In this very month, the Holy Prophet(sa) dispatched another company of thirty men mounted on camels to Saiful-Baḥr in the east of Madīnah, where the region of ‘Īṣ was situated, under the command of his biological paternal uncle, Ḥamzah bin ‘Abdil-Muṭṭalib(ra). When Ḥamzah(ra) and his companions promptly arrived, they found the head chieftain of Makkah, Abū Jahl, present there to welcome them with an army of 300 mounted men. This number was ten times the number of Muslims, but the Muslims had gone forth from their homes in order to carry out the command of God and His Messenger, and the fear of death could not force them back. Both armies began to line up before one another and battle was about to begin when the chief of that region, Mujaddidī bin ‘Amr Al-Juhnī, who held relations with both parties, intervened and on the brink of war, conflict was averted.1 Ibni Sa‘d, who often follows his teacher Wāqidī, writes that this was a caravan of the Quraish which encountered the Muslims. However, Ibni Isḥāq, as quoted by Ibni Hishām, has not made mention of a caravan. He has only written that 300 mounted men of the Quraish were encountered, and they were commanded by Abū Jahl. In light of other factors, the number of disbelievers as reported by Ibni Isḥāq proves to be correct. Furthermore, it is definite that this company of disbelievers set out against the Muslims. As such, the attack of Kurz bin Jābir Fihrī which shall appear ahead, supports this notion.
1 As-Sīratun-Nabawiyyah, By Abū Muḥammad ‘Abdul-Mālik bin Hishām, pp. 408-409, Sariyyatu Ḥamzata Ilā Saifil-Baḥr, Dārul-Kutubil-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (2001)
Tārīkhur-Rusuli Wal-Mulūk (Tārīkhuṭ-Ṭabarī), By Abū Ja‘far Muḥammad bin Jarīr Aṭ-Ṭabarī, Volume 3, p. 12, Dhikru Mā Kāna Minal-Umūril-Madhkūrati Fī Awwali Sanatim-Minal-Hijrati / Khuṭbatu Rasūlillāhi(sa) Fī Awwali Jumu‘atin….., Dārul-Fikr, Beirut, Lebanon, Second Edition (2002)