ভূমিকা

Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Biography of Imam `alĪ Ibn AbĪ-tĀlib The Contingent of Usamah Ibn Zayd The Prophet of Islam (a.s) had deputed al-Harith ibn `Umayr al-Azdi as his ambassador to the ruler of al-Basrah with the Message of Islam. But on the way the ruler of Balqa’, Shurahbil arrested and killed him.

When the Prophet (a.s) got this sad news, he sent a contingent under Zayd ibn Harithah, Ja`far ibn Abi-Talib and `Abdullah ibn Rawahah with instructions that if Zayd was killed, Ja`far ibn Abi-Talib should assume command. If he was martyred, `Abdullah ibn Rawahah should take charge of the contingent. When they reached Ma`an, they got news that Heracles of Rome was camping at Balqa’ with the armies of Rome and Syria.

When the Muslims got wind of the huge enemy armies, they halted at Ma`an and wanted to call more troops from al-Madinah. But `Abdullah ibn Rawahah encouraged the men to improve their morale and said that they should not be afraid of the disparate groups forming the enemy ranks and that they must go forward and confront the enemy! The courage of the Muslims was thus boosted and they marched forward.

When they reached, Mushrif, a satellite town of Balqa’, they turned towards Mu’tah sensing the movements of the enemy and confront them appropriately. They organized their men into proper left and right flanks. The enemy troops too arrived there and organized themselves. Zayd ibn Harithah went forward with the Standard in his hand and was martyred fighting. Now Ja`far ibn Abi-Talib took the Standard in his hand and lost his right hand fighting the enemy. He took the Standard in his left hand.

That too was severed during the fight. He now held the standard close to his chest and bearing more than eight wounds from swords and arrows, he was martyred. The Prophet (a.s) gave him the posthumous titles of Dhul-Janahayn (One with two wings) and al-Tayyar fil-Jannah (The one who flies in the Heaven). `Abdullah ibn Rawahah now took charge of the battle and he too was martyred fighting. After these well-known commanders, there was none of the renowned warriors left.

But one al-Ansari, Thabit ibn Arqam picked up the Standard and asked the men to select a standard-bearer from amongst them. They proposed that he himself should do the duty. He said that he was not ready to take the responsibility. Therefore, Khalid ibn al-Walid came forward to become the Standard-bearer. After a little while of fighting, the dusk fell and it became dark.