Raid on Nakhla
The Raid on Nakhla: 218 (Arabic: سرِيَّة نَخْلَة) was a raid that was initially unplanned by the companions of Muhammad, but is considered to be the first successful raid against the Meccans, since it was carried out during an espionage event, this raid took place at Nakhla, in the Hejazi region of what is now Saudi Arabia. It took place in Rajab A.H. 2 (October AD 623). The commander was 'Abdullah ibn Jahsh al-Asadi,: 218 whom Muhammad dispatched to Nakhla as the head of 12 Emigrants with six camels.: 126, 129
| Raid on Nakhla سرِيَّة نَخْلَة | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
| Muslims of Medina | Quraysh of Mecca | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Abdullah ibn Jahsh | Amr al-Hadrami | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| 8-12 | 4 | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 0 | 1 killed (2 captured) | ||||||
The Muslims obtained rich plunder from the raid and brought it before Muhammad in Medina. However, he was met with outrage in the city as the raid took place during the holy month, when bloodshed was forbidden according to Pagan convention. He claimed that his followers had misunderstood his orders, and he refused to collect his one-fifth share of the loot until a verse was eventually revealed, justifying the raid.