Expedition of Muhammad ibn Maslamah

The Expedition of Muhammad ibn Maslamah took place in July, 627AD in Muharram, 6AH.

Expedition

A platoon of thirty Muslims under the leadership of Muhammad bin Maslamah was despatched on a military mission. It headed for the habitation of Banu Bakr sept. The Muslims attacked that sept and dispersed them in all directions. Plenty of spoils (war booty) were captured and the Muslims returned with the chief of the tribe of Banu Hanifa, called Thumamah bin Uthal Al-Hanafi.

Muhammad's Companions tied him to a pole of a Mosque. To a question posed by Muhammad, Thumamah used to say: "If you were to kill someone, then you would have to choose one of noble descent, if you were to be gracious, then let it be to a grateful man and if you were to ask for money, you would have to ask for it from a generous man." He repeated that three times on three different occasions. On the third time, the Muhammad ordered that he should be released and later he converted to Islam.

During this raid the Muslims killed ten people while others fled offering no resistance. The Muslims captured 150 camels and 3000 goats as booty

Islamic sources

Biographical literature

This event is mentioned in the works of the Muslim Jurist Tabari. The Muslim jurist Ibn Qayyim Al-Jawziyya also mentions the event in his biography of Muhammad, Zad al-Ma'ad. Modern secondary sources which mention this, include the award winning book, Ar-Raheeq Al-Makhtum (The Sealed Nectar). The event is also mentioned by the Muslim jurist Ibn Qayyim Al-Jawziyya in his biography of Muhammad, Zad al-Ma'ad.

The event is also mentioned by the Muslim scholar Ibn Sa'd in his book about Muhammad's military campaigns., he wrote about the expedition:

Hadith literature

In this expedition, the chief of the Banu Hanifa tribe was captured, he was called Thumamah bin Uthal Al-Hanafi. The Sahih Muslim hadith collection also mentions this:

Sahih al-Bukhari, 5:59:658 also mentions this.

See also

• List of battles of Muhammad

Notes

1. ^ ^{a b c} Muhammad Yasin Mahzar Siddiqi, Role of Booty in the economy during the prophets time, Vol. 1, King Abdul Aziz University , p.11. (archive)
2. ^ Tabari, Al (2008), The foundation of the community, State University of New York Press, p. 119, ISBN 978-0-88706-344-2 
3. ^ Hawarey, Dr. Mosab (2010). The Journey of Prophecy; Days of Peace and War (Arabic). Islamic Book Trust. ISBN 9789957051648. Note: Book contains a list of battles of Muhammad in Arabic, English translation available here
4. ^ ^{a b c d} Mubarakpuri, Saifur Rahman Al (2005), The Sealed Nectar, Darussalam Publications, p. 204 
5. ^ ^{a b c} Sa'd, Ibn (1967). Kitab al-tabaqat al-kabir,By Ibn Sa'd,Volume 2. Pakistan Historical Society. p. 96. ASIN B0007JAWMK. 
6. ^ Mubarakpuri, The sealed nectar: biography of the Noble Prophet , p. 352 (footnote 1).
7. ^ Ar-Raheeq Al-Makhtum - The Sealed Nectar. Dar-us-Salam Publications
8. ^ Mubarakpuri, Saifur Rahman Al (2005), The Sealed Nectar, Darussalam Publications, p. 205  Mubarakpuri says Za'd al Ma'd, 2/119
9. ^ Ibn Qayyim Al-Jawziyya, Za'd al Ma'd, 2/119. (see also Abridged zād al-maʻād)