The Battle of Thaat-ur-Riqaa'

The names of some of the battlesthat occurred during the lifetime of
the Prophet and his Companions were derived from the extent of
suffering and hardship experienced by them forthe sake of Da'wah
(calling to Islam) and for the sake of spreading it.
Here, we will discuss the events of a particular battle during which
the Companions experienced the highest degree of hardship to the
extent that they wore shreds of leather and pieces of cloth instead of
shoes and sandals. According to Islamichistory, the events of that
battle took place in the sixth Hijri year.
After overcoming the evil plottingof the Jews in Madeenah and after
defeating the Quraysh and its allies, there was still another danger:
the heartless Bedouins, who were living in the desert of Najd. These
people derived their livelihood from highway robbery. On one hand, the
Prophet wanted to put an end to that danger and to overcome this
evil,while on the other hand, he wanted to provide the region with
security and protection. Hence, when the Prophet heard that those
people were preparing to fight him, he was determined to retaliate,
and he commanded his Companions to prepare themselves for the battle.
They immediately responded to his command and prepared for the fight -
and they numbered either 400 or 700 fighters.
The Prophet set out along with his army from Madeenah. They realized
from the outset that there were many hardships awaiting them as there
was a severe shortage in mounts. Every six or seven men had to take
turns on a single camel. What made matters worse was the unevenness of
the earth and the sharp stones that tore their shoes and their
fingernails. Hence, they had to wrap their feet in shreds of cloth and
leather, and this was why the battle came to be known as that of
Thaat-ur-Riqaa'. In Saheeh Al-Bukhaari and Saheeh Muslim, aHadeeth was
narrated on the authority of Abu Moosa Al-'Ash'ari who said, "We would
wrap our feet with shreds, and that is why the battle was called as
such: Thaat-ur-Riqaa'."
The Muslim army proceeded until they reached Nakhl, a place that
belonged to Banu Ghatafaan. When the Bedouins heard about the arrival
of the Muslim army, they panicked and realized the seriousness of the
matter. They then fled into the mountains, leaving behind their women
and children .
However, the Prophet was anxious that they might return and
unexpectedly attack the Muslims, particularly because it was time to
pray and the polytheists had been waiting for this moment when they
could take the Muslims by surprise.
Meanwhile, Allaah The Exalted relieved the Muslims of that hardship
and revealed the verse in which He prescribed the prayerof fear and
explained how the Muslims could perform it. Allaah the Exalted Says
(what means): {And when you are among them and lead them in prayer,
let a group of them stand [in prayer] with you and let them carry
their arms. And when they have prostrated, let them be [in position]
behind you and have the other group come forward which has not [yet]
prayed and let them pray with you, taking precaution and carrying
their arms. Those who disbelieve wish that you would neglect your
weapons and your baggage so they could come down upon you in one
[single] attack. But there isno blame upon you, if you are troubled by
rain or are ill, for putting down your arms, but take precaution.
Indeed, Allaah has prepared for the disbelievers a humiliating
punishment.} [Quran 4: 102]
So, the Prophet obeyed the Commands of his Lord and performed the
prayer along with the Muslims as described in the verse. They finished
their prayer and none of the feared expectations of the Prophet
materialized. Having achieved what he wanted from that confrontation,
the Prophet chose to return to Madeenah .
On his way to Madeenah, as nightapproached, the Prophet appointed two
men, one of the Muhaajiroon and one of the Ansaar, 'Ammaar ibn Yaasir
and 'Abbaad ibn Bishr to take turns guarding the camp. 'Abbaad chose
the first part of the night and so he stood up to pray. One of the
polytheists seized this opportunity and shot him with an arrow. He
quietly pulled it out and threw it away and continued with his prayer.
Then, the polytheist shot him with a second and third arrow. However,
he continued with his prayer until he completed it. It was only then
that he awoke 'Ammaar, so that he could rescuehim. When the polytheist
saw this, he fled in terror. When 'Ammaar saw him bleeding, he said,
"Glory be to Allaah! Why did you not wake me up from thebeginning?"
'Abbaad answered, "I was reciting a chapter from the Quran and I did
not like to stop before I had completed it ."
The next day, the Muslims rose early in the morning and marched until
noon. When it wastime to take a rest, the Prophet stopped and the
people dispersed to sit under the shade of some trees. A Bedouin came
and found the Prophet sleeping, and his sword which was left hanging
from the tree while the Companions were dispersed throughout the
valley. He picked up the sword of the Prophet stood at his head and
said to him, "Is there anyone who can protect you from me?" He thought
that he had the Prophet under his control buthe did not know that
Allaah The Almighty had promised to protect and take care of him. The
Prophet with full certainty and confidence said: "Allaah."
Immediately, the Bedouin lost control of himself, and trembled until
the sword fell from his hand. The Prophet then picked up the sword and
said to him: "Is there anyone who can protect you from me?" The man
apologized to the Prophet and begged to be set free. The Prophet said
to him: "Will youtestify that none is worthy of worship except
Allaah?" The man said, "No, but I promise I will never fight you or be
with those who fight you." Then the Prophet freed him and his
forgivenesshad the greatest influence on that Bedouin, such that when
he returned to his people, he said, "Ihave met the best of mankind ."
These were the events of that battle. Allaah The Exalted cast terror
into the hearts of the Bedouins and, therefore, neither the tribes of
Ghatafaan nor any other tribe dared to raise their heads and attack
the Muslims again, so much so that Allaah TheExalted willed that these
tribes would adopt Islam and participate in the conquest of Makkah and
the battle of Hunayn.