The Arabs were an excessively combatant nation and it was considered an honour to fight to death. It was due to this very reason that the sword was instantly unsheathed even upon trivial differences. Whenever such an occasion would arise, the Arabs would fill a large goblet with blood and dip their fingers in it whilst taking oath that they may die on the battlefield but shall never retreat from combat. There existed constant enmity between various tribes as every tribe considered it absolutely incumbent to safeguard its reputation and grandeur. In carnivals, etc., where diverse types of people gathered together, quarrelling and fighting was nothing out of the ordinary.
It was during the childhood of Muḥammadsa that on the occasion of the ‘Ukāẓ Carnival, which would be held in a pleasant valley situated to the east of Makkah at a distance of approximately three days, provocation was spurred between the tribes of the Qais ‘Ailān and Banū Kinānah. During that period, the various tribes of the Qais ‘Ailān resided to the south-east, between Makkah and Ṭā’if. For some time, the tribal leaders of both parties successfully managed to avert warfare. In history, this war is known as Ḥarb-e-Fijār, which means ‘The Unlawful War’, because this war was commenced in the sacred month in which, according to ancient custom, fighting was forbidden.
This war was fought with such vigour and violent fervour that it possesses distinct fame among the wars of the Jāhiliyyah. The Banū Kinānah paired with the Quraish and on the other side was the Qais ‘Ailān allied with the Hawāzin. The most dangerous battle of this war was the last one, which is referred to as the fourth battle of the Ḥarb-e-Fijār. The state of passion in this last fight was to such extent that some commanders had themselves tied to the battleground with ropes thus leaving no means of retreat even if it was so desired. During the initial portion of the day the Qais ‘Ailān lead in battle, however, towards the end of the day, the Banū Kinānah overcame their opponent’s edge. After the defeat of the Qais ‘Ailān, both parties were reconciled in a concord of friendship.
Young Muḥammadsa also participated in this war. However, from various narrations it is found that Muḥammadsa did not actively engage himself in battle. Instead, his participation was merely limited to the fact that he was a part of the army and would hand over arrows to his paternal uncle. At that time, Muḥammadsa was approximately twenty years old. In this battle, every tribe had its own commander. Therefore, the Banū Hāshim was under the command of Zubair bin ‘Abdul-Muṭṭalib; however, the commander-in-chief of the entire army of the Banū Kinānah was Ḥarb bin Umaiyyah who was the father of Abū Sufyān and the paternal grandfather of Amīr Mu‘āwiyah.1
1 As-Sīratun-Nabawiyyah, By Abū Muḥammad ‘Abdul-Malik bin Hishām, pp. 146-148, Bābu Ḥarbil-Fijār, Dārul-Kutubil-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (2001)