Book: Dalail an-Nubuwwah by Bayhaqi

Chapter of the Expedition of Bani Al-Mustaliq

Also known as the Expedition of Al-Muraysi', this chapter reveals traces of prophethood.

Reported by Abu Al-Husayn ibn Al-Fadl Al-Qattan - Abdullah ibn Ja'far informed us - Ya'qub ibn Sufyan narrated to us - Saeed ibn Abi Maryam informed us - from Ibn Lahi'ah - from Abu Al-Aswad - from Urwah:

"The Bani Al-Mustaliq and Lehyan tribes clashed in the month of Sha'ban, in the fifth year."

(1) Al-Mustaliq: A tribe renowned for raising their voices. It is a sub-branch of the Salq clan, with Jadhimah as their title and name. They are from the lineage of Sa'd ibn Amr ibn Rabee'ah, a branch of the Khaz'ah tribe.

(2) Al-Muraysi': A water source located between the Bani Khaz'ah and the city, a day's journey apart. It is said they called it 'muraysi' because it stays away from a man when it overflows, due to corruption.

(3) Scholars differ regarding the timing of this expedition. Ibn Ishaq stated it happened in Sha'ban of the sixth year, supported by Khalifa ibn Khayyat and Al-Tabari.

Translation of Classical Arabic Text

Reported by Abu Al-Hussain ibn Bishrān Al-Adl in Baghdad: He said: Reported to us Abu Amr ibn As-Sammāk. He said: Narrated to us Hanbal ibn Ishāq. He said: Narrated to us Ibrahim ibn Al-Mundhir Al-Khirāmī. He said: Narrated to us Muhammad ibn Fulayh, from Mūsa ibn ‘Uqbah, from Ibn Shihāb, in the mention of the battles of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him. He said: “Then he fought against the Banu Al-Musṭaliq and the Banu Lihyān in Sha‘bān of the fifth year.”

It is reported, from Qatādah, that he said: “Al-Muraysi‘ was in the fifth year after his Hijrah.”

Also reported by Abu ‘Abdillah Al-Ḥāfiẓ: He said: Reported to us Abu ‘Abdillah Al-Asbahānī. He said: Narrated to us Al-Ḥasan ibn Al-Jahm. He said: Narrated to us Al-Ḥussain ibn Al-Faraj. He said: Narrated to us Al-Wāqidī. He said: “The Battle of Al-Muraysi‘ was in the fifth year after Hijrah.”

The narration in Sahih Al-Bukhari, attributed to Ibn ‘Uqbah, mentions that it was in the fourth year. Al-Ḥāfiẓ said: “It is as though an error occurred while transcribing, intending to write the fifth year but wrote the fourth instead. There are various routes mentioning the campaign of Al-Muraysi‘ in the fifth year, reported by Al-Ḥākim, Abu Sa‘īd Al-Naysābūrī, Al-Bayhaqī in Ad-Dalā’il and others.”

Further, the wording from Mūsa ibn ‘Uqbah, from Ibn Shihāb: “Then the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, fought against the Banu Al-Musṭaliq and Banu Lihyān in Sha‘bān of the fifth year.” This is supported by what Sahih Al-Bukhari narrated in Al-Jihād from Ibn ‘Umar that he fought with the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, against the Banu Al-Musṭaliq.”

Al-Ḥākim in Al-Mustadrak said: “The statement of ‘Urwa and others that it was in the fifth year is more correct than the statement of Ibn Ishāq.” Al-Ḥāfiẓ commented: “This is supported by what is proven in the Hadith of Al-Ifk that Sa‘d ibn Mu‘ādh argued with Sa‘d ibn ‘Ubādah about the participants of Al-Ifk, mentioned in the incidents. If this expedition was in Sha‘bān of the sixth year, even though Al-Ifk occurred in it, it would have been a mistake for Sa‘d ibn Mu‘ādh to be mentioned correctly in Sahih, because Sa‘d ibn Mu‘ādh died during the Quraiza days, which was in the fifth year as confirmed correctly, as will be explained. If it was in the fourth year, it would match. Therefore, it becomes clear that the campaign against Banu Al-Musṭaliq was in the fifth year in Sha‘bān, occurring before the trench, as the trench was in Shawwāl of the fifth year, thus happening after it. Hence, Sa‘d ibn Mu‘ādh was present at Al-Muraysi‘, and later threw a spear in the trench and died from his injuries after ruling on the Quraiza.”

(Source: The report on the expeditions of the Prophet, see Al-Maghāzī (1:404))

Events During the Month of Sha'ban

In the month of Sha'ban, two nights passed and the crescent of Ramadan was sighted in Al-Madinah. Zaid ibn Harithah was appointed as the ruler of Al-Madinah after the Prophet's arrival.

The Prophet's Expedition and Confrontation with Banu Al-Mustaliq

The Messenger of Allah set out on an expedition with a group of seven hundred men. He encountered the tribe of Banu Al-Mustaliq in Sha'ban, in the year six after Hijrah.

The Battle with Banu Al-Mustaliq

Upon learning that Banu Al-Mustaliq were mobilizing against him, the Prophet marched until he reached Al-Muraysi' water, which belonged to Banu Al-Mustaliq. A conflict ensued, resulting in the Prophet defeating Banu Al-Mustaliq, slaying some of them, and capturing their possessions, women, and children. He settled in the area of Qudayd and the coast after the battle.

Events Leading to the Battle of Badr

The latest [8], they said: Verily, the Banu al-Mustaliq from Khuzā‘ah used to descend toward al-Fur‘, and they were allies of the Banu Mudlij, whose leader was al-Harith ibn Abi Dharar. When things came to a head among his people and anyone who could rally the Arabs, he called them to join the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, for battle. They acquired horses and weapons, prepared to journey to the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, with the vanguards advancing ahead of them to scout. The news reached the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, who dispatched Buraydah al-Aslami to gather information, which he did and brought back the news to the people. The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, summoned the people and they hastened to depart [9].

Eye Witness Account

Al-Waqidi reported: Sa‘id ibn ‘Abdullah ibn Abi al-Abiyad narrated from his father, from his grandmother Juwayriyah, who said: I heard Juwayriyah bint al-Harith saying, "The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, approached us while we were on the Muraysi‘. I heard my father saying, 'He approaches in a manner we do not like.' I saw more people, horses, and weapons than I could have ever imagined. When I embraced Islam and the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, married me and we returned, I looked at the Muslims and they were not as I had seen them before. I understood that it was a fear from Allah that He cast into the hearts of the polytheists. There was a man among them who had embraced Islam and had a good Islam; he said, 'We used to see white men on piebald horses, something we had never seen before or after' [10].

Preparation for Battle

Al-Waqidi further narrates: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, proceeded toward the Muraysi‘, which was a water source. He descended and erected a tent of camel hair, accompanied by his wives 'A'ishah and Umm Salamah. They gathered at the water, prepared and readied for battle. The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, described the scene [8] as reported by al-Waqidi (1:404) and Muhammad ibn 'Abdullah, Abdullah ibn Ja'far, Ibn Abi Sibrah, Muhammad ibn Salih, 'Abd al-Hameed ibn Ja'far, Ibn Abi Habiba, Hisham ibn Sa'd, Mu'mar ibn Rashid, Abu Ma'shar, Khalid ibn 'Ilyas, 'Adiyy ibn Yahya, and 'Umar ibn 'Uthman al-Makhzumi, and Abdullah ibn Yazid ibn Qusayt, and Abdullah ibn Yazid al-Hudhali — all narrated with a chain, and others who reported...

Translation of Classical Arabic Text

In the early stages of Islam, the Prophet Muhammad assigned Abu Bakr to lead the Emigrants and Sa'd bin Ubadah to lead the Helpers. Ammar bin Yasir initially carried the banner of the Emigrants. Later, the Prophet instructed Umar ibn al-Khattab to call upon the people to declare the oneness of God, preventing them from harm. Umar did so, and the first arrow was shot by one of them.

Following the command of the Prophet, his companions carried out their duties with utmost dedication. Each man took on the burden of one person, resulting in no one fleeing and ten being martyred, while the rest were taken captive. The Prophet took the men, women, children, livestock, and spoils of war as captives. Only one Muslim was killed in the battle.

Abu Qatadah recalled an incident where he confronted Safwan, who was carrying the idolaters' banner. Abu Qatadah engaged in combat with him and emerged victorious. This battle marked a significant victory for the Muslims.

Nafi' narrates that Abd Allah ibn 'Umar wrote to him inquiring about the permissibility of making supplications before engaging in battle. Nafi' responded that in the early days of Islam, the Prophet led an assault against the Banu Mustaliq tribe while their camels were being watered. The Prophet defeated them in battle, took captives, and married Juwayriyah bint al-Harith.

Hadith on the Prohibition of Azl - Coitus Interruptus

Reported by Ibn Muḥayriz: We entered upon Abū Saʿīd al-Khudrī with Abū Ṣirmah. Abū Ṣirmah asked him, saying, "O Abū Saʿīd! Have you heard Allah's Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, mentioning al-ʿazl (coitus interruptus)?" He said: "Yes, when we were with Allah's Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, on the expedition of Banū al-Muṣṭaliq, we captured some Arab captives. We desired women and sought to practice withdrawal, and we asked Allah's Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him. He said, 'There is no harm if you do not do it, for every soul that Allah has predestined will be created.'"

Explanation of Terms:

Al-'azl: Coitus interruptus, a method of contraception by withdrawing the penis before ejaculation to prevent pregnancy.

Consequence of Al-'azl: The Hadith emphasizes that individuals cannot evade their predestined fate, and thus, practicing or not practicing al-'azl will not alter one's fate.

Additional References:

This Hadith is also mentioned in Sahih Bukhari in the Book of Jihad (2097), and Sahih Muslim in the Book of Marriage (1061).

Story of Juyriyah bint al-Harith

Once, Juyriyah bint al-Harith, a charming and eloquent woman, wrote a document against herself. When no one except herself saw it, she went to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) seeking his help in writing. Aisha said, "By Allah, I only disliked her because of what I saw. I thought others would feel the same. However, when I entered upon the Messenger of Allah, I heard Juyriyah say, 'O Messenger of Allah, I am Juyriyah bint al-Harith, the leader of my people. I have been afflicted with a trial that has not been hidden from you. I have written against myself, so please assist me in writing.'"

Marriage Proposal

The Messenger of Allah offered to either assist her in writing or marry her. Juyriyah agreed to marriage, and the Prophet (peace be upon him) married her. People thought she was so blessed that even a hundred families from her tribe, Banu al-Mustaliq, were freed due to her marriage. There was no woman greater in blessing her tribe than her.

Details on the Marriage

Juyriyah recounted that before the arrival of the Prophet (peace be upon him) in her dream, she saw the moon descending upon her. She kept this to herself until the Prophet came, and upon marrying her, he granted her freedom and married her. She felt like a relative informing her about the news. All praises to Allah.

Transmission of a Historical Account

Al-Qasim ibn Abdullah ibn al-Mughira narrated:

On the authority of Ibn Abi Uways, who reported from Ismail ibn Ibrahim ibn Uqbah, who narrated from his uncle Musa ibn Uqbah. He recounted an event during the military expedition of Banu al-Mustaliq at al-Muraysi', where Allah granted them victory. Among the captives of that expedition was Juwayriyah bint al-Harith, the daughter of Abu Dhirar. The Prophet (peace be upon him) distributed her as a share, and some of Banu al-Mustaliq clan believed that her father sought her ransom from the Messenger of Allah, so he paid it and then married her to him.

^[18] Ibn Kathir referenced the narration of Musa ibn Uqbah in Al-Bidaya wal-Nihaya (4:159).