Battle of Buhran
Allah Almighty initiated Jihad for the first time in Islam during the Medinan period, before which the use of force against non-Muslims and harming them was prohibited for Muslims. Initially, Jihad was legislated as self-defense only. Allah says, "Permission [to fight] has been given to those who are being fought because they were wronged, and indeed, Allah is competent to give them victory" [Quran 22:39]. Later, the initiative of combat and war against the enemy was legislated to promote the spread of the faith without obstacles.
The Battle of Buhran was one of the battles led by the Prophet Muhammad - peace be upon him - among his 27 total expeditions. Prior to this battle, the "Battle of Dhul 'Amr" and "Battle of Uhud" had taken place. In this article, we will discuss the Battle of Buhran, its reasons, and the events surrounding it.
Reasons for the Battle of Buhran
The primary reason for the Battle of Buhran was news that reached the Prophet Muhammad - peace be upon him - about a large gathering of the Banu Salim tribe in the Buhran area of Wadi Hujr in the Hijaz. He prepared his forces and set out to meet them. However, before the Messenger of Allah - peace be upon him - reached the location, the Banu Salim had dispersed.
A man informed him of this before he arrived at their position in a single night. The Messenger Muhammad - peace be upon him - ordered the man to be detained until they reached the area. There, he found that the people had already scattered, so he ordered the man's release and stayed in the Buhran area until the first month of Jumada al-Awwal before returning to Medina with the Muslim army.
Objectives of the Battle of Buhran
Allah Almighty initiated combat with the disbelievers and polytheists for the Muslims to empower the faith's spread without hindrance from the enemies of Allah. This was to divert discord from the people so they could choose their true religion freely, without pressure, coercion, or force. Allah says in His decisive verse, "And fight them until there is no fitnah and [until] the religion, all of it, is for Allah. And if they cease - then indeed, Allah is Seeing of what they do" [Quran 8:39].
Since the Quraysh and many other Arab tribes were opposing the call of the Prophet Muhammad - peace be upon him, he aimed to weaken the resistance of the Quraysh and allow the weak to enter Allah's religion without interference from the Quraysh and their leaders, preventing people from entering Allah's religion.
Location and Date of the Battle of Buhran
The Battle of Buhran took place in the region known as Buhran, a mineral-rich area in the Hijaz, located near Rabigh, approximately 100 kilometers away. It occurred in the third year after the Hijrah in the month of Rabi' al-Akhir and lasted until Jumada al-Awwal.
The Messenger of Allah - peace be upon him - led the expedition in Rabi' al-Akhir and stayed in the Buhran area during the months of Rabi' al-Akhir and Jumada al-Awwal, returning to Medina afterward without engaging in any battle.
Events & Results of the Battle of Buhran
The Battle of Buhran was a major military expedition undertaken by the Prophet Muhammad - peace be upon him - upon receiving news that a large gathering of the Banu Salim had occurred in the Buhran area of Wadi Hujr in the Hijaz. The Messenger of Allah - peace be upon him - led a force of three hundred Muslim fighters. He set out in the month of Rabi' al-Akhir in the third year after the Hijrah, leaving Abdullah bin Umm Maktum in charge of Medina. Before the Messenger of Allah - peace be upon him - reached the location of the Banu Salim, a man from the tribe informed him that they had already dispersed. Consequently, the Messenger of Allah - peace be upon him - ordered the man to be released.
Upon reaching the Wadi Hujr area in the Hijaz, it was clear that the Banu Salim had indeed dispersed. The Messenger of Allah - peace be upon him - spent the month of Rabi' al-Akhir and the first month of Jumada al-Awwal in that area without encountering anyone from the Banu Salim. He then returned to Medina with his expedition, having avoided any battle with the Banu Salim. This marked the third expedition led by the Messenger of Allah - peace be upon him - against the Banu Salim, with the first one occurring seven days after the Battle of Badr, and this expedition and the Battle of Dhul 'Amr happening in the third year after the Hijrah.
