Rafed English
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In Ramadan, 2 A.H., 313 Muslim fighters went outside Madina to attack a Quraishi trade caravan coming from Shaam. The caravan was very big. It had one thousand camels. Abu Sufyan, the enemy of Islam, led it.

When the Muslims immigrated from Makkah to Madina, the polytheists attacked and robbed their houses.

For this reason, the Prophet [s] wanted to bring back the Muslims' money. Besides he wanted to punish the Quraish. So, he began threatening their trade caravans.

The Muslims camped near Badr wells. They were waiting for the arrival of the caravan. After a period of time, they heard bad news. The news was that Abu Sufyan changed the course of the caravan.

Meanwhile, the Quraish were preparing a big army with good weapons to save the caravan from the Muslims.

The Muslims went out to control the trade caravan. They were not thinking about facing the big army.

Our Master Muhammad [s] asked his companions' opinions.

Umar bin al-Khattab stood up and said: It's Quraish and its disloyalty (i.e. the Quraish are always disloyal). By Allah! It (the Quraish) has not become abase since it became strong. And it has not believed (in Allah) since it disbelieved (in him).

The Muslims were very worried when they heard Umar's words. Moreover, some of them thought about coming back to Madina.

During those sensitive moments, al-Miqdad bin al-Aswad al-Kindy stood up and said with enthusiasm:

Allah's Apostle, go on obeying Allah's order! We'll support you! By Allah, we won't say as the Jews had said to their prophet: You and your lord, go and fight! We'll stay here! We say: You and your lord, go and fight! We'll fight with you.

Happy expression appeared on our Master Muhammad's face. Then the Prophet [s] said to al-Ansar: What shall I do?

Saad bin Maadh answered: Allah's Apostle, we've believed in you, we've believed you. We've confessed that which you you've brought is true. We've promised to hear and obey! Then, Allah's Apostle, go on what you've wanted! By Allah! If you asked us to cross the Red Sea, we would do!

The Muslims were full of enthusiasm. They got ready to face the polytheists with hearts filled with faith.

The fight started. The Muslims won it. Then they came back and remembered al-Miqdad's words.

Who was al-Miqdad?

Al-Miqdad belonged to Kunda's tribe. He escaped from his tribe and inhabited Makkah.

There he belonged to a man called al-Aswad bin Abid Yaqut al-Zuhry. So, people called him al-Miqdad bin al-Aswad. In connection with al-Miqdad, this verse came down from the sky: Call them with their fathers' names

For this reason, people called him al-Miqdad bin al-Aswad.

Islam rose from the top of the Hiraa Mount.

Al-Miqdad became twenty-four years old. He heard about our Master Muhammad's mission. He hurried to believe in the new religion.

He kept his Islam a secret. He met our Master Muhammad [s] secretly. Thus, he was among the earlier Muslims. He always felt the Muslims' sufferings.

The Migration

Our Master Muhammad [s] ordered his companions to immigrate to Madina. They immigrated one by one or group by group.

Then Allah, the Glorified, ordered His Apostle to immigrate to Madina.

Al-Miqdad rejoiced at the safety of Allah's Apostle. He admired the Muslim young man Ali bin Abu-Talib [a] who sacrificed his life to save our Master Muhammad [s] from polytheists' swords.

When our Master Muhammad [s] immigrated to Madina, the polytheists attacked and robbed the Muslims' houses. So, our Master Muhammad [s] thought about threatening the Quraishi trade caravan as a punishment.

Hamza bin Abdul-Muttalib headed the first company and went towards al-Ays area near the Red Sea. There he met the polytheistic troops headed by Abu Jahal.

No fight took place because some Arab leaders mediated between the two parties.

In Shawwal, 1 A.H., another company went out. The number of the company was sixty fighters. Its aim was to get to Rabgh Valley to threaten the Quraishi trade road between Makkah and Shaam.

In Makkah

Al Miqdad decided to join the polytheistic troops. He took advantage of the condition to immigrate to Madina.

Utbah bin Ghazwan became Muslim secretly. Al-Miqdad headed for him. They agreed on joining the polytheistic troops.

Abu Sufyan led two hundred fighters and headed for Rabgh Valley. There, the polytheists met the Muslim company. The two sides reciprocated arrows.

In the meantime, the polytheists were surprised to see two of their fighters running towards the Muslim company. Besides, they heard the Muslims' yells sounding in the desert: Allah is great! Allah is great!

Then Abu-Sufyan knew the runaways' names. They were al-Miqdad and Utbah bin Ghazwan.

Abu-Sufyan was full of spite. He ordered his fighters to come back to Makkah. He was afraid that there might be secret Muslims among his fighters.

Adapted from the book: "The Companions of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w)"