Battle of Bani Salim

After the significant victory achieved by the Muslims over the Quraysh at the Battle of Badr, which elevated their religious, military, and social status in the Arabian Peninsula, the Quraysh's animosity towards the Muslims grew. This was due to their diminished standing among the Arab tribes. They began inciting hatred against the Muslims and aimed to invade Medina and eliminate Islam.

This desire aligned with the ambitions of those tribes who wanted to rid themselves of Islam and its growing influence in Medina, which hindered their previous activities of plunder and robbery that were common before the advent of Islam. Among these tribes keen on this goal was the tribe of Bani Salim, residing along the route between Mecca and Medina, with the assistance of the Ghatafan tribe. This article sheds light on the events of the Battle of Bani Salim.

Reasons for the Battle of Bani Salim

After the conclusion of the Battle of Badr and the return of the Muslims to the city of Medina, news reached the Prophet Muhammad -peace be upon him- that the Bani Salim and the Ghatafan, allies of the Quraysh, were preparing to launch an attack on the city of Medina and surprise the Muslims as revenge for the honor they believed was lost at Badr.

They sought retribution for their chiefs, who were killed and buried in a single grave. It was reported that they had gathered at a location known as "Qarqarat al-Kudr" which was a well belonging to Bani Salim.

Objectives of the Battle of Bani Salim

The strategic wisdom of the Prophet Muhammad -peace be upon him- in his expeditions and wars aimed to prevent aggressors from reaching the city of Medina and to ambush them in locations where they gathered. This was precisely what happened in the Battle of Bani Salim, as the Prophet learned from his sources between Mecca and Medina that the Bani Salim tribe, along with the Ghatafan, had assembled their men at Qarqarat al-Kudr for the purpose of invading Medina.

Additionally, this expedition aimed to instill fear in the hearts of the polytheists among the Muslims after the victory at the Battle of Badr, ensuring they did not perceive it as a fleeting success.

Location and Date of the Battle of Bani Salim

The Battle of Bani Salim took place seven days after the Muslims' victory in the Battle of Badr. Specifically, it occurred on the second day of the month of Shawwal, which is the tenth month in the Islamic calendar, during the second year of the Hijrah (the migration of Prophet Muhammad to Medina). This battle occurred at a location known as "Al-Kudr" or "Qarqarat al-Kudr" in the lands of the Bani Amir bin Sa'sa'ah, located in the southeast direction of the city of Medina. 

"Qarqarat" refers to the smooth, level ground in that area, while "Kudr" refers to the color of certain birds in the region. As a result, this expedition is often referred to in biographical and historical accounts as the Battle of Al-Kudr or the Battle of Qarqarat al-Kudr.

Events of the Battle of Bani Salim

Barely had the dust settled after the Battle of Badr, and the Muslims returned victorious to Medina, when the Prophet Muhammad -peace be upon him- began preparing to confront the gathering of the Bani Salim and Ghatafan tribes at a well known as "Qarqarat al-Kudr". These tribes had readied themselves for war against the Muslims.

The Prophet Muhammad -peace be upon him- assembled an army consisting of around two hundred fighters from his companions and set out towards the territories of Bani Salim and Ghatafan. He appointed Sa'd bin Arfatah (some sources mention Abdullah bin Umm Maktum) -may Allah be pleased with them both- to oversee Medina's affairs and justice, and it's said that both of them served in this capacity. Ibn Umm Maktum -may Allah be pleased with him- was also responsible for leading the congregational prayers due to his blindness, which made it inappropriate for him to adjudicate disputes among the people.

The Prophet -peace be upon him- journeyed towards Qarqarat al-Kudr after entrusting the leadership to Ali bin Abi Talib -may Allah be pleased with him. However, upon reaching the gathering point of Bani Salim and Ghatafan, he found no one there. When they heard of the Prophet's -peace be upon him- departure to confront them in battle, they fled to the mountain summits. The Prophet -peace be upon him- then sent some of his companions to scour the area and ensure it was free of lurking enemies, but they found no one.

Results of the Battle of Bani Salim

The Battle of Bani Salim concluded without any actual fighting taking place between the Muslims on one side and the alliance of the Sulaim and Ghatafan tribes on the other. This was due to a state of panic and fear that gripped them when they learned that the Prophet Muhammad -peace be upon him- had mobilized his army to confront them at the outskirts of their territory. In response, they fled to the mountain summits, leaving behind in the valley - the place where they had gathered - five hundred camels. These camels were seized by the companions - may Allah be pleased with them - whom the Prophet -peace be upon him- had sent to follow the tracks of the warriors of Bani Salim and Ghatafan. The Prophet distributed the camels among his companions, with each man receiving two camels after setting aside the one-fifth share, known as "Khums" for the Prophet.

Among the shares designated for the Prophet was a young boy named Yasar, whom he emancipated after observing him in prayer. Yasar had embraced Islam, improved his faith, and learned how to pray within the Prophet's household.

The Prophet -peace be upon him- returned to Medina with his army without any actual combat taking place. He spent three days at the location of Al-Kudr, waiting for any warriors from the Sulaim and Ghatafan tribes to return for battle, but none appeared. Despite the absence of fighting, this incident was still termed a "Ghazwah" (expedition) in Islam because it involved the mobilization of the Prophet's army, regardless of whether actual combat occurred or not. The purpose of such expeditions was to discipline and deter the cunning enemies of Islam, whether they culminated in combat or remained without it.

Events of the Second Year of Hijrah

The second year of Hijrah was marked by a series of expeditions in which the Muslims achieved victories over their enemies, including the polytheists, Jews, and hypocrites who aligned themselves with either side, whether through combat or without it. These expeditions included the First and Second Battles of Badr, the Battle of Bani Salim, the Battle of As-Sawiq, the Battle of Bani Al-Qaynuqa, and the Battle of Al-Ashira.

During this year, the esteemed companion Uthman ibn Maz'un -may Allah be pleased with him- passed away. Ali ibn Abi Talib -may Allah be pleased with him- also married Fatimah Al-Zahra -may Allah be pleased with her. Additionally, during this year, one of the prominent figures of disbelief, Umayyah ibn Abdullah ibn Rabi'ah, also known as Umayyah ibn Abi Al-Salt, died.