The Life & Character of the Seal of Prophets (sa) – Volume III — Page 31
I - Commencement of the Second Era of Life in Madīnah 31 Sariyyah of Zaid bin Ḥārithah ra to Wādi’ul-Qurā - Rajab 6 A. H. Approximately one month after the Sariyyah of Ḥismā, the Holy Prophet sa once again sent Zaid bin Ḥārithah ra to Wādi’ul-Qurā. 1 When the squadron of Zaid bin Ḥārithah ra reached Wādi’ul-Qurā, the people of the Banū Fuzārah were ready for combat. 2 As such, numerous Muslims were martyred in this expedition, and even Zaid ra himself was badly wounded, but God saved him by His grace. 3 Wādi’ul-Qurā, which has been mentioned with relevance to this Sariyyah , is an inhabited valley situated on the Syrian route north of Madīnah, wherein many settlements resided. This is why it became known as Wādi’ul-Qurā, i. e. , the Valley of Settlements. Later, we shall come to see that various Jewish tribes also resided in this valley which were conquered by the Holy Prophet sa after Khaibar. Objection of the People to the Commandership of Zaid bin Ḥārithah ra and its Refutation by the Holy Prophet sa In the last four or five expeditions, the command of Zaid bin Ḥārithah ra has been mentioned. Our readers are aware that he was a freed slave, and prior to the revelation of the Qur’ānic injunction, the Holy Prophet sa had made him his son. Until his demise, which occurred in 8 A. H. , the Holy Prophet sa sent him as the commander of many expeditions, and many great companions were kept under his command. After his demise, the Holy Prophet sa had a special love for his son, Usāmah ra. Therefore, most of the companions thought that no one could speak to the Holy Prophet sa with as much frankness and freedom as Usāmah ra could. The Holy Prophet sa sent Usāmah ra on numerous expeditions as a commander as well, and various great companions served under him. When various newly educated Muslims objected to this, on account of the genealogy of Usāmah ra , the Holy Prophet sa was very displeased. The Holy Prophet sa responded saying, “Prior to Usāmah, you have already objected 1 Aṭ-Ṭabaqātul-Kubrā, By Muḥammad bin Sa‘d, Volume 2, p. 294, Sariyyatu Zaid-ibni Ḥārithata Ilā Wādil-Qurā, Dāru Iḥyā’it-Turāthil-‘Arabī, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (1996) 2 Sharḥul-‘Allāmatiz-Zarqānī ‘Alal-Mawāhibil-Ladunniyyah, By Allāmah Shihābuddīn Al-Qusṭalānī, Volume 3, p. 133, Sariyyatuhū Zaidin Ilā Wādil-Qurā, Dārul-Kutubil-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (1996) 3 Sharḥul-‘Allāmatiz-Zarqānī ‘Alal-Mawāhibil-Ladunniyyah, By Allāmah Shihābuddīn Al-Qusṭalānī, Volume 3, p. 133, Sariyyatuhū Zaidin Ilā Wādil-Qurā, Dārul-Kutubil-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (1996)