ashab (Companions) undertake swear of
allegiance under a tree and they too assured him of faithfulness and
self sacrifice.
When
Quraish learnt about it, they became greatly upset and harassed and sent
Sohail as their representative to negotiate over the truce.
Quraish
desired that the Muslims do not enter Mecca in that year, and return
without performing Hajj, and come unarmed to perform Hajj freely in the
next year and during which period Quraish will bear the responsibility
of the safety and security of their lives and property.
The truce
took place on five conditions. Although a group of Muslims were not
happy about it and they were not attentive to the fact that the truce
was the prelude to the conquest of Mecca.
Their
anger reached to such a climax that they were even objecting upon the
Prophet (P.B.U.H.) and as per their immature idea, in that truce laid
shame and humility. Particularly, they were annoyed with this part of
the pact that if a Muslim came from Mecca to Medina he would be
repatriated.
The
Prophet (P.B.U.H.) rebuking made them understand the situation.
Imam
Jaffer-e-Sadiq (A.S.) said about the importance of that truce, "The most
important event of the Prophet's (P.B.U.H.) life is the truce of
Hudaibiyya."
4. The Battle of Khyber
The
Prophet of Islam (P.B.U.H.) along with one thousand and six hundred
Muslims, moved from Madinah towards Khyber in the month of Rabi ul Awwal
the 7th Hijrah. The Prophet (P.B.U.H.) took the enemy by surprise and
reached swiftly the land of Rajee, which is situated between the lands
of Khyber and Ghatfan.
The
Prophet (P.B.U.H.), by practicing a marshal technique, splited the Jews
of Khyber and Arabs of Ghatfan so that they may not help each other.
The
Muslims besieged the forts of Khyber at night time and the Mujahideen,
holy worriers of Islam, after having spotted the proper places hidden in
the palm plantations and the valleys of Khyber waged the war and
captured the valleys of Khyber one after one by their bravery and self
sacrifice. But the two important valleys, which were the bases of Jews
from where they attacked and threw arrows at Muslims, could not be
captured.
The
soldiers of Islam, by the order of Prophet (P.B.U.H.), repeatedly
attacked those forts under the command of Abu Bakr, Umar bin Khattab and
Saad bin Abada on three consecutive days but each time they were
defeated.
The
Prophet (P.B.U.H.) then said "Tomorrow I will give this banner of Islam
to the one who will return after conquering this fort."
All
waited for the other day to see who would be that lucky person. But who
else could that be except "Ali (A.S.)."
In the
morning, the Prophet (P.B.U.H.) gave the banner of Islam to Ali (A.S.)
and deputed him to capture the fort of Khyber, and prayed for his
success. The Prophet (P.B.U.H.) by this act wanted to prove the
superiority of Ali (A.S.) upon other chiefs.
When Ali
(A.S.) along with the army came near the gate of the fort the two brave,
ferocious brothers Haris and Marhab attacked the Muslims vigorously so
that they ran for their lives. But Ali (A.S.) by virtue of his bravery
and resoluteness slew both of them. On seeing this rest of the Jews were
harassed and terrified so they entered the fort and shut the gate
tightly. When the Muslims who had run away, saw this they returned back
and stood by Ali (A.S.). Hazrat Ali (A.S.) pounced upon the fort gate
like an angry tiger, pulled apart the door and used it as his shield.
Then he jumped down into the trench along with it and used it as a
bridge so that the Muslims could enter the fort. It was such a heavy
door that seven Muslims together could not move it.
About
that astonishing power, Ali (A.S.) said, "I did not pull apart the gate
of Khyber by human power but that was the help of God and power of
faith, by which I did it."
Finally,
the army of Islam conquered all the forts and defeated the Jews. The
rest of the Jews requested the Prophet (P.B.U.H.) that they might be
allowed to remain in their land for the cultivation and farming and that
they would give half of the agricultural products to the Muslims.
The
Prophet (P.B.U.H.) acceded to their appeal and let them go free.
The Fidak
Garden
When the
news of the fall of Khyber reached the Jews of Fidak they became very
anxious and bewildered. They sent their representative towards the
Prophet (P.B.U.H.) with the message of making truce and surrendered half
of the land of Fidak to him. He bestowed it upon Fatima (A.S.) so that
she may spend its income upon her own needs and that of the poor people.
After the
battle of Khyber the Prophet (P.B.U.H.) moved towards the Wadi-ul Qura
(valley of Qura) which was the center of Jews. He besieged and then
conquered it, and handed the lands back to the owners on similar
conditions as that of the Khyber i.e. they were made bound to surrender
half of the agricultural products to the Muslims.
By means
of this agreement the Prophet (P.B.U.H.) boosted up the economy and
brought into effect the economical welfare for the Muslims so that they
may face the enemies comfortably.
5. The Battle of Moota
The
Prophet (P.B.U.H.) sent an ambassador to the King Basri to invite him to
embrace Islam. When the ambassador reached the land of Moota the ruler
arrested and killed him. After this event the Prophet (P.B.U.H.) sent
sixteen preachers but only one of those survived, the rest were also
killed.
The one,
who had survived, escaped him and having reached Madinah informed the
Prophet (P.B.U.H.) about both the sorrowful and heart aching events. The
Prophet (P.B.U.H.) was much grieved and this was the very reason of the
army's being sent in the Jamadi al-Thani of 8th Hijrah, when ten
thousand Muslims got ready to lay their lives in the battle.
The Prophet (P.B.U.H.), before the departure of the army, said:
"The
sequence of the chiefs of the military will be as such, the first chief
will be Jaffar Ibne Abu Talib, the next Zaid bin Haris and the third
Abdullah bin Rawaha."
If after
the first being martyred the next one and even if the second and then
the third gets martyred, then you select some one as your chief,
yourselves.
The army
of Islam moved towards Moota. When they reached near main city they
received the information that Harqul the King of Rome have sent an army
of one hundred thousand and another hundred thousand Arabs to besiege
the Muslims.
Unequal
Battle
The enemy
with an army of two hundred thousand met the Muslim army of ten thousand
and started the battle. Jaffar fought bravely till he was martyred.
Thereafter, Zaid bin Haris took over the command till he was martyred.
Following him Abdullah bin Rawaha too got martyred as a result of a
brave fight.
Thereafter, the warriors selected Khalid Ibne Waleed as their chief.
Khalid who was already experienced and clever thought if the battle
continued all the soldiers would get killed. Therefore, he used a
marshal technique and snatched the battlefield from the enemy's hands.
He
ordered the soldiers to retreat at night and early in the morning move
into the battle field from all the four directions so that the enemy
would think that another reinforcement army has come from Madinah.
Khalid,
by this strategy, terrified the enemy and the battle stopped. He
returned to Madinah along with his army men.
When the
Prophet (P.B.U.H.) received the news of his Kith and Kin being martyred
he was much grieved and wept over it and appreciated the sagacity of
Khalid.
Conquest of
Mecca
The
retreat of the Muslims in the battle of Moota made the Quraish intrepid
and think that the Muslims were left over with no power, therefore there
was no need to be afraid of them. Inspite of the Hudaibayyah peace and
truce pact, they with the help of their allies Banu Baker attacked the
Muslims of Taefa-e-Khazaa and killed many of them.
Abu
Sufian knew that he would most certainly receive the answer to this
mischief. Therefore, he availed of the first opportunity to see the
Prophet (P.B.U.H.) in Madinah and make excuse and try to keep up the
Hudaibayyah pact. But the Prophet (P.B.U.H.) did not give him any
positive response and so he went back unsuccessful to Mecca. The Prophet
(P.B.U.H.) ordered the forces to get ready and as a result ten thousand
Muslim announced their willingness to participate in the war.
The
Prophet (P.B.U.H.) deputed guards all around the city of Madinah so that
nobody is able to go and inform the polytheist of Mecca about this
event.
Hatib a
senseless, pious traitor with the pretext that his relative live in
Mecca and they are afraid of Quraish, wrote a letter and tried to send
it to a Quraish through a woman. But very soon his plot was revealed and
the letter was recovered from the woman. Hence, the Prophet (P.B.U.H.)
ordered the Muslims to boycott him socially, which was worse than death
for him.
On the
10th Ramadan, 8th Hijrah, the Prophet (P.B.U.H.) ordered the army to
move and the Muslims swiftly and without any stoppage reached Mecca
within a week's time. They camped near the city. The Prophet (P.B.U.H.)
through his sagacity and war strategy ordered the Muslims to get
scattered at the night time and kindle lights every where so that the
enemy thinks that a large army has arrived from Madinah. As a result,
the enemy will get terrified. At nighttime, the jungle was full of
flames of fire lit, the noise and slogans of Muslims, the Camel's
blubbering and the horses neighing. When Abu Sufain along with a group
of the leaders of Quraish came to observe the situation he was dreaded
and terrified and told his companions that he has never seen such a big
size army.
Abu
Sufain met Abbas and consulted him. Abbas gave him quarter and peace and
took him along to the Prophet (P.B.U.H.)
The
Prophet (P.B.U.H.) in view of the interest and benefit of Islam said Abu
Sufain may assure the Meccans that whosoever seeks refuge in his house
shall also have peace and quarter. Abu Sufain returned back to Mecca
with quarter and frightened the people of Mecca from the Muslim army and
prevented them from fighting the Muslim resulting, which Mecca was
conquered without bloodshed.
Common
Amnesty
A group
of Muslims, particularly the refugees were nursing feelings of taking
revenge from the Quraish but the Prophet (P.B.U.H.) announced the common
amnesty and said, "today are the day of mercy and forgiveness not that
of revenge. No one has the right to fight the people except for a few
persons who must be killed where ever they be found because their crimes
are not forgivable."
Then
Prophet (P.B.U.H.) named those persons. The Prophet (P.B.U.H.) after a
brief rest entered the Kaabah and cleaned the idols. Bilal recited the
Azaan (call for prayer) and the Prophet offered his prayers along with
his Ashab (Companions).
6. The Battle of Hunain
After the
fall of the base of polytheist to the Muslims, those polytheists living
all around Mecca were greatly horrified and harassed. Therefore, they
gathered and decided that all the tribes should unitedly fight against
the Muslims. All of them chose the chief of Taifa Hawazan as their
general.
Having
received the information about this aggregation, the Prophet (P.B.U.H.)
sent a person to view and observe the situation and get information
about the battle arrangement made by those tribes and on his return to
Mecca present a report of it.
Departure
towards Hunain
The
Prophet, on getting information about the intentions of the enemy moved
with a force of one thousand Mujahid warriors towards the valley of
Hunain on the 5th of Shawwal, 8th Hijrah.
Malik,
the chief of the polytheist's army, sent three of his men for the spying
espionage of the Islamic forces.
They
observed the glorious Islamic forces and reported it to their chief.
Malik, thinking he did not have the power to face them ordered his men
to climb the hilltops of the valley and seek for themselves strong
position on those heights and when the Islamic army arrives then take
them by surprise.
In the
Narrow Pass of Hunain
The army
of Islam arrived the valley of Hunain on the Tuesday night of the 10th
of Shawwal, the 8th Hijrah.
All of
them, on the Command of the Prophet (P.B.U.H.) took rest in the night
and at dawn time moved into the valley.
The
enemies, who were lying in the ambush fully prepared, attacked them from
all the four directions.
The
darkness of the night, chaos created by the horses and presence of two
thousand and nine hundred men who had newly and lately become Muslims,
helped the enemy to a great extent and Waleed was obliged to retreat.
Only ten
men were present around the Prophet (P.B.U.H.) who was defending him.
The Prophet (P.B.U.H.) ordered them to call the run away for help. Abbas,
with his thundering, reprimanding voice, called those who were flying
away, and the enemy forces who were achieving victory in the start, were
gradually becoming weak.
Finally,
the defense posts of the enemy too were destroyed and they ran away
leaving back all of their war equipments. The Prophet (P.B.U.H.) sent a
group to chase the run away so that they are weakened to the extent that
they may not be able to make a military venture in future.
Those
chasing the enemy came back after accomplishing their errand, and the
Prophet (P.B.U.H.) distributed the booty among his army men.
7. The Battle of Tabuk
In the
month of Rajab of the 9th Hijrah, the Prophet (P.B.U.H.) received a
report that the Muslims of the northeastern border of Arabia were being
threatened by the Roman empire and they have made up their mind to
attack the Islamic lands.
The
Prophet (P.B.U.H.) after arranging strong and fit soldiers, contrary to
the previous times policy when he used to conceal his aim, clearly
exposed his aim and object to the people and got their attention
diverted to the assault of the enemy and ordered all of them not to
hesitate in extending all kind of help and assistance to the army of
Islam.
People
offered every thing needed for the soldiers of Islam with great fervor
and enthusiasm and contributed to the war expanses.
The Hypocrite's Behavior
The
hypocrites, simultaneous along with the mobilization of the Islamic
farces started to poison the people ears to create anti war spirit and
they horrified and harassed the people in connection with combat and
facing the Roman army. They built a Mosque named "Masjid-e-Zarrar" so as
to have a center for their poisonous propaganda and stop the people from
participating in the Jihad. But the Prophet (P.B.U.H.) by strong and
concrete attitude arrested their conspiracies.
By the
order of the Prophet (P.B.U.H.) the house of the Jew Sewelum, which was
the focus and center of meetings of the Jews was burnt down and all
their conspiracies were nullified.
Towards
Tabuk
An
unprecedented army of thirty thousand Muslim soldiers got prepared and
camped in the suburbs of Madinah. The Prophet (P.B.U.H.) took the
Command of the forces in his own hands, witnessed their march, and spoke
to them.
Thereafter, he fixed Ali (A.S.) on his place in Madinah and himself
moved towards Tabuk along with the army men.
The
soldiers of Islamic army reached the burning desert of Tabuk after
having covered a journey of six hundred kilometers. But they were taken
aback and surprised to see that there was no sign of the Roman army. It
seemed as if those (enemies) having learnt about the movement of the
Islamic forces, which were full of spirit of martyrdom, retreated
northwards.
The
Islamic army having stayed a clash free twenty days period over there,
by the order of Prophet (P.B.U.H.) turned back to Madinah.
The
Conspiracy of Hypocrites
On the
way back from Tabuk, a group of hypocrites who had participated in the
war because of the fear of people planned to hide in the valley of Tabuk
mountains so that they might get the camel of the Prophet (P.B.U.H.)
terrified and make him fell down from it and kill him. But their
conspiracy was revealed and all of them flew away. The soldiers of Islam
wanted to kill them but the Prophet (P.B.U.H.) stopped them from doing
so. On returning back from Tabuk, the Prophet (P.B.U.H.) ordered the
people to demolish the "Zarrar Mosque" and they did so as per the
Command of the Almighty God.
Battle of
Tabuk was the expression and show of might and power of the army of
Islam. All the Muslims took part in that battle. Because of this show
people of the neighboring and polytheist countries witnessed the power
and might of Islam and refrained from conspiring against it.
Acquaintance
ex-polytheists
The
polytheists used to perform Hajj rituals according to their own
traditions up till the 10th Dhul-Hijjah the 9th Hijrah. In the same year
the chapter of Holy Qur'an named Baraat or Tauba was revealed. The
Prophet (P.B.U.H.) entrusted the job of recitation of these verses
before the polytheist of Mecca to Ali (A.S.) and instructed him to tell
them "No polytheist will enter the holy Kaabah from this year onwards
and nobody will perform the circumambulation around the Kaabah in nude
condition.
According
to the Command of the Prophet (P.B.U.H.), Ali (A.S.) went to Mecca and
recited the chapter of Qur'an "Tauba" before the polytheists and
informed them about the order that the Prophet (P.B.U.H.) had given.
Mubahalah
(Cursing each other)
Since the
Prophet (P.B.U.H.) was sending letters to the rulers of the world, he
sent a letter to the bishop of Najran and invited the Christians of that
place to embrace Islam.
In this
letter the bishop was asked either to accept Islam or pay Jazia tax as a
backing to the Islamic Government.
The
bishop had already read in the holy books about the coming of a Prophet
after the Christ (A.S.). So he sent a number of delegates to Madinah to
find the facts. Having arrived Madinah, they started a discussion with
the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H.) and were not contented with that till such
time the angel Jabriel descended with the revelation and message from
Almighty God that the wise men of Najran may go to the desert of Najran
and offer prayer up to a specified time. There after, every body should
curse the liar.
When the
time of Mubahalah approached the Prophet (P.B.U.H.) brought along with
him only four persons out of the total lot of the Muslims and his
associates. The Prophet (P.B.U.H.) was carrying Imam Husayn (A.S.) in
his arms, Imam Hasan (A.S.) was being guided by the finger, Fatimah
(A.S.) and Ali (A.S.) beside him.
When the
Christians sighted them, their chief said: "By God I am seeing such
faces that if they do curse the desert will turn into hell and the
effects of this torment and chastisement will reach the land of Najran
and there is a risk of all the Christians being killed."
As a
result they accepted to pay the tax levied on Kharaj non-Muslims.
It was
decided that the Christians would give two thousand Hullas (robes,
cloaks) and thirty rows to the Muslims, thereafter.
The Final or
Farewell Hajj
On the
25th of Dhul-Qi'dah the 10th Hijrah, the Prophet (P.B.U.H.) announced
that he (P.B.U.H.) had the intention to perform Hajj that year and
anyone wishing to accompany him (P.B.U.H.) might do so.
This news
created the zest and fervor of keenness among the people and thousands
of Muslims announced their readiness to accompany the Prophet (P.B.U.H).
The
Prophet (P.B.U.H.) appointed Abu Dajana as his deputy in Madinah and
moved along with his Companions.
The
Prophet (P.B.U.H.) entered the state of performing Hajj (putting on the
pilgrim garb) at Zulhaleefa and called out Labbayk and moved on towards
Mecca.
After ten
days he reached Mecca and entered the Masjid-ul-Haram and performed Hajj
rituals. The next day he made a speech at Mina and giving out a sermon
said, "Stability is needed and required in the affairs of religion."
The
Ghadeer-e-Khum
On
Thursday the 17th of Dhul Hijjah, the Prophet (P.B.U.H.) reached near
the pond at Juhfa. The angel descended with the revelation from God,
"Appoint Ali as your successor". The Prophet (P.B.U.H.) gathered the
Muslims by calling them for the announcement of an important message.
Thousands
of pilgrims gathered in that perching, and scorching heat to listen to
the words of the Prophet (P.B.U.H.).
After
offering prayers the Prophet (P.B.U.H.) climbed a height made up with
the help of camel saddles and said "Praise is specified for Almighty God
only. We ask help only from Him and have faith, reliance on Him. I give
evidence that there is no God except God. Mohammad is his servant and
Prophet. Yes, oh people, very soon I am departing from you and am
leaving two weighty and most valuable things among you the holy Qur'an
and my Ahl al-Bayt (A.S.) [The family members of the Prophet (P.B.U.H.)
including his cousin and son-in-law Ali (A.S.). His daughter Fatimah
(A.S.) and two grand sons Hasan (A.S.) and Husayn (A.S.)].
These
will never be separated from each other till the time they reach me on
the bank of the Kauser stream (on the day of justice). Therefore, you
remain resort and bonded with them and never abandon them. If you
abandon them, you will get annihilated.
Then he
took Ali (A.S.) by the hand and raised his hand up and said "Oh people I
am the master of whosoever. Ali too is the master of him. Oh God! Be the
friend of the one who loves Ali and be the enemy of the one who has
enmity with him. Help the helpers of Ali and humble and surpass all
those who want to humble him."
After his
speech was over an angel descended from the heaven and gave the Prophet
(P.B.U.H.) the good news and glad tiding that with the Wilayat
(guardianship) spiritual office of Ali (A.S.) the religion of Islam
became accomplished and completed. The boon and blessing of God
finalized.
Death of
Prophet (P.B.U.H.)
After his
returning back from the journey the Prophet (P.B.U.H.) fell ill. A group
took the advantage from this chance and claimed Prophet-hood but by the
Prophet's (P.B.U.H.) order all of them were killed.
One day
when the Prophet (P.B.U.H.) was very ill and unwell, he (P.B.U.H.) with
the help and support of Ali (A.S.) visited the graves of his friends in
the graveyard of Baqi. Then he (P.B.U.H.) returned home.
Day by
day, the ailment of the Prophet (P.B.U.H.) went on increasing till at
last the Prophet (P.B.U.H.) breathed his last in the lap of Ali (A.S.)
on Monday 28th of Safar 11th Hijrah, turning the whole of the Islamic
World mournful and grieved. |