Barely ten days had passed after Rasulullah’s (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) return to Madinah Munawwarah from the battle of Ushayrah when Kurz bin Jaabir Fihri launched a late-night attack on the pastures of Madinah Munawwarah, and after stealing a number of camels and goats belonging to the people of Madinah Munawwarah, he fled.

As soon as Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) heard of what had transpired, he immediately set out towards Safawaan, which was a place close to Badr, in pursuit of Kurz bin Jaabir. However, before Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) could reach Safawaan, Kurz had already departed from here and escaped. Therefore, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) returned to Madinah Munawwarah.

Since Safawaan is a place close to Badr, and Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) had pursued Kurz bin Jaabir all the way to Badr, this expedition is referred to as the “First Expedition of Badr”, and it is also referred to as the “Expedition of Safawaan”.

Before setting out for this expedition, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) appointed Hazrat Zaid bin Haarithah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) as his deputy over Madinah Munawwarah.

Kurz bin Jaabir was one of the chieftains of the Quraish tribe. He was later blessed to embrace Islam. When Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) had sent a small unit of Sahaabah out in pursuit of the people from the Urainah tribe (who had killed the shepherd of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), stole the camels and fled), Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) appointed Hazrat Kurz bin Jaabir (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) as the ameer of this unit to pursue them and recover the camels. Hazrat Kurz bin Jaabir (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) was martyred in the conquest of Makkah. 

(Extracted from Seeratul Mustafa 2/49-50)