Ar-Raheeq Al-Makhtum (The Sealed Nectar). Excellent Biography of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ Episode 97

 ﷽

*Ar-Raheeq Al-Makhtum (The Sealed Nectar).*

Excellent Biography of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ

Episode 97

*THE DEFENCE PLAN*

The Messenger of Allâh (Peace be upon him) mobilized his army. He arranged them into two rows to prepare them for fight. He selected fifty skillful archers that formed a squad and made them under the command of ‘Abdullah bin Jubair bin An-Nu‘man Al-Ansari Al-Awsi Al-Badri. He issued his orders to them to stay where they were — on a mountain(side) at the south bank of Qanat Al-Wadi (i.e. a canal of the valley), south east of Muslims camp at about one hundred and fifty metres from the 

Islamic army. Later on this mountain was called the Mountain of Archers. 

The Messenger of Allâh (Peace be upon him) clarified the mission of this squad in words he directed to them. He said to their leader: “Drive off the horses from us by means of arrows, lest they should attack us from behind (the rear). Whether we win the battle or lose it, stand steadily in your position and mind that we are not attacked from your side.” 

He added: 

• “Defend our backs! If you see us slain. Do not come to assist us; and if you see gaining 

grounds, do not share us.” 

In a version by Al-Bukhâri the Prophet (Peace be upon him) said: 

• “If you see us snatched into pieces by birds, do not leave this position of yours till I send 

for you. And if you see that we have defeated the enemy and trodden on them do not desert 

your position till I send for you.” 

With the assignment of this squad and locating it on the mountainside and the issuance of those strict military orders, the Messenger of Allâh (Peace be upon him) blocked the only groove that might lead the idolaters stealthily to the rear of Muslim ranks and might even enable them to encircle them in an encompassment procedure. 

The assignments of posts and responsibilities for the rest of the army were performed by the 

Prophet (Peace be upon him) as follows: On the right wing, he appointed Al-Mundhir bin ‘Amr. On 

the left he appointed Az-Zubair bin Al-‘Awwam, and made Al-Miqdad bin Al-Aswad his assistant and 

supporter. Az-Zubair’s function was to standfast in the face of Khalid bin Al-Waleed’s horsemen. The 

Messenger of Allâh (Peace be upon him) selected the top and the most courageous group to be in 

the vanguard of the army. They were notable for their readiness, alertness and bravery and 

estimated to be equal to thousands of men. 

It was a wise and carefully-laid plan which revealed the genius of military leadership that the 

Prophet (Peace be upon him) possessed. No other leader could have drawn a more accurate or wise 

plan. Although he approached the s ite later than the enemy, he managed to occupy better positions.

He made the rocky mountainside to function as shield for the army’s rear and right flank. He was 

able, by blocking the only vulnerable gap on the side, to provide additional maximum protection for 

the rear as well as the left wing. For fear of possible defeat, and to deter the Muslims from fleeing, 

in which case they would fall easy prisoners in the hands of the enemy, he chose a high place for 

encampment. Moreover a strategic site of this sort would surely inflict heavy losses on the 

polytheists if they thought of approaching or occupying his positions. In a further step, he reduced 

the enemy to a narrow scope of choice when they were cornered for encampment in geographically 

low positions that would avail them nothing of the benefits of any possible victory; at the same time 

they would not be able to escape the pursuit of the Muslims in case victory sided with the latter. To 

make up for the quantitative shortage in fighting personnel, he chose a picked body of fighters to 

stand at the front. 

The army of the Prophet (Peace be upon him) was thus fully mobilized on Shawwal 7th, 3 A.H.