Conspiracy to Assassinate the Holy Prophet(sa) & Sariyyah ‘Amr bin Umaiyyah(ra) - Shawwāl 6 A.H.

The recollection of their disgraceful failure in the Ghazwah of Aḥzāb, inflamed the Quraish of Makkah. Naturally, this heartfelt rage had come mostly to the lot of Abū Sufyān, who was the chief of Makkah and had been especially humiliated during the expedition of Aḥzāb. For some time, Abū Sufyān continued to burn in this fire of rage, but at last, the matter became unbearable and the hidden flames of this fire began to flare up. Naturally, their greatest enmity, rather their actual enmity, was towards the person of the Holy Prophet(sa). For this reason, Abū Sufyān now thought that if no results had come about through outwardly strategies and schemes, then why not put an end to Muḥammad(sa) by some hidden scheme? He knew that there was no official security around the Holy Prophet(sa). Quite the contrary, at times, the Holy Prophet(sa) would come and go, and walk the streets and alleys of the city completely unprotected. He would come to the mosque at least five times daily for the Ṣalāt and remained free and accessible whilst travelling. What better opportunity could there possibly have been for an assassin? As soon as this thought came to him, Abū Sufyān began to secretly consolidate his plan to assassinate the Holy Prophet(sa).

When he was fully determined to carry out his plan, one day, capitalising on an opportunity, he addressed a few young men of the Quraish with similar interests, saying, “Do you know that Muḥammad[sa] freely roams the streets and alleys of Madīnah?” These young men heard this news and quickly flew off. Not many days had passed when a young Bedouin man came to Abū Sufyān and began to say:

“I have heard your proposition and I am willing to do this. I am a strong hearted and mature individual, whose grip is severe and whose strike is sudden. If you appoint me to this task and assist me, I am ready to set out in order to kill Muḥammad(sa). I have a dagger, which shall remain like the hidden wings of a wild vulture. I shall attack Muḥammad(sa) and then run to join a caravan and the Muslims shall not be able to catch me. Furthermore, I am also very proficient in the streets of Madīnah.”

Abū Sufyān said, “Enough, enough. You are the man we seek.” Then, Abū Sufyān gave him a swift camel and bid him adieu with some provisions, emphatically reminding him not to disclose this secret to anyone.1

After having departed from Makkah, this man moved towards Madīnah hiding by day and travelling by night. He reached Madīnah on the sixth night. Ascertaining the whereabouts of the Holy Prophet(sa), he went straight to the mosque of the Banī ‘Abdul-Ashhal, where the Holy Prophet(sa) was present. Those days, new people constantly visited Madīnah, so no Muslim became suspicious of him. But as soon as the Holy Prophet(sa) noticed the man approaching him he said, “This man has come with an evil intention.” Upon hearing these words, he began to move towards the Holy Prophet(sa) even faster than before. However, Usaid bin Ḥuḍair(ra), a Chieftain among the Anṣār, immediately sprung forward and clung to him and during this tussle his hand fell upon the man’s hidden dagger, whereupon the man screamed out in fear, “My death! My death!” When he was subdued, the Holy Prophet(sa) inquired of him, “Tell me truthfully, who are you and with which intention have you come?” He said, “If my life is spared, I will tell you.” The Holy Prophet(sa) said, “Yes, relate the entire account truthfully and you shall be forgiven.” Upon this he related the entire story to the Holy Prophet(sa) from beginning to end. He also told the Holy Prophet(sa) of the reward which had been promised to him by Abū Sufyān. Thereafter, this individual stayed in Madīnah for a few days and then out of his own will became a Muslim, and thus, entered into the service of the Holy Prophet(sa).2

This bloody conspiracy of Abū Sufyān made it even more incumbent than before to remain informed of the plots and intentions of the people of Makkah. As such, the Holy Prophet(sa) sent two of his companions, ‘Amr bin Umaiyyah Ḍamrī(ra) and Salmah bin Aslam(ra), to Makkah. Considering the assassination attempt of Abū Sufyān and his past bloodthirsty schemes, the Holy Prophet(sa) permitted his companions to put an end to this war enemy of Islām, if the opportunity were to arise. However, when Umaiyyah(ra) and his companion reached Makkah, the Quraish were alerted, whereupon these two companions set back to Madīnah fending for their lives. On their way back, they found two spies of the Quraish, whom the chieftains of the Quraish had sent to ascertain intelligence on the movements of the Muslims and to acquire information on the Holy Prophet(sa). It would not be surprising if this scheme was also a grounds for some other bloodthirsty conspiracy of the Quraish. However, it was by the Grace of God, that Umaiyyah(ra) and Salmah(ra) learned of their espionage, upon which they desired to attack and imprison them, but they fought back. Consequently, in this battle, one spy was killed while the other was taken prisoner and brought back to Madīnah.3

There is a disagreement amongst historians with regards to the date of this expedition. Ibni Hishām and Ṭabarī have recorded it in 4 A.H. but Ibni Sa‘d has written it to be in 6 A.H. ‘Allāmah Qusṭalānī and Zurqānī have given precedence to the narration of Ibni Sa‘d, therefore, I have also mentioned it among the accounts of 6 A.H. Indeed, Allāh knows best. Baihaqī has also supported the details of the account mentioned by Ibni Sa‘d,4 but from this account one cannot establish the period in which it took place.