Kwa kuzingatia kutekeleza mipango hii, Waislamu walianza shughuli halisi za kijeshi, ambazo mwanzoni zilichukua sura ya doria za upelelezi zilizopewa jukumu la kuchunguza vipengele vya kijiografia vya njia zinazozunguka Madina na nyingine zinazoelekea Makka, pamoja na kujenga mapatano na makabila ya karibu. Mtume ﷺ alitaka kuwaonyesha washirikina na Mayahudi wa Madina pamoja na Waarabu wa jangwani walioko karibu nayo, kwamba Waislamu wameondoa hofu zao za zamani, na kwamba ni wenye nguvu mno kiasi kwamba hawawezi kushambuliwa bila kuadhibiwa. Pia alitaka kuonyesha nguvu za wafuasi wake ili kuwazuia Quraishi kufanya upumbavu wowote wa kijeshi dhidi yake ambao ungeweza kuhatarisha maisha yao ya kiuchumi na riziki zao, na kuwazuia wasiwatese Waislamu dhaifu waliozuiliwa Makka. Kwa hiyo, alitumia fursa hii kuendelea tena na kazi yake ya kueneza Wito wa Mwenyezi Mungu kwa uhuru. Ifuatayo ni muhtasari wa safari hizi na kazi hizi.
With a view to implementing these plans, the Muslims commenced real military activities, which at first took the form of reconnaissance patrols delegated to explore the geopolitical features of the roads surrounding Madinah and others leading to Makkah, and building alliances with the tribes nearby. The Prophet wanted to impress upon the polytheists and Jews of Madinah as well as the bedouins in its vicinity, that the Muslims had smashed their old fears, and had been too strong to be attacked with impunity. He also wanted to display the power of his followers in order to deter Quraish from committing any military folly against him which might jeopardize their economic life and means of living, and to stop them from persecuting the helpless Muslims detained in Makkah, consequently he would avail himself of this opportunity and resume his job of propagating the Divine Call freely. The following is a resume of these missions and errands:
1. Kikosi cha Saif Al-Bahr kilitumwa katika Ramadhani mwaka wa 1 Hijria, yaani mwaka 623 Miladi, kikiongozwa na Hamzah bin ‘Abdul Muttalib na kikiwa na wahamiaji 30, kikiwa na kazi maalum ya kuzuia msafara wa Quraish. Ulikuwa msafara wa watu 300, miongoni mwao alikuwamo Abu Jahl bin Hisham. Pande hizo mbili zilikutana na kujipanga tayari kwa mapigano. Majdi bin ‘Amr, ambaye alikuwa na uhusiano mzuri na pande zote mbili, alikuwepo mahali hapo, na akafanikiwa kuzuia mapigano yaliyokuwa karibu kutokea.
1. Saif Al-Bahr Platoon sent in Ramadan 1 A.H., i.e. 623 A.D. led by Hamzah bin ‘Abdul Muttalib and comprising 30 Emigrants with a definite task of intercepting a caravan belonging to Quraish. It was a caravan of 300 people including Abu Jahl bin Hisham. The two parties encountered each other and aligned in preparation for fighting. Majdi bin ‘Amr, on good terms with both sides, happened to be there and managed to prevent an imminent clash.
Katika tukio hilo, Mtume ﷺ alimkabidhi bendera ya kwanza katika historia ya Waislamu. Ilikuwa ya rangi nyeupe, na ilikabidhiwa Kinaz bin Husain Al-Ghanawi ili aibebe.
• On that occasion, the Prophet (Peace be upon him) accredited the first flag in the history of Muslims. It was white in colour and was entrusted to Kinaz bin Husain Al-Ghanawi, to carry.
2. Katika mwezi wa Shawwal, mwaka 1 A.H., yaani Aprili 623 A.D., Mjumbe wa Allah ﷺ alimtuma ‘Ubaidah bin Al-Harith bin Al-Muttalib akiwa kiongozi wa wapanda farasi 60 wa Muhajirina kwenda mahali paitwapo Batn Rabegh, ambako walikutana na Abu Sufyan akiwa kiongozi wa msafara wa watu 200. Kulikuwa na kurushiana mishale, lakini hakukuwa na mapigano halisi.
2. In Shawwal, 1 A.H., i.e. April 623 A.D. The Messenger of Allâh (Peace be upon him) despatched ‘Ubaidah bin Al-Harith bin Al-Muttalib at the head of 60 horsemen of Emigrants to a spot called Batn Rabegh where they encountered Abu Sufyan at the head of a caravan of 200 men. There was arrow shooting but no actual fighting.
Inavutia kutambua kwamba Waislamu wawili, Al-Miqdad bin ‘Amr Al-Bahrani na ‘Utbah bin Ghazwan Al-Mazini, walijitenga na msafara wa Quraish na kujiunga na safu za ‘Ubaidah. Waislamu walikuwa na bendera nyeupe iliyobebwa na Mistah bin Athatha bin Al-Muttalib bin ‘Abd Munaf.
• It is interesting to note that two Muslims, Al-Miqdad bin ‘Amr Al-Bahrani and ‘Utbah bin Ghazwan Al-Mazini, defected from the caravan of Quraish and joined the ranks of ‘Ubaidah. The Muslims had a white flag carried by Mistah bin Athatha bin Al-Muttalib bin ‘Abd Munaf.
3. Mnamo mwezi wa Dhul Qa‘dah mwaka wa 1 A.H., yaani Mei 623 B.K., Mtume ﷺ alimtuma Sa‘d bin Abi Waqqas akiwa mkuu wa wapanda farasi 20, na akawaagiza wasiende zaidi ya Al-Kharrar. Baada ya safari ya siku tano walifika mahali hapo, na wakagundua kwamba ngamia wa Quraish walikuwa wameondoka siku moja kabla; bendera yao, kama kawaida, ilikuwa nyeupe na ilibebwa na Al-Miqdad bin ‘Amr.
3. In Dhul Qa‘dah 1 A.H., i.e. May 623 A.D. the Prophet (Peace be upon him) despatched Sa‘d bin Abi Waqqas at the head of 20 horsemen, and instructed them not to go beyond Al-Kharrar. After a five-day march they reached the spot to discover that the camels of Quraish had left the day before; their flag, as usual, was white and carried by Al-Miqdad bin ‘Amr.
4. Ghazwa Al-Abwa’ au Waddan. Ilikuwa katika mwezi wa Safar mwaka wa 2 Hijria, yaani mwaka 623 Miladi. Mtume wa Allah ﷺ mwenyewe alitoka akiongoza watu 70, wengi wao wakiwa Muhajirina, ili kukamata msafara wa ngamia wa Quraishi. Aliacha nyuma Sa‘d bin ‘Ubadah ili asimamie mambo ya Madina. Alipofika Waddan, mahali kati ya Makka na Madina, hakuwakuta.
4. Ghazwa Al-Abwa’ or Waddan. It was in Safar 2 A.H., i.e. 623 A.D. The Messenger of Allâh (Peace be upon him) set out himself at the head of 70 men, mostly Emigrants, to intercept a camel caravan belonging to Quraish, leaving behind Sa‘d bin ‘Ubadah to dispose the affairs in Madinah. When he reached Waddan, a place between Makkah and Madinah, he found none.
Katika kipindi cha kampeni hii, alifanya mkataba wa kutokushambuliana na 'Amr bin Makhshi Ad-Damari. Masharti ya mkataba huo ni kama yafuatayo:
l In the process of this campaign, he contracted a non-aggressiopact with ‘Amr bin Makhshi Ad-Damari. The provisions of the pact go as follows:
“Hii ni hati kutoka kwa Muhammad, Mjumbe wa Allah, kuhusu Bani Damrah ambayo kwayo aliwathibitishia amani na usalama wa mali zao na maisha yao. Wanaweza kutarajia kuungwa mkono na Waislamu isipokuwa wakipinga dini ya Allah. Pia inatarajiwa kwamba watajibu kwa wema endapo Nabii ﷺ atataka msaada wao.”
• “This is a document from Muhammad, the Messenger of Allâh concerning Bani Damrah in which he established them safe and secure in their wealth and lives. They can expect support from the Muslims unless they oppose the religion of Allâh. They are also expected to respond positively in case the Prophet sought their help.”.
Hii ilikuwa ghazwa ya kwanza chini ya uongozi wa Mtume wa Allah ﷺ. Ilidumu siku kumi na tano, na bendera nyeupe ilibebwa na Hamzah bin ‘Abdul Muttalib.
This was the first invasion under the leadership of the Messenger of Allâh. It took fifteen days, with a white flag carried by Hamzah bin ‘Abdul Muttalib.
5. Vita vya Buwat. Vilifanyika mwezi wa Rabi‘ Al-Awwal mwaka wa 2 baada ya Hijra, yaani mwaka 623 Miladia. Mtume ﷺ, akiwa mbele ya masahaba 200, alielekea Buwat kuzuia msafara wa Maquraishi uliokuwa na Maquraishi 100, miongoni mwao akiwamo Omaiya bin Khalaf, na ngamia 2500. Alipofika Buwat, msafara ulikuwa umeshaondoka. Kabla ya kuondoka Madina, alimteua Sa‘d bin Mu‘adh kusimamia mambo hadi atakaporudi.
5. Buwat Invasion. It took place in Rabi‘ Al-Awwal 2 A.H., i.e. 623 A.D. The Prophet (Peace be upon him), at the head of 200 companions, marched for Buwat to intercept a caravan belonging to Quraish comprising 100 Quraishites, Omaiya bin Khalaf among them, and 2500 camels. When he reached Buwat, the caravan had left. Before leaving Madinah, he mandated Sa‘d bin Mu‘adh to dispose the affairs until his return.
6. Vita vya Safwan. Katika Rabi‘ Al-Awwal mwaka wa 2 A.H., sawa na mwaka 623 B.K., Karz bin Jabir, akiongoza kikundi kidogo cha washirikina, alivamia malisho ya Madina na kuiba baadhi ya wanyama. Mtume ﷺ, akiongoza watu 70, aliondoka Madina kwenda kupambana na wavamizi hao. Aliwafuatia hadi alipofika mahali panapoitwa Safwan karibu na Badr, lakini hakuweza kuwafikia. Vita hivi vilijulikana kama vita vya awali vya Badr. Wakati wa kutokuwepo kwake, Mtume ﷺ alimkabidhi Zaid bin Harithah jukumu la kusimamia mambo ya Madina. Bendera ilikuwa nyeupe kwa rangi, nayo alikabidhiwa ‘Ali bin Abi Talib abebe.
6. Safwan Invasion. In Rabi‘ Al-Awwal 2 A.H., i.e. 623 A.D. Karz bin Jabir at the head of a small group of polytheists raided the pastures of Madinah and looted some animals. The Prophet (Peace be upon him) at the head of 70 men left Madinah to fight the aggressors. He went in their pursuit till he reached a place called Safwan near Badr but could not catch up with them. This invasion came to be known as the preliminary Badr Invasion. During his absence, the Prophet (Peace be upon him) entrusted Zaid bin Harithah with the disposition of the affairs in Madinah. The standard was white in colour and entrusted to ‘Ali bin Abi Talib to carry.
7. Vita vya Dhil ‘Ushairah. Ilitokea mwezi wa Jumada-al-Ula na Jumada-al-Akhirah mwaka wa kwanza au wa pili baada ya Hijra, yaani Novemba-Desemba 623 B.K. Mtume ﷺ, akiwa mkuu wa wajitolea 150 hadi 200 wa Kiislamu, pamoja na ngamia 30 ambao walipanda kwa zamu, alitoka kwenda kuwazuia msafara wa Kikuraishi. Alifika Dhil ‘Ushairah, lakini ngamia walikuwa wameondoka siku kadhaa kabla. Ngamia hao ndio ile ile aliyotoka kwenda kuwazuia walipokuwa wakirudi kutoka Syria, na ndio sababu ya moja kwa moja ya kuzuka kwa vita vya Badr. Katika mwendo wa msafara huu, Mtume ﷺ alifanya mkataba wa kutoshambuliana na Bani Madlij na washirika wao Bani Dhumrah. Abu Salama bin ‘Abd Al-Asad Al-Makhzumi aliteuliwa kusimamia Madinah wakati wa kutokuwepo kwake.
7. Dhil ‘Ushairah Invasion. It was in Jumada-al-Ula and Jumada-al-Akhirah the first or second 2 A.H., i.e. November-December 623 A.D. The Prophet (Peace be upon him) at the head of 150- 200 Muslim volunteers, with 30 camels which they rode turn by turn, set out to intercept a Quraishite caravan. He reached Dhil ‘Ushairah but the camels had left some days before. These camels were the same that he went out to intercept on their return from Syria, and were the direct reason for the break out of the battle of Badr. In the process of this campaign, the Prophet وسلم علیه االله صلى contracted a non-aggression pact with Bani Madlij and their allies Bani Dhumrah. Abu Salama bin ‘Abd Al-Asad Al-Makhzumi was mandated to rule Madinah in his absence.
8. Kikosi cha Nakhlah. Kilitokea mwezi wa Rajab mwaka wa 2 Hijria, yaani Januari 624 Miladia. Mtume wa Allah ﷺ alimtuma ‘Abdullah bin Jahsh Asadi kwenda Nakhlah akiwa kiongozi wa Waumini wahamiaji 12, pamoja na ngamia sita. ‘Abdullah alipewa barua na Mtume ﷺ, lakini aliagizwa kuisoma tu baada ya siku mbili. Alifuata maagizo, na akagundua kwamba aliagizwa kwenda hadi mahali paitwapo Nakhlah, kilichopo kati ya Makkah na At-Ta’if, kukamata msafara wa Quraish na kukusanya habari kuhusu nia zao. Alisema yaliyomo katika barua kwa wenzake, ambao waliitii amri hiyo bila kuhoji. Huko Nakhlah, msafara ulipita ukiwa umebeba mizigo ya zabibu kavu, vyakula na bidhaa nyinginezo. Pia walikuwepo washirikina mashuhuri kama ‘Amr bin Al-Hadrami, ‘Uthman na Naufal, wana wa ‘Abdullah bin Al-Mugheerah, na wengine... Waislamu walifanya mashauriano miongoni mwao kuhusu kupigana nao, wakizingatia kwamba Rajab ni mwezi mtakatifu (ambapo, pamoja na Dhul Hijja, Dhul Qa‘da na Muharram, shughuli za vita zilisimamishwa kama ilivyokuwa desturi ya Arabia wakati huo). Hatimaye walikubaliana kupambana nao. ‘Amr bin Al-Hadrami aliuawa kwa mshale, ‘Uthman na Al-Hakam walitekwa, na Naufal alitoroka. Walirudi na nyara pamoja na mateka wawili. Walitenga sehemu ya tano ya nyara kwa ajili ya Allah na Mtume Wake, na wakachukua iliyobaki. Mtume ﷺ alikikataa kitendo hicho, na akasimamisha hatua yoyote kuhusu ngamia na mateka hao wawili kwa sababu ya miezi iliyokatazwa iliyotajwa tayari. Washirikina, kwa upande wao, walitumia fursa hii ya dhahabu kuwasingizia Waislamu na kuwashtaki kwa kuvunja yale ambayo Mwenyezi Mungu ameyaharamisha. Maneno haya ya kuzusha yalisababisha maumivu makali ya kichwa kwa Masahaba wa Muhammad ﷺ, hadi hatimaye wakapata faraja pale Wahyi ulipoteremka ukitoa jibu la uamuzi na kubainisha waziwazi kwamba mwenendo wa washirikina katika mchakato mzima ulikuwa wa kuchukiza zaidi na mbaya zaidi kuliko kitendo cha Waislamu.
8. The Platoon of Nakhlah. It took place in Rajab 2 A.H., i.e. January 624 A.H. The Messenger of Allâh (Peace be upon him) despatched ‘Abdullah bin Jahsh Asadi to Nakhlah at the head of 12 Emigrants with six camels. ‘Abdullah was given a letter by the Prophet (Peace be upon him) but was instructed to read it only after two days. He followed the instructions and discovered that he was asked to go on to a place called Nakhlah standing between Makkah and At-Ta’if, intercept a caravan for Quraish and collect news about their intentions. He disclosed the contents of the letters to his fellows who blindly obeyed the orders. At Nakhlah, the caravan passed carrying loads of raisins (dried grapes), food stuff and other commodities. Notable polytheists were also there such as ‘Amr bin Al-Hadrami, ‘Uthman and Naufal, sons of ‘Abdullah bin Al-Mugheerah and others... The Muslims held consultations among themselves with respect to fighting them taking into account Rajab which was a sacred month (during which, along with Dhul Hijja, Dhul Qa‘da and Muharram, war activities were suspended as was the custom in Arabia then). At last they agreed to engage with them in fighting. ‘Amr bin Al-Hadrami was shot dead by an arrow, ‘Uthman and Al-Hakam were captured whereas Naufal escaped. They came back with the booty and the two prisoners. They set aside one-fifth of the booty assigned to Allâh and His Messenger, and took the rest. The Messenger disapproved of that act and suspended any action as regards the camels and the two captives on account of the prohibited months already mentioned. The polytheists, on their part, exploited this golden opportunity to calumniate the Muslims and accuse them of violating what is Divinely inviolable. This idle talk brought about a painful headache to Muhammad’s Companions, until at last they were relieved when the Revelation came down giving a decisive answer and stating quite explicitly that the behaviour of the polytheists in the whole process was much more heinous and far more serious than the act of the Muslims:
• "Wanakuuliza kuhusu kupigana vita katika miezi mitukufu (yaani mwezi wa 1, wa 7, wa 11 na wa 12 wa kalenda ya Kiislamu). Sema: 'Kupigana humo ni dhambi kubwa, lakini dhambi kubwa zaidi mbele ya Allah ni kuzuia watu kufuata njia ya Allah, kumkataa Yeye, kuzuia kuingia Al-Masjid-Al-Haram (huko Makka), na kuwatoa wakazi wake. Al-Fitnah ni mbaya zaidi kuliko kuua.'" [2:217]
• “They ask you concerning fighting in the sacred months (i.e. 1st, 7th, 11th and 12th months of the Islamic calendar). Say, ‘Fighting therein is a great (transgression) but a greater (transgression) with Allâh is to prevent mankind from following the way of Allâh, to disbelieve in Him, to prevent access to Al-Masjid-Al-Harâm (at Makkah), and to drive out its inhabitants, and Al-Fitnah is worse than killing.” [2:217]