The Life & Character of the Seal of Prophets (sa) - Volume II — Page 98
Seal of the Prophets - Volume II 98 which is incorrect. It has already been mentioned that divine permission of Jihād by the sword was granted in the month of Ṣafar , during the second year of migration. Since immediate action was required to protect the Muslims from the bloody intentions and threatening schemes of the Quraish, the Holy Prophet sa set out from Madīnah with a community of the Muhājirīn , in the name of Allāh the Exalted. Prior to departure, the Holy Prophet sa appointed Sa‘d bin ‘Ubādah ra , Chief of the Khazraj, as the Amīr of Madīnah in his absence, and set out towards the south-west of Madīnah on the road to Makkah until he finally reached Waddān. The people of the Banū Ḍamrah resided here. This tribe was a branch of the Banū Kinānah and in this manner these people were the paternal cousins of the Quraish. Upon reaching here, the Holy Prophet sa engaged in discussions with the chieftain of the Banū Ḍamrah, and settled a treaty by mutual agreement. The conditions of this treaty were that the Banū Ḍamrah would maintain friendly relations with the Muslims and would not aid an enemy against the Muslims. Furthermore, when the Holy Prophet sa called upon them in support of the Muslims, they would come immediately. On the other hand, on behalf of the Muslims, the Holy Prophet sa agreed that the Muslims would maintain friendly relations with the Banū Ḍamrah and would aid them whenever it was required. This treaty was formally written and signed by both parties. After an absence of fifteen days, the Holy Prophet sa returned. 1 Another name for the Ghazwah of Waddān is also the Ghazwah of Abwā’. This is because the village of Abwā’ is closely situated to Waddān and this was the same place where the noble mother of the Holy Prophet sa passed away. Historians write that in this Ghazwah , along with the Banū Ḍamrah, the Holy Prophet sa was conscious of the Quraish as well. This means that in actuality, this campaign of the Holy Prophet sa was to put down the threatening schemes of the Quraish. Furthermore, its objective was to dispel that poisonous and threatening influence, which the caravans of the Quraish, etc. , had created against the Muslims amongst the tribes of Arabia, and due to which the state of the Muslims was extremely vulnerable during these days. 1 * As-Sīratun-Nabawiyyah, By Abū Muḥammad ‘Abdul-Mālik bin Hishām, pp. 405-406, Ghazwatu Waddān, Dārul-Kutubil-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (2001) * Sharḥul-‘Allāmatiz-Zarqānī ‘Alal-Mawāhibil-Ladunniyyah, By ‘Allāmah Shihābuddīn Qusṭalānī, Volume 2, p. 230, Awwalul-Maghāzī Waddān, Dārul-Kutubil-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (1996)