Episode Summary
Following the stabilization of the community in Madinah, the Prophet (saw) began sending out strategic military expeditions to address the lingering threat from the Quraysh. This episode explores the political responsibilities of the Prophet as a Head of State, the shift from a decade of non-retaliation to divine permission for self-defence, and the details of the first three expeditions led by the Muhajiroon. The narrative highlights the strategic deterrents established against Makkah and the Bedouin tribes, as well as the psychological rehabilitation of the Sahaba who had endured years of torture.
Key Highlights
- The Prophet acted not only as a spiritual leader but as a Head of State responsible for the safety of women, children, and the elderly.
- The Quraysh continued to hunt the Prophet and invest in a defense fund even after the Hijra.
- Allah granted formal 'permission' to fight in Surat Al-Hajj because the Muslims had been unjustly evicted from their homes.
- The first three expeditions (Sariyyah) consisted entirely of Muhajiroon to settle their pre-existing grievances with Makkah.
- Hamza ibn Abdul Mutallib led the first group of 30 men, encountering Abu Jahl and 300 Qurayshis without actual combat.
- The expeditions served as a deterrent to Bedouin 'free agents' and boosted the morale of previously tortured Muslims.
- A **Ghazwah** involves the Prophet’s personal participation, while a **Sariyyah** is an expedition he sends others to lead.
Comprehensive Analysis
1. The Political Reality of a Head of State
While the Prophet (saw) is the Messenger of Allah and a mercy to mankind, in Madinah, he also functioned as a Head of State with a city to run and people to protect. The conflict with Makkah had not ended with the Hijra; the Quraysh were actively sending spies to Madinah, building military funds, and seeking weak spots to attack. Academic critiques from a distance often overlook the reality of a community that had suffered a decade of torture and starvation and remained under constant threat of annihilation.
2. From Patience to Permission
For over ten years in Makkah, the divine command was to resist the temptation to retaliate and endure persecution with patience. After the community was established in Madinah, Allah revealed the first permission to fight in Surat Al-Hajj [22:39-40], stating that those who were evicted from their homes solely for their faith were now permitted to defend themselves. This was a permission, not a command, allowing the Muslims to decide when it was necessary to take up arms based on their situation.
3. Defining the Expeditions: Ghazwah vs. Sariyyah
Scholars of the Seerah distinguish between two types of military movements:
- Ghazwah: An expedition or campaign that the Prophet personally accompanied or participated in.
- Sariyyah: An expedition where the Prophet sent the Sahaba out but did not go himself. In the first few months of these movements, the Prophet utilized only the Muhajiroon, as they had an agreement with the Ansar that their pre-existing grievances with Makkah were their own responsibility to settle.
4. The First Three Sariyyah
Between the 6th and 9th months after the Hijra, three primary expeditions took place:
- Sariyyah of Hamza bin Abdul Mutallib: Hamza led 30 Muhajiroon and encountered Abu Jahl with 300 men. A local leader, Majdi ibnu Amr al Juhani, intervened to prevent a fight.
- Sariyyah of Ubaydah ibn al-Harith: A group of 60 Muhajiroon encountered Abu Sufyan and 200 men at Batn Rabigh. Arrows were fired into the air as a show of force, but no physical engagement occurred.
- Sariyyah of Sa’ad ibn Abi Waqqas: Sa’ad led 20-21 men to a place called Kharrar, traveling by night and hiding by day to maintain security. They missed a Quraysh caravan by one day and returned to Madinah.
5. Strategic Benefits and Psychological Rehabilitation
These expeditions were not about starting fights but about establishing a deterrent. They sent a message to the Quraysh that the Muslims were no longer “doormats” and would defend their sanctity and city. They also warned the surrounding Bedouin tribes that the Muslims were a strong and confident people who could not be easily invaded.
Psychologically, these missions were essential for the rehabilitation of the Muhajiroon. Many had been chained and beaten for years; picking up a sword and standing proudly across from their former torturers helped them face their fears and regain their dignity. It also built the confidence of the Ansar, showing them the strength and conviction of the side they had chosen to support.