Battle of Buath

The Battle of Buath (Arabic: مَعْرَكَة بُعَاث) was fought in 617 between the Arab tribes of Banu Aws and Banu Khazraj at the plain of Buath, near the city of Medina (then Yathrib). The former clan allied themselves with the Jewish tribes of Banu Nadir and Banu Qurayza, as well as the Arab tribe of Muzayna. The Khazraj clan had the support of the Banu Qaynuqa tribe. Despite the victory of the Aws, the outcome of the battle was an uneasy truce.

Battle of Buath
Part of Aws–Khazraj rivalry
Date617
Location
Buath, near Medina, Hejaz
Result Aws victory
Belligerents
Aws
Supported by
Muzayna
Nadir
Qurayza		 Khazraj
Supported by
Qaynuqa
Commanders and leaders
Hudayr ibn al-Simak †
Rahib ibn al-Sayfi
Ka'b ibn Asad		 Amr ibn al-Numan †
Strength
10,000 5,000

Background

Jewish tribes reportedly arrived in Medina in the wake of the Jewish-Roman wars and introduced agriculture, putting them in a culturally, economically and politically dominant position. The Jewish tribes of Banu Nadir, Qaynuqa and Qurayza jointly ruled the city until the 5th-century when the Arab Kahlanite tribes of Aws and Khazraj arrived from Yemen. These two tribes were initially clients for the Jews, and also obtained a share of palm trees and strongholds, under Jewish administration.[1] Towards the end of the 5th-century, both Aws and Khazraj revolted and subsequently took over Medina from the Jews.[2]

Afterward, conflicts arose between the Aws and Khazraj tribes, over the sole leadership of Medina. The prominent 8th-century historian Ibn Ishaq (c. 704–767) claims that these two tribes had been fighting for 120 years.[3] Islamic sources report that the Jews became clients of the Arab tribes. The modern Scottish historian William Montgomery Watt disagrees with these reports and instead asserts that the Jewish populace retained a measure of political independence.[4] Professor Jonathan Brockopp maintains that the Jews were owners of fortresses and weapons, and were not clients.[5]

Battle

The battle took place in the town of Buath, which is located in about a mile away from Medina.[6] The people of Khazraj appointed Amr ibn al-Numan as their head and Hudayr ibn al-Simak was appointed as the head of Aws.[7] Aws and Khazraj prepared themselves for the war for about a couple of months and were seeking help from their allied Arabian tribes. A vigorous, unprecedented war began between them in Bu'ath and lasted for several months.[8] During the battle, the prominent Khazraj chief Abd Allah ibn Ubayy refused to fight in the battle, and remained neutral.[9] With the aide of Nadir and Qurayza, the Aws drove away Khazraj out of Buath and won the battle.[5] This engagement is believed to be the most bloodiest and brutal fight between the Aws and Khazraj.

Aftermath and legacy

The engagement made the dominance of the Khazraj weaker, and their ally Qaynuqa suffered.[5] However, the Khazraj chief Abd Allah ibn Ubayy, who remained neutral throughout the battle, probably became the strongest leader in Medina.[5] On the other hand, in the neighboring city of Mecca, Muhammad declared prophethood and received opposition from the Mushrikun rulers of the city. In 620, a few members of the Aws and Khazraj tribe travelled to a mountain pass (al-Aqaba) and pledged allegiance to Muhammad, recognizing him as a prophet. In 621, a much larger group of more than seventy people arrived at the mountain pass and gave their allegiance. After requests by Medinian Muslims, in 622, Muhammad migrated to Medina along with his close friend Abu Bakr.

In Medina, Ibn Ubayy, backed by the Jews, was nearly close to become the king of Medina.[5] However, Muhammad intervened and was offered sovereignty over the city.[10] He accepted it and reportedly drafted a written document, titled the Constitution of Medina, to end the intertribal fighting and to maintain peace and co-operation among all Medinan group, including the Jews.[11] In the constitution, both the Jews and the Muslims were given equality and allowed to practice their own culture and religion.[12]

References
  1. Watt 1986, p. 771.
  2. Peters 1994, p. 192.
  3. Ayoub 1992, p. 274.
  4. Watt 1985.
  5. Brockopp 2010, p. 67.
  6. Abū l-Faraj al-Iṣfahānī, al-ʾAghānī, vol. 17, p. 118-121.
  7. Abū l-Faraj al-Iṣfahānī, al-ʾAghānī, vol. 17, p. 118-121.
  8. Abū l-Faraj al-Iṣfahānī, al-ʾAghānī, vol. 17, p. 119.
  9. Watt 1961, p. 89.
  10. Shenk 2006, p. 115.
  11. Serjeant 1964, p. 4.
  12. Esposito 2016, p. 17.

Bibliography
  • Ayoub, Mahmoud M. (1992). Qur'an and Its Interpreters, The, Volume II: The House of 'Imran. Suny Press. ISBN 9780791495476.
  • Brockopp, Jonathan E. (2010). The Cambridge Companion to Muhammad. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9780521886079.
  • Esposito, John (2016). Islam: The Straight Path. Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780190632151.
  • Serjeant, R. B. (1964). "The Constitution of Medina". Islamic Quarterly. 8: 3–16.
  • Shenk, David W. (2006). Journeys of the Muslim Nation and the Christian Church: Exploring the Mission of Two Communities. Uzima Publishing House. ISBN 9789966855213.
  • Watt, Montgomery William (1961). Muhammad: Prophet and Statesman. London: Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780198810780.
  • Watt, William Montgomery (1985). "al-Madīna". Encyclopaedia of Islam (2nd ed.). E. J. Brill. ISBN 9789004161214.
  • Watt, William Montgomery (1986). "AL-AWS". Encyclopaedia of Islam. Vol. I (2nd ed.). Leiden: E. J. Brill. ISBN 90-04-08114-3.
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