Nejd Caravan Raid

Caravan Raids
Date September, 624CE, 3 A.H Location Nejd Result Caravan leaders flee, muslims capture 3 men (included the caravan guide) Muslims successfully capture 100,000 Dirhams worth of booty (including gold and silver) [1]
Belligerents
Muslims	Quraysh Carvans
Commanders and leaders
Zayd ibn Haritha	None
Strength
100[1]	Unknown
Casualties and losses
0	3 people captured

The Nejd Caravan Raid took place in Jumad at Thaniya, in the year 3 A.H of the Islamic calender^[1] i.e November 624.

The Meccans led by Safwan ibn Umayyah, who lived on trade, left in Summer for Syria for their seasonal trade business. After Muhammad received intelligence about the Caravan's route, Muhammad ordered Zayd ibn Haritha to go after the Caravan, and they successfully raided it and captured 100,000 Dirham's worth of booty.^[1][2]

Background

The Meccans were at loss on which trade route to take, since Muslims successfully attacked many of their Caravans and intercepted their trade routes previously. Therefore, they tried to find another trade route for their caravan trade.^[1]

A group Quraysh headed by Safwan ibn Umayyah took the risk of sending a caravan through a route far east of Medina, using a reliable guide. However, Muhammad got news of the plan, and sent Zayd ibn Harithah with 100 men.^[3]

Raid

News of the trade route leaked out through Nu'am Bin Masud al Ashja'i, who was under the effect of alcohol. They caught up with the Caravan at a place called al Qardah. He trailed the caravan and made a sudden attack on it.^[1]

The leader of the caravan fled without resistance, the caravan was carrying silver and goods. Zayd took the booty, and arrested their guide, they also captured 2 prisoners and took them back to Medina.^[1][4]

Return to Medina

The booty (goods) captured was valued at 100,000 Dirhams.^[3] The booty was distributed among the fighters, and Muhammad kept one-fifth.^[1]

The guide in this raid, called Furat, became a prisoner of the Muslims. According to Tabari, he was told “If you accept Islam, the Messenger of God will not kill you” (according to Tabari's version of the event),^[5] he accepted Islam out of his own free will, and was allowed to go free according to Ibn Hisham.^[6] The Sunan Abu Dawud hadith collection also mentions that a man called Furat was captured^[7]

Islamic sources about the event

Biographical literature

This event is mentioned in Ibn Hisham's biography of Muhammad, as well as other historical sources, including books by Persian Jurist, Tabari.^[8] Modern secondary sources which mention this, include the award winning book,^[9] Ar-Raheeq Al-Makhtum (The Sealed Nectar).^[10] The event is also mentioned by the Muslim jurist Ibn Qayyim Al-Jawziyya in his biography of Muhammad, Zad al-Ma'ad.^[11]

Hadith

The Sahih Bukhari hadith collection mention that Muhammad sent some people on a sariya (military expedition) to Nejd. The hadith says:

“

The Prophet sent a Sariya towards Najd and I was in it, and our share from the booty amounted to twelve camels each, and we were given an additional camel each. So we returned with thirteen camels each.Sahih al-Bukhari, 5:59:627

”

Sahih Muslim, 19:4330, Sahih Muslim, 19:4331 and Sahih Muslim, 19:4332 also mention that Muhammad sent some Muslims on a Military expedition to Nejd. According to Tabari, in this raid, a man called Furat was captured,^[5][6] Sunnan Abu Dawud, 14:2672 also mentions this.

See also

• Muhammad as a general

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h} Mubarakpuri, The sealed nectar: biography of the Noble Prophet , p. 290.
2. ^ Hawarey, Dr. Mosab (2010). The Journey of Prophecy; Days of Peace and War (Arabic). Islamic Book Trust. http://www.islamic-book.net/ar/Rihlat-Alnobowwah.htm. Note: Book contains a list of battles of Muhammad in Arabic, English translation available here
3. ^ ^{a b} Watt, W. Montgomery (1956). Muhammad at Medina. Oxford University Press. p. 20. ISBN 978-0195773071.  (online)
4. ^ Ibn Qayyim Al-Jawziyya, Za'd al Ma'd, p. 2/91
5. ^ ^{a b} Tabari, vol vii, p.99
6. ^ ^{a b} Mubarakpuri, The sealed nectar: biography of the Noble Prophet , p. 291.
7. ^ Sunnan Abu Dawud, 14:2672
8. ^ Mubarakpuri, The sealed nectar: biography of the Noble Prophet , p. 290 (footnote 1).
9. ^ Ar-Raheeq Al-Makhtum - The Sealed Nectar. Dar-us-Salam Publications
10. ^ Mubarakpuri, Saifur Rahman Al (2005), The sealed nectar: biography of the Noble Prophet, Darussalam Publications, p. 280, ISBN 978-9960899558, http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=r_80rJHIaOMC&pg=PA280 
11. ^ Ibn Qayyim Al-Jawziyya, Za'd al Ma'd, p. 2/91. (see also Abridged zād al-maʻād)

Notes

• Mubarakpuri, Saifur Rahman Al (2005), The sealed nectar: biography of the Noble Prophet, Darussalam Publications, ISBN 978-9960899558, http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=r_80rJHIaOMC&pg=PA290