ভূমিকা

Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Biography of Imam `alĪ Ibn AbĪ-tĀlib The Expedition of BanŪ-al-nadir In Safar 4 A.H. one chief of Abul-Bara’ came from Najd to al-Madinah. The Prophet (a.s) invited him to embrace Islam. He said that he would have no objection to embracing the Faith, but he would prefer if the Prophet (a.s) sent with him a delegation of Muslims to Najd to extend the invitation to the people there.

The Prophet (a.s) expressed his doubt that some persons in Najd might harm the delegates. Abul-Bara’ said that the men would go in his personal protection. The Prophet (a.s) selected seventy companions who were pious, and well informed, and sent them with a letter from himself to the people of Najd. On reaching the region, the delegation halted at Bi’r-Ma`ūnah and gave the Prophet’s letter to Haram ibn Malhan to take it to `Amir ibn al-tufayl, the nephew of Abul-Bara’.

That enemy of Allah refused to read or even take the letter. Haram ibn Malhan, sensing the situation said that if he had his pardon, he would say something. Before he could say anything further, at a hint from `Amir, one of his men pierced a spear in the back of the courier. He fell down dead. After this heartless murder, `Amir sent his men to Bi’r-Ma`ūnah to attack the Muslims. But they refused to act because they were aware of the protection that al-Barra’ had promised them.

With the help of some other tribes, `Amir surrounded the Muslims and killed all of them excepting two of the group. Of these two, one was Ka`b ibn Zayd whom they thought dead and left him. The other was `Amr ibn Umayyah who was taken prisoner but later on released as a thanksgiving offer of `Amir’s mother for a boon that she had received! When `Amr reached Qarqarat al-Kadar, on the way to al-Madinah, he noticed two companions of `Amir and quietly shadowed them.

While the two were sleeping under a tree, he murdered them as retaliation for the killing of the delegates by `Amir. When he reached al-Madinah he learnt that both the persons had been given a written amnesty by the Prophet (a.s). When the Prophet (a.s) was informed of this event, he said that whatever had happened was because of lack of information and misunderstanding and that blood money shall be paid to both the families.

The Prophet (a.s) was having an agreement of cooperation with the Jewish Tribes of Banū-Qunayqa`, Banū-Qurayzah and Banū-al-Nadir.