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This heartbreaking incident occurred in the fourth year after the Hijrah. A few people from the tribe, ‘Adal Waqarah came to the Beloved Prophet ﷺ, and humbly said: “Our tribe has embraced Islam. Please send some companions رضي الله عنهم who can teach them about Islam.” The Beloved Prophet ﷺ sent a group of ten companions رضي الله عنهم to teach them about Islam. However, when this caravan reached a place called Raji', the disbelievers deceivingly martyred eight of them, and sold the remaining two companions in Makkah.
Raji' is a location between Usfaan and Makkah, approximately 380 kilometers from Madinah and 93 kilometers from Makkah.
The blessed birth of Sayyiduna Imam Hussain رضي الله عنه took place on the 5th of Sha'ban, 4 AH, in the blessed city of Madinah.
Sayyiduna Abu Salmah رضي الله عنه, husband of Sayyidatuna Umm Salmah رضي الله عنها, sustained a severe wound during the Battle of Uhud, which left him confined to bed for five to seven months before he passed away. After he passed away, Sayyidatuna Umm Salmah رضي الله عنها was left alone with young children and no other close relatives to care for her.
Despite proposals from prominent figures like Sayyiduna Abu Bakr and Sayyiduna Umar رضی اللہ تعالیٰ عنہما, she declined their offers of Nikah. However, when the Beloved Prophet ﷺ proposed, she initially hesitated due to the immense respect she had for him. After a heartfelt conversation, she accepted his proposal and became one of his wives.
Nikah with Sayyidah Umm Salmah رضي الله عنها:
Sayyiduna Abu Salmah رضي الله عنه, husband of Sayyidatuna Umm Salmah رضي الله عنها, sustained a severe wound during the Battle of Uhud, which left him confined to bed for five to seven months before he passed away. After he passed away, Sayyidatuna Umm Salmah رضي الله عنها was left alone with young children and no other close relatives to care for her. Despite proposals from prominent figures like Sayyiduna Abu Bakr and Sayyiduna Umar رضی اللہ تعالیٰ عنہما, she declined their offers of Nikah. However, when the Beloved Prophet ﷺ proposed, she initially hesitated due to the immense respect she had for him. After a heartfelt conversation, she accepted his proposal and became one of his wives and got blessed with the status of Umm ul Momineen (Mother of believers).
When the Beloved Prophet ﷺ and his companions were performing the Zuhr Salah, the polytheists observed them from a distance. Regretting that they had not attacked earlier when the Muslims were praying Zuhr, they discussed their next move. Some suggested attacking during the Asr Salah, believing that Muslims held it in even higher regard than their parents. However, just as they were formulating their plan, Sayyiduna Jibraeel عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ descended and told the Beloved Prophet ﷺ to offer Salat al-Khauf and how it is offered. ‘Salat al-Khauf’ is performed at the time of fear of the enemy.
Battle of Zaat al-Riqaa':
The Beloved Prophet ﷺ, accompanied by 400 companions, departed from Madinah on the 10th of Muharram in the fifth year after the Hijrah. Upon reaching Zaat al-Riqaa', the disbelievers, upon hearing of the Beloved Prophet's ﷺ arrival, fled into the mountains. Consequently, no battle ensued.
In his book, 'Seerat-e-Sayyad al-Anbiya,' Allama Makhdum Hashim Thattvi رحمۃ اللہ علیہ, states that the commandment of Hijab (veil) for Muslim women was revealed in the month of Dhul Qada, in the fourth year after Hijrah, on the day of the رخصتی of Umm al-Momineen, Sayyidatuna Zainab bint Jahsh رضي الله عنها.
رخصتی is an Urdu word which means (The traditional ceremony of a bride leaving her parental home for her husband’s house) and this word cannot be translated in English as a single word.
The well-known incident of Bir Ma'una took place in the month of Safar in the fourth year after the Hijrah. 'Amir bin Maalik, a renowned warrior, came to the Final Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
The Holy Prophet ﷺ invited him to Islam, but he neither accepted nor rejected it, instead requesting some selected companions رضي الله عنهم to be sent with him. The Beloved Prophet ﷺ said: “I feel danger from the disbelievers of Najd.” He said: “I assure you for the life and possessions of your companions.”
The Beloved Prophet ﷺ sent seventy companions رضي الله عنهم. When these blessed companions رضي الله عنهم reached Bir Ma’una, the leader of the caravan went to ‘Amir bin Tufail, who was the nephew ‘Amir bin Malik, with the letter of the Beloved Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم. ‘Amir bin Tufail deceivingly had him martyred too, and attacked the rest of the companions رضي الله عنهم with the help of the nearby tribes. They left only one companion, Sayyiduna ‘Amr bin Umayyah رضي الله عنه, and martyred the rest of the companions رضي الله عنهم. The Final Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم was deeply grieved when he (Sayyiduna ‘Amr bin Umayyah) reached Madinah and related the entire incident to him.
Sayyidatuna Zainab bint Jahsh’s رضي الله عنها Nikah was done at the age of around 35, either in the third or fifth year after the Hijrah.
The first tribes to intend an attack on Madinah were “Anmar and Tha’labah.” When the Holy Prophet ﷺ was informed of this, he set out with an army of four hundred noble Companions رضي الله عنهم on the 10th of Muharram, 5 AH, departing from Madinah until he reached the place of “Zaat al-Riqaa.” However, upon hearing of his arrival, the disbelievers fled into the mountains and hid, so no battle took place. A few women from among the polytheists were found and captured by the noble Companions رضي الله عنهم.
At that time, the Muslims were in extreme poverty and hardship. Sayyiduna Abu Musa Ashari رضي الله عنه narrated that the shortage of mounts was such that one camel was shared by six men, riding it in turns during the journey. Walking on the rocky terrain wounded their feet, and the toenails fell off. Therefore, they wrapped rags of cloth around their feet. This became the reason that this campaign was named the “Battle of Zaat al-Riqaa” (the Battle of the Patches).
(1) Bukhari, Ghazwah Dhat al-Riqa, vol. 2, p. 592.