Ibn Battuta (1304 AD - 1369 AD)

Complete name: Abu Abdullah Muhammad ibn Abdullah Allawati Attangi ibn Batutah
Born: February 25, 1304 at Tangier, Morocco
Died: 1369 (aged 64–65) in Morocco
Occupation: Scholar, Jurist, Judge, Explorer, Geographer
Religion: Islam
Known for: Travelling across most of the known world at that time
Works: Ar-Rihla (The journey)
Places travelled: North Africa, Horn of Africa, West Africa, Eastern Europe, Middle East, South Asia, Central Asia, Southeast Asia and China

Ibn Battuta was one of the greatest travellers of all time. Over his lifetime Ibn Battuta traveled over 73,000 miles (117 500 km) and visited the equivalent of 44 modern countries.

List of Places

Northwest Africa - Tangier, Fes, Marrakech, Tlemcen (Tilimsan), Miliana, Algiers, Djurdjura Mountains, Bgayet, Constantine, Annaba (Bona), Tunis, Sousse (Susah), Sfax, Gabes (Qabis), Tripoli

Middle East - Ajloun, Al Karak, Cairo, Alexandria, Damietta, Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Hebron, Damascus, Latakia, Egypt, Syria, Medina, Jeddah, Mecca, Najaf, Rabigh, Oman, Dhofar, Hajr, Bahrain, Al-Hasa, Strait of Hormuz, Yemen, Qatif

Spain - Granada, Valencia

Byzantine Empire and Eastern Europe - Konya, Antalya, Bulgaria, Azov, Kazan, Volga River, Constantinople

Central Asia - Khwarezm, Khorasan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Balochistan, Afghanistan, Bukhara, Samarqand

South Asia - North India, Sindh (Pakistan), Multan Delhi, Present day Uttar Pradesh, Present day Gujarat, Maharashtra, Kozhikode, Malabar, Pandiyan Kingdom, Bengal, Brahmaputra River, Meghna River near Dhaka, Sylhet, Maldives, Sri Lanka (Serendip),

China - Quanzhou, Hangzhou,  Beijing

Southeast Asia - Burma (Myanmar), Samudera Pasai Sultanate, Aceh, Northern Sumatra, Indonesia, Malacca, Malay Peninsula Malaysia

Somalia - Mogadishu, Zeila

Swahili Coast - Kilwa, Mombasa

Mali Empire and West Africa - Timbuktu, Gao, Takedda,

Mauritania - Oualata (Walata)

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Battle of Naqra (632 AD)

Battle of Naqra was fought by muslims of Rashidun Caliphate against the rebels of Bani Sulaim during his camapaign against the apostasy.

Date: October 632 AD
Location: Naqra, Arabia
Rashidun Leader: Khalid bin Al-Waleed
Bani Sulaim Leader: Amr bin Abdul Uzza (Abu Shajara) (POW)

Background
Bani Sulaim tribe did not learn from the defeat of Tulaiha and remained defiant and rebellious. Bani Sulaim decided to resist against Islam under the banner of the tribal chief named Amr bin Abdul Uzza (Abu Shajara). He was a poet and composed following lines to boost the morale of his men.
My spear shall play havoc
With the regiments of Khalid.
And I trust thereafter
It shall also crush Umar
Bani Sulaim before the rebellion had served under the command of Khalid bin Al-Waleed in conquest of Makkah, battle of Hunain and seige of Taif. Now they had apostatised and deserved no mercy from Khalid.

Battle
Khalid bin Waleed and Abu Shajara formed up the armies at Naqra and a sharp clash begin. Bani Sulaim gave a stubborn resistance but soon broke up and were routed by the army of Khalid bin Al-Waleed. While most were slaughtered and some managed to flee, their leader Abu Shajara was taken prisoner.

Aftermath
Abu Shajara pleaded mercy from the caliph and was forgiven. Khalid marched off for his next objective towards Zafar to punish the next stronghold of rebels.

Sources
A.I. Akram, The Sword of Allah: Khalid bin al-Waleed, His Life and Campaigns Lahore, 1969
Wikipedia

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Battle of Ghamra (632 AD)

The Battle of Ghamra took place between muslims of Rashidun caliphate and the remaining army of Bani Fazara and Bani Asad that was defeated in the battle of Buzakha.

Date: 3rd week of September, 632 (late Jamadi-ul-Akhir, 11 Hijri)
Location: Ghamra, 60 miles away from Buzakha, Arabia
Apostate Leader: Uyaina (POW)
Rashidun Leader: Khalid bin Al-Waleed
Result: Rashidun victory

Background
Muslims had started a successful campaign against the rebellion that spread across the Arabia after the death of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). Tulaiha's army was scattered at the battle of Ghamra. Several columns were sent after the fleeing rebels. One column caught several apostates at 20 miles away from Ghamra at Ruman. They submitted without a fight.

The Battle
Uyaina's group was pursued by Khalid bin Waleed himself and caught up at Ghamra 60 miles away. Uyaina was a proud son of a tribal chieftain and gave stiff resistance. A sharp clash took place and Uyaina was taken prisoner. Some of the apostates were killed in action while some managed to flee.

Aftermath
Uyaina pleaded pardon in front of Abu Bakr and vowed to remain loyal to Islam for rest of his life. He was pardoned and lived in peace with his tribe.
Khalid bin Waleed had successfully achieved the first goals of campaign and set off for Naqra for his next objective.

Sources
A.I. Akram, The Sword of Allah: Khalid bin al-Waleed, His Life and Campaigns Lahore, 1969
Wikipedia

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Battle of Buzakha (630 AD)

Battle of Buzakha took place between muslims of Rashidun Caliphate and the apostate tribes of Bani Ghatfan, Bani Asad and Bani Fazara.

Date: Middle of September, 632 (late Jamadi-ul-Akhir, 11 Hijri)
Location: Plain of Buzakha 25 mile south west of Ha'il , Saudi Arabia
Muslim leaders: Abu Bakr (Caliph), Khalid ibn Al-Waleed (Commander-in-chief), Adi bin Hatim
Apostate leaders: Tulaiha, Uyaina (Commander-in-chief), Hibal (KIA)
Other notable personalities: Ukasha bin Mihsan (KIA)
Muslim Strength: 6000, including 1000 warriors from Jadila and 500 from Tayy
Apostate Strength: 15,000 including 700 warriors from Bani Fazara
Muslim casualties: Low
Apostate casualties: Heavy
Result: Decisive Muslim Victory

Background
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) almost completely subdued Arabian peninsula  during his life. After the death of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) a wave of apostasy and rebellion rose and spread across the Arabian peninsula. This was an anti-revolutionary movement in response to the most comprehensive revolution of the history. It had to be dealt with swiftly and effectively. Caliph Abu Bakr started the campaign. After short engagements with Tulaiha's contingents at Zhu Qissa and Abraq muslims finally reached Buzakha where they met the army of Tulaiha the impostor.

The re-inforcement
Adi bin Hatim was a devout muslim from Bani Tayy tribe. After the wave of apostasy Tayy rebelled against the muslim authority and Adi bin Hatim along with some faithful followers joined caliph Abu Bakr. Adi was sent to Tayy to persuade them to avoid fighting beside Tulaiha which he did successfully in the end. Tayy had sent a group of warriors to Tulaiha. This contingent was griven out secretly from the army of Tulaiha and Khalid bin Waleed was reinforced with 500 men from Tayy.
Khalid wanted to attack a nearby region of Jadila but Adi bin Hatim again tried to get a peacful surrender and in the end got a force of 1000 men from Jadila. Now the Khalid's army which was originally 4,000 became 6,000 strong, the credit of which goes to Adi bin Hatim. Tulaiha on the other hand outnumbered muslims heavily with his force of some 15,000 men.

The battle
On a morning the two armies formed up for the battle on the plain of Buzakha. Khalid was at the head of muslim army while Uyaina was appointed commander of the apostate army with his 700 warriors from Bani Fazara in the center. Tulaiha camped a short distance behind his army and styled himself in a posture as if he was recieving divine commands about the situation.
Khalid ordered a direct attack against the enemy front and a fiery clash begin but the apostate center was strong and gave a stubborn resistance. Soon the brisk attacks of muslims began to push the enemy center and gain some ground. Now muslim army attacked more ferociously and drove a wedge into the center of apostate army. The situation was alarming for Uyaina so he went back to Tulaiha during the battle and asked him if there was any divine guidance about the problem that they faced. Tulaiha was blank and soon took his wife with him and fled on a camel which he had kept for the exact purpose. Uyaina turned back and called Bani Fazara that they were betrayed and they should leave the battlefield. With the departure of strong Bani Fazara in the center the resistance collapse and a route began. Muslims were totally in control of the situation and were now chasing the parts of army that were fleeing from battlefield. This was the end of Tulaiha's rebellion and first major victory of Abu Bakr and Khalid bin Waleed in the campaign of apostasy.

Aftermath
Tulaiha's after being completely defeated fled to Syrian border where he lived for a while with Kalb tribe. His tribe Bani Asad re-entered Islam and he too became a muslim and joined his tribe. He was forgiven by caliph Abu Bakr but not allowed to served in military ranks for a few years. During caliph Umar's reign the apostate tribes were finally trusted for military services and Tulaiha too joined muslim army on the Persian front. Tulaiha fought with great valour and skill in battle of Qadsiyyah and finally fell as a martyr in the battle of Nihawand.

Sources
* A.I. Akram, The Sword of Allah: Khalid bin al-Waleed, His Life and Campaigns Lahore, 1969
* Wikipedia

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Siege of Taif (630 AD)

 Siege of Taif took place when Muslims besieged the Hawazin and Thaqeef tribes after the Battle of Hunain. The siege started on February 5, 630 (the 15th of Shawal, 8 AH) and lasted till February 23, 630 (the 4th of Dhul Qad, 8 AH) when it was raised. The 18 days long siege lasted unsuccessfully and Muslims returned to Mecca.

Location: Taif, Arabia
Besiger: Muslims
Besieged: Banu Hawazin and Banu Thaqeef
Muslim Leaders: Prophet Muhammad, Abu Bakr, Khalid ibn Al-Walid
Hawazin and Thaqeef Leaders: Malik bin Auf
Muslim Losses: 12 men
Hawazin and Thaqeef losses: None
Other notable personalities: Abu Sufyan, Salman Farsi
Result: Siege unsuccessful

The Siege
Muslims camped near the walls of Taif after laying siege but it was too close to the walls and they suffered some casualties before they came out of the range of enemy archers. The fort was encircled and exit points were covered to prevent any entry or escape. The besieged archers were in a better position and maintained upper hand during the exchange of archery between the two sides. Abdullah ibn Abu Bakr died due to the wound suffered during this siege. With the help of Salman Farsi (Salman The Persian) muslims built a catapult and testudo but the desired results were far from being achieved. Testudo was a movable protective covering that provided protection from above when approaching the walls of a besieged fortification. It was destroyed by pouring hot molten iron from above.
The lost eye
Abu Sufyan who had accepted Islam after Conquest of Makkah, lost his eye to the archers in the Siege of Taif. He told Muhammad of his loss for Allah to which Muhammad said “Which would you prefer: An eye in heaven or shall I pray to Allah that he brings it back?” To this Abu Sufyan said he would rather have his eye in heaven. Later he lost his other eye during the Battle of Yarmouk.
End of Siege
Muslims attacked the fort several times but were repelled. Half a month was passed and the end was still not in sight. Some vineyards were destroyed nearby to get the enemy out to defend them but Malk bin Auf was not ready to take on muslims in the open after the disaster of Hunain.
At last a war council was called. One of the participants said,"When you corner a fox in its hole, if you stay long enough you catch the fox. But if you leave the fox in its hole it does you no harm."
Abu Bakr advised a return to Makkah, and Umar agreed with him.
The siege was called off. Muslims lost 12 men during the siege engagements.
Aftermath
Muslims marched back from Taif and spoils of Hunain were distributed but shortly a delegation of Hawazin reached Prophet Muhammad accepting Islam. They pleaded the return of their women and children which was accepted. The Muslims were very generous to the new members of their faith.
After a few days Malik bin Auf came to Muslim camp and accepted Islam.
The siege was not successful but the threat had been neutralized. This was indeed the desirable result for Muslims.
Sources
Wikipedia
The sword of Allah, Life and campaigns (A I Akram)

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