Expedition of Usama bin Zayd
Encyclopedia
The Expedition of Usama bin Zayd also known as the Army of Usama ibn Zaid to al-Balqa, took place in 11AH of the Islamic calender, in May 632. Usama ibn Zayd was appointed as the commander of an expeditionary force which was to invade Palestine again (and attack Moab
and Darum), on the orders of Muhammad. He set out with 3000 men on the same day Muhammad died, when he reached the destination he attacked the inhabitants, killing many, taking as many captives as he could.
) to a Mosque and ordered him to act as the commander of an Army that was to invade Palestine
, and attack Takhum of al-Balqa (which was in Palestine) . Usama ibn Zayd was the son of Zayd ibn Harithah
, a slave that Muhammad freed, and a man that was very close to Muhammad. Zayd ibn Haritha was killed in the Battle of Mutah.
In addition to attacking Balqa, he was ordered attack Darum. Some weeks later, Muhammad fell ill, and from his seat (the Minbar) in the Mosque, he ordered that Usama ibn Zayd should lead the expeditionary force. Muhammad also rebuked those that claimed he did not merit such an honour, and rebuked those who claimed he was too young, while the best of Muhammad’s commanders were available.
He was specifically ordered by Muhammad to go to the place where his father and the Muslim commanders under him, had died and: “Attack the people of Ubna early in the morning, and destroy them by fire!”. He also ordered him to take women and children captive, instead of killing them.
Usama visited Muhammad before he went into battle. The next day he set out for his expedition and learnt Muhammad had died on 8 June 632. He was told by Abu Bakr to continue the expedition.
, before Usamah headed out, Abu Bakr
advised Usamah with "10 things", which were like his rules of war. The tradition about the 10 "things" of Abu Bakr are also mentioned in the Sunni Hadith collection Muwatta Imam Malik The tradition mentioned many things, including leaving "monks" alone. Imam Shaffi
(founder of the Shaffi school of thought) did not consider the tradition, about the 10 rules of Abu Bakr as authentic, but the same book which claimed he did not consider it authentic, also mentioned in another occasion that Shaffi considered it authentic (or partly authentic), and used it to justify killing monks only if they fought Muslims. But the same book explains that even if it was authentic, it does not mean that monks can not be killed, and claims that Abu Bakr's intention (according to Shaffi) was to only temporarily leave the monasteries alone. Shaffi concluded that "monks" are not included in his list of "non combatants". Abu Yusuf
mentioned a counter tradition about the instructions of Abu Bakr, which claimed that Abu Bakr ordered his commanders to lay waste to every village where he did not hear the call to prayer.
Usama therefore hurried to Ubna, were he launched a surprise attack with the Muslims shouting their way cry: Ya Mansur amit (“O ye, Victory, Kill!”). They slaughtered the local population mercilessly, destroying, burning and taking as many captives as they could. At the same time, Usama rode his father’s horse, and killed the one who slew his father in the Battle of Mutah.
hadith collection:
It is also mentioned in , , and others.
, Waqidi and Tabari
.
Tabari said about the event:
It is also mentioned by Tabari, that Abu Bakr gave Usamah 10 rules, before he was sent forth and raided the inhabitants:
Imam Shaffi
(founder of the Shaffi school of thought) reportedly did not consider the tradition, about the 10 advice of Abu Bakr as authentic. The 10 advice of Abu Bakr is also mentioned in the Sunni Hadith collection Al-Muwatta. Abu Yusuf
mentioned a counter tradition about the instructions of Abu Bakr.
Moab
Moab is the historical name for a mountainous strip of land in Jordan. The land lies alongside much of the eastern shore of the Dead Sea. The existence of the Kingdom of Moab is attested to by numerous archeological findings, most notably the Mesha Stele, which describes the Moabite victory over...
and Darum), on the orders of Muhammad. He set out with 3000 men on the same day Muhammad died, when he reached the destination he attacked the inhabitants, killing many, taking as many captives as he could.
Preparation
Muhammad invited Usama ibn Zayd (son of Zayd ibn HarithahZayd ibn Harithah
Zayd ibn Harithah or Zayd mawla Muhammad was a prominent figure in the early Islamic community and the only one of sahaba whose name is spelled directly in the Qur'an. As he was the adopted son of the Islamic prophet, Muhammad, before Islam abolished adoption in exchange of Kafala. He was an...
) to a Mosque and ordered him to act as the commander of an Army that was to invade Palestine
Palestine
Palestine is a conventional name, among others, used to describe the geographic region between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River, and various adjoining lands....
, and attack Takhum of al-Balqa (which was in Palestine) . Usama ibn Zayd was the son of Zayd ibn Harithah
Zayd ibn Harithah
Zayd ibn Harithah or Zayd mawla Muhammad was a prominent figure in the early Islamic community and the only one of sahaba whose name is spelled directly in the Qur'an. As he was the adopted son of the Islamic prophet, Muhammad, before Islam abolished adoption in exchange of Kafala. He was an...
, a slave that Muhammad freed, and a man that was very close to Muhammad. Zayd ibn Haritha was killed in the Battle of Mutah.
In addition to attacking Balqa, he was ordered attack Darum. Some weeks later, Muhammad fell ill, and from his seat (the Minbar) in the Mosque, he ordered that Usama ibn Zayd should lead the expeditionary force. Muhammad also rebuked those that claimed he did not merit such an honour, and rebuked those who claimed he was too young, while the best of Muhammad’s commanders were available.
He was specifically ordered by Muhammad to go to the place where his father and the Muslim commanders under him, had died and: “Attack the people of Ubna early in the morning, and destroy them by fire!”. He also ordered him to take women and children captive, instead of killing them.
Usama visited Muhammad before he went into battle. The next day he set out for his expedition and learnt Muhammad had died on 8 June 632. He was told by Abu Bakr to continue the expedition.
10 Rules of Abu Bakr
According to TabariMuhammad ibn Jarir al-Tabari
Abu Ja'far Muhammad ibn Jarir al-Tabari was a prominent and influential Sunni scholar and exegete of the Qur'an from Persia...
, before Usamah headed out, Abu Bakr
Abu Bakr
Abu Bakr was a senior companion and the father-in-law of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. He ruled over the Rashidun Caliphate from 632-634 CE when he became the first Muslim Caliph following Muhammad's death...
advised Usamah with "10 things", which were like his rules of war. The tradition about the 10 "things" of Abu Bakr are also mentioned in the Sunni Hadith collection Muwatta Imam Malik The tradition mentioned many things, including leaving "monks" alone. Imam Shaffi
Muhammad ibn Idris ash-Shafi`i
Abū ʿAbdullāh Muhammad ibn Idrīs al-Shafiʿī was a Muslim jurist, who lived from 767 CE to 820 CE. He was active in juridical matters and his teaching eventually led to the Shafi'i school of fiqh named after him. Hence he is often called Imam al-Shafi'i...
(founder of the Shaffi school of thought) did not consider the tradition, about the 10 rules of Abu Bakr as authentic, but the same book which claimed he did not consider it authentic, also mentioned in another occasion that Shaffi considered it authentic (or partly authentic), and used it to justify killing monks only if they fought Muslims. But the same book explains that even if it was authentic, it does not mean that monks can not be killed, and claims that Abu Bakr's intention (according to Shaffi) was to only temporarily leave the monasteries alone. Shaffi concluded that "monks" are not included in his list of "non combatants". Abu Yusuf
Abu Yusuf
Yaqub ibn Ibrahim al-Ansari, better known as Abu Yusuf was a student of legist Abu Hanifah who helped spread the influence of the Hanafi school of Islamic law through his writings and the government positions he held.-Biography:...
mentioned a counter tradition about the instructions of Abu Bakr, which claimed that Abu Bakr ordered his commanders to lay waste to every village where he did not hear the call to prayer.
Invasion
Usama headed out with 3000 men, of which 1000 were cavalry soldiers. Abu Bakr accompanied Usama part of the way. Usama had also sent a spy, from which he learned that the inhabitants were still unaware of the imminent approach of the army.Usama therefore hurried to Ubna, were he launched a surprise attack with the Muslims shouting their way cry: Ya Mansur amit (“O ye, Victory, Kill!”). They slaughtered the local population mercilessly, destroying, burning and taking as many captives as they could. At the same time, Usama rode his father’s horse, and killed the one who slew his father in the Battle of Mutah.
Hadith
The incident is mentioned in the Sahih BukhariSahih Bukhari
Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī , as it is commonly referred to, is one of the six canonical hadith collections of Islam. These prophetic traditions, or hadith, were collected by the Persian Muslim scholar Muhammad ibn Ismail al-Bukhari, after being transmitted orally for generations. Muslims view this as one of...
hadith collection:
It is also mentioned in , , and others.
Historical sources
The event is also mentioned by the Muslim scholars Ibn HishamIbn Hisham
Abu Muhammad 'Abd al-Malik bin Hisham , or Ibn Hisham edited the biography of Muhammad written by Ibn Ishaq. Ibn Ishaq's work is lost and is now only known in the recensions of Ibn Hisham and al-Tabari. Ibn Hisham grew up in Basra, Iraq, but moved afterwards to Egypt, where he gained a name...
, Waqidi and Tabari
Muhammad ibn Jarir al-Tabari
Abu Ja'far Muhammad ibn Jarir al-Tabari was a prominent and influential Sunni scholar and exegete of the Qur'an from Persia...
.
Tabari said about the event:
It is also mentioned by Tabari, that Abu Bakr gave Usamah 10 rules, before he was sent forth and raided the inhabitants:
Imam Shaffi
Muhammad ibn Idris ash-Shafi`i
Abū ʿAbdullāh Muhammad ibn Idrīs al-Shafiʿī was a Muslim jurist, who lived from 767 CE to 820 CE. He was active in juridical matters and his teaching eventually led to the Shafi'i school of fiqh named after him. Hence he is often called Imam al-Shafi'i...
(founder of the Shaffi school of thought) reportedly did not consider the tradition, about the 10 advice of Abu Bakr as authentic. The 10 advice of Abu Bakr is also mentioned in the Sunni Hadith collection Al-Muwatta. Abu Yusuf
Abu Yusuf
Yaqub ibn Ibrahim al-Ansari, better known as Abu Yusuf was a student of legist Abu Hanifah who helped spread the influence of the Hanafi school of Islamic law through his writings and the government positions he held.-Biography:...
mentioned a counter tradition about the instructions of Abu Bakr.