Battle of Mu'tah

Battle of Mu'tah (غزوة مؤتة)
Part of the Arab–Byzantine Wars
Date September 629 Location Mu'tah in Kerak Governorate, Jordan Result Byzantine victory
Belligerents
Muslim Arabs	Byzantine Empire, Ghassanids
Commanders and leaders
Zayd ibn Haritha † Ja'far ibn Abi Talib † Abdullah ibn Rawahah † Khalid ibn al-Walid	Theodore, Heraclius, Shurahbil ibn Amr
Strength
3,000	10,000 or less
Casualties and losses
Unknown	Unknown

The Battle of Mu'tah (Arabic: معركة مؤتة , غزوة مؤتة‎‎) was fought in September 629 C.E. (1 Jumada al-awwal 8 A.H.), near the village of Mu'tah, east of the Jordan River and Karak in Karak Governorate, between the forces of the Islamic prophet, Muhammad and the forces of the Byzantine Empire.

In Muslim histories, the battle is usually described as the Muslims' attempt to take retribution against a Ghassanid chief for taking the life of an emissary. According to Byzantine sources, the Muslims planned to launch their attack on a feast day. The local Byzantine Vicarius learned of their plans and collected the garrisons of the fortresses. According to the Encyclopaedia of Islam, the Muslims were routed after three of their leaders were killed.

The Byzantines were reoccupying territory following the peace accord between Emperor Heraclius and the Sasanid general Shahrbaraz in July 629. The Byzantine sakellarios Theodore, was placed in command of the army, and while in the area of Balqa, Arab tribes were also employed.

Meanwhile, Muhammad had sent his emissary to the ruler of Bosra. While on his way to Bosra, he was executed in the village of Mu'tah by the orders of a Ghassanid official.

Muhammad dispatched 3,000 of his troops to Jumada al-awwal in 629, for a quick expedition to attack and punish the tribes. The army was led by Zayd ibn Haritha; the second-in-command was Jafar ibn Abi Talib and the third-in-command was Abdullah ibn Rawahah.

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