Military Expeditions led by the Prophet (pbuh) (Al-Maghaazi)

Anas ibn Mālik reported: A man used to give the Prophet some date palms. When he conquered Qurayẓa and al-Naḍīr, he began returning them to their owners.

Ibn ʿUmar reported: The Messenger of God burned the date palms of Banū al-Naḍīr and cut them down at al-Buwayra. Then this verse was revealed: “Whatever palm trees you cut down, or left standing on their roots, it was by God’s permission.”

Ibn ʿUmar reported that the Prophet burned the date palms of Banū al-Naḍīr. Concerning this, Ḥassān ibn Thābit said: “A fire at al-Buwayra, spreading wide, Was of little weight to Banū Luʾayy’s chiefs.” Abū Sufyān ibn al-Ḥārith answered him: “May God preserve that deed of yours; The blaze burned all around its bounds. You will learn which of us keeps clear of it, And which of our lands it brings to harm.”

Mālik ibn Aws ibn al-Ḥadathān al-Naṣrī reported: ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb summoned me when his doorkeeper, Yarfaʾ, came and said, “Will you receive ʿUthmān, ʿAbd al-Raḥmān, al-Zubayr, and Saʿd? They are asking permission to enter.” He said, “Yes, let them in.” A little later Yarfaʾ came back and said, “Will you receive al-ʿAbbās and ʿAlī? They are asking permission.” He said, “Yes.” When they entered, al-ʿAbbās said, “Commander of the Faithful, judge between me and this man.” The two were disputing the property from Banū al-Naḍīr that God had granted to His Messenger. ʿAlī and al-ʿAbbās exchanged harsh words. The other men said, “Commander of the Faithful, judge between them and relieve them of one another.” ʿUmar said, “Wait. I adjure you by God, by whose permission the heavens and earth stand: do you know that the Messenger of God said, ‘We are not inherited; what we leave is charity’—meaning himself?” They said, “He did say that.” ʿUmar then turned to al-ʿAbbās and ʿAlī and said, “I adjure you both by God: do you know that the Messenger of God said that?” They replied, “Yes.” ʿUmar said, “I will explain this matter to you. God, exalted is He, gave His Messenger a special share of this *fayʾ* that He gave to no one else. He said: ‘Whatever God restored to His Messenger from them—you did not spur horse or camel to gain it’—up to the words, ‘and God has power over all things.’ This was exclusively for the Messenger of God. By God, he did not keep it to himself and withhold it from you, nor did he reserve it for himself at your expense. He gave it to you and distributed it among you, until only this property remained. From it, the Messenger of God used to provide his family’s maintenance for a year; then he took what remained and put it toward the public treasury. The Messenger of God did this throughout his life. “Then the Prophet died, and Abū Bakr said, ‘I am the successor of the Messenger of God.’ Abū Bakr took charge of it and administered it as the Messenger of God had done, while you were present. ʿUmar turned to ʿAlī and al-ʿAbbās and said, “You both remember that Abū Bakr administered it as you say. God knows that he was truthful, dutiful, rightly guided, and a follower of the truth. Then God caused Abū Bakr to die, and I said, ‘I am the successor of the Messenger of God and of Abū Bakr.’ I took charge of it for the first two years of my rule and administered it as the Messenger of God and Abū Bakr had done. God knows that I have been truthful, dutiful, rightly guided, and a follower of the truth in this matter. “Then the two of you came to me, united in what you said and agreed in your case. You came to me”—meaning al-ʿAbbās—“and I said to you both: ‘The Messenger of God said, “We are not inherited; what we leave is charity.”’ When I considered handing it over to you, I said, ‘If you wish, I will hand it over to you on the condition that you give God your solemn pledge to administer it as the Messenger of God and Abū Bakr did, and as I have administered it since I took office. Otherwise, do not speak to me about it.’ You said, ‘Hand it over to us on those terms.’ So I handed it over to you. Are you now asking me to give a different ruling? By God, by whose permission the heavens and earth stand, I will not rule concerning it differently until the Hour comes. If you are unable to manage it, return it to me, and I will take care of it for you.” Mālik ibn Aws said, “I related this report to ʿUrwa ibn al-Zubayr, and he said, ‘Mālik ibn Aws has spoken truthfully. I heard ʿĀʾisha, the wife of the Prophet, say: The wives of the Prophet sent ʿUthmān to Abū Bakr to ask him for their one-eighth share of what God had granted to His Messenger. I was the one who answered them. I said, “Will you not be mindful of God? Do you not know that the Prophet used to say, ‘We are not inherited; what we leave is charity’—meaning himself? The family of Muḥammad only takes its sustenance from this property.”’ The Prophet’s wives then accepted what she told them. “After that, this charitable endowment was in ʿAlī’s hands. ʿAlī withheld it from al-ʿAbbās and prevailed over him in the matter. Then it was in the hands of al-Ḥasan ibn ʿAlī, then al-Ḥusayn ibn ʿAlī, then ʿAlī ibn al-Ḥusayn and Ḥasan ibn Ḥasan, who alternated in managing it. Then it came into the hands of Zayd ibn Ḥasan. It is truly the charity of the Messenger of God.”

ʿĀʾisha reported that Fāṭima and al-ʿAbbās came to Abū Bakr seeking their inheritance: Fāṭima’s land at Fadak and her share from Khaybar. Abū Bakr said, “I heard the Prophet say, ‘We are not inherited; what we leave is charity. The family of Muḥammad only takes its sustenance from this property.’ By God, maintaining ties with the relatives of the Messenger of God is dearer to me than maintaining ties with my own relatives.”

Jābir ibn ʿAbd Allāh reported that the Messenger of God said, “Who will deal with Kaʿb ibn al-Ashraf? He has harmed God and His Messenger.” Muḥammad ibn Maslama stood up and said, “Messenger of God, would you like me to kill him?” He replied, “Yes.” Muḥammad ibn Maslama said, “Then give me permission to say something.” He said, “Say what you wish.” Muḥammad ibn Maslama went to Kaʿb and said, “This man has demanded charity from us and has burdened us. I have come to borrow from you.” Kaʿb said, “And by God, you will tire of him too.” Muḥammad ibn Maslama replied, “We have followed him, and we do not want to abandon him until we see how his affair turns out. We wanted you to lend us one or two *wasqs*.” The transmitters differ over whether one or two *wasqs* was mentioned. Kaʿb said, “Yes, but give me something as a pledge.” They asked, “What do you want?” He said, “Pledge your women to me.” They replied, “How could we pledge our women to you, when you are the most handsome of the Arabs?” He said, “Then pledge your sons to me.” They said, “How could we pledge our sons to you, so that one of them might be insulted and told, ‘He was pledged for one or two *wasqs*’? That would disgrace us. But we will pledge our armor to you.” He arranged to meet them. At night, Muḥammad ibn Maslama came with Abū Nāʾila, who was Kaʿb’s milk-brother. Kaʿb invited them into his fortress and came down to meet them. His wife asked, “Where are you going at this hour?” He replied, “It is only Muḥammad ibn Maslama and my brother Abū Nāʾila.” Another version has her say, “I hear a voice as though blood were dripping from it.” He said, “It is only my brother Muḥammad ibn Maslama and my milk-brother Abū Nāʾila. Even a noble man, if summoned to a thrust in the night, would answer.” Muḥammad ibn Maslama brought two men with him. One version names them as Abū ʿAbs ibn Jabr, al-Ḥārith ibn Aws, and ʿAbbād ibn Bishr; the report also preserves differing accounts of the number and names of those who accompanied him. Muḥammad ibn Maslama had told his companions, “When he comes down, I will take hold of his hair and smell it. When you see that I have a firm hold of his head, strike him.” Another version says, “Then I will let you smell it.” Kaʿb came down wrapped in his cloak, giving off the scent of perfume. He said, “I have never smelled a fragrance like today’s”—meaning, so sweet. Another version has him say, “I have with me the most perfumed of Arab women and the finest of the Arabs.” Muḥammad ibn Maslama said, “May I smell your head?” Kaʿb replied, “Yes.” He smelled it, then let his companions smell it. He asked again, “May I?” Kaʿb said, “Yes.” When Muḥammad ibn Maslama had a secure hold on him, he said, “Now!” They struck and killed him. Then they went to the Prophet and told him what had happened.

Al-Barāʾ ibn ʿĀzib reported: The Messenger of God sent a group to Abū Rāfiʿ. ʿAbd Allāh ibn ʿAtīk entered his house at night while he was asleep and killed him.

Al-Barāʾ reported: The Messenger of God sent some men from the Anṣār to Abū Rāfiʿ the Jew and appointed ʿAbd Allāh ibn ʿAtīk as their leader. Abū Rāfiʿ had been harming the Messenger of God and aiding those who opposed him. He lived in a fortress in the Ḥijāz. When they drew near, the sun had set and people had returned with their livestock. ʿAbd Allāh said to his companions, “Stay here. I will go and quietly approach the gatekeeper; perhaps I can get inside.” He went up to the gate, then wrapped his garment around himself as though he were relieving himself. The people had already gone inside. The gatekeeper called out, “ʿAbd Allāh, if you want to enter, come in, for I am about to close the gate.” I went in and hid. When everyone had entered, he shut the gate and hung the keys on a peg. I went to the keys, took them, and opened the gate. Abū Rāfiʿ used to sit up late with visitors in his upper rooms. When his visitors had left, I climbed up to him. Each time I opened a door, I bolted it behind me. I thought, “If they discover me, they will not reach me before I kill him.” I reached him in a dark room among his family, and I could not tell where he was in the room. I called, “Abū Rāfiʿ!” He said, “Who is that?” I swung toward the sound and struck him with my sword, but in my confusion I accomplished nothing. He cried out, so I left the room and waited nearby. Then I went back inside and said, “What was that noise, Abū Rāfiʿ?” He said, “May your mother be bereaved! Someone in the house struck me with a sword just now.” I struck him again, wounding him severely, but did not kill him. Then I put the sword’s point into his belly and thrust it through until it came out his back. I knew then that I had killed him. I began opening the doors one by one until I reached a staircase. I put my foot down, thinking I had reached the ground, but it was a moonlit night and I fell, breaking my shin. I bound it with my turban, then went and sat by the gate. I said, “I will not leave tonight until I know whether I have killed him.” When the rooster crowed, a herald stood on the fortress wall and announced, “I announce the death of Abū Rāfiʿ, the merchant of the people of the Ḥijāz.” I went to my companions and said, “Quickly! God has killed Abū Rāfiʿ.” I reached the Prophet and told him what had happened. He said, “Stretch out your leg.” I did so, and he stroked it. It was as though I had never suffered from it at all.

Al-Barāʾ reported: The Messenger of God sent ʿAbd Allāh ibn ʿAtīk and ʿAbd Allāh ibn ʿUtba, along with other men, to Abū Rāfiʿ. They went until they were near the fortress. ʿAbd Allāh ibn ʿAtīk said, “Wait here while I go and have a look.” I approached carefully, trying to enter the fortress. The people had lost one of their donkeys, so they went out carrying a torch to look for it. I was afraid they would recognize me, so I covered my head as if I were relieving myself. Then the gatekeeper called, “Anyone who wants to enter, come in before I close the gate.” I went inside and hid in a donkey’s stall near the fortress gate. They had supper at Abū Rāfiʿ’s and talked for a while into the night, then returned to their homes. When the voices had quieted and I could hear no movement, I came out. I saw where the gatekeeper had put the fortress key, in a niche. I took it and opened the gate. I thought, “If they discover me, I can still make my way out slowly.” Then I went to the doors of their houses and bolted them from the outside. I climbed a ladder up to Abū Rāfiʿ. The room was dark, and its lamp had gone out, so I could not tell where the man was. I called, “Abū Rāfiʿ!” He said, “Who is that?” I moved toward the sound and struck him. He cried out, but I had not accomplished anything. Then I came back as though I were there to help him. I changed my voice and said, “What is wrong, Abū Rāfiʿ?” He replied, “May your mother be bereaved! A man came in and struck me with a sword.” I went toward him and struck him again, but it had no effect. He cried out, and his family got up. I came back once more, changing my voice to sound like someone helping him. He was lying on his back. I put my sword into his belly and leaned my weight against him until I heard the sound of bone. Then, dazed, I went out and reached the ladder to climb down. I fell from it and dislocated my leg. I bound it, then went to my companions, hopping, and said, “Go and give the Messenger of God the good news. I will not leave until I hear the death announcement.” At daybreak the herald climbed up and announced, “I announce the death of Abū Rāfiʿ.” I stood and walked without any limp. I caught up with my companions before they reached the Prophet and gave him the good news.

Ibn ʿAbbās reported that on the day of Uḥud the Prophet said, “This is Gabriel, holding his horse by the head, equipped with the gear of war.”

Muḥammad ibn ʿAbd al-Raḥīm nous a rapporté : Zakariyyā ibn ʿAdī nous a informés : Ibn al-Mubārak nous a informés, d’après Ḥaywa, d’après Yazīd ibn Abī Ḥabīb, d’après Abū al-Khayr, d’après ʿUqba ibn ʿĀmir, qui dit : Le Messager d’Allah ﷺ pria sur les martyrs d’Uḥud huit ans après leur mort, comme quelqu’un qui fait ses adieux aux vivants et aux morts. Puis il monta sur le minbar et dit : « Je vous précède et je témoigne à votre sujet. Le rendez-vous qui vous est fixé est le Bassin ; de l’endroit où je me trouve, je le vois. Je ne crains pas que vous associiez d’autres divinités à Allah ; je crains plutôt que vous rivalisiez pour les biens de ce monde. » Le transmetteur dit : « Ce fut le dernier regard que je posai sur le Messager d’Allah ﷺ. »

ʿUbayd Allāh ibn Mūsā nous a rapporté, d’après Isrāʾīl, d’après Abū Isḥāq, d’après al-Barāʾ — qu’Allah l’agrée —, qui dit : « Le jour de la bataille, nous rencontrâmes les polythéistes. Le Prophète ﷺ plaça un groupe d’archers et leur nomma ʿAbd Allāh pour chef. Il leur dit : “Ne quittez pas votre position. Si vous nous voyez prendre le dessus sur eux, ne la quittez pas ; et si vous les voyez prendre le dessus sur nous, ne venez pas nous aider.” Lorsque nous les rencontrâmes, ils s’enfuirent, si bien que je vis les femmes courir vers la montagne, leurs vêtements relevés au-dessus des mollets et leurs bracelets de cheville apparents. Les archers se mirent à crier : “Le butin ! Le butin !” ʿAbd Allāh leur dit : “Le Prophète ﷺ m’a confié de ne pas quitter ma position.” Mais ils refusèrent. Lorsqu’ils désobéirent, ils furent détournés de leur position et soixante-dix hommes furent tués. Abū Sufyān s’avança et demanda : “Muḥammad est-il parmi vous ?” Le Prophète ﷺ dit : “Ne lui répondez pas.” Abū Sufyān demanda : “Ibn Abī Quḥāfa est-il parmi vous ?” Il dit : “Ne lui répondez pas.” Abū Sufyān demanda : “Ibn al-Khaṭṭāb est-il parmi vous ?” Puis il dit : “Ces hommes ont été tués. S’ils étaient encore en vie, ils auraient répondu.” ʿUmar ne put se contenir et dit : “Tu mens, ennemi d’Allah ! Qu’Allah te laisse en vie pour t’humilier.” Abū Sufyān dit : “Que Hubal soit exalté !” Le Prophète ﷺ dit : “Répondez-lui.” Ils demandèrent : “Que dirons-nous ?” Il dit : “Dites : Allah est plus élevé et plus majestueux.” Abū Sufyān dit : “Nous avons al-ʿUzzā, et vous n’avez pas d’ʿUzzā.” Le Prophète ﷺ dit : “Répondez-lui.” Ils demandèrent : “Que dirons-nous ?” Il dit : “Dites : Allah est notre Protecteur et vous n’avez pas de protecteur.” Abū Sufyān dit : “Un jour pour Badr ! La guerre se déroule par alternance. Vous trouverez des mutilations que je n’ai ni ordonnées ni désapprouvées.” » ʿAbd Allāh ibn Muḥammad m’a rapporté : Sufyān nous a rapporté, d’après ʿAmr, d’après Jābir, qui dit : « Le jour d’Uḥud, des gens burent du vin au matin, puis furent tués en martyrs. »

ʿAbdān nous a rapporté : ʿAbd Allāh nous a rapporté : Shuʿba nous a informés, d’après Saʿd ibn Ibrāhīm, d’après son père Ibrāhīm, selon lequel ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ibn ʿAwf, qui jeûnait, reçut un repas. Il dit : « Muṣʿab ibn ʿUmayr a été tué ; il était meilleur que moi. Il fut enveloppé dans un manteau : si on lui couvrait la tête, ses pieds apparaissaient, et si on lui couvrait les pieds, sa tête apparaissait. » — Je crois qu’il dit aussi : « Ḥamza a été tué ; il était meilleur que moi. Puis les biens de ce monde nous furent largement accordés — ou il dit : “Nous reçûmes les biens de ce monde qui nous furent accordés” — et nous avons craint que nos bonnes actions ne nous aient été données d’avance. » Puis il se mit à pleurer et cessa de manger.

ʿAbd Allāh ibn Muḥammad nous a rapporté : Sufyān nous a rapporté, d’après ʿAmr, qui avait entendu Jābir ibn ʿAbd Allāh — qu’Allah les agrée tous deux — dire : « Le jour d’Uḥud, un homme demanda au Prophète ﷺ : “Qu’en penses-tu : si je suis tué, où serai-je ?” Il répondit : “Au Paradis.” L’homme jeta alors les dattes qu’il tenait dans la main, combattit et fut tué. »

Aḥmad ibn Yūnus nous a rapporté : Zuhayr nous a rapporté : al-Aʿmash nous a rapporté, d’après Shaqīq, d’après Khabbāb — qu’Allah l’agrée —, qui dit : « Nous avons émigré avec le Messager d’Allah ﷺ en recherchant la Face d’Allah, et notre récompense incombe à Allah. Certains d’entre nous sont partis sans avoir rien reçu de leur récompense ; parmi eux, Muṣʿab ibn ʿUmayr, tué le jour d’Uḥud. Il ne laissa qu’un manteau rayé : lorsque nous lui en couvrions la tête, ses pieds apparaissaient ; lorsque nous lui en couvrions les pieds, sa tête apparaissait. Le Prophète ﷺ nous dit : “Couvrez-lui la tête et mettez de l’idhkhir sur ses pieds” — ou il dit : “Jetez de l’idhkhir sur ses pieds.” Certains d’entre nous, en revanche, ont vu mûrir leurs fruits et les ont récoltés. »

Ḥassān ibn Ḥassān nous a informés : Muḥammad ibn Ṭalḥa nous a rapporté : Ḥumayd nous a rapporté, d’après Anas — qu’Allah l’agrée —, que son oncle avait manqué la bataille de Badr et avait dit : « J’ai manqué le premier combat du Prophète ﷺ. Si Allah me permet de combattre avec le Prophète ﷺ, Allah verra sûrement ce que je ferai. » Il participa à la bataille d’Uḥud. Lorsque les gens furent mis en déroute, il dit : « Ô Allah, je Te demande pardon pour ce que ceux-ci — c’est-à-dire les musulmans — ont fait, et je me désolidarise devant Toi de ce qu’ont apporté les polythéistes. » Il s’avança l’épée au poing et rencontra Saʿd ibn Muʿādh. Il lui dit : « Où vas-tu, Saʿd ? Je sens le parfum du Paradis au-delà d’Uḥud ! » Il poursuivit son chemin et fut tué. On ne le reconnut pas jusqu’à ce que sa sœur le reconnaisse à une marque sur sa peau — ou à ses doigts. Il portait plus de quatre-vingts blessures, dues à des coups d’épée, des coups et des flèches.

Mūsā ibn Ismāʿīl nous a rapporté : Ibrāhīm ibn Saʿd nous a rapporté : Ibn Shihāb nous a rapporté : Khārija ibn Zayd ibn Thābit m’a informé qu’il avait entendu Zayd ibn Thābit — qu’Allah l’agrée — dire : « Lors de la transcription du muṣḥaf, je ne retrouvai plus un verset de la sourate al-Aḥzāb que j’avais entendu le Messager d’Allah ﷺ réciter. Nous le cherchâmes et le trouvâmes auprès de Khuzayma ibn Thābit al-Anṣārī : “Il est, parmi les croyants, des hommes qui ont été fidèles à l’engagement pris envers Allah : certains ont accompli leur vœu, d’autres attendent encore.” Nous l’insérâmes dans sa sourate, dans le muṣḥaf. »

Abū al-Walīd nous a rapporté : Shuʿba nous a rapporté, d’après ʿAdī ibn Thābit : j’ai entendu ʿAbd Allāh ibn Yazīd rapporter de Zayd ibn Thābit — qu’Allah l’agrée —, qui dit : « Lorsque le Prophète ﷺ partit pour Uḥud, certains de ceux qui l’avaient accompagné rebroussèrent chemin. Les compagnons du Prophète ﷺ se divisèrent alors en deux groupes : l’un disait : “Combattons-les”, et l’autre : “Ne les combattons pas.” Le verset fut révélé : “Pourquoi donc, au sujet des hypocrites, êtes-vous divisés en deux groupes, alors qu’Allah les a rejetés à cause de ce qu’ils ont acquis ?” Il dit aussi : “Elle est Ṭayba ; elle efface les péchés comme le feu élimine les impuretés de l’argent.” »

Muḥammad ibn Yūsuf nous a rapporté, d’après Ibn ʿUyayna, d’après ʿAmr, d’après Jābir — qu’Allah l’agrée —, qui dit : « Ce verset fut révélé à notre sujet : “Quand deux groupes parmi vous furent sur le point de perdre courage” — il s’agit des Banū Salima et des Banū Ḥāritha. Je n’aurais pas souhaité qu’il ne soit pas révélé, alors qu’Allah dit : “Allah est leur Protecteur.” »

Qutayba nous a rapporté : Sufyān nous a rapporté : ʿAmr nous a rapporté, d’après Jābir, qui dit : Le Messager d’Allah ﷺ me demanda : « T’es-tu marié, Jābir ? » Je répondis : « Oui. » Il demanda : « Avec une vierge ou une femme déjà mariée ? » Je répondis : « Pas avec une vierge, mais avec une femme déjà mariée. » Il dit : « Pourquoi n’as-tu pas épousé une jeune fille qui aurait joué avec toi ? » Je répondis : « Ô Messager d’Allah, mon père a été tué le jour d’Uḥud et a laissé neuf filles ; elles sont neuf sœurs à ma charge. Je n’ai pas voulu leur adjoindre une jeune femme maladroite comme elles, mais une femme qui les coifferait et prendrait soin d’elles. » Il dit : « Tu as bien fait. »