Sariyyah Ḥaḍrat Abū Bakr(ra) Towards Banū Fazārah

Following this, the Holy Prophet(sa) dispatched an army of companions towards the Banū Fazārah under the command of Ḥaḍrat Abū Bakr(ra). At that time, this tribe was at war with the Muslims. Salmah bin Akwa‘(ra), a famous archer and trained runner was also a part of this army. Salmah bin Akwa‘(ra) narrates that they reached close to the settlement of this tribe around the time of the morning Ṣalāt. When they had completed the Ṣalāt, Ḥaḍrat Abū Bakr(ra) issued forth the command to attack. In fighting with the Fazārah tribe, they reached near their water well. Many of the idolatrous people were killed, after which they fled from the field of battle, and they imprisoned many men. Salmah(ra) narrates that among the group of people that fled was a party of women and children, who were quickly moving towards a nearby mountain. He began to shoot arrows between the mountain and them, upon which this party became frightened and stopped and they imprisoned them. Among these prisoners was an elderly lady who had covered herself with a mantle of red skin. She also had her beautiful daughter with her. He surrounded these people and brought them before Ḥaḍrat Abū Bakr(ra), who entrusted this girl to his guardianship. When they later reached Madīnah, the Holy Prophet(sa) took this girl from him and sent her to Makkah, and in lieu he sought the freedom of a few Muslims prisoners who had been detained by the people of Makkah.1