Ghazwah of Abwaa

Th Expedition of Abwaa was the very first military campaign in which Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) personally participated, and the Expedition of Tabook was his last campaign.

In the beginning of the month of Safar, during the second year of hijrah, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) set out for Abwaa, taking sixty Muhaajireen with him to launch an offensive attack against a Qurayshi caravan and upon the Banu Damrah tribe. In this campaign, there were no Ansaar Sahaabah present.

Before leaving, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) appointed Hazrat Sa’d bin Ubaadah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) as his vicegerent over Madinah Munawwarah. In this expedition, the battle flag was held by Hazrat Hamzah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu).

When Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) arrived at Abwaa, the Qurayshi caravan had already departed from there. Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) then concluded a truce with the chief of the Banu Damrah tribe, Makhshi bin Amr (who resided in that area). After concluding the truce with him, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) returned to Madinah Munawwarah.

Some of the conditions of this truce were that the Banu Damrah would neither wage war against the Muslims nor would they support the Muslims’ enemy in any way. They would not betray the Muslims, and in times of need, they would be required to assist the Muslims.

This expedition is also referred to as the expedition of Waddaan. Abwaa and Waddaan are the names of two places which are barely six miles apart from one another.

In this expedition, within fifteen days, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) returned to Madinah Munawwarah without actually engaging in any physical combat with the enemy.

(Extracted from Seeratul Mustafa 2/46-47)