Invasion of Hamra al-Asad

Invasion of Hamra Al-Assad
Part of the Muslim-Quraish Wars
Date March 24, 625 , 3 AH Location Hamra al-Asad Result Muslim victory (Muhammad prevents final attack) Muhammad sets 500 camp fires alight Muhammad sends spies (2 later killed) 2 Quraish Soldiers executed
Belligerents
Muslims of Medina	Quraish of Mecca
Commanders and leaders
Muhammad	Abu Sufyan ibn Harb
Strength
700-1000 infantry, 2-4 cavalry (survivors from uhud)	3,000 infantry, 200 cavalry (survivors from uhud)
Casualties and losses
2 spies killed	3 beheaded 3 captured

Muslim victory (Muhammad prevents final attack)

700-1000 infantry,
2-4 cavalry

3,000 infantry,
200 cavalry

The Battle of Hamra al-Assad (Arabic: غزوة حمراء الأسد‎‎), was a Ghazawat, a battle in which the Islamic prophet Muhammad took part. It occurred in 625 AD (3 AH) after the Battle of Uhud, when the Quraysh were returning to Mecca.

In this battle the Meccans wanted to finally exterminate the Muslims after weakening them in Uhud, by preventing their return to Mecca and finishing them off at Medina. Muhammad successfully prevented this. As a result, the Meccans cancelled their attack and decided not to return to Medina. Later, Muhammad was able to get the upper hand over them.

On Sunday the 8th of Shawaal, AH3 (March 24, 625), the day after the battle at Uhud, when the Muslims woke up they heard that Muhammad had called on them to join him in the pursuit of the returning Quraysh army. He gave a general order of mobilization, with the condition that only those who had participated in the Uhud battle were eligible to participate in the new operation. One Muslim, who missed out the Uhud battle because his father did not let him fight in the Jihad at Uhud, was allowed to join the Muslim army. The son of a martyred soldier sought Muhammad’s permission to join in this expedition and was also allowed to take part. Besides them, several wounded fighters also joined the march.

A little before Muhammad set out in the pursuit of the departing Meccan army, he sent three spies, all belonging to Banu Aslam, to track the departing Meccan army. Two of them met the Meccan army at Hamra al-Asad, about eight miles from Medina. Abu Sufyan had already learned about Muhammad’s venture to pursue the Meccans. The two spies heard the discussion among the Quraysh: whether they should go back and finish off the Muslims once and for all or to continue their journey to Mecca.

This happened a day before the Meccans arrived at Hamra al-Asad. Prior to their departure from Hamra al-Asad, the Quraysh spotted the two Muslim spies, and caught and killed them, leaving their corpses on the road. Nothing is known about the whereabouts of the third Muslim spy.

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Wikipedia