Battle of Banu Lahyan
After the defeat of the parties in the Battle of the Trench and the Arab tribes' reluctance in the face of the rising power of the Muslims and the shifting balance of power in favor of the Muslims, the Muslims had the ability to initiate attacks against their enemies in their own territories. Therefore, the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, sought to expand the influence of the promising Islamic state in the Arabian Peninsula by subduing the Arab tribes that opposed the Muslims.
He was determined to march towards Banu Lahyan, a branch of the Adnanite tribes that had migrated from Mecca and settled in the northern Arabian Peninsula, specifically in the region of Al-Ula in present-day Saudi Arabia. This example sheds light on the events of the Battle of Banu Lahyan.
Reasons of the Battle of Banu Lahyan
The main reason behind the Prophet's, peace be upon him, departure from Medina with his army towards the land of Banu Lahyan was the treacherous killing of ten of the Prophet's companions, may Allah be pleased with them, at the Raji' well, near the wells of Dhuzail, close to Mecca. They were on a reconnaissance mission in that area under the guidance of the Prophet; peace be upon him. However, they were killed after being given assurances of safety by the people of Banu Lahyan, who surrounded them. Aasim ibn Thabit, Khalid ibn Al-Bukair, and others refused to surrender and fought until they were killed.
As for Khubayb ibn Adi and Zaid ibn Ad-Dathinah, they surrendered, hoping for the people's fulfillment of their pledges. However, they violated their promises and sold Khubayb and Zaid to the Quraysh, who killed them in retaliation for the deaths of their polytheist comrades. Abdullah ibn At-Tarik was also killed on the way while trying to escape. This happened in the month of Safar, the fourth year of the Hijrah.
Objectives of the Battle of Banu Lahyan
The Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, waged war against Banu Lahyan, and in this Battle, several objectives intersected. With his wisdom, the Prophet, peace be upon him, aimed to convey these objectives to his enemies in the Arabian Peninsula, including the polytheists, Jews, and hypocrites within and outside the city. He wanted to demonstrate the military capabilities of the Muslims and their readiness to go on the offensive, not merely to defend themselves against aggression.
Additionally, he sought to avenge the martyrs of the Raji' well who were killed due to the treachery of Banu Lahyan, even after they had been given assurances and covenants of safety. This Battle was meant to send a strong message to anyone contemplating an attack on a Muslim.
When the Battle of Banu Lahyan Occurred
The Prophet, peace be upon him, set out with his army of two hundred fighters to Banu Lahyan in the month of Rabi al-Awwal. Some sources suggest it might have been in the month of Jumada al-Awwal, the sixth year of the Hijrah.
Events of the Battle of Banu Lahyan
The Prophet, peace be upon him, left the city of Medina after Ibn Umm Maktum had assumed responsibility for it, with an army consisting of two hundred fighters, including twenty horsemen. They headed towards the land of Banu Lahyan, which was approximately two hundred miles away from Medina.
The Prophet, peace be upon him, adopted a strategy of deception to conceal his true destination from those who might spy on the Muslims and convey information to the polytheists. He pretended to be heading north to engage in battle in the region of Greater Syria. Meanwhile, Banu Lahyan, a tribe of the Adnanite lineage, inhabited the southern region.
The Prophet, peace be upon him, led his army northwards until they reached an area known as Al-Batrah. Then, he turned southwards towards Banu Lahyan. When the Muslim army reached the valley of Ghurran, near Banu Lahyan's settlements, a treacherous act occurred. The ten companions of the Prophet were betrayed and killed there. The Prophet stayed in this place for two days and prayed for the martyrs, seeking mercy and forgiveness.
The Prophet, peace be upon him, sent a message to his companions to alert them to the movements of the Muslims. Banu Lahyan became aware of the Prophet's departure with his army towards them.
Results of the Battle of Banu Lahyan
Upon hearing the news of the arrival of the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, and his companions for battle, the people of Banu Lahyan fled to the mountain tops. When the Muslims reached their land, they found it deserted, with no fighters in sight. The Prophet, peace be upon him, sent scouting parties to track them for two days, but there was no trace of any of them due to their position in the high mountains.
The Prophet, peace be upon him, and his companions then stayed in the homes and settlements of Banu Lahyan for two days to strike fear and panic into their hearts. This was also to demonstrate the strength of the Muslims and their military capabilities, which would spread among the Arabian tribes. Additionally, the Prophet, peace be upon him, sent Abu Bakr As-Siddiq, may Allah be pleased with him, with ten horsemen towards Mecca to intimidate the Quraysh. They reached the area of Kura' Al-Ghamim, a valley near Mecca, and this struck fear into the hearts of the people of Mecca, who thought that the Prophet, peace be upon him, intended to invade Mecca and eliminate them and their worship. After achieving the desired objective, Abu Bakr As-Siddiq, may Allah be pleased with him, returned to the Prophet, and the Prophet, peace be upon him, marched back to Medina, reciting the travel supplication: "We are returning, repentant, worshipping our Lord, praising Him."
The absence of the Prophet and his army from Medina lasted for fourteen nights.
One of the significant moral outcomes of this Battle was the Prophet's, peace be upon him, demonstration of his loyalty to his companions, avenging their deaths two years after the Raji' incident. Additionally, it revealed the loyalty of the companions to one another as they endured the hardships of a long journey, especially considering the shortage of mounts to carry them.
