Expedition of Hamza ibn 'Abdul-Muttalib

Expedition of Hamzah ibn 'Abdul Muttalib
Date March, 623 CE, 1 AH Location Al-‘Īṣ Result Intercession by a third party
Belligerents
Muhajirun (Muslim exiles to Medina)	Quraish of Mecca
Commanders and leaders
Hamza ibn 'Abdul-Muttalib	Abu Jahl
Strength
30-40	300
Casualties and losses
None	None

Expedition of Hamza ibn 'Abdul-Muttalib (Arabic: سرية حمزة بن عبد المطلب‎‎), also known as Sif Al-Baḥr platoon (Arabic: سرية سيف البحر‎‎) was the first expedition sent out by the Islamic Prophet Muhammad. It was sent in 1 A.H. of the Islamic calendar in the month of Ramadan (March, 623 CE).

The raid, which was to intercept a caravan that belonged to Quraish, was undertaken by the Muhajirun (Muslim exiles in Medina) alone (none of the Ansar, Helpers of Madinah, participated in it).^[1]

Description

The raid was ordered by Muhammad seven to nine months after the Hegira. It was led by Hamza ibn 'Abdul-Muttalib (Muhammad's uncle) and comprising 30 to 40 men with a definite task of intercepting a caravan that belonged to Quraish. ‘Amr ibn Hishām (Abu Jahl), the leader of the caravan was camping at al-‘Is with 300 Meccan riders.^[1][2][3][4]

The two parties encountered each other, aligned and stood face to face in preparation for battle but Majdi ibn ‘Amr al-Juhani, a Quraysh who was friendly to both the parties intervened between them; so both parties separated without fighting. Hamza returned to Medina and Abu Jahl proceeded towards Mecca.

On that occasion, the Prophet accredited the first flag of Islam. It was white in color and was entrusted to Kinaz ibn Husain Al-Ghanawi, to carry.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

Location

The event took place on the seashore in the neighborhood of aI-‘Īṣ (العيص), in the territory of Banū Juhayna, between Mecca and Medina.

Aftermath

Upon his return, Abu Jahl reportedly warned his fellow Meccans:^{[6][source needs translation]}

يا معشر قريش إن محمدًا قد نزل يثرب وأرسل طلائعه، وإنما يريد أن يصيب منكم شيئًا، فاحذروا أن تمروا طريقه، وأن تقاربوه فإنه كالأسد الضاري، إنه حنق عليكم نفيتموه نفي القردان على المناسم، والله إن له سحرة، ما رأيته قط ولا أحدًا من أصحابه إلا رأيت معهم الشياطين وإنكم عرفتم عداوة ابني قيلة فهو عدو استعان بعدو.

See also

• List of expeditions of Muhammad

References

1. Mubarakpuri, The Sealed Nectar (Free Version), p. 127.
2. Mubarakpuri, When the Moon Split, p. 147.
3. Haykal, Husayn (1976), The Life of Muhammad, Islamic Book Trust, pp. 217–218, ISBN 978-983-9154-17-7
4. Hawarey, Dr. Mosab (2010). The Journey of Prophecy; Days of Peace and War (in Arabic). Islamic Book Trust. Book contains a list of battles of Muhammad in Arabic. English version here
5. Muḥammad Ibn ʻAbd al-Wahhāb, Mukhtaṣar zād al-maʻād, p. 345.
6. Al-ʻUmarī, Burayk Muḥammad Burayk (1996). Al-Sarāyā wa-al-buʻūth al-Nabawīyah ḥawla al-Madīnah wa-Makkah : dirāsah naqdīyah taḥlīlīyah السرايا والبعوث النبوية حول المدينة ومكة : دراسة نقدية تحليلية (in Arabic). Dār Ibn al-Jawzī. pp. 78–79.