The Prophetic Expeditions (Peace and Blessings Be Upon Him)

 

1.5 The Prophetic Expeditions (Peace and Blessings Be Upon Him)

1. The Prophet (peace be upon him) commissioned ‘Ubaydah ibn al-Harith ibn al-Muttalib to lead a mission to the Southern part of Thaniyyah al-Murra.
2. He dispatched Hamzah ibn ‘Abd al-Muttalib to the coastal area of al-‘Is. These initial campaigns were either simultaneous or closely timed, leading to scholarly debate over their sequence. Both represent his earliest expeditions, marking the first instance in which a banner was raised.
3. Sa‘d ibn Abi Waqqas was sent to al-Kharrar.
4. ‘Abdullah ibn Jahsh was dispatched to Nakhlah.
5.  Zayd ibn Harithah, the Prophet’s freedman, was sent to al-Qaradah.
6. Muhammad ibn Maslamah al-Ansari was entrusted with the assassination of Ka‘b ibn al-Ashraf.
7. Marthad ibn Abi Marthad al-Ghanawi was dispatched to al-Raji‘.
8. Mundhir ibn ‘Amr al-Ansari was sent to Bi’r Ma‘unah.
9. ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Atik was tasked with the assassination of Sallam ibn Abi’l-Huqayq in Khaybar.
10. Abu ‘Ubaydah ibn al-Jarrah was sent to Dhat al-Qassah on the Iraq route.
11. ‘Umar ibn al-Khattab was dispatched to Turabah in the region of Banu ‘Amir.
12. ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib was sent to Yemen.
13.  Ghalib ibn ‘Abdullah al-Laythi was dispatched to al-Kudayd, in the territory of Banu al-Mulawwah among Banu Kinana.
14. ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib was also sent to Banu ‘Abdullah ibn Sa‘d, near Fadak.
15. Ibn Abi’l-‘Awja’ al-Sulami was dispatched to Banu Sulaym.
16. ‘Ukkashah ibn Mihsan al-Asadi was sent to al-Ghamrah.
17. Abu Salamah ibn ‘Abd al-Asad al-Makhzumi was dispatched to Qatan, a watering site of Banu Asad near Najd.
18. Muhammad ibn Maslamah al-Ansari, of Banu Harithah ibn al-Aws, was dispatched to al-Qarata, among the Hawazin.
19. Bishr ibn Sa‘d al-Ansari, of Banu Harith ibn al-Khazraj, was sent near Khaybar.
20. Zayd ibn Harithah was dispatched to al-Jumum, territory of Banu Sulaym.
21. Zayd was also sent to Judham, in the region of Hisma.
22. Zayd was sent once again to al-Taraf, near Nakhlah along the Iraq route.
23. Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) was sent to the Fazarah tribe.
24. Abu ‘Amir al-Ash‘ari, uncle of Abu Musa, was dispatched to Awtaas.
25. Zayd was also sent to Fazarah, where he killed Umm Qirfah and others.
26. ‘Abdullah ibn Rawahah was sent to Khaybar.
27. ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Atik was again dispatched to Khaybar to assassinate Abu Rafi‘ ibn Abi’l-Huqayq.
28. ‘Abdullah ibn Unays al-Juhani was commissioned to assassinate Khalid ibn Sufyan al-Hudhali, whom he killed, having been foretold by the Prophet (peace be upon him) that he would feel a tremor upon meeting him.
29. Several commanders were appointed, with Zayd ibn Harithah leading; upon his martyrdom, Ja‘far ibn Abi Talib would assume command, followed by ‘Abdullah ibn Rawahah. All were martyred at Mu’tah in the northern Levant, where they encountered the Romans and Christian Arab forces. The banner was then taken by Khalid ibn al-Walid, who withdrew the Muslims with tactical prudence.
30. Ka‘b ibn ‘Amir al-Ghifari was dispatched to Dhat Atlah in the Levant.
31. ‘Uyaynah ibn Hisn ibn Hudhayfah ibn Badr al-Fazari was sent to Banu ‘Anbar of Banu Tamim.
32. Ghalib ibn ‘Abdullah al-Laythi was dispatched to the lands of Banu Murrah, capturing several individuals from the Harqat tribe of Juhaynah.
33. Khalid ibn al-Walid was sent to Banu Judhaymah of Banu Kinana.
34. Khalid was dispatched once more to Yemen.
35. ‘Amr ibn al-‘As was sent to Dhat al-Salasil in the land of Banu ‘Udhrah, with additional forces under Abu ‘Ubaydah.
36. ‘Abdullah ibn Abi Hadrad al-Aslami was dispatched to the valley of Idam.
37. Ibn Abi Hadrad was also sent to al-Ghabah.
38. ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn ‘Awf was dispatched to Dumat al-Jandal.
39.  Abu ‘Ubaydah ibn al-Jarrah was sent to the seacoast. 
40. ‘Amr ibn Umayyah al-Damri was sent to assassinate Abu Sufyan Sakhr ibn Harb ibn Umayyah, though his attempt was ultimately unsuccessful.
41. Zayd ibn Harithah was dispatched to Madyan.
42. Salim ibn ‘Umayr was sent to kill Abu ‘Afak of Banu ‘Amr ibn ‘Awf, successfully accomplishing his mission.
43. ‘Amr ibn ‘Adi al-Khatmi was dispatched to kill ‘Asma’ bint Marwan of Banu Umayyah ibn Zayd, which he completed.
44. A mission was dispatched in which Thumamah ibn Uthal al-Hanafi was taken captive.
45. ‘Alqamah ibn Mujazziz al-Mudliji was sent on an expedition.
46. Kurz ibn Jabir was dispatched in pursuit of those who had killed some shepherds and mutilated their bodies.
47. Usamah ibn Zayd was sent on an expedition to the Levant, the final mission dispatched by the Prophet. Although the Prophet (peace be upon him) passed away before its actualisation, Abu Bakr al-Siddiq (may Allah be pleased with them all) fulfilled this command.