Seerah | Lecture 23 | The 4th year after Hijrah (Part 1)

The fourth year after the Hijrah was characterized by continuous military expeditions, known as saraya and ghazawat, as the Prophet Muhammad worked to secure the nascent Muslim government in Madina. This period was marked by significant trials and tribulations intended to test the faith and patience of the believers, during which the Prophet Muhammad provided guidance on maintaining steadfastness. The year saw the loss of many companions in various incidents, including the events at Raji' and Bir-e-Ma'una, as well as the passing of family members and the Prophet's marriage to support widows and orphans.

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Key topics & takeaways

Military expeditions

• Sariyah Abu Salama — on the first of Muharram, Abu Salama led 150 companions to confront an army gathered by Tulayha and Salama ibn Khuwaylid, who fled upon hearing of the Muslim force, leaving behind booty ▸4:33.
• Sariyah Abdullah ibn Unais — in response to news that Khalid ibn Sufyan Hudhayli was preparing to attack Madina, Abdullah ibn Unais was sent to intercept him; he killed the leader and brought his head to the Prophet, who gifted him his staff (asa) to carry in Jannah ▸5:44.
• Hadithatu Raji' — a tribe claiming to have accepted Islam requested companions to teach them the faith, but upon reaching Raji', they revealed their deceit and gathered 200 men to kill the 10 companions sent ▸7:39.
• Martyrdom of Asim ibn Thabit — during the Raji' incident, Asim ibn Thabit refused the refuge of the non-believers and fought until he was killed; the non-believers were unable to mutilate his body because it was surrounded by honeybees ▸10:23.
• Martyrdom of Khubaib — Khubaib was taken captive after the Raji' incident and brought to Makkah, where he performed two rak'ah of prayer before being executed; he was later known as Balighul-ard because the earth opened to receive his body when companions attempted to retrieve it ▸14:22.
• Martyrdom of Zaid ibn Dathina — captured alongside Khubaib, Zaid ibn Dathina was asked by Abu Sufyan if he wished the Prophet were in his place; Zaid replied that he would rather die than have a thorn prick the Prophet’s feet ▸23:32.
• Waqiatu Bir-e-Ma'una — 70 companions, including many expert reciters of the Qur'an, were sent with Abu Bara Amir ibn Malik to teach Islam, but they were betrayed and killed by the tribes of Ri'l, Dhakwan, Usayya, and Banu Lihyan ▸26:26.
• Martyrdom of Amir ibn Fuhaira — during the Bir-e-Ma'una incident, the body of Amir ibn Fuhaira was seen rising into the sky and disappearing, as it was buried by angels ▸34:34.
• Compensation for wrongful killing — Amr ibn Umayya Damri, the sole survivor of Bir-e-Ma'una, killed two non-believers in retaliation, but the Prophet Muhammad ordered compensation be paid because he had previously granted them protection ▸35:39.

Personal and social events

• Marriage to Zainab bint Khuzaima — the Prophet Muhammad married Zainab bint Khuzaima, the widow of Ubaida ibn al-Harith, to demonstrate the obligation of the community to support widows and orphans ▸39:12.
• Death of Abdullah ibn Uthman — the young son of Uthman ibn Affan and grandson of the Prophet passed away after being struck in the eye by a bird ▸40:30.
• Death of Fatima bint Asad — the mother of Ali ibn Abi Talib passed away during this year ▸41:12.

Beliefs and theological points

• Knowledge of the unseen — the work maintains that the Prophet Muhammad possessed complete knowledge of the unseen, and that the occurrence of trials does not negate this, as these events were part of the divine will to test the companions and grant them the virtue of martyrdom ▸30:02.
• Status of martyrs — those killed in the path of Allah are not considered dead but are alive with Allah, receiving provision and eternal reward ▸38:11.
• The nature of the world — the life of this world is described as a prison for the believer, while the afterlife is the place of eternal bliss ▸16:59.
• Divine decree — the work emphasizes that all events, including the betrayal and suffering of the companions, occurred according to the will and wisdom of Allah ▸3:45.
• The Prophet's grief — the Prophet Muhammad felt deep sorrow for the loss of his companions, yet he remained the master of patience and faith during these trials ▸3:30.
• Deceit of the hypocrites — the work notes that those who attempt to deceive Allah and the believers only succeed in deceiving themselves ▸29:37.