Battle of Zhu Qissa

The Battle of Zhu Qissa (632) was a confrontation between the forces of the Rashidun Caliphate, led by Caliph Abu Bakr As-Siddiq and a group of apostates. This battle occurred within the context of the Ridda Wars. The victory of Abu Bakr As-Siddiq proved symbolic in several ways, marking the first victory for the Caliphate in the campaign, somewhat helping in solidifying his position as the Caliph, and ultimately gained acceptance of his legitimacy among a majority of Muslims in the Rashidun Caliphate to continue the war against the resistant Arab tribes of the peninsular. , ,

Background
Following the death of the Prophet of Islam, Muhammad, on June 8, 632, Abu Bakr As-Siddiq was appointed as his successor to manage the newly emerging state. However, the tribes of the Arabian Peninsula, once submissive and Muslims under Muhammad, had apostatized from Islam after his passing. Apostasy had spread widely, affecting all the tribes of Arabia, with notable exceptions being the inhabitants of Mecca, Medina, and the Thaqif of Ta'if. In some cases, entire tribes had renounced the faith, while in others, a faction abandoned the belief, leaving another faction faithful to the faith.

Two self-proclaimed prophets, Tulayha ibn Khuwaylid and Musaylima ibn Habib, along with a false prophetess, Sajah bint Al Harith, had fueled the flames of apostasy. Musaylima had long been known as an impostor, while Tulayha claimed to be a prophet at the time Muhammad was ill. The immediate threat to Medina came from Tulayha and the tribes of central, western, and northern Arabia that followed him, notably the Ghatfan, Tayy, Hawazin, Bani Asad, and Bani Sulaym.

About a week or two after the departure of Usama ibn Zayd's army, delegates from the apostates of Zhu Qissa went to Abu Bakr As-Siddiq. They declared, "We will continue to pray, but we will no longer pay taxes." However, Abu Bakr As-Siddiq rejected this proposal, responding firmly, "By Allah! If you refuse even an ounce of the tax imposed on you, I will fight you. You have one day to respond." The apostate emissaries from Zhu Qissa, keen observers, noticed the absence of fighters before leaving Medina. Upon their return, they reported to their fellow countrymen the conversation with Abu Bakr As-Siddiq and the apparent vulnerability of Medina. However, despite the main army and Usama bin Zayd being absent, the city was not as defenseless as the apostates thought, as there were still many able-bodied men, particularly from the clan Banu Hashim (the Prophet's own clan), who had stayed behind to mourn their deceased loved ones.

Meanwhile, Tulayha, now in Samira, reinforced the apostates of Zhu Qissa with a contingent led by his brother Hibal. After hearing the reports from the emissaries, the temptation to destroy Medina while it was still defenseless became too great for the apostates. They decided to march on the city.

1st Confrontation
Abu Bakr As-Siddiq assembled a fighting force from these remnants. Ali ibn Abi Talib, Zubayr ibn al-Awwam, Talha ibn Ubayd Allah, and Abdullah ibn Masud now commanded different parts of the new army. For three days, nothing happened. The uncertain apostates did not undertake any action. Upon the order of Abu Bakr As-Siddiq, the Muslims then made a sortie from Medina. They launched a swift attack on the advanced camp of the apostates, successfully repelling them. The apostates retreated to Zhu Qissa.

Informed of the success, Abu Bakr As-Siddiq ordered the Muslims to stay in place, awaiting further instructions.

2nd Confrontation
The day after this first victorious confrontation for the Muslims, Abu Bakr As-Siddiq left Medina with an imposing caravan of cargo camels since the camels used by Usama bin Zayd had already departed, and the available camels were of lesser quality but the best Abu Bakr As-Siddiq could gather for transportation.

Upon the convoy's arrival at the deserted camp of the apostates, the Muslims who had expelled them mounted the camels, and the army headed toward Zhu Qissa, the base camp of the apostates.

Hibal, anticipating the approach of the Muslims, showcased his military skills by strategically positioning his troops behind a hill, facing the base camp of the Muslims. The Muslim troops, mounted on cargo camels, began the ascent of the slope without suspecting that the enemy awaited them at the top of the hill. Once reaching the top without suspicion, the apostates stood up and rolled many goat skins filled with water down the hill. A significant commotion was heard as these goat skins rolled towards the Muslims.

The apostates, accompanied by beating drums and deafening cries, managed to sow confusion. The cargo camels, inexperienced in battle and unaccustomed to sudden, loud noises and the sight of unknown objects, turned around and took flight. Despite attempts by the Muslims to control the fleeing mounts, they failed, ultimately leading to the entire Muslim army's return to Medina.

Hibal could rejoice in his success, quickly driving the Muslims back to Medina without truly engaging in combat. However, he made the mistake of interpreting the hasty retreat of the Muslims as a manifestation of fear, unaware that the panic of the camels was the real cause, not the fear of the men riding them.

3rd Confrontation
The Muslims, furious and determined for revenge, knew that the apostates had returned to their camp near Medina.

Abu Bakr As-Siddiq decided to attack before the enemy was fully prepared for battle. During the night, the Muslims organized their small army in preparation for the assault. Just before dawn, Abu Bakr As-Siddiq led his army out of Medina for a nocturnal attack, structuring the forces with a central section under his direct command, entrusting the right wing to Al-Nu'man ibn Muqrin, and the left wing to Abdullah ibn Masud.

Before sunrise, the army headed towards the enemy camp where the apostates were still deeply asleep, confident of an easy victory that morning. However, this time, Hibal was caught off guard. The first light of dawn was not yet visible when suddenly, a group of seasoned Muslims launched an attack on the camp, brandishing their swords and shouting. The apostates were caught off guard, and although many were killed, most managed to escape, only stopping once they reached Zhu Qissa, where they took a break to regroup and rest. At this stage, morale was no longer as high.

This tactical maneuver, won by Abu Bakr As-Siddiq, was not just a success, but a bloody action where the enemy was repelled by the sword rather than imagination. Taking advantage of the enemy's inattention, Abu Bakr As-Siddiq decided to launch a surprise attack to offset the numerical superiority, and he succeeded. This was the first known instance of a night ambush in Islamic history, a tactical method that gained popularity during the First World War.

4th Confrontation
After this victory, Abu Bakr As-Siddiq decided not to give his adversary any respite and set out to catch them before they could recover from the initial shock. At sunrise, he headed towards Zhu Qissa. Once on site, he structured his combat unit in the same way as the previous night and launched a new attack. Despite resistance from the renegades, their dwindling morale led them to break contact and withdraw to Abraq, where other clans such as the Ghatfan, Hawazin, and Tayy were gathered. Zhu Qissa was occupied on July 30, 632.

Abu Bakr As-Siddiq left Al-Nu'man ibn Muqrin with a unit to occupy Zhu Qissa, while with the rest of his army, he returned to Medina. On August 2, Usama bin Zayd's army returned to Medina, putting an end to the threat that loomed over Medina, the capital of Islam.

Conclusion
In summary, the series of confrontations led by Abu Bakr As-Siddiq against the apostates was characterized by strategic reversals: After an initial victory, a subsequent attempt faced a setback due to a clever ruse by the apostates (specifically their leader, Hibal).

However, the determination of Abu Bakr As-Siddiq ultimately led to a successful night ambush, marking a turning point in Islamic history. Capitalizing on this success, the fourth confrontation led to the retreat of the apostates.

These events highlight the resilience and tactical creativity of the Muslims under the leadership of Abu Bakr As-Siddiq. Furthermore, the victory in this battle, achieved by Abu Bakr As-Siddiq and his newly established Caliphate, held significant symbolic importance on several fronts; it was the first victory of the Wars of Apostasy, it solidified his position as Caliph, and finally, his legitimacy was accepted among a majority of Muslims in the Rashidun Caliphate to continue ensuring the Wars of Apostasy, , ,.