Sariyyah Dūmatul-Jandal - Sha‘bān 6 A.H. (December 627 A.D.)

Now, the sphere of Islāmic influence was beginning to widen very rapidly, and the propagation of Islām was beginning to reach far off regions as well. However, along with this, opposition was also increasing in these distant regions. Those who were inclined to Islām were forced to confront persecution from their tribesmen, and in fear of this persecution many weak-natured people remained deterred from their expression of Islām. Therefore, among the motives for war expeditions, an additional motive was added, that armies be sent towards such tribes wherein various people were inclined to Islām in their hearts, but remained deterred from accepting Islām due to fear of persecution. In other words, the purpose behind dispatching these armies was the establishment of religious freedom which was greatly emphasised by Islām.1

Under this primary objective, the Holy Prophet(sa) dispatched an army under the command of ‘Abdur-Raḥmān bin ‘Auf(ra), who was sent to the far off region of Dūmatul-Jandal2 in the month of Sha‘bān 6 A.H.3 Readers may recall that the Holy Prophet(sa) also travelled to this very place in 4 A.H. for the establishment of peace himself. In this manner, the stated region had already entered into the circle of Islām’s influence two years previously and the residents of this place were not unaware of Islāmic teachings. Rather, conceivably, a group of them were inclined to Islām but did not have the courage due to the opposition of their chieftains and tribesmen. In the sixth year of Hijrah, the Holy Prophet(sa) dispatched a large army composed of eminent companions, towards Dūmatul-Jandal, under the command of ‘Abdur- Raḥmān bin ‘Auf(ra).

With relevance to the preparation and departure of this expedition Ibni Isḥāq has recorded the interesting narration of ‘Abdullāh bin ‘Umar(ra), that on one occasion when we were sitting in the company of the Holy Prophet(sa) and Ḥaḍrat Abū Bakr(ra), ‘Umar(ra), Uthmān(ra), ‘Alī(ra), and ‘Abdur-Raḥmān bin ‘Auf(ra) were also present, and a young Anṣārī presented himself before the Holy Prophet(sa) and inquired, “O Messenger of Allāh! Who is most superior among the believers?” The Holy Prophet(sa) responded, “He who is most superior in his character.” Then he asked, “Then O Messenger of Allāh! Who is the most righteous?” The Holy Prophet(sa) responded, “He who remembers death much and prepares for it in advance.”

Upon this, the Anṣārī companion become silent and the Holy Prophet(sa) looked towards us and said:

“O Ye Party of the Muhājirīn! There are five evils, for which I seek Allāh’s protection that they never take root in my Ummah, because any nation wherein they develop, is destroyed by them. Firstly, indecency and fornication do not spread in any nation to the extent that they begin to carry it out in public, and as a result such diseases and epidemics do not begin to manifest themselves as in the people before them. Secondly, the evil of dishonesty in weight and measure has never taken root in any nation and as a result the affliction of famine, hardship, adversity, and tyrannous and unjust rule were not sent down upon them. Thirdly, no nation has ever exhibited indolence and negligence in the offering of Zakāt and charity and as a result suffered a shortage of rain, to the extent that if God did not care for the animals and cattle among His creation, that rainfall would be permanently withheld from such a nation. Fourthly, no nation has ever broken the covenant of God and His Messenger, and as a result another nation from among their enemies was not made to rule over them, who began to usurp their rights. Fifthly, never have the scholars and leaders of any nation issued religious verdicts in an attempt to deform the Shari‘ah for their objectives and as a result a series of internal violence and conflicts were not spurred.”4

This golden address of the Holy Prophet(sa) is an excellent insight into the causes underlying the rise and decline of nations. Moreover, if the Muslims so desire, this can serve as an excellent lesson even in current times.

After this, the Holy Prophet(sa) addressed his intimate companion ‘Abdur-Raḥmān bin ‘Auf(ra) and said, “Ibni ‘Auf! Be prepared, for I desire to send you on a Sariyyah as a commander.” Therefore, the next day, ‘Abdur-Raḥmān bin ‘Auf(ra) presented himself before the Holy Prophet(sa), and the Prophet(sa) tied the turban of ‘Abdur-Raḥmān bin ‘Auf(ra) upon his head by his own hands and ordered Bilāl(ra) to entrust a flag to him. Then, the Holy Prophet(sa) appointed an army of companions under the command of Ḥaḍrat ‘Abdur-Raḥmān bin ‘Auf(ra) and said to them:

“O Ibni ‘Auf, take this flag, and all of you set out for Jihād in the way of Allāh; And fight with the infidels, but look hither, do not act dishonestly, do not break oaths, do not mutilate the dead of the enemy, nor kill any children. This is the commandment of God and the Sunnat of His Prophet.”5

In this narration, perhaps the narrator has erroneously omitted the mention of women. Otherwise at another place it is expounded that when the Holy Prophet(sa) dispatched an army, he would also emphasise not to kill women, the elderly and such people whose lives were dedicated to the service of religion.6 After this, the Holy Prophet(sa) instructed Ḥaḍrat ‘Abdur-Raḥmān bin ‘Auf(ra) to leave for Dūmatul-Jandal and attempt to resolve the matter peacefully. For if the people restrained their hands from war and confrontation, then that would be the best case scenario. Furthermore, the Holy Prophet(sa) instructed ‘Abdur-Raḥmān bin ‘Auf(ra) that in this case, it would be appropriate for him to marry the daughter of the chieftain of the people.7

After this, the Holy Prophet(sa) bid farewell to this Sariyyah and ‘Abdur-Raḥmān bin ‘Auf(ra) set off with 700 companions to Dūmatul-Jandal, which is situated to the north of Arabia and to the north-east of Tabūk near the border of Syria. When this Islāmic army reached Dūmah, it initially seemed as if the people of Dūmah were ready for war and threatened the Muslims by the sword.8 However, gradually upon the mediation of ‘Abdur-Raḥmān bin ‘Auf(ra), they abstained from this intention. After a few days, due to the preaching of ‘Abdur-Raḥmān bin ‘Auf(ra) their chieftain Asbagh bin ‘Umar Kalbī, who was a Christian, pure-heartedly accepted Islām. Furthermore, along with him many people of his tribe, who perhaps had already been inclined to Islām in their hearts, became Muslim and those people who wished to remain within their faith also accepted subservience to the Islāmic government with complete satisfaction of heart.9 In this manner, this expedition came to its conclusion with great success and excellence. As per the instruction of the Holy Prophet(sa), ‘Abdur-Raḥmān bin ‘Auf(ra) married Tamāḍur, the daughter of the chieftain of Dūmatul-Jandal and returned to Madīnah. Moreover, by the Grace of God and the blessings of the prayer of the Holy Prophet(sa), a son was born to ‘Abdur- Raḥmān bin ‘Auf(ra) from Tamāḍur. He turned out to be among the distinct devotees of Islām and attained such a rank in knowledge and wisdom that he was to be looked upon as the most illustrious of scholars in his time. His name was Abū Salmah Zuhrī.10