Despite this...

Despite this, in some of the battles, the army had to face severe hunger[^11], like what happened in the battles of Khaybar and Tabuk, but they would bear this pressure and difficulty[^12]. This is precisely what they did in the Sariya of al-Khabt. Sometimes they would also benefit from the abundant local resources[^13].

The sources of food and supplies for the army in the areas where the battles were fought included: In the Battle of Badr from the hunting of deer; in the Battle of Dhāt al-Ruqā’ from cucumbers and ostrich eggs; in the Battle of Hudaybiyya from cucumbers, the meat of deer, wild donkeys and other animals whose meat is permissible to eat, and yoghurt; and in the Battle of Khaybar from a variety of different sources.

Full reinforcements from Madina only came when Sa’d ibn ‘Ubādah had the responsibility of bringing the reinforcements[^14] in the Battle of Hamrā al-Asad. At this time he would slaughter two to three animals (whose meat was permissible to eat) every day. In the battles of Dhi Qurā and Waddān, he brought reinforcements with dates and meat from slaughtered animals[^15]. At times, like in the Sariya of ‘Amr ibn ‘Aās, the supplies were sent by soldiers on foot[^16].

As for the food for horses and camels, it was provided for from the abundant grazing grounds especially in the areas where the army was camped[^17]. In the Battle of Uhud, the Quraysh used the grazing grounds and fields that belonged to the Ansār. In the battles of Badr and Bani al-Mustalaq, the Muslim army took benefit from the wells of Badr and Murisiyya’.

Muslim soldiers would sometimes use crushed date seeds to feed their horses and camels ^18 while in the Battle of Khandaq, the Quraysh carried corn as fodder for their horses[^19]. Relief in its true and complete sense during battle was not done except through giving drinking water[^20]. This was done by means of water bags which were carried by soldiers[^21], or through injured and handicapped soldiers[^22].

The women would also at times participate in this exercise and would carry the water bags for long distances and exchange them for empty water bags. These relief operations continued even in the time when the heat of battle had subsided[^23] and some of the helpers would take water to the supreme commander and the troops during this time[^24].