Ghalib ibn Abdullah al-Laythi's raid on Banu al-Mulawwah at al-Kudayd

The first raid whose account Ibn Ishaq gives in detail in the list of expeditions: the Prophet ﷺ sent Ghalib ibn Abd Allah al-Laythi to raid the Banu al-Mulawwah at al-Kudayd. ^{1 2}

Ibn Ishaq relates it from Ya'qub ibn Utba ibn al-Mughira ibn al-Akhnas, from Muslim ibn Abd Allah ibn Khubayb al-Juhani, from Jundab ibn Makith al-Juhani, who was in the raiding party. ¹

They set out until, when they were at Qudayd, they met al-Harith ibn Malik, Ibn al-Barsa' al-Laythi, and seized him. He said he had come wanting Islam, and had come out only to the Messenger of God. They said: if you are a Muslim, one night's tying will not harm you; and if you are otherwise, we have secured you. They tied him up and left a black man of their companions guarding him, and said: if he overpowers you, cut off his head. ²

They went on until they came to al-Kudayd at sunset and were in the side of the valley, and sent Jundab as a lookout, who climbed a hill overlooking the camp and lay flat on it. A man came out of his tent and said to his wife that he could see a dark shape on the hill that he had not seen at the start of the day; she should look at their vessels to see whether the dogs had carried off anything. She looked and found nothing missing. He took his bow and two arrows and shot; he did not miss Jundab's side, Jundab pulled the arrow out and stayed in place, then the man shot the second, which lodged in his shoulder, and Jundab pulled it out and stayed. The man said to his wife: if he were the lookout of a people he would have moved; my two arrows reached him; in the morning look for them so the dogs do not chew them; then he went in. ² The editors confirm that the reading "za'ila" is in place of "rabi'a". ²

They let the people rest until they were calm and asleep, and at dawn they attacked, killed some and drove off the camels. The cry of the people went out and a great force came against them, which they could not resist; they drove off the camels and passed by Ibn al-Barsa' and his companion and took them with them. The people caught up with them until there was only the Wadi Qudayd between them, and God sent the valley's flood from wherever He willed, without cloud or rain, bringing what no one could withstand. They stood and watched while the Muslims drove their camels, and no man could cross to them, until they got away; they came back with them to the Prophet. ^{2 3}

Ibn Ishaq relates from a man of Aslam, from a man of theirs, that the password of the Prophet's companions that night was "Amit amit", and that a rajiz of the Muslims, driving the camels, recited two verses saying that the father of al-Qasim refused that the camels should graze in green, bright pasture the colour of gold. Ibn Hisham says that "kulawn al-dhahab" is also transmitted. ³ The editors explain "shi'ar" as the sign by which some of them know each other in war, and they confirm "ta'ribi" as a reading in place of "ta'zibi". ³

"A'azzaka" means overcame you; "al-rabi'a" the lookout; "al-hadir" the group camped at the water; "asnadat" climbed; "shannana al-ghara" scattered the raiding horses; "al-sarikh" the one who cries for help; "al-dahm" a large group. ^{2 3}

• Ghalib is "al-Kalbi" in Ibn Ishaq, a nisba to Kalb ibn Awf ibn Layth. ¹
• The editors confirm that the phrase "the account of the raids is complete and I return to detailing the raids" is missing from one copy. ³
• Ibn Ishaq gives no date for the raid.