Scribd
Upload
12 views3 pages

Islamiyat 3

The Battle of Mu’tah, fought in the 8th year of Hijrah, was a significant conflict initiated after the killing of the Prophet's envoy, Harith bin Umair, by the Byzantine governor. Despite facing a vastly larger enemy force, the Muslim army, led by Khalid bin Waleed after the deaths of initial commanders, executed a strategic withdrawal that preserved their strength and reputation. The battle underscored the resolve of the Muslims and demonstrated their commitment to their faith, enhancing their standing in future engagements.

Uploaded by

nehaajmal15
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
12 views3 pages

Islamiyat 3

The Battle of Mu’tah, fought in the 8th year of Hijrah, was a significant conflict initiated after the killing of the Prophet's envoy, Harith bin Umair, by the Byzantine governor. Despite facing a vastly larger enemy force, the Muslim army, led by Khalid bin Waleed after the deaths of initial commanders, executed a strategic withdrawal that preserved their strength and reputation. The battle underscored the resolve of the Muslims and demonstrated their commitment to their faith, enhancing their standing in future engagements.

Uploaded by

nehaajmal15
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 3

The Battle of Mu’tah

Marking Scheme:

- Reasons

- Main events of the Battle (FOCUS)

- Results/ outcomes

- Significance

- The most significant and the fiercest battle during the lifetime of the
Prophet. It took place in Jamadi-ul-Ula in the 8th year of Hijrah. Mu'tah
is a village that lies on the geographical borders of Syria.

Reasons:

The Holy Prophet had sent Harith bin Umair Al-Azdi to carry a letter for
the ruler Basra inviting him towards Islam. On his way, he was
intercepted by Shurahbeel bin Amr Al-Ghassani, the governor of Al-
Balqa and a close ally of Caesar, the Roman Byzantine Emperor. Harith
bin Umairwas tied and killed by Al-Ghassani. Killing of envoys and
messengers was considered a crime and amounted to the degree of
declaration of war. The Holy Prophet was shocked on hearing the news
and an army of 3000 men be mobilized and dispatched to the north to
discipline the transgressors. The Prophet said. "If Zaid is martyred, then
Jafar bin Abu Talib will be your Ameer and if he is also martyred, then
Abdullah bin Rawaha will take the command, if he alsodies then you
can select a commander from among yourselves."

Events:

Zaid bin Haritha was appointed to lead the army, Jafar bin Abi Talib was
to replace him if he waskilled and Abdullah bin Rawaha would succeed
Jafar in case he was also killed. A white banner was raised and handed
over to Zaid bin Haritha. The Holy Prophet recommended that they
reach the scene of Harith bin Umair's murder and first invite the people
to accept Islam. Should they respond positively, then no war would
ensue, otherwise fighting them would be the only alternative left. The
Holy Prophet ordered them: “Fight the disbelievers in the name of
Allah; neither breach a covenant nor entertain treachery and under no
circumstances a child, a woman, an ageing man or a hermit should be
killed, moreover, neither date palm trees should be cut down nor
homes demolished.”

Hazrat Abdullah bin Rawaha then gave a speech that motivated the Muslims. He
said:
“O, people! You are nervous today of the very aim you had set for
yourself, exactly the goal for which you set out from your homes,
martyrdom. Remember whenever we fought wars, it was never on the
basis of superiority of number, arms or horses. We fought only for our
religion which is an honor bestowed on us by the Almighty. Go ahead
either you will overpower the enemy or gain martyrdom and enter
heaven.”

The Muslim army marched northward to Maan, a town bordering Syria.


There, news came to the effect that Heraclius had mobilized 100,000
troops with another hundred thousand men ofArabian tribes allied to
the Romans. The Muslims, on their part had never thought of
encountering such a huge army. They were at a loss about what course
to follow and spent twonights debating these unfavorable conditions.
However, the blessed Companions decided on launching a direct attack
upon such a large army.

Thus fighting was initiated and Zaid bin Haritha, Jafar bin Abi Talib
and Abdullah bin Rawahawere martyred, respectively in that order.
In the shower of arrows and spears, it was difficultfor him to remain
seated on his horse so he got down and pushed into the ranks of the
Byzantines.

The Muslim army then chose Khalid bin Waleed as their leader. He
realized that the Muslims were in a grave situation and began to follow
a different course of encounter. He reshuffled theright and left flanks of
the Muslim army and introduced forward, a division from the rear, in
order to cast fear into the hearts of the Romans by deluding them that
fresh reinforcement hadarrived. The Muslims engaged the enemy in
sporadic skirmishes. In the evening the fight was postponed till the next
day.

The next day, Khalid bin Waleed de spread out his men in a long line as
though he was going to envelop the enemy. The Byzantines, seeing this
new strategy, believed that they were being entrapped and drawn into
the heart of the desert. Khalid seeing that the situation was hopeless,
prepared to withdraw. He continued to engage the Byzantines in
skirmishes, but avoided pitched battle. One night he completely
changed his troop positions and brought forth a rear-guard that he had
equipped with new banners; all this was intended to give the
impression that reinforcements had arrived from Madinah. He also
ordered his cavalry to retreat behind a hill during the night, hiding their
movements, and then to return during daytime when the battle
resumed, raising as much dust as they could. This was also intended to
create the impression that further reinforcements were arriving.

The Byzantines believed in the fictitious reinforcements and withdrew,


thus allowing the Muslim force to safely retreat to Madinah. They
stopped the pursuit and did not advance to fight. Thus Khalid bin
Waleed, according to his plan, tactically withdrew the army from
Mu'tahand brought it back safely. The Muslims managed to return to
Madinah with the slightest losses.
Significance:

Though the battle did not satisfy the Muslims' objective of avenging
Harith bin Umair's murder, it resulted in a far- ranging impact and
attached to the Muslims, a great reputation in the battlefields. The
battle proved that the Muslims were strong and determined people
who would fight their oppressors in every way. Moreover, it gave
evidence that Allah backed them and that Muhammad, was truly the
Messenger of Allah.

You might also like