Expedition of Nakhla

In Rajab 2 AH (January 624 CE) the Prophet sent Abdullah ibn Jahsh al-Asadi with twelve men of the Muhajirun, each two of them taking turns on one camel. He wrote him a letter and ordered him not to read it until he had travelled for two days, and then to carry out its command and not to compel any of his companions. ¹

Abdullah read the letter after two days. In it was written: "When you have read this letter of mine, go on until you alight at Nakhla between Mecca and al-Ta'if, watch there for the caravan of Quraysh, and bring us news of their affairs." He told his companions, and they all set off. ¹

On the way, Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas and Utba ibn Ghazwan lost a camel that they had been taking turns riding. They stayed behind to search for it, while the rest of the party went on until they alighted at Nakhla. ^{1 2}

A Quraysh caravan passed carrying raisins, hides and merchandise, guarded by Amr ibn al-Hadrami, Uthman ibn Abdullah ibn al-Mughira, his brother Nawfal, and al-Hakam ibn Kaysan. ¹

The Muslims consulted one another. It was the last day of Rajab, the sacred month, and they judged that if they let the caravan go that night, it would enter the Sanctuary. So Waqid ibn Abdullah al-Tamimi shot an arrow and killed Amr ibn al-Hadrami. They captured Uthman and al-Hakam, Nawfal escaped, and they brought the caravan and the two captives to Medina. They set aside the fifth of the spoils, which was the first fifth in Islam. ^{1 3}

The Prophet denounced the killing of Ibn al-Hadrami in the sacred month and said: "I did not command you to fight in the sacred month." He withheld any disposal of the caravan and the two captives. The polytheists raised an outcry, accusing the Muslims of violating what is sacred. ¹

Then revelation came down to settle the matter, in the verse al-Baqara 217. The Prophet took charge of the caravan and the captives, then released the two captives for a ransom, and paid the blood-money for the slain man. ⁴

The Prophet sent Abdullah ibn Jahsh with twelve of the Muhajirun to Nakhla, and ordered him not to look at the letter until he had gone two days. He did so, and they met a Quraysh caravan on the last day of Rajab, killed Amr ibn al-Hadrami and captured two men. The Prophet disapproved, released the two captives and paid the blood-money for the slain man, and revelation came down about the sacred month. ^{1 5}.