Episode Summary
Toward the end of the second year of Hijra, following the victory at Badr, the Muslim community engaged in strategic campaigns to secure Madinah and formalised key familial unions. This episode details the pre-emptive march toward Banu Sulaym, the retaliatory 'Sawiq' raid led by Abu Sufyan, and the marriage of the Prophet’s (saw) youngest daughter, Fatimah, to Ali bin Abi Talib. It also highlights the unique honour of Uthman bin Affan as 'Dhun Noorayn' and the Prophet's (saw) model of leadership as a single father.
Key Highlights
- The Prophet (saw) led a campaign to Al-Qudr to deter the Banu Sulaym tribe from attacking Madinah, establishing a strategy of defensive presence without direct conflict.
- Abu Sufyan took a solemn oath after Badr to abstain from bathing until he launched an attack against the Muslims.
- Despite the Constitution of Madinah, Sallam bin Mishqam of the Banu Nadir hosted Abu Sufyan and provided intelligence for his raid.
- The 'Ghazwatu Sawiq' was named after the bags of ground wheat/barley (sawiq) that Abu Sufyan’s men dumped to lighten their load while fleeing the Muslim pursuit.
- The Prophet (saw) confirmed that the pursuit of Abu Sufyan sufficed as jihad fisabilillah, even though no physical battle took place.
- Uthman bin Affan became the first and last man in history to marry two daughters of a Prophet, earning the title Dhun Noorayn.
- Fatimah’s marriage to Ali (ra) concluded the 2nd Year of Hijra, marking the start of a family lineage that would be central to Islamic history.
- The Prophet (saw) shared a uniquely close bond with Fatimah, having raised her as a single father following the death of Khadijah (ra).
Comprehensive Analysis
1. Strategic Deterrence: The Expedition of Banu Sulaym
In the month of Shawwal, shortly after the Battle of Badr, the Prophet (saw) received intelligence that the Banu Sulaym tribe was planning an attack on Madinah. He led a group of Sahaba to a stream called Al-Qudr and camped there for three to seven days. Although no fighting occurred, the mission served a vital strategic purpose: sending a clear message to surrounding tribes that the Muslims were ready to defend their homes and would not be easily intimidated.
2. Abu Sufyan’s Oath and the Uraid Attack
Following the losses at Badr, Abu Sufyan swore a solemn oath that he would not perform a bath of purification until he had struck back at the Prophet (saw). In the month of Dhul-Hijjah, he took 200 riders to the outskirts of Madinah. Violating the Constitution of Madinah, a leader of the Jewish tribe Banu Nadir, Sallam bin Mishqam, hosted Abu Sufyan and provided him with intelligence regarding the city’s vulnerabilities. Using this info, Abu Sufyan’s men burned a date palm orchard at Uraid—a community investment used to feed the poor—and murdered an Ansari and his ally before fleeing.
3. The Expedition of Sawiq
The Prophet (saw) immediately led a pursuit of the Makkan raiders. Fearing capture, Abu Sufyan and his men dumped their supplies to make their horses faster. The Muslims found large quantities of sawiq (a fine powder of ground wheat or barley used for nourishment during travel) left behind. The Prophet (saw) instructed the Sahaba to claim these goods, and he reassured them that their effort counted as jihad fisabilillah (striving in the path of Allah), despite the lack of a physical battle. This campaign became known as Ghazwatul Sawiq.
4. The Unique Honour of Uthman bin Affan
The second year of Hijra also marked the passing of the Prophet’s daughter, Ruqayyah. The Prophet (saw) subsequently married his other daughter, Umm Kulthum, to Ruqayyah’s widower, Uthman bin Affan. This made Uthman the only man in human history to marry two daughters of a Prophet, earning him the title Dhun Noorayn (The Possessor of Two Lights). This immense honour served as a divine testament to Uthman’s high character and caliber.
5. The Marriage of Fatimah and Ali
The year concluded with the marriage of the Prophet’s youngest daughter, Fatimah, to his cousin, Ali bin Abi Talib. Fatimah held a very special place in the Prophet’s (saw) heart, as he had raised her as a single father following the passing of Khadijah (ra). This union established one of the most remarkable families in history, producing the Prophet’s (saw) beloved grandsons, Hassan and Hussain.