Muhammad, the Qur'an and Islam
During the 62nd month after the Hijra, Muhammad sent Muhammad b.
Maslama with 10 men to attack the Banu Tha`laba at Dhu al-Qassa.
Arriving at night, the Muslims were said to have been surrounded by 100
men, who were then allegedly joined by nomads. Three Muslims are said to
have been killed, and Muhammad b. Maslama was wounded and brought
back to Medina.^86
Muhammad then sent out Abu `Ubayda with 40 men to the same location,
but they were only able to find camels and sheep, which they took.^87
Also in the 62nd month after the Hijra, Muhammad sent Zayd b. Haritha to
raid the Banu Sulaym at al-Jamum. The Muslims captured a woman who
showed them where the camels and sheep were, which they subsequently
seized.^88
During the 63rd month after the Hijra, Muhammad sent Zayd b. Haritha
with 170 horsemen to intercept a caravan of the Quraysh at al-Is. The Muslims are said to have captured the entire caravan (allegedly with much silver), along with Zaynab bt. Muhammad's husband Abu al-As. After
arriving in Medina, Zaynab gave her husband protection.^89
In the 64th month after the Hijra, Muhammad sent out Zayd b. Haritha with
30 men to raid the Banu Tha`laba at al-Taraf. When the Muslims arrived,
they could find no one, but were able to take 20 camels and some sheep.^90
Also during the 64th month after the Hijra, Muhammad sent out Zayd b.
Haritha with 500 men to raid the Hisma. The Muslims killed some of the
Hisma, captured 100 women (and children), and seized 1000 camels and
5000 sheep. Not long afterwards, however, the Hisma accepted Islam, and
all of their women and children and livestock were returned to them.^91
In the 65th month after the Hijra, Muhammad sent Zayd b. Haritha to raid
Wadi al-Qura.^92
During the 66th month after the Hijra, Muhammad sent Abdulrahman b. Awf with 700 men to Dumat al-Jandal to invite the people there to Islam,
and to fight them if they did not become Muslims or pay the "jizya." The^93
leader al-Asbagh b. `Amr is said to have converted with many o^94 thers, and
those who were not willing to accept Islam are said to have agreed to pay