Battle of Mu'tah and the Appointment of Military Leaders by the Prophet (peace be upon him)

In this passage, discussions surround the Battle of Mu'tah, the appointment of leaders by the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), and the reporting of the event before the news reached him, as reflections of Prophethood

According to the narrator Abu Abdullah Al-Hafiz, Abu Al-Abbas narrated from Muhammad ibn Ya'qub, who then narrated from Ahmad ibn Abdul-Jabbar, who narrated from Yunus ibn Bukayr, who narrated from Ibn Ishaq, who mentioned that Muhammad ibn Ja'far ibn Al-Zubayr narrated from Urwah ibn Al-Zubayr, stating that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) returned from Umrat al-Qada'ah to Al-Madinah in Dhu al-Hijjah and stayed in the city.

References:

• Al-Sirah by Ibn Hisham (3:322)
• Tabaqat by Ibn Saad (2:128)
• Sahih Al-Bukhari (5:141)
• History of Al-Tabari (3:23)
• Ansaab Al-Ashraf (1:169)
• Ibn Hazm (219)
• Oyun Al-Athar (2:198)
• Al-Bidayah Wal-Nihayah (4:241)
• Al-Sirah Al-Shamiyah (6:228)

Mu'tah is a place in Sham, specifically in the region of al-Balqa' within the jurisdiction of Damascus.

Preparation for the Battle of Mu'tah

In Jumada al-Ula of the eighth year, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) appointed Zaid ibn Harithah as the leader for the people in Mu'tah. He instructed that if Zaid was harmed, Ja'far should take over, and if Ja'far was harmed, then Abdullah ibn Rawahah should be in charge. If something happened to him, the Muslims should choose a leader from amongst themselves.

Readiness for Battle

The people prepared to march, bidding farewell to the appointed leaders of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). When bidding farewell to Abdullah ibn Rawahah, he cried. When asked why he wept, he replied, "By Allah, it is not love for this world or clinging to it that makes me cry. But I heard Allah say, 'And every soul will come, with it a driver and a witness,' so I do not know how it will be for me after my arrival."

Final Farewell

Abdullah ibn Rawahah then asked, "May the Most Merciful grant me forgiveness and a decisive blow that would scatter the foam. A thrust by a hand that is ready to strike, with a strike that would pierce the guts and liver, until people passing by my cadaver would say, 'He was guided by Allah in battle and surely guided back.'"

He later bid farewell to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), who prayed for him, saying, "May Allah keep firm the goodness He has given you, as He kept Moses firm and granted him victory as He did in the past." (Ibn Hisham's Biography, Vol. 3, p. 322)

Translation of Classical Arabic Text

Stanza 1:

"I have observed in you, as voluntary deed, goodness ... And Allah knows that my view is steadfast. You are the Messenger, so whoever deprives himself of voluntary good deeds ... and turns away from it, has indeed deviated by his own doing."

Stanza 2:

"Then the people set out until they reached Ma'an, where they were informed that Heraclius had descended upon Ma'rib with one hundred thousand Romans and two hundred thousand Arabs. So they stayed in Ma'an for two days and said, 'Let us send a message to the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, to inform him of the multitude of our enemies. Perhaps he will grant us aid, or give us a directive.' The people were encouraged by Abdullah bin Rawaha, who said: 'O people, by Allah, what you dislike is exactly what you are striving for: martyrdom. People do not fight in large numbers or sheer quantity, rather, they fight for this religion with which Allah has honored us. If Allah grants us victory through it, then perhaps He will do so; and if otherwise, then it is martyrdom, which is not inferior to a victorious outcome.' The people said: 'By Allah, Ibn Rawaha has spoken the truth!' So they valiantly marched forward, totaling three thousand, until they met the Roman forces at a village in Balkha called Sharaf."

Stanza 3:

"Then the Muslims moved towards Mu'tah, a village beyond Al-Hissin. Ibn 'Umar reported: The Prophet, may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him, appointed Zaid bin Harithah for the expedition of Mu'tah. If Zaid is martyred, then Jafar will take charge."

Account of the Battle of Mu'tah

Ibn Umar reported: "I was with him in that battle, and we examined him. We found that in the forefront of his body there were seventy-three wounds and spear strikes."

Abdullah ibn Umar said that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, appointed Zaid ibn Harithah for the Battle of Mu'tah, stating, "If Zaid is martyred, then Jafar will assume command. If Jafar is martyred, then Abdullah ibn Rawahah will take command."

It is narrated that during the Battle of Mu'tah, Jafar ibn Abi Talib was examined and found to have ninety-three wounds and spear strikes on his body.

Translation of Classical Arabic Text

Ja'far ibn Abd Allah ibn Rawahah: If Abdul Rahman ibn Rawahah is killed, then the Muslims should appoint a leader among themselves. Nu'man said: O Abu al-Qasim! If you are a prophet, then you have named those who will be killed, whether few or many. The prophets from the Children of Israel, when they employed a man against a people, said: if such and such person is killed, then all must be killed, even if they named a hundred, all would be killed. Then the Jew told Zayd: Make a covenant and do not return to Muhammad ever. If Muhammad is a prophet, Zayd said: I testify that he is a truthful prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. Narrated by Abu Abd Allah al-Hafiz, who narrated from Abu al-Abbas: Muhammad ibn Ya'qub informed us, who narrated from Ahmad ibn Abd al-Jabbar, who narrated from Yunus ibn Bukayr, who narrated from Muhammad ibn Ishaq. The people appointed a leader for them, placing Qutbah ibn Qatadah from the Banu Udhrah on their right side, and a man from the Ansar called Abaya ibn Malik on their left side, the people gathered.

Narrated by Abu Abd Allah: Abu Abd Allah al-Asbahani informed us, who narrated from Hasan ibn al-Jahm, who narrated from Husayn ibn al-Faraj, who narrated from al-Waqidi, who narrated from Rubay'ah ibn Uthman, from al-Maqburi, from Abu Hurayrah, who said: I participated in the expedition of Mu'ata. When the polytheists saw us, we saw things that no one had from provisions, weapons, shields, armor, silk, and gold. My sight brightened, and Thabit ibn Aqram said to me: Abu Hurayrah, what is wrong with you, it seems like you see a multitude. I said: Yes. He said: you witnessed Badr with us, we were not aided by numbers.

Events of the Battle of Mu'tah

Abu Abdullah Al-Hafiz told us, saying: Abu Al-Abbas informed us, saying: Ahmad ibn Abd Al-Jabbar narrated to us, saying: Yunus narrated to us from Ibn Ishaq, who said: Muhammad ibn Ja'far ibn Al-Zubayr narrated to me from Urwah, saying: The people engaged in intense fighting until Zaid ibn Haritha was killed. Then Ja'far took the flag and fought with it until he was killed.

Ibn Ishaq mentioned that Yahya ibn Abbad ibn Abdullah ibn Al-Zubayr narrated from his father, saying: My father informed us, who was nursed by one of the Banu Murrah ibn Awf. He said: I swear by Allah, it is as if I am seeing Ja'far ibn Abi Talib on the day of Mu'tah when he dismounted from his roan horse and it stumbled, then he advanced and fought until he was killed.

Ibn Ishaq further narrated that he was the first one to stumble in Islam, saying: "Oh! How excellent is Paradise, and its nearness... pure and cool are its drinks. And the Romans are Romans, their punishment nears... Upon me if I see it in turbulent times."

Abdullah ibn Rawahah Takes the Flag

When Ja'far was killed, Abdullah ibn Rawahah took the flag.

Ibn Ishaq reported that Muhammad ibn Ja'far ibn Al-Zubayr narrated from Urwah ibn Al-Zubayr, saying: Abdullah ibn Rawahah took the flag and leaned with it slightly, then advanced with it on his horse. He started to dismount and waver to some extent.

Ibn Ishaq further mentioned that Abdullah ibn Abu Bakr ibn Hazm narrated that Abdullah ibn Rawahah said at that time: "I swear, O my soul, you will come down, obediently or unwillingly." [Reported by Ibn Hisham in Sirah (3:327)]

Reflections on Martyrdom

People were summoned, the war-cry was sounded, "What ails you that you dislike Paradise? You were long at ease, were you not? Are you nothing but a drop in the loins? Then he descended and fought until he was killed," said Ibn Ishaq.

A Poetic Self-Exhortation

"O soul, you will not be killed lest you die. This is the bath of death you've prayed for. What you wished for, you've been given. If you do as they do, you've followed their guidance. If you delay, then you've suffered," the verse continues.

An Act of Valor

Ja'far, Zaid, and others fought bravely. Ja'far, wounded, was handed the flesh of a slain enemy and urged to fight on. Taking the weapon, he fought until he met his end.

Resolution and Leadership

Thabit bin Aqram, rallying the Muslims, insisted on a leader. People chose Khalid bin Walid. He led a charge, defended, and then withdrew with his people.

Testament to Courage

These accounts, relayed through various sources, emphasize the valor, resolve, and sacrifices made in the face of adversity and conflict in the path of faith.

Events at the Battle of Mu'tah

After staying in Medina for six months, the Prophet ﷺ sent an army to Mu'tah under the command of Zaid ibn Harithah. He designated Ja'far ibn Abi Talib as their leader should something happen to Zaid, and if Ja'far was also incapacitated, then Abdullah ibn Rawahah would take charge. They encountered the forces of the Ghassanid Christian tribes along with Roman and Arab Christians at Mu'tah.

The Battle and Leadership Changes

Ibn Abi Sabra, the Ghassanid leader, besieged the Muslims for three days before the actual battle took place at a location called Dahas Ahamar. The fighting was intense, with Zaid ibn Harithah taking command until he was killed. Ja'far ibn Abi Talib then took over, only to meet the same fate. Finally, Abdullah ibn Rawahah assumed leadership and was also martyred in battle.

Leadership and Victory

Following the leadership casualties, the Muslims reached a consensus to appoint Khalid ibn Walid al-Makhzumi as their leader. With divine support, Khalid led the Muslims to victory, defeating the enemy forces and upholding the reputation of the Muslim community. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ praised them, saying he saw Ja'far ibn Abi Talib flying with angels in Paradise.

The Prophet's Mourning over Ja'far and Zayd

The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, mourned Ja'far and Zayd ibn Harithah before hearing news of their deaths. His eyes were filled with tears, and in another narration by Ya'qub, the Prophet mourned Ja'far and Zayd.

Authentic Narration by Al-Bukhari

Al-Bukhari reported in his Sahih from Sulayman ibn Harb that the Prophet sent Zayd, Ja'far, and Abdullah ibn Rawahah leading an expedition. Zayd took the flag and was martyred, then Ja'far took it and was also martyred, followed by Abdullah ibn Rawahah who was also martyred. Khalid ibn Al-Walid later took the flag and narrated the events with tears in his eyes.

Another Authentic Narration by Al-Bukhari

Al-Bukhari also reported from Ahmad ibn Waqid, from Hammad ibn Zayd, that the Prophet sent Zayd, Ja'far, and Abdullah ibn Rawahah on an expedition where they all were martyred. Anas ibn Malik said that the Prophet mourned them to the people before the news reached.

Hadith Narration

Isnad (Chain of Transmission): Ibn 'Ulayya reported to us, on the authority of Ayyub, from Humayd ibn Hilal, from Anas ibn Malik, who said: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, delivered a sermon and said, "Zaid took the flag and was martyred. Then Ja'far took it and was martyred. Then 'Abdullah ibn Rawaha took it and was martyred. Then Khalid, without any reservation, took it and victory was granted to him. His eyes were shedding tears." He said: "It was not easier for me (whether) they were killed in my presence or were killed afterward, gained immense joy from them being with us or because of their presence, Ayyub is uncertain about the exact wording. What pleases or pleases me is that they are with us and his eyes were shedding tears."

Related Hadith

Isnad: Husayn ibn Muhammad reported to us, on the authority of Ya'qub ibn Ibrahim al-Dawraqi, who said: Abu Nasr 'Umar ibn 'Abd al-'Aziz ibn 'Umar ibn Qatada reported to us, on the authority of Abu 'Amr ibn Matr, who said: Abu Khalifah al-Fadl ibn Hubab al-Jumahi reported to us, on the authority of Sulayman ibn Harb, who said: al-Aswad ibn Shayban reported to us, on the authority of Khalid ibn Sumayr, who said: 'Abdullah ibn Rabi'ah al-Ansari, well versed in Islamic law, came to us. The Ansar were giving him legal advice. People crowded around him, and he was crowded along with those who had come to him. He said: Abu Qatadah Faris, the messenger of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, reported to us. He said: The Messenger of Allah sent an army under the leadership of chiefs and said, "You should face Zaid ibn Harithah. If he is wounded, Ja'far should take over. If Ja'far is martyred, 'Abdullah ibn Rawahah should take over." Ja'far stood up and said, "O Messenger of Allah! I fear you may leave me out and appoint Zaid over me." The Prophet said, "Advance. You do not know which of you is better." So they marched forth, as Allah willed, and the Messenger of Allah ascended the pulpit and announced the prayer. He called for congregational prayer and the people gathered around the Messenger of Allah. He then said, "I inform you about your army. They set out and encountered the enemy. Zaid was martyred, and prayers were offered for him. Ja'far then took the flag and fought until he was also martyred, and both heaven and earth testified to his martyrdom. Prayers were offered for him. 'Abdullah ibn Rawahah then took the flag and stood firm until he was martyred, and prayers were offered for him. Finally, Khalid ibn al-Walid took the flag, though he was not among the commanders, but appointed himself. The Messenger of Allah said..."

Hadith on the Bravery of Zayd ibn Harithah in Battle

The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "O Allah, this sword is one of Your swords, so grant it victory." From that day on, it was named as "Dhu al-Fiqar, the Sword of Allah."

It was narrated that when the battle intensified, Zayd ibn Harithah took the banner and fought until he was martyred. Then, Ja'far took it and fought until he too was martyred. The Prophet then fell silent until the faces of the Ansar changed, thinking he was disappointed in Abdullah ibn Rawahah. The Prophet clarified: "Then Abdullah ibn Rawahah took the banner and fought until he was martyred. They were lifted to me in Paradise, as I saw Abdullah ibn Rawahah in golden beds."

At the Battle when Muslims and polytheists clashed, the leaders were fighting on foot. Zayd ibn Harithah took the banner, fought bravely, and was killed. The Muslims fought in their ranks, and Zayd was the only one killed by a spear. Muhammad bin Ka'b Al-Qurazi mentioned this historical event.

Source: Al-Hakim in Al-Mustadarak, narrated by Abu Huraira, Abu Sa'id Al-Khudri, Al-Zuhri, Urwah, and Ibn 'Uqbah. Ibn Hisham also narrated it in his Sirah.

Translation of Classical Arabic Text

Story of Zaid ibn Haritha and Jafar ibn Abi Talib

When the people met at Mu'ta, the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, sat on the pulpit. Zaid ibn Haritha took the banner, and the devil came to him, making the worldly life beloved to him and detesting death. The Prophet, peace be upon him, said, "Now that faith has entrenched itself in the hearts of the believers, the worldly life has become dear to me." Zaid then marched forward until he was martyred, and the Prophet prayed for him and said, "Seek forgiveness for him, for he has entered Paradise while striving."

Additional Narratives

It is narrated that when Zaid was killed, Ja'far ibn Abi Talib took the banner, and the devil made the worldly life beloved to him and death detested. He said, "Now that faith has entrenched itself in the hearts of the believers, I desire the worldly life." Ja'far also proceeded until he was martyred, and the Prophet prayed for him.

Significance of Khalid ibn al-Walid

When Khalid ibn al-Walid took the banner, the Prophet, peace be upon him, said, "Now the heat of battle has intensified."

Story of Ja'far Ibn Abi Talib

One evening, Khalid Ibn Al-Walid stayed at Ibn Rawaha's place. When morning came, he put his right foot forward, and his left foot followed, and his left was leading the right, and his right was on the left. They denied what they were accustomed to in terms of their banners and formation. They said a reinforcement had arrived, so they got scared and were revealed as defeated, and they were killed in a way that no people had killed [39].

Chain of Narration

Reported by Abu 'Abdullah Al-Hafiz and Abu Bakr Ahmad Ibn Al-Hasan Al-Qadi, narrated by Abu Al-Abbas Muhammad Ibn Ya'qub, who narrated from Ahmed Ibn 'Abd Al-Jabbar, who narrated from Yunus Ibn Bukayr, from Ibn Ishaq, who narrates from Abdullah Ibn Abi Bakr Ibn Hazm, from Umm 'Isa Al-Jazzar, from Umm Ja'far, from her grandmother Asma bint 'Umayr, who said: When Ja'far and his companions were martyred, the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) came to my house. I had kneaded my dough, washed my children, anointed them, and cleaned them. The Prophet then said, "Bring the sons of Ja'far to me." I presented them to him.

The Prophet's Instructions

Ibn Ishaq reports: "I heard Abdullah Ibn Abi Bakr say, 'I have seen people of Medina, when someone dies, neighbors would take it upon themselves to provide food for the mourning family, as if I could see them baking small loaves of bread and preparing meat, which they would place in a pot. They would then bring it to the deceased's family, while they mourned, and they would eat it. This practice was abandoned after the Prophet instructed Ja'far's family not to be neglected in providing them with food on that day, as their minds were preoccupied with their loss [40].' This narration can be found in Al-Waqidi’s Maghazi (2:764).

Translation of Classical Arabic Text

Hadith Narrated by Aisha

Al-Thaqafi reported: Yusuf ibn Ya'qub narrated to us: Muhammad ibn Abi Bakr told us that: Omar ibn Ali narrated from Isma'il ibn Abi Khalid, from 'Amir, who said: When Ibn 'Umar greeted Ibn Ja'far, he would say, "Peace be upon you, oh son of the two-winged one." [Narrated by Bukhari in Sahih, from Muhammad ibn Abi Bakr. This narration confirms what we have been told by the people of battles regarding the two-winged one and affirms it.]

Aisha's Account

Abu al-Hasan Ali ibn Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Muqri' informed us, saying: Hasan ibn Muhammad ibn Ishaq narrated to us that: Yusuf ibn Ya'qub told us, who said that: Muhammad ibn Abi Bakr informed us, saying: Abdul Wahhab Al-Thaqafi reported to us that he heard Yahya ibn Sa'id saying: Umrah informed me that when the killing of Ja'far, Ibn Haritha, and 'Abdullah ibn Rawaha took place, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) sat in the mosque, showing signs of sadness. Aisha said, "As I was looking from a crack in the door, a man came and said: 'O Messenger of Allah, the women of Ja'far and others were crying and wailing loudly.' He ordered him to silence them. [The man left]. Then he came back and said ['O Messenger of Allah, by Allah], I have silenced them, and mentioned that they did not obey him. He ordered him again to silence them, and he left.] Then he came back and said: 'By Allah, we could not stop them. They alleged that the Messenger of Allah said: 'Mix dust in their mouths.' Aisha said: 'She meant: May Allah distort your face! Are you seeking what that man is doing and you have abandoned what the Messenger of Allah endured?'

Additional Narrations

Abu 'Amr Al-Adib said: Abu Bakr Al-Isma'ili reported to us that: Al-Hasan ibn Sufyan told us, who said: Muhammad ibn Al-Muthanna narrated to us that: Abdul Wahhab Al-Thaqafi narrated it [Narrated by Bukhari in the Book of Virtues, Chapter: The virtues of Ja'far ibn Abi Talib (5:90, 91)].

Hadith Narration

In this narration, Khalid ibn al-Walid mentions his experience during the Battle of Mu'tah, where he found himself with only a Yemeni sword after nine others broke in his hand. He states that he fought bravely despite this.

Source and Verification

This hadith is documented in Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim through the chain of narration from Muhammad ibn al-Muthanna.

Encounter with the Romans

Another account describes an encounter between Muslims and a group that included Roman soldiers. One Roman, riding a chestnut horse with golden armor, fought fiercely against the Muslims. Despite the odds, the Muslims stood their ground.

Story of Generosity

A man from the community slaughtered an animal, and a Medinan asked for a piece of its skin. The man generously gifted it to him, and the Medinan used it to make a shield in the sun, stitching it with the sinews. When it dried, he fashioned a handle and attached it to the shield. Witnessing this, the Medinan compared the man’s treatment to that of the Romans towards Muslims. He told a story of encountering a Roman warrior behind a rock, who, upon approaching, was thrown from his horse due to a foot injury. The Medinan, taking advantage, killed the Roman warrior with his sword.

An Act of Charity

Amr ibn Khuzaymah narrated an incident where he received a precious gem from a man he struck in a battle, and despite his desire for the gem, he later sold it for one hundred gold coins and bought a palm garden with the sale proceeds.

The Courage of the Companions

During the Battle of Mu’tah, the Companions of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) faced the enemy, with the Prophet encouraging them not to retreat but to be courageous in the face of adversity. This incident highlights the valor and bravery of the early Muslims.

Translation of Classical Arabic Text

Hisham ibn al-Mughirah said: "Why don't I see Salamah attending the prayer with the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) and with the Muslims?" Salamah responded: "By Allah, I cannot leave every time I go out, the people shout at me 'O deserter, deserters for the sake of Allah' until I sit in my house and do not leave, while he was in the expedition of Mu'tah. I said: People in the battles have disagreed in their fleeing and standing fast, among them are those who went towards that and among them are those who claimed that the Muslims appeared victorious over the polytheists and the polytheists were defeated."

Then there is the hadith of Anas ibn Malik about the Prophet (peace be upon him) then Khalid captured it and it was opened upon them and Allah knows best.