Ghazwah of Sawīq - Dhul-Hijjah 2 A.H.

The mourning which rippled through Makkah as a result of the Battle of Badr has already been described. Almost all the chieftains of the Quraish had been slain, and now the rule of Madīnah had come to the lot of Abū Sufyān bin Ḥarb. After Badr he vowed that until he had sought revenge for those who had fallen at Badr, he would abstain from having relations with his wife1 and applying oil to his hair.2 As such, a few months after Badr, in the month of Dhul-Hijjah, Abū Sufyān set out from Makkah with a force of two-hundred armed men from the Quraish and reached a place close to Madīnah via the route of Najd. Upon reaching there, he left his army at some distance from Madīnah and in the veil of the darkness of night, reached the abode of Ḥuyayy bin Akhṭab, who was chief of the Jewish tribe, the Banū Naḍīr, and sought his aid. However, since Ḥuyayy still somewhat remembered his treaty and agreement, he refused. Then, in the same manner, Abū Sufyān secretly went to the home of another chief of the Banū Naḍīr named Salām bin Mashkam, and sought his support against the Muslims. This wretched man, however, very audaciously ignored all of his treaties and agreements and warmly welcomed Abū Sufyān as a guest for the night, and transmitted secret intelligence to him pertaining to the Muslims.3 Before dawn, Abū Sufyān took leave and upon reaching his army, dispatched a contingent of the Quraish to raid a valley named ‘Arīḍ, which was located close to Madīnah.4 This was a valley where the animals belonging to the Muslims would graze, and which was situated at a distance of only three miles from Madīnah. It is likely that Abū Sufyān was made aware of this through Salām bin Mashkam. When this contingent of the Quraish reached the valley of ‘Arīḍ, fortunately, at the time, the animals belonging to the Muslims were not present. Albeit, a Muslim from among the Anṣār and a companion of his were present at the time. The Quraish apprehended both of them and ruthlessly murdered them.5 Then, they set ablaze the date palms in the area6 and set fire to the homes and small huts which were located there,7 before returning to the camp of Abū Sufyān. Considering this success as being sufficient fulfillment of his vow, Abū Sufyān ordered the army to return. On the other hand, when the Holy Prophet(sa) was informed of the attack made by Abū Sufyān, he set out with a group of Companions in his pursuit. However, since Abū Sufyān did not fancy throwing the fulfillment of his vow to doubt, he fled so frantically that the Muslim army was unable to apprehend him. Ultimately, after an absence of a few days, the Holy Prophet(sa) returned to Madīnah. This Ghazwah is known as the Ghazwah of Sawīq because when Abū Sufyān made haste to Makkah, he fled leaving his ration behind, which primarily consisted of ‘Sawīq’ or sacks of barley, partly due to anxiety and also in order to lighten his load.