Important Battles of Islam

A battle or Military Expedition in which the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) took part in himself with a large army is called in Arabic, غزوة “Ghazwa”. The Imams and Scholars have reported and narrated the number of “Ghazawat” غزوات plural of Ghazwa differently. According to Imam Bukhari (RA) 17 battles took place. Imam Muslim (RA) narrated 19. Hakim (RA) narrated 21. Others have said 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, and 27. Ibn Ishaq (RA) has quoted that 27 is the correct amount and majority of the Muhaqqiqeen have agreed on this number. Ibn Ishaq (RA) narrated that out of these 27 battles, in only 9 of them fighting took place. They are the Battles of: Badr, Uhud, Bani Mustalaq, Khandaq, Bani Quraizhah, Khayber, Fathu Makkah, Hunain, and Taif.

A battle or Military Expedition in which the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) did not participate in, and instead deputed a group of his illustrious companions in the form of a smaller army is called in Arabic, سرية “Sariya”. The number of “Saraya” سرايا (plural of Sariya’) reported start from 36 up to 100. Ibn Ishaaq has given preference to 47. The Chart below lists the Ghazawat that took place in Islamic History between (2 A.H. thru 9A.H.)

Name of Battle	Date of Battle	Fighting Occurred	No Fighting
Al-Abawa	12 Safar, 2 AH		No Fighting
Al Bawaat	Rabi al Awwal 2 AH		No Fighting
Al Ushayrah	Jumad al Awwal 2 AH		No Fighting
Al Badr	17,19 Ramadhan 2 AH	Fighting
Banu Nadheer	Rabi al Awwal 3,4 AH		No Fighting
Uhud	7-15 Shawwal 3 AH	Fighting
Al Rajee’ (Bir Ma’una)	End of Safar 3,4 AH		No Fighting
Al Ahzaab (Khandaq)	Shawaal 4,5 AH	Fighting
Banu Quraizah	End of Dhul Qa’da 5 AH	Fighting
Dhat al Riqaa’	Rabi al Awwal 6, 7 AH		No Fighting
Banu Mustalaq	12 Shaban 5,6 AH	Fighting
Hudaibiyah	Dhul Qa’da 6 AH		No Fighting
Dhat al Qird	Shaban/Dhul Qa’da 6,7 AH		No Fighting
Khaybar	Dhul Hijjah 7 AH	Fighting
Muta	Jumad al Awwal 8 AH	Fighting
Zayd bin Haritha	After Khaybar 7 AH		No Fighting
Al Fath	10 Ramadhan 8 AH	Fighting
Hunayn	10 Shawwal 8 AH	Fighting
Autaas	8 AH	Fighting
Taif	8 AH	Fighting
Dhul Khidmah			No Fighting
Dhat al Salasil	Jumad al Akhir 8 AH		No Fighting
Saif al Bahr (Al Amber)	Rajab 8 AH		No Fighting
Tabuk (Al ‘Usra)	Rajab/Shaban 9 AH		No Fighting