The Life & Character of the Seal of Prophets (sa) - Volume II — Page 403
IX - Repeated Treachery of the Jews, Compilation and Sequence of the Holy Qur ’ā n, Marriage of Ḥaḍrat Zainab ra , the Great Calumny and Mischief of the Hypocrites 403 As it has been alluded to above, this Ghazwah was the first of its kind, where its primary purpose, or at least its major purpose, was the establishment of peace in the country. There was no direct quarrel between the people of Dummah and the Muslims. They were so far from Madīnah that apparently the fear that they would undertake such a long and strenuous journey towards Madīnah and cause harm to the Muslims was no real threat. Thus, in reality, there was no other reason for undertaking such a difficult journey of fifteen days against them, except so that the pillaging and plunder which they were perpetrating, and their harassing of innocent caravans and travellers, could be put to an end. In actuality, this journey of the Muslims was for the public peace and overall stability of the country, and there was no selfish motive whatsoever. Furthermore, this is a practical response to those people who completely by way of dishonesty and injustice, have alleged that the early military campaigns, which the Muslims engaged in under the command of the Holy Prophet sa , were offensive or fueld by selfish motives. One outcome of this Ghazwah was that the people of Dummah became awe-stricken and held back from their rebellious designs, and oppressed travellers were delivered from this injustice. Secondly, in a way, Islām was introduced to the border of Syria, where until now, Muslims were only known by name and people were completely unaware of the truth of Islām. As a result, the people of this region became aware of the practices and values of the Muslims to some extent. A group of Christians inhabited the surrounding proximity of Dummatul-Jandal as well. 1 However, narrations do not specify whether the rebels against whom this expedition was directed were Christians or idolators. However, it may be presumed by circumstances that these people were perhaps idolators, because if this campaign was directed towards the Christians, historians definitely would have alluded to it. 2 ُ وَاللّٰه ُ اَعْلَم The Holy Prophet sa had not yet returned to Madīnah, when the mother of Sa‘d bin ‘Ubādah ra , chief of the Khazraj tribe, passed away. 3 When the Holy Prophet sa returned, he graced her grave and supplicated in her favour. Sa‘d ra submitted: 1 Mu‘jamul-Buldān, By Shihābuddīn Abū ‘Abdillāh Yāqūt bin ‘Abdillāh Al-Ḥamwiyyu Ar-Rūmiyyu, Volume 2, p. 325, Ghazwatu Rasūlillāhi sa Dūmatal-Jandal, Dāru Iḥyā’it-Turāthil-‘Arabī, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (1996) 2 And Allāh knows best [Publishers] 3 Aṭ-Ṭabaqātul-Kubrā, By Muḥammad bin Sa‘d, Volume 3, p. 311, Wa Min Banī Sā‘idah bin Ka‘b / Sa‘d bin ‘Ubādah, Dāru Iḥyā’it-Turāthil-‘Arabī, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (1996)