They ask you concerning fighting in the Sacred Months. Say, "Fighting therein is a great (transgression)..."

Abdul-Malik bin Hisham, who compiled the Sirah (life story of the Prophet), related that Ziyad bin ‘Abdullah Bakka’i said that Muhammad bin Ishaq bin Yasar Al-Madani wrote in his book on the Sirah, “Allah’s Messenger sent ‘Abdullah bin Jahsh bin Riyab Al-Asadi in Rajab, after he (the Prophet) came back from the first battle of Badr. The Prophet sent eight people with him, all from among the Muhajirun and none from the Ansar. He also gave him some written instructions and ordered him not to read them until he marched for two days. ‘Abdullah should then read the instructions and march to implement them, but should not force any of those who were with him to accompany him.

The companions of ‘Abdullah bin Jahsh were all from the Muhajirun, from the tribe of Banu ‘Abd Shams bin ‘Abd Manaf, there was Abu Hudhayfah bin TJtbah bin Rabi'ah bin ‘Abd Shams bin ‘Abd Manaf. From their allies, there was ‘Abdullah bin Jahsh, who was the commander of the army unit, and TJkkashah bin Mihsan from the tribe of Banu Asad bin Khuzaymah. From the tribe of Banu Nawfal bin ‘Abd Manaf, there was TJtbah bin Ghazwan bin Jabir, one of their allies. From the tribe of Banu Zuhrah bin Kilab, there was Sa‘d bin Abu Waqqas. From Banu KaTa, there were their allies: ‘Adi bin ‘Amr bin Ar-RabPah not from the tribe of Ibn Wa’il; Wfiqid bin ‘Abdullah bin ‘Abd Manaf bin ‘Ann bin Thalabah bin Yarbu' from Banu Tamlm; and Khalid bin Bukair from the tribe of Banu Sa‘d bin Layth, Suhayl bin Bayda’ from Banu Al-Harith bin Fihr was also among them. When ‘Abdullah bin Jahsh marched for two days, he opened and read the (Prophet’s) instructions, “When you read these instructions, march until you set camp at Nakhlah between Makkah and At-Ta’if. There, watch the movements of the caravan of Quraysh and collect news about them for us.” When ‘Abdullah bin Jahsh read the document, he said, “I hear and obey.” He then said to his companions, “Allah’s Messenger has commanded me to march forth to Nakhlah to watch the movements of the caravan of Quraysh and to inform him about their news. He has prohibited me from forcing any of you (to go with me). So, those who seek martyrdom, they should march with me. Those who dislike the idea of martyrdom, let them turn back. Surely, I will implement the command of Allah’s Messenger.” He and his companions continued without any of them turning back.

‘Abdullah entered the Hijaz area (western Arabia) until he reached an area called Buhran, close to Furu‘. There, Sa‘d bin Abu Waqqas and ‘Utbah bin Ghazwan lost the camel that they were riding in turns, and they went back to search for it while ‘Abdullah bin Jahsh and the rest of his companions continued until they reached Nakhlah. Then, a caravan belonging to the Quraysh passed by carrying raisins, food stuff and some trade items for the Quraysh. ‘Amr bin Hadrami, whose name was ‘Abdullah bin ‘Abbad, was in the caravan, as well as Uthman bin ‘Abdullah bin Al-Mughirah and his brother Nawfal bin ‘Abdullah from the tribe of Makhzum, and Al-Hakam bin Kaysan, a freed slave of Hisham bin Al-Mughirah. When they saw the Companions they were frightened, but when they saw Ukkashah bin Mihsan their fears subsided, since his head was shaved. They said, “These people seek the ‘Umrah, so there is no need to fear them.”

The Companions conferred among themselves. That day was the last day in the (sacred) month of Rajab. They said to each other, “By Allah! If you let them pass, they will soon enter the Sacred Area and take refuge in it from you. If you kill them, you will kill them during the Sacred Month.” They at first hesitated and did not like to attack them. They then began encouraging themselves and decided to kill whomever they could among the disbelievers and to confiscate whatever they had. Hence, Waqid bin ‘Abdullah At-Tamlmi shot an arrow at ‘Amr bin Al-Hadrami and killed him. Uthman bin ‘Abdullah and Al-Hakam bin Kaysan gave themselves up, while Nawfal bin ‘Abdullah was able to outrun them in flight. Later on, ‘Abdullah bin Jahsh and his companions went back to Allah’s Messenger in Al-Madinah with the caravan and the two prisoners.

Ibn Ishaq went on: I was told that some members of the family of ‘Abdullah bin Jahsh said that ‘Abdullah said to his companions: “Allah’s Messenger will have one-fifth of what we have confiscated.” This occurred before Allah required one-fifth for His Messenger from the war booty. So, ‘Abdullah designated one-fifth of the caravan for Allah’s Messenger and divided the rest among his companions. Ibn Ishaq also stated that at first, when the Sariyah came back to Allah’s Messenger he said to them:

“I have not commanded you to conduct warfare during the Sacred Month.”

He left the caravan and the two prisoners alone and did not take any share of the war booty.

When Allah’s Messenger did that, the soldiers from the attack were concerned and felt that they were destroyed, and their Muslim brethren criticized them for what they did. The Quraysh said that Muhammad and his Companions violated the sanctity of the Sacred Month and shed blood, confiscated property and took prisoners during it. Those who refuted them among the Muslims who remained in Makkah replied that the Muslims had done that during the month of Shalsan (which is not a sacred month). Meanwhile, the Jews were pleased about what happened to Allah’s Messenger. They said, ‘Amr bin Hadrami was killed by Waqid bin ‘Abdullah: 'Amr, means the war has started, Hadrami means the war has come, as for Waqid (bin ‘Abdullah): the war has raged (using some of the literal meanings of these names to support their fortune-telling!).” But, Allah made all that turn against them.

The people continued talking about this matter, then Allah revealed to His Messenger:

This Ayah means, If you had killed during the Sacred Month, they (disbelievers of Quraysh) have hindered you from the path of Allah and disbelieved in it. They also prevented you from entering the Sacred Mosque, and expelled you from it, while you are its people,

{... a greater (transgression) with Allah} than killing whom you killed among them. Also:

means, trying to force the Muslims to revert from their religion and re-embrace Kufr after they had believed, is worse with Allah than killing.’ Allah said:

So, they will go on fighting you with unrelenting viciousness.

Ibn Ishaq went on: When the Qur’an touched this subject and Allah brought relief to the Muslims instead of the sadness that had befallen them, Allah’s Messenger took possession of the caravan and the two prisoners. The Quraysh offered to ransom the two prisoners, TJthman bin ‘Abdullah and Hakam bin Kaysan. Allah’s Messenger said:

“We will not accept your ransom until our two companions return safely.”

meaning Sa‘d bin Abu Waqqas and TJtbah bin Ghazwan, “For we fear for their safety with you. If you kill them, we will kill your people.” Later on, Sa‘d and TJtbah returned safely and Allah’s Messenger accepted the Quraysh’s ransom for their prisoners. As for Al-Hakam bin Kaysan, he became Muslim and his Islam strengthened. He remained with Allah’s Messenger until he was martyred during the incident at Bir Ma’Onah (when the Prophet sent seventy Companions to Najd to teach them Islam, but Banu Sulaim killed them all except two). As for ‘Uthman bin ‘Abdullah, he went back to Makkah and died there as a disbeliever.

Ibn Ishaq went on: When ‘Abdullah bin Jahsh and his companions were relieved from their depressing thoughts after the Qur’an was revealed about this subject, they sought the reward of the fighters (in Allah’s way). They said, “O Messenger of Allah! We wish that this incident be considered a battle for us, so that we gain the rewards of the Mujahidin.” Then, Allah revealed:

Hence, Allah has greatly elevated their hopes of gaining what they had wished for.