Expedition of Dhu Qarad

The Expedition of Dhu Qarad also known as the Expedition of Ghaba^[2] took place in September, 627AD, 6AH of the Islamic calendar, some scholars say that it took place just before the Battle of Khaybar, in the 12th month of 6AH.^[3][4]

Expedition of Dhu Qarad
Date September 627 AD, 4th month 6 AH or 12th month of 6 AH Location Dhu Qarad Result As follows: Abdur Rahman Uyanah bin Hisn Al-Fazari loots Muhammad's milch camels Muhammad and his companions chase after the thieves and get half their goods back[1][2]
Commanders and leaders
Salamah ibn al-Akwa	Abdur Rahman Uyanah bin Hisn Al-Fazari
Strength
500–700 Muslims assembled, only 8 sent[1]	40 horsemen[1]
Casualties and losses
4 killed[1]	4 killed[1]

A few days after Muhammad returned Medina from the raid on the Banu Lihyan, a band of armed men of Ghatafan led by Abdur Rahman Uyanah bin Hisn Al-Fazari raided the outskirts of the city; and seized 20 milch camels. They also killed the shepherd and took his wife as a captive.^[5]

Expedition

Background and reason for attack

According to William Montgomery Watt, Uyaynah b. Hisn al-Fazari was annoyed because Muhammad had broken off negotiations with him over the withdrawal of Ghatafan.^[6]

Abdur Rahman Uyanah bin Hisn Al-Fazari made a raid, looted the camels, and killed the man who looked after them and kidnapped his wife. Salamah ibn al-Akwa was the first to find this out, and he chased after him. Muhammad later found out and joined the chase.^[5]

The place by which it was fought is known as Dhu Qarad, a reservoir of water at a day's journey from Madinah. According to the majority of scholars, this incident took place three days before the battle of Khaibar.^[1]

Muslim response

A hunt took place, and the camel and the kidnapped women were brought back. Muhammad on his way back to Medina stopped at a place called Dhu Qarad and sacrificed a camel.^[5]

Muhammad collected 500-700 fighters, but followed up by sending 8 horsemen. Only 40 enemy horsemen were involved, and the booty Muslims captured was 20 milking camels. Half the camels were recovered, and while doing so, the Muslims killed 4 of the raiders while suffering the same loss of their own men.^[1]

See also

• Military career of Muhammad
• List of expeditions of Muhammad
• Muslim–Quraysh War