The Battle of Dhat al-Qarad

 

Dhat al-Qarad is located in the Quraish Banu Ghutafan region. This battle occurred three days before the Battle of Khaybar. The protagonist of this event was Hazrat Salma bin Akwa (may Allah be pleased with him). He was a young and swift runner. Hazrat Salma bin Akwa' (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that he found a servant of Hazrat Abdul Rahman bin Auf (may Allah be pleased with him) who said, "Someone has captured the camels of the Noble Prophet (peace be upon him)." I asked, "Who has captured them?" He replied, "The people of Ghatafan have taken them." Hazrat Salma bin Akwa' (may Allah be pleased with him) said, "I raised three cries "ya sabaha!" so that people would know that an attack had been launched."

Then Hazrat Salma bin Akwa' (may Allah be pleased with him) immediately initiated the pursuit of the enemy. The enemy was riding on camels, while Hazrat Salma was running on foot, even surpassing the speed of the enemy's camels. Sometimes, he would come out to the right, to the left, and occasionally run ahead to shoot arrows at them. Hazrat Salma bin Akwa' (may Allah be pleased with him) had arrows with him, but as the enemy had swords, they could not attack him from a distance.

The enemy was desperate and wanted Hazrat Salma bin Akwa' (may Allah be pleased with him) to come closer so that they could attack him. However, he did not come close, and from a distance, he continued to shoot arrows at the camels. The enemies also had their camels and the camels of the Noble Prophet (peace be upon him). They were very distressed, hoping that Hazrat Salma bin Akwa' (may Allah be pleased with him) would come closer so that they could launch an attack. However, he kept his distance.

In a state of distress, the enemies began abandoning the camels of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to divert his attention. Initially, they left one camel behind with the hope that Hazrat Salma bin Akwa' (RA) would get occupied with it so that they would escape. However, Hazrat Salma bin Akwa' (RA) tied up the camels and pursued them again. One by one, Hazrat Salma bin Akwa' (RA) retrieved all the camels of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, but still, he did not abandon their pursuit.

When he still did not abandon their pursuit, they began dropping their cloaks to divert his attention. Hazrat Salma bin Akwa' (RA) narrates that if they had dropped their cloaks, I would have placed stones on them and started running after them.

I kept the stone for this purpose so that Prophet Muhammad ﷺ would realize that I was going in that direction.

 Meanwhile, the Noble Prophet (peace be upon him) and the companions also started following upon receiving the information. They rode on horses and reached the point where the enemies were being held back. A companion attacked the enemy's leader, Abdul Rahman bin Aina Al-Fazari, but he survived and killed the companion. After that, Hazrat Abu Qatadah (may Allah be pleased with him) went forward and killed him. The rest of the people fled.

Hazrat Salma bin Akwa' (may Allah be pleased with him) said to the Noble Prophet (peace be upon him), "I stopped the people from getting water; they are still thirsty and cannot fight well. Now you can attack them." The Noble Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "Salma bin Akwa', you have become a leader. Now, deal with them with kindness. Our work is done. We have obtained our camels, the cloaks of the enemies, and the leader has been killed. Leave them; our work is done."

Hazrat Salama ibn al-Akwa (RA) says that when we returned, the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) made us sit behind him on his camel. On the same occasion, he said that Hazrat Abu Qatadah (RA) is the best horse rider among our horse riders and Hazrat Salama ibn al-Akwa (may Allah be pleased with him) is the best of pedestrians.