Battle of Mu'tah - 8 AH

The Battle of Mu'tah is debated among scholars whether to be called a Ghazwa (where the Prophet ﷺ participated) or Sariyya (where he did not). Despite the Prophet ﷺ not being present, scholars call it a Ghazwa due to the large number of participants (3,000 sahaba) and its significance as the first Muslim battle against the Romans. Sahaba referred to it as Jaysh al-Umara (the Army of Commanders).

Mu'tah is a small village in present-day Jordan, between Amman and al-Karak. It is known today as al-Mazar due to the burial of the three sahaba who led the battle.

Reasons for the Battle

Primary Reason: Revenge for the brutal killing of al-Harith ibn Umayr al-Azdi رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ, the Prophet's ﷺ envoy, by Shurahbil ibn Amr, a Ghassanid chieftain. Killing an envoy was a severe violation of diplomatic norms.

Secondary Reason: The governor of Bosra allegedly threatened the Muslims after the Prophet's ﷺ letter was delivered to Heraclius.

Strategic Wisdom: The battle served as psychological preparation for future Muslim expansion beyond the Arabian Peninsula, particularly against the Romans.

Divine Wisdom: It allowed Khalid ibn al-Walid رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ to gain first-hand experience of Roman battle tactics, which later helped him lead successful conquests after the Prophet's ﷺ death.

The Battle of Mu'tah paved the way for future Muslim confrontations with the Romans, especially the Battle of Tabuk (9 AH), which the Prophet ﷺ led. It marked the beginning of Islam’s global expansion.

Leaving for Mu’tah

In Jumada al-Awwal of the 8th year after Hijrah, the Prophet ﷺ announced a military expedition toward the Ghassanids. Around 3,000 Sahabah volunteered and set out on a Friday, highlighting the rapid growth and organization of the Muslim community.

The Prophet ﷺ appointed three commanders, showing the seriousness of the battle:

1. Zayd ibn Harithah رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ 

2. Ja'far ibn Abi Talib رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ 

3. Abdullah ibn Rawahah رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ 

The Prophet ﷺ then stated that if all three were martyred, the Muslims should appoint a leader from among themselves. The Prophet ﷺ accompanied the army to Thaniyat al-Wada' (the Hill of Farewell), as was Prophet’s ﷺ tradition.

The Ghassanids, panicked by the Muslims' arrival, sought help from Arab Christian tribes and the Romans. Although some sources mention 100,000 or 150,000 troops, historians suggest it was around 10,000, with 1,000 Romans and the rest from Arab tribes.

Despite being vastly outnumbered, the Muslim army marched forward with bravery and trust in Allah.

Muslims Overwhelmed

The Muslim army camped for two days, debating their next move after discovering the Romans had joined the Ghassanids, raising the enemy numbers to around 10,000. One group suggested sending a messenger to the Prophet ﷺ for guidance, while another believed they had already accomplished their mission by showing force and could retreat. Abdullah ibn Rawahah رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ gave a passionate speech, reminding them that their goal was martyrdom or victory, and convinced them to proceed.

As the Muslims advanced, they passed a village whose inhabitants attacked them from behind with arrows, injuring several sahaba and killing one. Zayd ibn Harithah رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ refused to retaliate, staying focused on the main battle. The Muslims continued the march and chose the battlefield of Mu'tah for strategic reasons, including access to water and a potential retreat path. Abu Hurairah رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ, in his first battle, was amazed at the size of the Roman army. A sahabi reminded him that victory comes from faith, not numbers.

As Swords Clash

1. Zayd ibn Harithah رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ led the charge and was killed while holding the flag.

2. Ja'far ibn Abi Talib رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ took the flag, fought bravely, and had both hands severed before being killed. The Prophet ﷺ later said Allah replaced Ja'far's hands with wings in Jannah.

3. Abdullah ibn Rawahah رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ  hesitated momentarily, he rebuked his soul with heartfelt poetry, "I swear, O my soul, you shall proceed or I will force you to proceed. The people have gathered, the clamor has risen, but what is the matter with you? You don't want Jannah? Surely, what you have desired has eluded you for too long. What are you, O Ibn Rawahah, except a drop of despised fluid put in a bag?" but then courageously plunged into battle and was martyred.

4. Thabit ibn Arqam رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ retrieved the flag and called for a new leader. The sahaba unanimously chose Khalid ibn al-Walid رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ, despite his recent conversion to Islam.

During the Battle of Mu'tah, the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, while in Madinah, miraculously narrated the events of the battle as they unfolded. The sahaba gathered around the Prophet ﷺ as he described the deaths of Zayd ibn Harithah, Ja'far ibn Abi Talib, and Abdullah ibn Rawahah رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمْ before the news even arrived from the battlefield. The Prophet ﷺ, overwhelmed with grief, wept and said, "A sword from the swords of Allah took the flag and Allah granted him victory."

Khalid ibn al-Walid's Tactical Genius 

When Khalid ibn al-Walid رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ took command after the deaths of the three leaders, he realized that actual victory against the massive Roman army was impossible. His only goal became to save the Muslim army from total annihilation.

Khalid رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ organized a quick counterattack to pause the Roman advance. He strategically positioned the archers to stop the Romans from moving forward. An elderly archer, Waqid ibn Abdillah رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ, who had weak eyesight, asked two companions to lift him on a shield and guide him while he shot arrows with full force.

Khalid رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ personally led a ground-level attack, fighting so fiercely that nine swords broke in his hand, and he was left with only a Yemenite shield, as narrated in Sahih Bukhari.

By nightfall, both armies withdrew beyond the range of arrows. The Muslims then buried their martyrs, placing Zayd, Ja'far, and Ibn Rawahah رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمْ together in a single grave.

The Masterful Escape Plan

The next day, Khalid رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ executed a brilliant psychological tactic. He created the illusion of reinforcements arriving from Madinah to trick the Romans. He instructed a group of sahaba to spread out far away and beat the sand with instruments, creating dust clouds that looked like a massive cavalry approaching. The Romans, fearing reinforcements, paused their attack. In this brief window, Khalid رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ swiftly retreated with the Muslim army, saving them from annihilation.

The Outcome

Out of 3,000 Muslim soldiers, only around 20 were martyred — less than 1% casualties. Considering the Muslims were vastly outnumbered and facing the world's most powerful army, this was seen as a strategic victory. On the way back, the Muslims avenged their earlier losses against a village that had killed one of their men.

Khalid ibn al-Walid's رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ tactics saved the Muslim army from what could have been complete destruction, proving why he earned the title "The Sword of Allah."

The Smear Campaign Against the Mu'tah Fighters

When the Muslim army returned from the Battle of Mu'tah, the Prophet ﷺ was overjoyed at their safe return. However, soon after, rumors and insults began to spread against the sahaba who fought in Mu'tah.

The wife of Salama ibn Hisham رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ told the Prophet ﷺ that her husband stopped coming to the masjid because people would mock him, saying:  "O you who fled from the path of Allah!". Out of shame and humiliation, Salama رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ confined himself to his home.

Upon hearing this, the Prophet ﷺ addressed the people in the masjid and said:
"They are not furrar (those who ran away), they are kurrar (those who will return and fight again)." 

The Prophet ﷺ changed one letter in the Arabic word, turning an insult into praise. By doing this, he completely shut down the smear campaign and restored the honor of the Mu'tah fighters.

The Aftermath of the Battle of Mu'tah

The Battle of Mu'tah, despite being a tactical retreat, was a significant event. With minimal Muslim casualties (around 1%), it was seen as a tactical success. Scholars debate whether it was a victory, defeat, or draw; some view it as a victory due to the minimal losses and strategic retreat, while others consider it a draw since no decisive victory was achieved.

The battle demonstrated the Muslims' ability to challenge the Roman Empire and extended their reach into northern territories, setting the stage for future expansions and confrontations with the Byzantine and Persian Empires.