After returning from the expedition of Safawaan, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) despatched Hazrat Abdullah bin Jahsh (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) towards a place called Nakhlah in the month of Rajab 2 A.H. Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) also sent the following eleven Muhaajireen with him:
1. Hazrat Abu Huzaifah bin Utbah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu)
2. Hazrat Ukkaashah bin Mihsan (radhiyallahu ‘anhu)
3. Hazrat Utbah bin Ghazwaan (radhiyallahu ‘anhu)
4. Hazrat Sa’d bin Abi Waqqaas (radhiyallahu ‘anhu)
5. Hazrat Aamir bin Rabee’ah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu)
6. Hazrat Waaqid bin Abdillah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu)
7. Hazrat Khaalid bin Bukair (radhiyallahu ‘anhu)
8. Hazrat Suhail bin Baydaa (radhiyallahu ‘anhu)
9. Hazrat Aamir bin Iyaas (radhiyallahu ‘anhu)
10. Hazrat Miqdaad bin Amr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu)
11. Hazrat Safwaan bin Baydaa (radhiyallahu ‘anhu)
Hazrat Sa’d bin Abi Waqqaas (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) narrates:
Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) planned to send us out on a Sariyyah and said, “I will appoint such a man as an Ameer (leader) over you who is the most tolerant among you over hunger and thirst.” He then appointed Abdullah bin Jahsh (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) as an Ameer over us, and he was the first Ameer appointed in Islam.”
Hazrat Jundub Bajali (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) reports:
At the time when Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) was sending off Abdullah bin Jahsh (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), he wrote out a letter, handed it over to him and instructed him saying, “Do not open this letter until you are two days into your journey. Once you are two days into your expedition, read this letter and follow the instructions written inside, but do not compel any of your companions to do so.”
Accordingly, two days into the journey, Hazrat Abdullah bin Jahsh (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) opened the letter of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) and found the following instructions written therein:
Continue on your journey until you reach a place called Nakhlah between Makkah and Taa’if. Wait there for the Quraish to pass by (and then intercept them), and also continue to provide us with information on their movements.
On reading the contents of this letter, Hazrat Abdullah bin Jahsh (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) said:
سمعا وطاعة
I hear and I fully obey (the instructions of Rasulullah [sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam])
He then notified his companions about the contents of the letter, and also said, “I am not compelling any of you to adhere to these instructions. Whomsoever cherishes martyrdom may join me.” Every single one of them wholeheartedly agreed to accompany him on this mission and they subsequently set out for Nakhlah.
En-route, Hazrat Sa’d and Utbah’s (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) camel got lost (somewhere in the desert), and while searching for the lost camel, both of them got left behind and they lost their way. The remaining members of this unit proceeded to Nakhlah and stayed there (for a few days).”
(Extracted from Seeratul Mustafa 2/50-51)