Expedition of Ubaydah ibn al-Harith | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Part of the Muslim–Quraysh War | |||||||
| |||||||
Belligerents | |||||||
Muhajirun (Muslim migrants to Medina) | Quraish of Mecca | ||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Ubaydah ibn al-Harith | Abu Sufyan | ||||||
Strength | |||||||
60-80 | 200 | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
Unknown (Arrows fired) | Unknown (1 arrow fired) |
In April 623, the Islamic prophet Muhammad sent Ubaydah ibn al-Harith with a party of sixty armed Muhajirun (Muslim migrants to Medina) to the valley of Rabigh, in modern-day Saudi Arabia. They expected to intercept a Quraysh caravan that was returning from Syria under the protection of Abu Sufyan ibn Harb and 200 armed riders. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] The Muslim party travelled as far as the wells at Thanyat al-Murra, [1] [4] where Sa`d ibn Abi Waqqas shot an arrow at the Quraysh. This is known as the first arrow of Islam. [6] [7] Despite this surprise attack, "they did not unsheathe a sword or approach one another," and the Muslims returned empty-handed; [2] [3] [4] however, two Meccans traders left their caravan, became Muslim, and went with the expedition back to Medina. [8]
Some say that Ubaydah ibn al-Harith was the first to whom Muhammad gave a banner on a military expedition; others say Hamza was the first. [2]
Some scholars assert that Muhammad sent out the expedition while he was in Al-Abwa' or upon his return to the Medina from the raid of Al-Abwa'. [9]
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