Ghazwah of Dhi ‘Amr - Muḥarram or Ṣafar 3 A.H.

In the account of the Ghazwah of Qarqaratul-Kudr, it has already been mentioned how upon the instigation of the Quraish, the tribes of Sulaim and Ghaṭafān had become bent upon utterly destroying Islām and the Founder of Islām by an offensive strategy. Shortly thereafter, upon the proposal of a renowned warrior from among themselves named Da‘thūr bin Ḥārith, the people of the Banū Tha‘labah and Banū Maḥārib, which were tribes of the Banū Ghaṭafān, began to assemble in a place called Dhī ‘Amr, situated in Najd, with the intention of launching a sudden attack upon Madīnah.1 However, since the Holy Prophet(sa) would keep a constant watch on the movements of his enemies, he was able to receive timely intelligence as to the deadly motives of these tribes. Therefore, in the likeness of a vigilant general, as a preemptive measure, the Holy Prophet(sa) assembled a force of 450 Companions,2 and set out from Madīnah towards the end of Muḥarram 3 A.H., or in the beginning of Ṣafar 4 A.H.3 Advancing swiftly, the Holy Prophet(sa) reached close to Dhī ‘Amr. As soon as the enemy was informed of the arrival of the Holy Prophet(sa), they quickly climbed to the nearby mountains in order to secure themselves, and when the Muslims reached Dhī ‘Amr, the plain was empty. Albeit, the companions managed to apprehend a bedouin named Jabbār, who belonged to the Banū Tha‘labah. The Companions took him captive and presented him before the Holy Prophet(sa). When the Holy Prophet(sa) inquired of him as to the facts, it was ascertained that all of the people from the Banū Tha‘labah and Banū Maḥārib had secured themselves in the mountains, and they would not confront the Muslims in an open field.4 With no other alternative, the Holy Prophet(sa) was compelled to order a return. Nonetheless, the benefit which was indeed derived from this Ghazwah was that the threat posed by the Banū Ghaṭafān at the time was temporarily averted. Jabbār, who had been taken captive at the hands of the Muslims happily became a Muslim by the preaching of the Holy Prophet(sa), who assigned the task of training him to Bilāl(ra).5 After a stay of three days, the Holy Prophet(sa) returned to Madīnah.

In light of various historical records, it is suggested that it was this very Ghazwah in which the incident took place where a bedouin leader threatened to attack the Holy Prophet(sa) with a sword, upon finding him alone and unmindful, but then upon becoming awe-stricken himself, he dropped the sword.6 However, provided that this incident did not take place twice, it is ascertained from the Aḥādīth that this occurrence took place during the Ghazwah of Dhātur-Riqā‘, which according to authentic narrations took place in 7 A.H.7