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The Life of Mohammed Fact Files for Factphiles

Chronology of

Mohammed’s Medinan Years

Written for TheDefenceofTolerance.wordpress.com

Text Key Map Key

II Reference in ’s The life of Mohammed Settlement with substantial Jewish population IH Reported by another source Settlement with substantial Brown text indicates a place name. Christian population

Where an incident is said to be Settlement under Islamic referred to in or be connected rule to a verse of the .

Raid on caravan Event in Mohammed’s personal life. Aborted on caravan

Raid against a community Dates are principally given in the Hijri ordered by Mohammed Calendar (AH) traditionally used by the Islamic community, in which a Major battle year consists of twelve lunar of 30 or 31 days with annual numbers Assassination ordered by commencing with the year of the Mohammed Hijrah. Destruction of idol ordered NB Each AH year has a duration of by Mohammed either 354 or 355 days: approximately 10 days less than the Gregorian calendar. J

. J

Arabia in the time of Mohammed

Traditionally allies of the

Dhumat al Jandal () Byzantines

Tabouk () Traditionally allies of

the Sassanids

Kaybar ()

Wadi al Qura ()

Yathrib () () ,

Mecca

Ta’if

The Adnanites

The Addnanites claim descent from through and his great (x6) grandson .

By Mohammed’s time they were a large ethnic group that included many tribes including Mohammed’s own tribe, the Banu (‘sons of ‘) of and many of the other tribes Mohammed fought with including the Banu , and Banu .

It is unclear if the two main tribes in Yathrib, the Banu Aws and Banu Khazraj were also part of this group, but it is thought that they emigrated north from making it more likely that they were descended from the Qahtanites. Overview of Mohammed’s Medinan Years

Mohammed’s military expeditions comprise at least three separate campaigns.

Best known is his struggle with the city of Mecca, including three large scale military confrontations, followed by the Treaty of Huddaybiyya and Mohammed’s two years after that.

Connected with the campaign against Mecca, Mohammed extended his influence over tribes in the surrounding area by assassinations and raids, to strangle Mecca’s trade routes, acquire booty for his supporters, attract more fighters and persuade tribes to declare loyalty to .

Simultaneously with these expeditions abroad, Mohammed secured unchallenged control over Yathrib, later renamed Medina, through the gradual elimination of the three major Jewish tribes there, one after each of his confrontations with Mecca.

The Conflict with the Conflict with Bedouin The Muslim Community Meccans tribes and the wider region in Medina

1 AH Hijrah

Raids on Meccan caravans

2 Expulsion of

First assassinations/ First assassinations

raids on Bedouin tribes. 3 (Banu Salim, Ghatafan)

40/70 killed 4 ‘Second Battle of Badr’ Expulsion of by Banu Salem

Raid on Meccan caravan at 5 al Qarada First raids to NW Arabia Skirmish with Banu Mutaliq Massacre of

6

Treaty of Hudaybiyya

7 Conquest of Kaybar, Fadak First raids to Yemen

8 Many Bedouin clans submit

Conquest of Mecca Battles of Hunayn, Auton

9 Capture of Tabouk

Surrender of Ta’if

10 Farewell Raids across Yemen, pilgrimage/sermon Dul Khalassa destroyed

Raid ordered to . 11

Death of Mohammed. 1 AH

 Muharram The Quran

First permission to fight:

Safar 22.39-40 2.256

AD Sept.

622 The Hijrah Rabi’ Mohammed migrates from Mecca to Yathrib. al-Awwal II: 324-36

Rabi’ al-Thani

Jumada

al-Awwal

Jumada Al-Akhirah

AD 623

Rajab

Sha’ban

Ramadan Unsuccessful raids on Meccan caravans: Over the nine months beginning with 1AH Mohammed led or sent up to six unsuccessful expeditions to rob Meccan caravans. st 1 (Waddan) aborted unclear reason. II: 416

2nd (al Ais on coast path) aborted when Dhu found caravan had 300 guards. II: 419 Al-Qa’dah [Meccans may have been alerted to Mohammed’s

raising of a force]

3rd (Buwat near Radwa) arrows fired but no hand Dhu combat. Al=Hijjah

1 AH

2 AH

Muharram Unsuccessful raids on Meccan caravans The Quran (cont.) [see 1AH] Naklah raid (during sacred truce month) Safar retrospectively justified: 2.217 First successful raid on a Meccan caravan: Rabi’ (Naklah, close to Mecca). 8 attacked a small al-Awwal caravan carrying raisins and leather during Rajab

(sacred month). One Meccan killed, 2 taken captive.

Rabi’ al-Thani

Battle of Badr The Quran Jumada A Meccan caravan led by Abu Sufyan detected a al-Awwal planned Muslim ambush. The caravan avoided All 8 revealed the Muslims and sent to Mecca for help but after Badr

Mohammed successfully defended his force Jumada against the Meccan retaliation. Battle of Badr Al-Akhirah [317 Muslim fighters suggests a total referred to in: Muslim population of c.1000 at this time] 3.12, 13, 118, 123-5

70 Meccans and 14 Muslims killed. Rajab II: 426-539 Some (2?) prisoners later killed.

Mohammed ordered the killing of poets: Sha’ban Asma bint Marwan (Yathrib), II: 675-6

Abu Afak (Hijaz) ), II: 675

Ramadan Ka'b bin al-Ashraf (Yathrib), II: 548

Dates for criticising and mocking him in poems

not (and in the case of K’ab writing amorous Shawwal known, verses concerning Muslim women II: 550) The Quran but shortly Expulsion of Banu Qaynuqa The expulsion of after Mohammed forced the expulsion of Banu Banu Qaynuqa was

Dhu the Qaynuqa from Yathrib, following an incident the occasion of: Al-Qa’dah Battle in which a Muslim woman was stripped. 3.318 and 5.57 of Badr Qaynuqa arms seized. II: 545-7

Mohammed married First raid against Banu Sulaym Dhu Zeynab bint “Pre-emptive” strike against Banu Salim at Al-Hijjah Khuzayma, Qarqarat al-Kudr, north of Yathrib. widowed at Badr The Salim fled; 500 camels captured.

2 AH

3 AH Raid against Banu Muharib and Banu Thalabah (of the

Muharram Banu Gatafan) at Dhu Amar, Nejd. Muharib, Thalabah fled as Mohammed approached. One person captured. IH

Safar

Rabi’ al-Awwal

Defensive manoeuvres against Banu Salem Rabi’ No hostilities. IH al-Thani

Successful raid on a Meccan caravan at Al Qarada, Nejd Jumada by a Muslim force of 100 lead by Zayd. al-Awwal ‘100,000’ dirhams worth of goods and two captives taken. IH

Jumada Battle of Uhud Al-Akhirah The Muslim community was attacked outside Yathrib by a Meccan force of (3000 incl. Bedouin, Abyssinian mercenaries) led by Abu Sufyan in retaliation for the AD 625 The Quran Rajab caravan raids. Muslims said to have had 700 fighters.

An early Muslim advantage was lost when their archers Battle of Uhud thought to be left their position to raid the Meccan camp, allowing a referred to in: Sha’ban Meccan charge. Mohammed was injured and 8.36, lay, believed to be dead, under bodies. Later he held a shouted conversation with Abu Sufyan who did not 3.122 “When two groups attempt to capture him. They agreed to fight again at Badr in a year’s time. among you were Ramadan about to lose 70 Muslims, 20-40 Meccans killed. II: 556-648 heart was

Mohammed pursued returning Meccans to deter attack their protector”

on Yathrib, lighting many fires to pretend and Shawwal reinforcements had arrived. Two Meccans captured, 167 (cursing those

executed. who did not fight:

“closer to disbelief

Six Muslim missionaries killed by Banu Lahyan than belief”) Dhu (Six Muslim missionaries invited to preach to two clans Al-Qa’dah of the Banu Hudhad, but Banu Lahyan (also of the Mohammed later Hudhayl) seized them at al Razi: 3 killed outright and 1 married Hind

whilst escaping. Remaining 2 handed over to Quraish whose husband had Dhu family members of Meccans killed at Uhud, who killed died from wounds Al=Hijjah them sustained at Uhud

3 AH

4 AH First raid against Banu Asad ibn Khuzaymah

Muharram “Pre-emptive” strike against Banu Asad ibn Khuzaymah at Qatan, who flee. 3 captives. IS The Quran Assassination of Khaled bin Sufyan, chief of the Mohammed’s cutting Safar Banu Lahyan in retaliation for the deaths of six down of Banu nadir’s Muslim missionaries 3 months earlier [see 3AH]. palm trees to Muslim assassin tricked Khaled into going for walk persuade them to and killed him (bringing his head back to surrender referred to Rabi’ Mohammed at Yathrib IH). in: al-Awwal 59. 5

40 (70?) Muslim missionaries killed by Banu Salem Death of Zeynab bint Rabi’ at Bir Maoona. One survivor. II: 649-651 al-Thani Khuzayma , Mohammed’s fourth

Expulsion of Banu Nadir wife after death of Jumada Mohammed forced the expulsion of Banu Nadir from Khadija al-Awwal Yathrib after they refused to pay a contribution to (Rabi al Thani) compensation for a Bedouin killed by a Muslim, and following the announcement by Mohammed of a

Jumada revelation that they were plotting to kill him by Al-Akhirah dropping a stone on his head II: 437-45

Rajab

AD 626 Mohammed married

Sha’ban Hafsa bin Umar

(Shaban)

Ramadan

Shawwal

‘Second battle of Badr’

Dhu A Meccan force, led by Abu Sufyan, set off to do battle The Quran

Al-Qa’dah with Mohammed at Badr, as arranged after the Battle ‘Second Battle of of Uhud [see 3AH] but was forced back by drought Badr’ referred to in: giving prestige to Mohammed 3.173-6 Dhu (Muslim fighting force now said to be 1500#) II: 666-8

Al=Hijjah

4 AH

5 AH

Muharram The Quran Second raid against Banu Ghatafan at Dhat al Riqa (60m from Mecca, 180 from Yathrib) 4.101 (on shortening “Pre-emptive” strike upon a Bedouin camp of the Banu prayers) Safar Ghatafan. Men fled, women captured. ‘Revealed at this

(date unclear) time’

Sword drawn First expedition to Dumat al Jandal, against Rabi’ (NW Arabia, 350 m from Yathrib) occupied by Banu Kalb, Mohammed, al-Awwal a mostly Christian community living near border with, and referred to in 5.11 allies of, the [Show of force?] II: 668

Rabi’ Marriage of al-Thani Mohammed to Zeynab bint Jahsh,

divorced wife of Mohammed’s Jumada al-Awwal adopted son Zayd. On their marriage

she became

Mohammed’s fifth Jumada concurrent wife (with Al-Akhirah Sawda, , Hind

and Hafsa) First Raid against .

Rajab (close to the Red Sea). No fighting but 2000 camels, 5000 Permission for sheep/goats and 200 women captured. Mohammed married marriage to Zeynab Hafsa bin Umar bint Jahsh granted AD 627 Sha’ban (3Shaban3.37-50)

The Quran Battle of the Trench Ramadan 10K Meccans/Gatafan besieged Muslims at Yathrib The Battle of the for 27 days. Mohammed dug a defensive trench Trench and deterring Meccan charge. Skirmishes but no major punishment of hostilities. II: 669-84, 700-13 Banu Qurayza Shawwal referred to in Massacre/enslavement of Banu Qurayzi 33.10-22 During Qurayzi had received messages Meccans but took no action to support them. Mohammed Dhu The Banu Aws, allies of the Qurayza, opposed proposed ‘marriage’ Al-Qa’dah punishing them but agreed to a judgment by to a widow of Sa’d ibn Muadh who announced all men must be killed and the women and children enslaved. Qurayza tribe, Rayhana bint Zayd. Dhu She refused him Al=Hijjah 600-900 men and one woman said to have been killed. II: 684--713 IH IT (‘later married him’ -

disputed)

5 AH

6 AH Raid against at , Nejd.

Muharram 10 killed, chief captured but spared. 150 camels, 3000 goats seized. IS

Second raid against Banu Asad ibn Khuzaymah at Safar Gamrah Banu Asad flee, 200 camels seized.

Raid against Banu Layhan Rabi’ Unsuccessful raid to retaliate further against al-Awwal Banu Layhan [see 6 missionaries, 3AH] IS

Exact Pursuit of B. Ghatafan brigands to Dhu Qarad Rabi’ dates, al-Thani unknown First and second raids on Banu Thalabah Unsuccessful raid on Thalabah for rustling.

A second raid recovered the lost livestock

Jumada 2nd raid on B. Sulaym at Al Jumum: captives, al-Awwal booty.

Successful raid on Meccan caravan.

Jumada Large quantity of silver seized, Meccans captured Al-Akhirah Third raid on Banu Thalabah, 20 camels seized. IS

Rajab Second expedition against Bau Kalb at Dumat al

Jandal. Muslim force (700) gave Banu Kalb three Juwayriyah, daughter days to convert or pay tribute of the Mustaliq chief, whose husband had First raid on Bani Sa‘d bin Bakr at Fadak, Kaybar Sha’ban been killed in the Raid to prevent Sa’d alliance with of Kaybar. battle, agreed to AD 628 Sa’d fled, 500 camels, 2000 goats seized. marry Mohammed in

return for 100 Ramadan Second Raid against Banu Mustaliq. Mustaliq captives’ 10 members of Banu Mustaliq killed. Tribe taken prisoner IH freedom. .

Capture and punishment of eight robbers from Shawwal Banu Uraynah (). The Quran

Assassination of Al-Yusayr ibn Rizam, chief of Kaybar 5.32-33 Yusayr was promised safe passage to negotiate with ( ‘To kill, save for murder or causing Dhu Mohammed in Medina but was killed with his Al-Qa’dah entourage of thirty after leaving Kaybar. IH mischief = to kill the whole Pilgrimage to Mecca and world…”) ‘Revealed at this Dhu Mohammed led pilgrimage of 1400 to Mecca. Refused time’ Al=Hijjah entry but agreed treaty permitting pilgrimages for ten years II; 740-50

6 AH

7 AH Conquest of Kaybar, Fadak and al Qura

Muharram Mohammed besieged Kaybar (w. 1400 infantry, 200 cavalry. Jews permitted to remain on their land on condition to pay tribute one half produce indefinitely. Kaybar treasurer was tortured to locate gold. Safar 93 non-Muslims killed (including Kinana II: 756-7)

Nearby Bani Sa‘d bin Bakr at Fadak surrendered to

Mohammed on similar terms (because not seized in Rabi’ battle Mohammed took Fadak as personal property)

al-Awwal Jewish tribes at Wadi al Qura besieged and Kinana’s widow surrendered after series of duels with Muslims. Safiyya taken as Rabi’ slave, later ‘married’ al-Thani Expedition to Nejd to Mohammed. Major expedition to Nejd: ‘many killed, taken prisoner’.

Jumada al-Awwal

Mohammed married

Jumada bint Sufyan Al-Akhirah (naklah ceremony takes place in his absence in : Rajab Ramla comes to join

Mohammed in Medina. Raid on Banu Murrah in Fadak Sha’ban Many Murrah killed and their cattle driven off, but the Murrah attacked retreating Muslim force and killed

all except their leader Bashir ibn Sa’d al-Amnsari AD 629 Ramadan Fourth raid on Banu Awal and Banu Thalabah in Mayfah, Nejd Many killed and cattle driven off. IS

Raid on polytheists on Yemen border Shawwal No hostilities, but goods and two captives seized

Expedition to Banu Salem in , Turbah nr Yemen Demand of allegiance rejected, Muslims repelled with

Dhu many casualties

Al-Qa’dah Revenge raid against Banu Murrah at Fadak

The First Pilgrimage to Mecca Mohammed marries Dhu Many Meccans and Bedouins subsequently Maymunah bint al- Al=Hijjah convert to Islam incl Khalid Walid (Meccan Harith whilst at cavalry commander at Battle of Uhud) II: 789-90 Mecca

7 AH

Raid against Banu al-Mulawwih at al-Kadid Many Mulawwih killed, booty seized (date disputed). IS 8 AH Raid against Banu Amir (Hawazin) at al-Kadid

Muharram Raid against Banu Quda‘a at Dhat Atlah (beyond

Wadi al Qura) raid but Muslim force wiped out. Raid against a Byzantine Ghassinid tribe at Mutah Safar and Karak (E of R. Jordan) following death of a

Muslim emissary to . 3 Muslim commanders killed. Force (3000) returned to scorn. II: 791-802

Rabi’ Expedition against Banu Qudah (allied to al-Awwal Ghassinids) at Salasil ‘Many polytheists killed’.

‘Expedition of ’ Rabi’ Aborted caravan raid near coast. Muslims al-Thani ‘forced to eat a beached whale’. IS

Raid on Khudra (of Banu Ghatafan) at Khadrah The Quran Jumada After this many other clans incl Bani Murra, Abs,

al-Awwal Sulaym submitted to Mohammed Occasion of 4.94

(Warning to take Expedition to Batn Edam care not to Jumada Raid on Bedouin caravan – (possible diversion from the imminent march on Mecca?) inadvertently kill Al-Akhirah Muslims)

Rajab The Fat’h: Conquest of Mecca

Allies of Quraish, Muslims fought around the . Unsuccessful Abu Sufyan bid to renew Treaty of Hudaybiyyah. Mecca capitulated to Mohammed’s army The Quran Sha’ban of 10,000. Following the surrender Mohammed passed ten death sentences, some later commuted. II: 802-32

referred to in 9.25 Expeditions to destroy idols: Uzza at Naklah; “ has already Ramadan Suwa at Ruhat; at Al-Mashallal given you victory in AD 630 many regions and Expedition to force conversion of Bani Khuzaimah [even] on the day of

Two weeks after capture of Mecca Mohammed led Hunayn, when your Shawwal 10K Muslims + 2K Meccans to confront (trad. great number Quraish rivals SE of Mecca). pleased you, but it Battle of Hunayn: 6000 captives exchanged for pledge did not avail you at all, and the earth of loyalty. 24,000 camels seized Dhu Some Hawazins retreated to Autas where defeated was confining for Al-Qa’dah after a second battle. Others reached Ta’if where a you with its Muslim siege was abandoned. II: 840-86 vastness; then you turned back, fleeing.” Assassination of Rifa’a ibn , chief of Dhu at al-Ghaba Plotting suspected. Al=Hijjah Four women also captured. IH Occasion of 4:24 ‘[Sex permitted] with those one’s right hand possess’ 8 AH

9 AH Subjugation of , Nejd

Muharram Raid against Banu Tamim for refusing Jizya, captured 63. Tribe agreed jizya; wrote poems in Mohammed’s honour

Raid against Banu Khatam Safar Surprise attack while Khattam slept.

‘Many killed’, livestock and women seized. IS

Subjugation of Banu Kilab Rabi’ Delegation demanding Kilab embrace Islam, Several al-Awwal Killed, Kilab defeated. Al-Asyad killed his own father.

Subjugation of Banu Tai Raid to destroy idol of Al-Fuls. Livestock and captives Rabi’ seized, including the sister of chief, Adi bin Hatim Tai, al-Thani whole tribe converted IS

Jumada Defensive manoeuvres against African pirates al-Awwal No hostilities

Jumada Al-Akhirah

Rajab Capture of Tabouk, NW Arabia [With W. Arabia conquered, new areas needed to conquer/plunder, especially to reward Bedouin converts and following his ban on usury? Per RA ]

Sha’ban Muslim force captured Tabouk without fighting.

Third raid against Banu Kalb at Dumat al Jandal Raid to destroy idol . Banu Abd-Wadd and the Ramadan Banu Amir al Ajdar resisted but many killed and tribes

forced to destroy idol. AD 631 Raid on Prince of Duma, Dumat al Jandal

Raid on castle of Ukaydir, Christian prince of Duma. Shawwal Ukaydir and brother caught hunting. Brother killed,

Ukaydir ransomed for livestock, 400 suits of armour

Raids against Udhra and Baliy (modern ) Dhu No hostilities. Al-Qa’dah (Unknown date after capture of Tabouk)

Surrender of Ta’if Dhu Following capture of Tabouk, Ta’if [see 8AH] offered Al=Hijjah its surrender, having attempted unsuccessfully to

negotiate retention of idol Al-Allat for 3 years.

9 AH

10 AH

Muharram (Unknown dates in this period) The Quran

Expeditions to Yemen ‘Debate’ between

Christians of Najran Raid by Banu against Jurash (Yemen) Safar and Mohammed The Banu Azd submitted to Mohammed, and referred to in: were ordered to attack Jurash where the Banu 3.61 Khattam had sought refuge [9 AH]. The Azd The Quran unsuccessfully besieged Jurash but killed many Rabi’ Khattam when they pursued their retreat. al-Awwal 9.29

Raid against pagans of Najran “Fight those who do (near modern Saudi-Yemen border) not believe in Allah or Rabi’ of Najran attempted to discuss in the Last Day and

al-Thani Christianity with Mohammed and formed an who do not consider

alliance with him, based on Jizya. unlawful what Allah and His Messenger Jumada Raid on Banu Nakha, Yemen have made unlawful al-Awwal 29 Nakha killed before the tribe submitted to and who do not convert to Islam. Further raids across Yemen: adopt the religion of livestock, captives, goods seized. truth from those who Jumada Destruction of Dul Khalassa, ‘The Ka’ba of Yemen’ were given the Al-Akhirah Yemenite leader, Jarir al-Bajali submitted to Scripture - [fight] Mohammed. Ordered to destroy Dul Khalassa which until they give the Rajab he did. 100 temple guardians died defending the jizyah willingly while site. they are humbled. ” Year of deputations

15 tribes across Arabia sought alliances with 9.1-6 Sha’ban Mohammed including from Yemen and “And when the

(then referring to the land near the border with sacred months have

Persia, not the modern island of Bahrain). passed, then kill the polytheists wherever Ramadan you find them and The ‘Sword verse’ capture them and

Mohammed sent to Mecca to announce: besiege them and sit AD 632 • Muslims must pay annual Zakat (tax of 2.5% of in wait for them at Shawwal wealth); every place of • Jews, Christians must pay Kharaj (land tax) and ambush. But if they

Jizya (poll tax), with no sum specified; should repent,

• Pagans had four months to convert to Islam or die; establish prayer, and Dhu • After four months only Muslims to enter Mecca. give zakah, let them Al-Qa’dah II: 919-29 [go] on their way.”

The to Mecca and Farewell Sermon Dhu II: 966-70 Al=Hijjah

10 AH

11 AH

Muharram

Safar

Expedition to Moab and Darum in Palestine Rabi’ [Ordered by Mohammed, but left Medina on the day al-Awwal Mohammed died]

Death of Mohammed

Rabi’ al-Thani

Jumada al-Awwal

Jumada Al-Akhirah

Rajab

Sha’ban

Ramadan

Shawwal

Dhu Al-Qa’dah

Dhu Al=Hijjah