What is hamrul asad? What does hamrul asad means? Battle of hamrul asad…
Hamra’ul-Asad (8 Shawwal, 3 / 24 March 625)
The idolaters had immediately set out on the road back to Mecca, trembling with a fear cast into their hearts that did not allow them to even think twice about returning home. Coming to their senses on the way, however, the idolaters begun feeling somewhat resentful at not having finished off the Believers. So they decided to return for a second onslaught.
The Blessed Prophet -upon him blessings and peace-, who had in the meantime arrived at Medina, felt a similar need to intimidate the idolaters, at the exact time in which the Almighty revealed the ayah advising against being lax in relation.
“And slacken not in following up the enemy: If you are suffering hardships, they are suffering similar hardships; but you have Hope from Allah, while they have none. And Allah is full of knowledge and wisdom.” (an-Nisa, 104)
The Noble Prophet -upon him blessings and peace- asked for volunteers, among his Companions, willing to take on the task of pursuing the enemy. Without further ado, a unit which included Abu Bakr and Zubayr -Allah be well-pleased with them- in its ranks, was prepared. Nearly all the Companions taking part in the pursuit were carrying the fresh wounds of Uhud. Gearing up nonetheless, the wounded Companions joined the Prophet’s -upon him blessings and peace- troops near the Abu Inabah Well.[1]
Even Usayd ibn Khudayr -Allah be well-pleased with him-, busy with treating the wounded at the time, dropped what he was doing, grabbed his weapons and made his way to join the Blessed Prophet –upon him blessings and peace-.
Getting ready without wasting any time was also Saad ibn Ubadah -Allah be well-pleased with him-, who ordered his clan to follow suit.[2]
Commanded by the Blessed Prophet -upon him blessings and peace- himself, the unit then immediately followed the trail of the enemy.
Abdullah ibn Sahl and his brother Rafi -Allah be well-pleased with them- had fought alongside the Prophet of Allah -upon him blessings and peace- at Uhud and had returned to Medina wounded. Upon hearing the Noble Messenger’s -upon him blessings and peace- call for pursuing the enemy, they exclaimed:
“By Allah, we do not have anything to ride and we carry serious wounds. But how can we ever miss out on a campaign led by the Messenger of Allah?” They thus set out, at times helping each other walk, and at others, taking turns in carrying each other on their backs. They ultimately made it next to the Blessed Prophet -upon him blessings and peace-, unable to bear the thought of leaving him on his own.[3]
The Believers who showed such sacrifice received the following Divine compliments:
“Of those who answered the call of Allah and the Messenger, even after being wounded, those who do right and refrain from wrong have a great reward.” (Al-i Imran, 172)
The unit advanced until reaching a place called Hamra’ul-Asad, around eight kilometers away from Medina. The flag was in the hands of Ali -Allah be well-pleased with him-. At night, the Blessed Prophet -upon him blessings and peace- ordered bonfires to be started in five hundred separate places. The sight was spectacular. To onlookers, it appeared as if an enormous army had encamped in the area. In fact, a man by the name of Mabad, still not a Muslim at the time, happened to see the Muslim fires on his way to Mecca. A while later, he encountered the idolaters, hurriedly informing them they were under close Muslim pursuit.
“I have never, ever seen such a massive army”, he said to them, to draw emphasis to the colossal size in which they appeared from a distance. The news was more than enough for their hearts to give in to fear once more.
“The Muslims did not have enough power to even move their fingers; so how can that be?” they began asking each other, staggered. Then, for some unknown reason, they unanimously decided to, “…leave before disaster strikes!”
Unable to face upto the prospect of fighting the Believers once again, they moved their pace up another notch as they swiftly made their way back home. Finding out about their retreat, the Blessed Prophet -upon him blessings and peace-, too, led his Companions back to Medina.[4]
[1] Waqidi, I, 334-335.[2] Waqidi, I, 334-335.[3] Ibn Hisham, III, 53.[4] Ibn Hisham, III, 52-56; Waqidi, I, 334-340.
Source: Osman Nuri Topbaş, The Prophet Muhammed Mustafa the Elect II, Erkam Publications
