Stories from Early Islam — Page 111
Sword of Allah When the news reached Madinah that some of the Christian tribes were gathering a large army on the Syrian border, the Holy Prophet saw sent fifteen men as a scouting party to arrange a truce with them. When this party reached there, they found that the enemy was in no mood to talk. They were attacked and killed. The Holy Prophet saw was much grieved to learn this. He decided to send an armed force to avenge the unjustified mas- sacre of the scouting party. As he was planning this, he learned that the enemy forces has dispersed. He therefore postponed the plan, and sent an envoy instead, with a letter to the chief of the Ghassaan tribe who ruled Busra. In this letter he com- plained about the border incidents. This letter was carried by a Companion of the Holy Prophet saw, named Al-Haarith. Al-Haarith was also arrested and killed by the local Ghassaan chief while he was on his way. This was another act of provocation. The Holy Prophet saw, therefore, raised a force of three thousand fighters and sent them to take action against that Christian tribe. Zaid bin Haarithah was appointed as the Commander of this force. The Holy Prophet saw gave instructions that if Zaid were killed, Ja’afar ibn Abi Taalib would take over, and should Ja’afar die, Abdullah bin Rawaahah would succeed him. Should Abdullah die, Muslims were to choose their own commander.