The Battle of Hamra’ al-Asad – Part Two The Prophet ﷺ and the Companions camped around their fires at Hamra’ al-Asad, while the Prophet sent scouts to monitor the movements of Abu Sufyan’s army. During this time, a man named Ma’bad ibn Abi Ma’bad al-Khuza’i passed by. He was the son of Umm Ma’bad, the woman whom the Prophet had met during the Hijrah from Makkah to Madinah when he asked her for food. Although she had little to offer, she welcomed him, and the Prophet miraculously milked her old goat. Ma’bad had not yet embraced Islam, but he knew that Muhammad ﷺ was the true Messenger. When he met the Prophet, he greeted him respectfully and said: “By Allah, O Muhammad, we were deeply saddened by what happened to you and your companions. We wished that Allah had granted you victory and that this calamity had never befallen you. Is there anything I can do for you?” The Prophet ﷺ replied: “If you come across Quraysh on your way, tell them that we have marched out to confront them.” Ma’bad continued until he reached the Quraysh army, which had camped at Al-Rawha’, about 47 kilometers away. At that moment, Abu Sufyan was seriously considering turning back to attack Madinah again. Although Safwan ibn Umayyah opposed the idea, most of the Quraysh leaders favored returning to finish off the Muslims. Before they set out, Ma’bad deliberately approached Abu Sufyan. Abu Sufyan welcomed him and said: “Here is Ma’bad. He surely has news. What have you seen, Ma’bad?” Ma’bad replied: “I bring you news that you will not like.” Abu Sufyan asked anxiously: “What do you mean?” Although Ma’bad had not yet accepted Islam, his heart was with the Prophet. He answered: “I have just left Muhammad and his companions. They have marched out in an army the likes of which I have never seen. They are burning with the desire to fight you. Those who stayed behind yesterday have now joined them, and they have sworn not to return until they avenge their fallen companions. Their anger is unlike anything I have ever witnessed.” Ma’bad intentionally exaggerated the strength and determination of the Muslim force. Abu Sufyan exclaimed: “Woe to you! What are you saying? We had already decided to return and wipe them out.” Ma’bad replied: “Do not do it, Abu Sufyan. I am sincerely advising you. What I witnessed shook me so deeply that I even composed verses about them.” Abu Sufyan asked him to recite the poem. As was the custom of the Arabs, Ma’bad improvised poetry on the spot, describing the immense strength of the Muslim army and magnifying its appearance until fear spread through the hearts of Quraysh. The poem terrified Abu Sufyan. He finally asked: “Where are they now?” Ma’bad answered: “By Allah, I do not think you will have time to depart before you see the forelocks of their horses approaching.” Fear quickly overcame Quraysh. Their determination collapsed, and they abandoned the plan of attacking Madinah, choosing instead to hasten back toward Makkah. Before leaving, Abu Sufyan tried one last psychological tactic. He encountered a caravan from the tribe of Abd al-Qays heading to Madinah and said: “Will you deliver a message from me to Muhammad? If you do, I will reward you with a full load of raisins when you reach Makkah.” They agreed. He instructed them to tell the Prophet: “We have gathered our forces once again and are coming to destroy both him and his companions.” When the caravan delivered the message, it did not frighten the Muslims. Instead, it strengthened their faith and reliance upon Allah. The Prophet ﷺ declared: “Allah is sufficient for us, and He is the Best Disposer of affairs.” The Companions repeated: “Allah is sufficient for us, and He is the Best Disposer of affairs.” Allah praised this steadfast response in the Qur’an: “Those to whom people said, ‘The people have gathered against you, so fear them,’ but it only increased them in faith, and they said: ‘Allah is sufficient for us, and He is the Best Disposer of affairs.’” (Qur’an 3:173) As Abu Sufyan and his army fled in fear, the Muslims captured Abu ’Izzah al-Jumahi, a poet who had previously been taken prisoner at Badr. Because of his poverty, the Prophet ﷺ had released him after he pledged not to fight the Muslims again or compose poetry against them. However, he broke his promise, joined Quraysh at Uhud, and used his poetry to incite people against the Muslims. Abu Sufyan fled, leaving Abu ’Izzah asleep beneath a tree, where the Muslims captured him. When he was brought before the Prophet ﷺ, he pleaded: “O Muhammad, forgive me once more. Spare my life for the sake of my daughters, and I promise never to do this again.” The Prophet ﷺ replied: “No, by Allah. You shall not return to Makkah boasting that you deceived Muhammad twice.” He was then executed. The Muslims remained at Hamra’ al-Asad for three days before returning to Madinah. The expedition successfully achieved all of the Prophet’s objectives: * It deterred Quraysh from returning to attack Madinah. * It restored much of the Muslim community’s prestige after Uhud. * It greatly strengthened the morale and confidence of the Muslim army following the battle of Uhud.