Expedition

Shura at Asfan: The Quraysh Prepare for War

Name: Shura at Asfan: The Quraysh Prepare for War
Start: 628
Location: Asfan

~6 AH · 6 AH

The Road to Hudaybiyyah·chapter 10 of 13

Asfan

Details differ across the sources

Scholars differ on whether Salat al-Khawf (the prayer of fear) was prayed here for the first time or had already been legislated several months earlier during the Ghazwa of Banu Lahyan; the majority hold this was the first occurrence.

What happened

As the Muslims proceeded toward Makkah, the Prophet ﷺ sent a small party to investigate a report of riders near Ghayqah; it proved to be a false alarm. When the caravan reached Asfan, roughly midway between Madinah and Makkah, the scout Busr ibn Sufyan al-Khuza'i returned and reported that the Quraysh had armed themselves, worn their leopard-skin war garb, brought their women as they had at Uhud, and sent Khalid ibn al-Walid to camp at Ghumaym, a plain outside Makkah, to block the Muslims' path. The Prophet ﷺ halted the caravan, camped in the shade, and addressed the sahaba, first suggesting they attack the tribes allied with the Quraysh, then asking their opinion. Abu Bakr RA counselled that they had left Madinah intending only the House of Allah and should continue toward Makkah, fighting only if attacked; the Prophet ﷺ accepted this and the caravan moved on.

The Road to Hudaybiyyah·Chapter 10 of 13

See the whole story

Previously← Abu Qatada's Zebra Hunt~6 AH · 6 AH Continue readingCrossing the Valley of Thorns →~6 AH · 6 AH

Connected events

Grew out of

Expedition1 Dhu al-Qa'dah, 6 AH · 6 AH
Departure from Madinah for Umrah (6 AH)
At Asfan the scout Busr ibn Sufyan returned with news that the Quraysh had sworn to block the pilgrims.

Led to

Expedition~6 AH · 6 AH
Crossing the Valley of Thorns
With Khalid ibn al-Walid blocking the road at Ghumaym, the Prophet ﷺ took the column through a valley of thorns and lava rock to reach another road.

Around this time

Other events recorded in 6 AH. Their order within the year is not established; use the storyline above for the sequence.

ExpeditionThe Sariyya of Zayd ibn Harithah to al-'Is ExpeditionSariyya al-Khabat (the Expedition of Withered Leaves)ExpeditionExpedition of Muhammad ibn Maslamah to al-Qurta'~Shawwal, 6 AH · 6 AH ConversionThe Capture and Conversion of Thumamah ibn Uthal ExpeditionDeparture from Madinah for Umrah (6 AH)1 Dhu al-Qa'dah, 6 AH · 6 AH ExpeditionAbu Qatada's Zebra Hunt~6 AH · 6 AH PersecutionAssassination Attempt on the Prophet ﷺ by a Bedouin Sent by Abu Sufyan ExpeditionCrossing the Valley of Thorns~6 AH · 6 AH MigrationEmigration of Ummi Kulthum bint Uqba ibn Abi Mu'ayt~shortly after Hudaybiyyah, 6 AH · 6 AH MarriageMarriage of the Prophet ﷺ and Umm Habiba bint Abi Sufyan~In Abyssinia, after her iddah (c. 621 CE) · 6 AH IncidentSawda bint Zam'a RA Gifts Her Night to Aisha RA~Around the 6th-7th year of the Hijrah · 6 AH ExpeditionThe Assassination of Sallam ibn Abi al-Huqayq

Sayings & Actions2

Muhammad ﷺ

Saying · 6 AH, at Asfan

Woe to Quraysh. They have been consumed by war. What would they lose if they let me and the other Arabs be? If the other Arabs attack me and win, they will get the result they want. If I win over them, the honor will be theirs. So what does the Quraysh think will happen? For by Allah, I shall continue to fight them with what Allah has sent me until Allah either grants me victory, or this neck of mine is cut off.

The scout Busr ibn Sufyan had just reported to the Prophet ﷺ at Asfan that the Quraysh had armed for battle and sent Khalid ibn al-Walid to block the road into Makkah.

Muhammad ﷺ

Saying · 6 AH, at Asfan

We should attack the surrounding tribes that have also sent men with the Quraysh. What do you think we should do?

Having stopped the caravan and explained to the gathered Muslims that Khalid ibn al-Walid was camped nearby with the Quraysh's expedition, the Prophet ﷺ opened the matter to shura.

Abu Bakr RATo Muhammad ﷺ

Saying · 6 AH, at Asfan

Ya Rasulullah, you only left your house intending the House of Allah. You didn't want any war or battle. So let us go where we had initially intended, and we will only fight if they fight us.

Muhammad ﷺ

Saying · 6 AH, at Asfan

Let us go forth in the name of Allah.

People involved4

M
Muhammad ﷺ
Abu Bakr RA
advisor — Counselled proceeding peacefully; the Prophet ﷺ accepted his view.
Busr ibn Sufyan al-Khuza'i RA
scout — Reported the Quraysh's war preparations.

quraysh

Khalid ibn al-Walid RA
commander — Led the Quraysh force sent to block the Muslims' path at Ghumaym.

Shura at Asfan: The Quraysh Prepare for War

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Shura at Asfan: The Quraysh Prepare for War

Original text & sources

Report an inaccuracy

What happened

Connected events

Grew out of

Led to

Around this time

Sayings & Actions2

Original text & sources

Original text & sources

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People involved4

quraysh