THE STORY OF PROPHET MUHAMMAD - Dzatu ar-Riqa' War

After the Banu Nadhir war which resulted in the Muslims being able to make the Banu Nadhir of Jews out of Medina because they were about to betray Prophet Muhammad, Prophet Muhammad lived in Medina during the month of Rabiul Awal and part of Jumadil Ula in the 4th year of Hijrah. The hypocrites try not to be hostile towards the Muslims in a blatant manner. Then Prophet Muhammad and the Muslim party will try to stem the attack of other Arab tribes who tried to fight the Muslims.

After that, he received news that there was a group in Ghatafan in Najd who wanted to attack him. Prophet Muhammad always had a tactic to ambush the enemy suddenly before the enemy got ready to defend himself. Then, he went to Najd with 400 people to fight against the Banu Muharib and the Banu Tha'labah from Ghatafan. He appointed Abu Dhar Al Ghifari to become a temporary imam in the city of Medina. There are also those who say that Prophet Muhammad gave a message to Uthman ibn Affan to become a temporary imam in the city of Medina.

According to Ibn Hisham, the war was called the war of Dzatu ar-Riqa' because the Muslims sewed and repaired the war banners there. But there is also another opinion that it is called the Dzatu ar-Riqa' war because Dzatu ar-Riqa' is the name of a tree in the region. Wallahu A'lam (Allah knows best).

In Dzatu ar-Riqa', Rasulullah faced a very large number of Ghatafan forces. But there was no real war between them, because each party was equally worried about the other party so that Rasulullah worked on Prayer Khauf (meaning fear) with his friends. Another history states that when Banu Muharib and Banu Tha'labah had gathered, the army of Rasulullah immediately invaded their places so that they ran away leaving property, women and children behind. What can be carried by the Muslims, then they bring it back to Medina.

However, because the Muslims are worried that if the enemy will strike back, they take care of them alternately during the day and night. It was then that they performed the Khauf prayer which was led by Rasulullah. Some of them face the enemy in order to anticipate enemy attacks if they occur, while the others pray two raka'at with Rasulullah. But during that time there was no visible enemy movement. Then Rasulullah and his companions returned to Medina after 15 days leaving the city. They returned successfully with joy.

Ibn Hisham said: Abdul Warith ibn Said At Tannuri whose real name was Abu Ubaidah told me that Yunus ibn Ubaid said to me from Al Hasan ibn Abu Al Hasan from Jabir ibn Abdullah who said about Prayer Khauf: Rasulullah Shallallahu 'Alaihi wa Sallam performed Prayer Khauf two raka'at with two groups in turn. First he prayed with the first group then salam (greetings), then the group that had been facing the enemy came and then Rasulullah again prayed the other two raka'at together with them then greetings.

Ibn Hisham said: Abdul Warith ibn Sa'id ibn At Tannuri said to me that Ayyub said to him from Nafi 'from Ibn Umar who said: The Imam performed prayers with the first shaf standing with him while the second shaf faced the enemy, then imam ruku' and prostration followed first shaf, then they move back and replace the shaf that was facing the enemy, then the second shaf comes forward, then the imam ruku 'with them one raka'at and prostrates with them, then each prayer shafat one raka'at itself -own. So each shaf prayer one raka'at with the imam and they pray one raka'at alone.

Reference:

·         Haekal, Muhammad Husain, and Audah, Ali (Translator). Sejarah Hidup Muhammad.

·         Al-Mubarakfuriyy, Syeikh Safy Al-Rahman. Seerah Nabawiyyah, Al-Raheeq Al-Makhtum.

·         Abu Muhammad Abdul Malik bin Hisyam Al-Muafiri. Sirah Nabawiyah Ibnu Hisyam. 2000. Jakarta Timur: Darul Falah.