Battle of Hunain was fought by Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and his followers against the confederacy of bedouin tribes led by Hawazin and Thaqeef.
Date: February 1, 630 AD (11th of Shawal, 8 AH)
Location: Valley of Hunain, near al-Ta'if in south-western Arabia
Muslim Leaders: Prophet Muhammad, Ali ibn Abi Talib, Khalid ibn Al-Waleed, Zubair bin Al Awwam, Abu Amir (KIA), Abu Musa
Bedouin Leaders: Malik ibn Auf al-Nasri, Duraid bin As-Simma (KIA)
Muslim Strength: 12,000
Bedouin Strength: 12,000
Muslim Losses: 4 killed, several wounded
Bedouin Losses: 70 killed, 6000 women and children taken prisoners
Result: Decisive Muslim victory, 24,000 camels captured as spoils
Background
Makkah submitted peacefully to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) on January 11, 630 (Ramadan 20, 8AH). The conquest of Makkah raised an alarm among the tribes of Arabia. Muslims were rising as a strong force in the region and Arabs thought that it was just a matter of time before they had to submit. Tribes of Hawazin and Thaqif were no exception. These two strong tribes decided to take pre-emtive measures and began mobilizing their forces in the leadership of a young general named Malik bin Auf Nasri.
Espionage
Muslims had sent their spies in distant tribes to fetch information about any mobilization or major action. Simmilarly other tribes had started to keep a close eye on followers of Prophet Muhammad(PBUH). Espionage was therefore and important element present right from the beginning. The opposing sides knew about the other side's strength, their leaders and major decisions in advance. Hawazin and Thaqeef were 20,000 strong and their leader was 30 year old Malik bin Auf whereas Muslim strength was 12,000 in the leadership of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
The Blunder
Malik bin Auf was determined to use every strategy to turn the result of upcoming clash in his favour. He ordered his force to march to Hunain with their families behind them. This was an act of desperation to force his warriors to give their best not only for their tribes but also their families. This proved to be a mistake in the outcome of event. Following conversation took place between Malik bin Auf and the wise Duraid.
Duraid,"Why do I hear the call of camels, the braying of donkeys, the bleating of goats, the shouts of women and the crys of children?"
Malik replied, "I have ordered the families and the flocks to muster with the army. Every man, will fight with his family and his property behind him and thus fight with greater courage.
Men fight with swords and spears, not with women and children", said Duraid. "Put the families and the flocks at a safe distance from the field of battle. If we win, they can join us. If we lose, at least they shall be safe."
"I shall not send them away", he bristled. "You have grown senile and your brain is weak."
Then he ordered his men:
"When you attack, attack as one man. As our attack begins, let all scabbards be broken." This breaking of scabbards was practised by the Arabs to signify an attitude of suicidal desperation.
The Ambush
On January 27, 630 (the 6th of Shawal, 8 Hijri), the Muslims set out from Makkah. The army consisted of the original 10,000 men who had conquered Makkah plus 2,000 new converts. These new converts had still to prove their value and loyalty to Islam. During the evening of January 31, the Muslims arrived in the Valley of Hunain and established their camp.
As the Muslims arrived at their new camp in the Hunain Valley, news of their arrival was conveyed to Malik bin Auf by his agents. He guessed that the Muslims would know that his army was at Autas, and would expect to fight him at or near Autas. And he put into effect his plan to outwit the Muslims.
Before dawn on February 1, 630 (the 11th of Shawal, 8 Hijri) when muslims started their advance towards the enemy, they ran into the ambush laid by Malik bin Auf. Suddenly a volley of arrows was fired on the muslim army which was taken by surprise and totally shattered. Khalid bin Waleed was seriously injured and this was the first and last time in his life that he was trapped in an ambush. He would learn from this and later adopt this as one of his tactics.
The Battle
The Prophet was left standing on the track with nine of his Companions, including Ali, Abu Bakr, Umar, and Abbas. As the Muslims ran past, he shouted to them, "O Muslims! I am here! I, the Messenger of Allah! I, Muhammad, son of Abdullah!".
Abbas was a large man with a powerful voice which, according to some accounts, could be heard miles away. He yelled at the top of his voice,"O Muslims! Come to the Messenger of Allah! O Ansar…O Companions…O …" He called each tribe in turn to report to the Prophet.
Soon with the bravery of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and companions they was able to gather the shattered army and put them together again and launch a counter-attack. As soon as the army was re-organized in sufficient numbers, a general attack was ordered. This was just what the muslims wanted. Superior skills of muslims in close quarter battle began to tell and Prophet Muhammad exclaimed,"Now the oven heats up!".
Soon the Hawazin and Thaqeef ranks began to shatter and Malik decided to retreat keeping Thaqeef as a rearguard. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) decided to press his advantage. He organised a strong cavalry group under Zubair bin Al Awwam and sent it forward to clear the valley before the Hawazin had time to recover and reorganise. Soon after a fierce engagement Malik's army was driven off the pass and the whole valley was now in muslim hands.
Muslims achieved a decisive victory at Hunain and threat was neutralized. Muslims killed 70 enemies at the expanse of 4 of their own men. In the spoils of war mulims got 24,000 camels and 6000 of children and women were captured.
Decisive factors
* Poor performance of Malik's archers who failed to capitalize on the brilliant ambush laid by Malik. While several muslims were injured during the ambush, none of them was killed.
* Inferior skill of Malik's army in the closed quarter battle. Muslims were superior swordsmen and thus got the better of the clash.
* Superior generalship of Muhammad (PBUH) who pressed the advantage of his success while Malik was unable to capitalize on the opportunity that he created initially.
* Keeping women, children and heards of cattle close to battlefield as an act of desperation. The losses were therefore astounding for Bedouin confederacy.
In Quran
Battle of Hunain is mentioned by name in Surah Taubah, Ayah 25 & 26:
"Certainly Allah helped you in many battlefields and on the day of Hunain, when your great numbers made you vain, but they availed you nothing and the earth became strait to you notwithstanding its spaciousness, then you turned back retreating. Then Allah sent down His tranquillity upon His Messenger and upon the believers, and sent down hosts which you did not see, and chastised those who disbelieved, and that is the reward of the unbelievers."
Aftermath
Bedouin force split into two parts. One of these took refuge at Taif while other went to Autas where another military engagement took place. Taif was besieged and surrendered later sumbitting to the muslim authority. Malik bin Auf embraced Islam after siege of Taif.
Sources
A I Akram
Wikipedia
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