Seerah | Lecture 25 | The 5th year after Hijrah

The fifth year after the migration to Madina was characterized by continuous defensive military activity, as the Prophet Muhammad and the Muslim community faced coordinated threats from the Quraish, Jewish tribes, and hypocrites (munafiqun). The Prophet engaged in multiple expeditions (ghazawat) and dispatched smaller detachments (saraya) to secure the borders of Madina and preempt attacks from hostile tribes. This period saw the implementation of salat al-khawf (the prayer of fear) during times of imminent conflict and the ongoing struggle to manage internal discord caused by hypocrites who sought to incite conflict between the Muhajirin (emigrants) and the Ansar (helpers).

Military expeditions

• Ghazwa-e-Dhatur-Riqa' — The Prophet led an army to confront the tribes of Anmar and Tha'laba, who were plotting an attack. The expedition is named for the patches of cloth the Sahaba wrapped around their feet, which were bleeding from the sharp, stony terrain ▸26:25.
• Ghazwa-e-Dumatul-Jandal — The Prophet traveled with one thousand companions to a location between Madina and Damascus in the month of Sha'ban to intercept a hostile force. No battle occurred, as the opposing army fled upon the Prophet's arrival ▸28:05.
• Ghazwa-e-Bani al-Mustaliq — Also known as the Ghazwa-e-Muraisi', this expedition targeted a branch of the Banu Khuza'a tribe. The opposing forces fled, and the Prophet captured the tribe's leader, Harith ibn Dirar, and his daughter, Barra ▸28:45.

Rulings and practices

• Salat al-khawf — The Prophet performed this prayer during the Ghazwa-e-Dhatur-Riqa'. According to the school of Imam Abu Hanifa, the army is divided into two groups: the first group performs one rak'ah behind the Prophet, then departs to complete their second rak'ah independently; the second group then joins the Prophet for his second rak'ah and completes their own remaining rak'ah after he concludes the prayer ▸27:10.
• Treatment of captives — Following the capture of the Banu al-Mustaliq, the Prophet facilitated the freedom of Barra (later named Juwairiya) by paying her ransom to Thabit ibn Qais and subsequently marrying her. This act led the Sahaba to release all captives from her tribe, as they were now considered relatives of the Mother of the Believers ▸29:00.
• Selection of companions for travel — To ensure fairness and prevent jealousy among his wives, the Prophet used a lottery system (qur'a) to determine which of his wives would accompany him on military expeditions ▸30:35.

Internal discord and the hypocrites

• Incitement by Abdullah ibn Ubayy — During the return from an expedition, a dispute arose between a Muhajir and an Ansar. Abdullah ibn Ubayy exploited this to provoke the Ansar, urging them to stop supporting the Muhajirin and comparing the Muhajirin to dogs that would turn on their masters ▸29:10.
• Divine response — Allah revealed Surah al-Munafiqun in response to these events, affirming that all honor belongs to Allah, His Messenger, and the believers, and rebuking the hypocrites for their lack of understanding regarding the source of sustenance and respect ▸29:30.
• Restraint regarding hypocrites — The Prophet forbade Umar ibn al-Khattab and Abdullah ibn Abdullah ibn Ubayy from executing Abdullah ibn Ubayy for his treason, fearing that such an action would be misrepresented by non-believers as the Prophet killing his own followers ▸29:13.

The incident of the necklace

• Separation from the army — During the return journey from a campaign, Sayyida Aisha was left behind at a campsite after she stepped away to search for a lost necklace. She remained at the site, assuming the army would return for her once they realized she was missing ▸32:29.
• Safwan ibn Mu'attal — Safwan, who was tasked with trailing the army to recover lost items, discovered Sayyida Aisha. Upon recognizing her, he recited inna lillahi wa inna ilaihi raji'un, lowered his camel for her, and led her back to the army without speaking to her or looking at her, adhering to the laws of parda (veiling) that had been revealed ▸34:26.