Expedition of Buwat 2 A.H.

13 months after the migration to Madinah, ¹ in the month of Rabi' Al-Awwal, 2 A.H., the Holy

formed a battalion of 200 companions ² comprising only of Muhajireen ³ and led them towards Buwat which is near the mountain of Radhwa (رضویٰ). ⁴ It was the famous route of Makkans to go to Syria for trade. At the time of the expedition of Buwat 2 A.H., a caravan of Quraysh was passing by that route. Prophet Muhammad decided to raid that trade caravan which was returning from Syria and was heading towards Makkah. Some historians state that the army was comprised of both, the Muhajireen and the Ansar, ⁵ however, the prevailing view is that the contingent was only comprised of Muhajireen.

The standard of the army, which was white in color, ⁶ was given to Saad ibn Abi Waqas , while the vicegerency and responsibility of the affairs of Madinah in the absence of the Holy Prophet were given to Saad ibn Muaz . ⁷ Ibn Hisham ⁸ and many other historians have quoted Saib ibn Usman ibn Maz’un’s name as the leader in the absence of Prophet Muhammad , which is more authentic. ⁹

The Makkan trade caravan consisted of 2500 camels, guarded, and accompanied by 100 armed men of the Quraysh. The caravan was led by Umayyah ibn Khalf, ¹⁰ who was a major enemy of

. ¹¹ When the Muslims reached Buwat (بواط), ¹² the mountain among the mountains of the Juhaina tribe, 24 miles away from Madinah, they realized that they had missed the Quraysh caravan, thus, no battle took place. ¹³ The Muslims, under the leadership of Prophet Muhammad , stayed at Buwat, for a month. ¹⁴ During his stay at Buwat, the Holy Prophet strengthened his relations with the tribe of Juhnia and tried to establish ties with prospective allies ¹⁵ and returned to Madinah.

 

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