Alqama ibn Mujazziz's expedition to the Jeddah coast

A raid the Prophet sent in Rabi' al-Akhir of year 9 AH, under the leadership of Alqama ibn Mujazziz al-Mudliji with three hundred fighters, against men of Abyssinia who had gathered near the coasts of Jeddah to carry out piracy against the people of Mecca. ¹

Alqama crossed the sea until he reached an island where the pirates were entrenched. When they heard of the Muslims' approach they fled, and the mission ended without fighting. ¹

Ibn Hisham gives another reason for the dispatch. When Waqqas ibn Mujazziz al-Mudliji was killed on the day of Dhu Qarad, Alqama ibn Mujazziz asked the Prophet to send him in pursuit of the people, so that he might avenge him among them. ² He reports, on the authority of Abd al-Aziz ibn Muhammad, from Muhammad ibn Amr ibn Alqama, from Umar ibn al-Hakam ibn Thawban, from Abu Sa'id al-Khudri, who was in the army, that when Alqama had reached the end of his raid, or was on part of the road, he gave leave to a group from the army and appointed over them Abdullah ibn Hudhafa al-Sahmi, who had a playful nature. ²

Ibn Hudhafa lit a fire and said to the men: "Do I not have your hearing and obedience?" They said: "Yes." He said: "Then I command you, by my right and my authority, to leap into this fire." Some of them began to gird themselves, that is, to tie their garments tight at the waist, until he thought they were about to leap into it. Then he said: "Sit down; I was only joking with you." ² When they came back, this was mentioned to the Prophet, and he said: "Whoever among them commands you to disobey, do not obey him." ² Ibn Hisham reports, on the authority of Muhammad ibn Talha, that Alqama returned with his companions and met with no plot. ²

• Ibn Hisham does not mention Jeddah or Abyssinia. The cause he gives is the revenge for Waqqas, killed at Dhu Qarad (in year 6 AH according to the popular account). This does not match the date of Rabi' al-Akhir in year 9 AH taken from al-Rahiq al-Makhtum, so the date is disputed (needs_source). ²
• "After they came" ("bada an qadimu") appears in the text; one copy reads "qadimna" ("we came"). ²