Mara tu baada ya wajumbe kurudi, Mjumbe wa Allah ﷺ aliandaa jeshi na akatangaza Jihadi nje ya Rasi ya Arabia. Alianza kufuatilia habari kuhusu Warumi na Waajemi, na kwa kuwa mpaka wake ulikuwa karibu na Warumi, alikuwa akikusanya taarifa za kijasusi kuhusu wao kila wakati. Alitarajia kwamba ujumbe wa Uislamu ungeenea kwa kasi mara tu ungefika nje ya Rasi ya Arabia. Kwa hiyo, alikuwa na uhakika kwamba al-Sham (Syria kubwa ya leo) ingekuwa mafanikio ya kwanza. Tangu Badhan, gavana wa Chosroes huko Yemen, alipokubali Uislamu, ﷺ alihakikishiwa dhidi ya hatari yoyote ya karibu kutoka huko, na akaanza kufikiria kutuma wanajeshi al-Sham kupigana na Warumi. Hivyo, katika mwezi wa Jumada al-Ula, mwaka wa 7 wa Hijra, yaani miezi michache tu baada ya mkataba wa Hudaybiyah, ﷺ alikusanya kikosi teule cha mashujaa elfu tatu na akamteua Zayd ibn Harithah kuwa kamanda wao. Akawaambia: “Zayd akijeruhiwa, Ja'far ashike uongozi, na Ja'far akijeruhiwa, 'Abdullah ibn Ruwahah ashike uongozi.”ﷺ

As soon as the envoys returned, the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) prepared the army and declared Jihad outside the Arabian Peninsula. He (pbuh) began monitoring the news about the Romans and the Persians, and since he had frontiers with the Romans he was constantly gathering intelligence about them. He (pbuh) anticipated that the Message of Islam was about to spread rapidly once it had reached beyond the Arabian Peninsula. Therefore, he was sure that al-Sham (greater Syria today) would be the breakthrough. Ever since Badhan, the governor of Chosroes in Yemen, had embraced Islam, he (pbuh) was assured against any imminent danger emanating from there and began to think about sending troops to al-Sham to fight the Romans. So in the month of Jumada al-Ula, in the 7th year of the Hijrah, i.e. just a few months after the treaty of Hudaybiyah, he (pbuh) gathered an elite force of three thousand warriors and appointed Zayd ibn Harithah as their commander. He (pbuh) said to them, “If Zayd gets hurt, Ja’far should take charge and if Ja’far gets hurt, ‘Abdullah ibn Ruwahah should take charge.”.

Jeshi lilianza safari, na Khalid ibn al-Walid (ambaye alikuwa amesilimu baada ya mkataba wa Hudaybiyah) alikuwa miongoni mwao. Mjumbe wa Allah ﷺ alitembea nao hadi kwenye viunga vya Madina, na akawaagiza wasiwadhuru wanawake, watu wenye ulemavu, wala watoto, wala wasikate miti yoyote wala kubomoa majengo. Kisha yeye ﷺ pamoja na Waislamu wengine wakawaombea, wakisema: "Allah awe pamoja nanyi, awalinde na kuwarudisha kwetu mkiwa salama na wazima."

The army set off, and Khalid ibn al-Walid (who had embraced Islam after the treaty of Hudaybiyah) was among them. The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) marched with them to the outskirts of Madinah, he (pbuh) instructed them not to harm any women, those with a handicap, or children, or to cut any trees or destroy buildings. Then he (pbuh) and the rest of the Muslims prayed for them saying, “May Allah be with you, protect you and return you to us safe and well.”.

Jeshi lilisonga mbele na viongozi wake wakapanga mpango wa vita, wakaamua kwamba shambulio liwe la haraka na la kuamua. Waliamua kuwashtukiza watu wa al-Sham, kama alivyokuwa akifanya Mjumbe wa Allah ﷺ kila mara katika misafara yake ya kivita. Makamanda wa jeshi walikubaliana na mpango huu na wakaanza safari ili kuutekeleza. Hata hivyo, walipofika Mu'an (kaskazini mwa Arabia) walipata habari kwamba Sharhabeel al-Ghassani, gavana wa Heraclius huko al-Sham, alikuwa amekusanya jeshi la wapiganaji 100,000 ili kuwakabili. Habari hizo ziliwashtua sana, nao wakapiga kambi huko Mu'an kwa usiku mbili wakifikiri la kufanya sasa kwa kuwa wanakabiliwa na jeshi kubwa la kutisha. Chaguo lililopendwa zaidi lilikuwa wamwandikie Mjumbe wa Allah ﷺ, wakimjulisha idadi ya adui, na kama yeye ﷺ angetuma msaada basi ni vizuri, la sivyo wangesubiri amri yake.

The army marched on and its leaders drew up their war plan, deciding that it should be a quick and decisive assault. They decided to take the people of al-Sham by surprise, just as Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) always did in his raids. The army commanders agreed on this plan and set off to accomplish it. However, when they reached Mu’an (north of Arabia) they learned that Sharhabeel al- Ghassani, Heraclius’ governor of al-Sham had gathered an army of 100,000 fighters to confront them. The news came as a shock to them and they en- camped at Mu’an for two nights thinking what to do now that they were faced with such a formidable army. The most favored option was for them to write to the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) informing him about the enemy’s numbers, and if he (pbuh) sent reinforcements well and good, otherwise they would await his orders.

‘Abdullah ibn Ruwahah zawahimiza watu kwa kusema: “Enyi watu! Wallahi, kile mnachokichukia ndicho mlichokitoka kukitafuta: yaani shahada. Hatupigani na adui kwa idadi wala nguvu wala wingi, bali tunapigana nao kwa Dini hii ambayo Allah (swt) ametutukuza nayo. Basi njooni! Mambo yote mawili ni mazuri: ushindi au shahada.” Watu walichochewa na maneno haya, na imani yao ikaimarika. Hivyo wakasonga mbele hadi wakafika kijiji cha Masharif. Adui alipokaribia, Waislamu walirudi nyuma hadi kijiji kiitwacho Mu’tah. Hapo ndipo vita baina yao na Warumi vilipoanza.

‘Abdullah ibn Ruwahah encouraged the men saying, “O men! By Allah, what you dislike is that which you have come out for: viz. martyrdom. We are not fighting the enemy with numbers or strength or multitude, but we are fighting them with this Deen with which Allah (swt) has honored us. So come on! Both prospects are fine: victory or martyrdom.” The men were roused by these words and their Iman strengthened. They, therefore, went forward until they reached the village of Masharif. When the enemy approached the Muslims withdrew to a village called Mu’tah. There, the battle between them and the Romans began.

Ilikuwa moja ya vita kali zaidi kuwahi kutokea, kifo na umwagaji damu mwingi ulikuwa karibu. Vita hivyo vilikuwa kati ya Waislamu elfu tatu waliokuwa tayari kwa shahada, na makafiri laki mbili (watu laki moja ya ziada walitumwa kuimarisha jeshi la Warumi) waliokusanyika kuliangamiza jeshi la Waislamu. Mapigano yalikuwa makali, na Zayd ibn Harithah alipigana akiwa ameshika bendera ya Mjumbe wa Allah ﷺ. Alisonga mbele bila kukoma hadi ndani kabisa ya majeshi ya adui, bila kuogopa hata kwa dakika moja matokeo yake. Alipigana kwa ujasiri akijua kwamba ni shahada katika njia ya Allah (SWT); ujasiri wake ulikuwa wa ajabu, ushujaa wake haukuwa na mfano, hadi alipokufa kwa majeraha ya mikuki ya adui iliyoraruo mwili wake. Kisha Ja'far ibn Abi Talib alichukua bendera; alikuwa kijana mzuri wa umri wa miaka 33. Naye pia alipigana kwa bidii, akikaidi kifo, hadi adui walipomzunguka farasi wake mwekundu (roan), basi akaruka chini na kumkata miguu ya nyuma, kisha akasonga mbele ndani kabisa ya adui akiwapiga kwa upanga wake, hadi Mrumi mmoja alipomgonga na kumkata mwili wake sehemu mbili, akafa. ‘Abdullah ibn Ruwahah alichukua bendera na kusonga mbele nayo akiwa amepanda farasi wake. Ilimbidi ajilazimishe kwa sababu alihisi kusita kusonga mbele. Kisha aliendelea na kupigana hadi naye alipouawa. Kisha Thabit ibn Arqam alichukua bendera na kusema: "Enyi Waislamu! Jikusanyeni kumzunguka mtu mmoja." Basi wakakusanyika kwa Khalid ibn al-Walid. Alichukua bendera na kuwakusanya Waislamu kumzunguka, huku akijitahidi wakati wote kuwazuia adui. Alifanikiwa kuweka mapigano kuwa ya makabiliano machache hadi usiku ukaingia.

It was one of the fiercest battles ever, death and blood baths loomed. The battle was between three thousand Muslims who were ready for martyrdom, and two hundred thousand disbelievers (an extra 100,000 men were sent to reinforce the Roman army) gathered to destroy the Muslim force. The fighting was fierce and Zayd ibn Harithah fought holding the Messenger of Allah’s banner, he went forward unabated deep into the heart of the enemy’s forces, not fearing for one moment the consequences. He fought bravely knowing that it was martyrdom in the way of Allah, his courage was phenomenal, his heroism unmatched, until he died of the wounds caused by the enemy’s spears that ripped his body. Then Ja’far ibn Abi Talib took over the banner; he was a handsome young man 33 years of age. He too fought hard, defying death until the enemy surrounded his roan (horse), so he jumped off and hamstrung her and went forward into the heart of the enemy striking them with his sword until a Roman struck him and cut him in half, killing him. ‘Abdullah ibn Ruwahah took the banner and advanced with it riding his horse. He had to put pressure on himself as he felt reluctant to go forward. He then proceeded and fought until he too was killed. Then Thabit ibn Arqam took over the banner and said, “O Muslims! Do rally around one man.” So they rallied to Khalid ibn al-Walid. He took the banner and gathered the Muslims around him and organized them trying all the while to keep the enemy at bay. He managed to restrict the fighting to a few skirmishes until night had fallen.

Wakati wa usiku, Khalid ibn al-Walid alipanga mpango wa busara wa kujiondoa baada ya kutambua ukubwa wa jeshi la adui ikilinganishwa na idadi yake ndogo. Kufuatia mpango wake aliouandaa kwa makini, Khalid aliamuru kikosi kimoja cha jeshi kufanya kelele na vurugu nyuma ya jeshi ili adui afikiri kwamba msaada umewasili. Walipofanya hivyo, adui aliogopa na akajizuia kuwashambulia Waislamu; hata walifurahi walipoona Khalid hakuwashambulia. Kisha Khalid alijiondoa na kuwarudisha askari wake Madina, si kwa ushindi wala kwa kushindwa, bali baada ya kufanikisha jambo kubwa la kuvutia.

During the night, Khalid ibn al-Walid drew up a shrewd withdrawal plan having realized the magnitude of the enemy’s army compared to the meager numbers of his. And following his carefully drawn up plan, Khalid ordered a section of the army to create some uproar and noise at the rear to let the enemy into thinking that reinforcement had arrived. When they did so, the enemy became frightened and refrained from attacking the Muslims, they were even elated when Khalid did not attack them. Then Khalid withdrew and took his troops back to Madinah, not victorious, nor defeated, but having achieved quite a considerable feat.

Makamanda wa vita hii na wapiganaji wake walijua tangu mwanzo kwamba kifo kilikuwa kinawaita, lakini walipigana kishujaa na wakauawa. Uislamu unamwamuru Muislamu kupigana katika njia ya Allah, kuua na kuuawa, na ni aina hii ya kupigana ambayo inachukuliwa kuwa uwekezaji bora zaidi, kwani ni Jihadi katika njia ya Allah. Yeye anasema katika Surat al-Tawbah,

The commanders of this battle and its warriors had known all along that death was beckoning to them, yet they fought heroically and were killed. Islam commands the Muslim to fight in the way of Allah, kill and be killed, and it is this type of fighting that is regarded as the soundest investment, for it is Jihad in the way of Allah. He I says in Surah al-Taubah,

"Hakika Mwenyezi Mungu amenunua kutoka kwa waumini nafsi zao na mali zao, kwa malipo kwamba watapata Pepo. Wao hupigana katika Njia ya Mwenyezi Mungu, hivyo huua na huuawa. Hii ni ahadi ya kweli iliyo juu Yake katika Taurati na Injili na Qur'ani. Na nani aliye mkweli zaidi wa ahadi yake kuliko Mwenyezi Mungu? Basi furahini kwa biashara mliyofanya. Na huo ndio ushindi mkubwa." [At-Tawba, 9:111].

“Verily, Allah has purchased of the believers their lives and their properties; for the price that theirs shall be the Paradise. They fight in Allah’s Cause, so they kill (others) and are killed. It is a promise in truth which is binding on Him in the Torah and the Gospel and the Qur’an. And who is Truer to his Covenant than Allah? Then rejoice in the bargain which you have concluded. And that is the supreme success.” [At-Tauba, 9:111].

Hiyo ndiyo sababu ya mashujaa hao kupigana licha ya kifo cha hakika kilichokuwa kinawakabili. Muislamu hupigana endapo hakuna njia nyingine iliyobaki isipokuwa kupigana, bila kujali kama kifo ni cha hakika au si cha hakika. Katika Jihadi, mambo hayapimwi kwa idadi ya adui na silaha zake, wala kwa wingi wake, bali kwa matokeo inayoyapata, hata kama dhabihu ni kubwa kiasi gani, bila kujali matokeo yake.

That is the reason why those heroes fought despite the certain death that faced them. The Muslim fights if there is no other way left but to fight and regardless of whether death is certain or not. In Jihad, matters are not measured by the number of the enemy and its weaponry, nor by its multitude, but by the result it achieves no matter how high the sacrifice is, regardless of the outcome.

Vita vya Waislamu dhidi ya Warumi huko Mu'tah vilikuwa muhimu sana. Makamanda hawakuwa na chaguo jingine zaidi ya kukabiliana na adui vitani, ingawa kifo kilikuwa kinawaita. Kwa hiyo, Muislamu hapaswi kamwe kuogopa kifo, wala hapaswi kufikiria jambo lingine lolote isipokuwa kupigana katika njia ya Allah (swt). Mjumbe wa Allah ﷺ alijua tangu mwanzo kwamba kuwatuma wanajeshi wake kwenda dola ya Kiroma kupigana nao kando ya mipaka yao kulikuwa hatari, lakini ilikuwa ni lazima ili kuwatisha sana na kuonyesha jinsi waumini wanavyopigana, na jinsi ujasiri wao na imani yao vilivyokuwa visivyo na mfano licha ya idadi yao ndogo. Hatari hiyo ilistahili kuchukuliwa, kwa kuwa ilitayarisha njia ya Jihadi zaidi kwa Waislamu ili kueneza Uislamu na kuutekeleza katika ardhi ambazo wangeishinda. Hatari na tukio hilo vilifanikiwa, kwani viligeuka kuwa utangulizi wa vita vya Tabuk, na vilitoa pigo kubwa kwa Warumi, ambao walitetemeka kwa kufikiria kukabiliana tena na Waislamu hadi Al-Sham iliposhindwa.

The Muslims’ war with the Romans in Mu’tah was absolutely crucial, the commanders had no choice but to engage the enemy in battle, despite the fact that death was beckoning. Thus, it is that the Muslim should never fear death, nor should he consider anything else but to fight in the way of Allah (swt). The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) had known all along that sending his troops to the Roman state to fight them along their frontiers was dangerous, but it was necessary to scare the life out of them and to demonstrate how the believers fight and how their courage and their belief were unmatched despite their paltry numbers. The risk was worth taking for it paved the way for further Jihad by the Muslims in order to spread Islam and implement it in the lands that they would conquer. The risk and the adventure was successful for it turned out to be an introduction to the battle of Tabuk and it landed a heavy blow against the Romans who shivered at the prospect of facing the Muslims again until Al-Sham was conquered.