Sariyyah of Abdullah bin Jahsh رضي الله عنه (may Allah be pleased with him) and the first booty in Islaam

From the book · p. 34

In brief· the site’s own summary, not the book’s words

In Rajab, Nabi ﷺ (peace and blessings be upon him) sent Abdullah bin Jahsh رضي الله عنه (may Allah be pleased with him) with twelve Sahaabah رضي الله عنهم (may Allah be pleased with them) towards a Quraish caravan. Fighting was not allowed in Rajab at that time, but they thought it was still the last day of the month before, so they attacked, killed the caravan's leader, took two captives and gained its goods: the first booty in Islaam. Nabi ﷺ (peace and blessings be upon him) said he had not ordered fighting in Rajab, and when the Arabs protested, an aayat was revealed saying that fighting in the sacred months is wrong, but that what the objectors had done, such as turning people away from the Deen and from the House of Allah ﷻ (exalted is His majesty), was worse.

Context (the site’s note) · Rajab is the seventh month of the Islamic calendar and one of its four sacred months.

Accounts differThe book says the Ameer shared out the booty and kept one fifth, and adds that “it appears in some narrations that they brought all the booty” to Nabi ﷺ (peace and blessings be upon him).

In the month of , ﷺ (peace and blessings be upon him) appointed Abdullah bin Jahsh رضي الله عنه (may Allah be pleased with him) over twelve رضي الله عنهم (may Allah be pleased with them) and sent them to confront a Quraishi caravan. Coincidentally, the day the caravan approached them, was the first day of Rajab. In the beginning of Islaam it was prohibited to fight during this month. The Sahaabah رضي الله عنهم (may Allah be pleased with them) were under the impression that it was still the 30th of . Hence, after consulting with each another, they decided to attack the caravan.

They attacked the caravan and killed their leader. Two people were captured. The occupants of the caravan fled and left all their wealth, which fell in the hands of the Muslims as booty.

The , Hadhrat Abdullah bin Jahsh رضي الله عنه (may Allah be pleased with him) distributed the booty among the Sahaabah رضي الله عنهم (may Allah be pleased with them) and kept one fifth of it for the (public treasury). It appears in some narrations that they brought all the booty to Nabi ﷺ (peace and blessings be upon him). Nabi ﷺ (peace and blessings be upon him) mentioned that he had not commanded the Sahaabah رضي الله عنهم (may Allah be pleased with them) to fight in the month of Rajab but as stated it was done in error. Nabi ﷺ (peace and blessings be upon him) retained this booty till the Battle of Badr and thereafter, distributed it with the booty from Badr.

This incident caused an uproar among the Arabs as the Muslims fought in the month of Rajab whereas it was prohibited to do so. The following was revealed in answer to this:

يَسْـَٔلُونَكَ عَنِ ٱلشَّهْرِ ٱلْحَرَامِ قِتَالٍۢ فِيهِ ۖ قُلْ قِتَالٌۭ فِيهِ كَبِيرٌۭ ۖ وَصَدٌّ عَن سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ وَكُفْرٌۢ بِهِۦ وَٱلْمَسْجِدِ ٱلْحَرَامِ وَإِخْرَاجُ أَهْلِهِۦ مِنْهُ أَكْبَرُ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ ۚ وَٱلْفِتْنَةُ أَكْبَرُ مِنَ ٱلْقَتْلِ ۗ وَلَا يَزَالُونَ يُقَٰتِلُونَكُمْ حَتَّىٰ يَرُدُّوكُمْ عَن دِينِكُمْ إِنِ ٱسْتَطَٰعُوا۟ ۚ وَمَن يَرْتَدِدْ مِنكُمْ عَن دِينِهِۦ فَيَمُتْ وَهُوَ كَافِرٌۭ فَأُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ حَبِطَتْ أَعْمَٰلُهُمْ فِى ٱلدُّنْيَا وَٱلْءَاخِرَةِ ۖ وَأُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ أَصْحَٰبُ ٱلنَّارِ ۖ هُمْ فِيهَا خَٰلِدُونَ
They ask you regarding the fighting in the sacred months.

Site note: the Arabic is the full verse (Tanzil, Uthmani text). The book translates the part it quotes.

Qur’an 2:217(opens quran.com in a new tab)

The aayat explained that fighting in the sacred months is a prohibited act but the Muslims made a mistake. Those who raise objections should ponder over their own mischief and wrongdoings. For example, they:

(1) Prevented the people from exposure and acceptance of the Deen (religion) of Allah ﷻ (exalted is His majesty).
(2) Ascribed partners with Allah ﷻ (exalted is His majesty). (The gravest of sins).
(3) Prevented the people from making ibaadat of Allah ﷻ (exalted is His majesty) in His house.
(4) Removed them from that city of Allah ﷻ (exalted is His majesty) where safety is granted to everyone.

Such objectors who carry out the abovementioned acts were in fact committing crimes which were worse than fighting in the sacred months.

In brief· the site’s own summary, not the book’s words

In Rajab, Nabi ﷺ sent Abdullah bin Jahsh رضي الله عنه with twelve Sahaabah رضي الله عنهم towards a Quraish caravan. Fighting was not allowed in Rajab at that time, but they thought it was still the last day of the month before, so they attacked, killed the caravan's leader, took two captives and gained its goods: the first booty in Islaam. Nabi ﷺ said he had not ordered fighting in Rajab, and when the Arabs protested, an aayat was revealed saying that fighting in the sacred months is wrong, but that what the objectors had done, such as turning people away from the Deen and from the House of Allah ﷻ, was worse.

The book’s text

The book’s text