Expedition of Dhu Qarad

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Expedition of Dhu Qarad
DateSeptember 627 AD, 4th month 6 AH or 12th month of 6 AH
Location
Result
  • As follows:
  • Abd al-Rahman ibn Uyayna ibn Hisn al-Fazari loots Muhammad's milch camels
  • Muhammad and his companions chase after the thieves and get half their goods back[1][2]
Commanders and leaders
Salamah ibn al-Akwa Abd al-Rahman ibn Uyayna ibn Hisn
Strength
500–700 Muslims assembled, only 8 sent[1] 40 horsemen[1]
Casualties and losses
4 killed[1] 4 killed[1]

The Expedition of Dhu Qarad also known as the Expedition of Ghaba[2] took place in September 627 AD, 6 AH of the Islamic calendar. Some scholars say that it took place just before the Battle of Khaybar, in the 12th month of 6 AH.[3][4]

A few days after Muhammad returned to Medina from the raid on the Banu Lihyan, a band of armed men of Ghatafan led by Abd al-Rahman ibn Uyayna ibn Hisn al-Fazari raided the outskirts of the city; and seized 20 milch camels. They also killed the shepherd and took his wife as a captive.[5]

Expedition

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Background and reason for attack

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According to William Montgomery Watt, Uyayna ibn Hisn al-Fazari was annoyed because Muhammad had broken off negotiations with him over the withdrawal of Ghatafan.[6]

Abd al-Rahman ibn Uyayna ibn Hisn al-Fazari made a raid, looted the camels, and killed the man who looked after them and kidnapped his wife. Salamah ibn al-Akwa was the first to find this out, and he chased after him. Muhammad later found out and joined the chase.[5]

The place by which it was fought is known as Dhu Qarad, a reservoir of water at a day's journey from Madinah. According to the majority of scholars, this incident took place three days before the battle of Khaybar.[1]

Muslim response

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A hunt took place, and the camel and the kidnapped women were brought back. Muhammad on his way back to Medina stopped at a place called Dhu Qarad and sacrificed a camel.[5]

Muhammad collected 500-700 fighters, but followed up by sending 8 horsemen. Only 40 enemy horsemen were involved, and the booty Muslims captured was 20 milking camels. Half the camels were recovered, and while doing so, the Muslims killed 4 of the raiders while suffering the same loss of their own men.[1]

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value). (free online)
  2. ^ a b Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  3. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).Note: Book contains a list of battles of Muhammad in Arabic, English translation available here
  4. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  5. ^ a b c Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  6. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value). (free online)