The Battle of Hunayn

 

It is mentioned in Seeratun Nabawiyya that after the Conquest of Mecca, the clan of Hawazin, who were a large clan famous for their skill in the arts of war and in archery, sought a battle with the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam).  They gathered an army of 30,000 and marched for battle.  The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) also gathered an army of 12,000 and went forward to meet them. 

 

When both the armies faced each other, the arrows of Hawazin started raining on Muslims.  Muslims were routed and the army suffered.  Only a few great Companions, about a 100, were left with the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam).  The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) asked ‘Abdullah bin Mas’ud (May Allah be well pleased with him) to pick up some sand and hand over to Him. On hearing this, the mule bent so low that its belly touched the ground.  The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) picked up a handful of sand and threw it at the disbelievers.  That handful of sand was so blessed that it fell in the eyes of every single disbeliever there.  Those who were present there say that the sand filled our eyes and our mouth and a strange felling of awe struck our hearts. Thus, the opposing army suffered and the Muslims who were routed turned back and gave chase and a lot of booty was captured.

 

After this battle, many non-Muslims of Mecca (voluntarily) embraced Islam.

 

Just think!  One handful of sand filling the eyes and the mouths of an entire army, striking their hearts with awe, and eventually routing them.  Can all this be the handiwork of an ordinary man?  No.

 

There was a great army along with the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) as well.  There were 12,000 soldiers which had led the Companions to think that with these numbers, we can’t ever be defeated.  The Holy Quran also informs us of this.  However, these large numbers had nothing to do with the victory that Muslims gained.  That victory was due to the handful of sand which had filled the eyes and mouths of the opposing army and had struck awe in their hearts.  However, the Islamic army did capture a lot of booty afterwards.

 

The routing that the Muslim army suffered in spite of their great numbers can only be because they were thinking that the army will win on its own and they were not thinking about the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) who was in their midst.  Almighty Allah desired to show them that their victories and the successes of Islam were only due to the attention and grace of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam).  The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) also gestured at this that we can accomplish such things with one handful of sand that your great armies cannot.  Here the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) didn’t express His displeasure at anyone in particular as to how could they abandon their Prophet to an army of 30,000.  This might be because the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) didn’t feel any anger at them.  He would have been angry if their running away had affected the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) in any way.  On the contrary, with Him, there was a certitude that let alone 30000, even if all the disbelievers on the face of the earth come against Him, they wouldn’t be able to hurt a hair on His head.  Thus, this was the case since the declaration of Prophethood.

 

How telling is the action of the mount of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) that the moment it heard the wish of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam), it bent to the ground.  This shows that the victories of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) weren’t like the victories of ordinary kings.  Instead, animals, plants, etc. would be ready to help Him.  Only the handful of sand is enough to show it that when it left the blessed hand of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam), it searched and went straight to the eyes and mouths of the disbelievers, even though they were scattered all about the battlefield.  How intelligent an act is this!

 

The fact is that the intellect is also the creation of Almighty Allah. Wherever He wishes to, He can create it and from whomever He wills, He can take it away as well.  Just see, how many sane people become lunatics.  Even though their apparent appearance doesn’t change.  If He has the power to render intelligent to unintelligent, then He can also unintelligent to intelligent. 

 

Look at the Companions.  Their faith is more perfect than all those who are to come until the Day of Judgment.  They are also more intelligent than all other contemporaries as shown by their belief in Unity of Allah and the Prophethood of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam).  Because of one slight misstep (pride), their intelligence was snatched and they were forced to run away abandoning their Prophet whereas the mount and the handful of sand accomplished something which continues to astonish all intelligences and intelligent folk.

[Excerpted from Maqasid Ul Islam, Vol. 9]