The Sariyya of Dhat al-Salasil

A small northern expedition — named for a pond called Dhat al-Salasil — a few weeks after Mu’tah, against the tribe of Quda’a (northeast, between Madinah and the Ghassanids) who had aided the enemy at Mu’tah. It is chiefly remembered not for its politics but for the character lessons and fiqh it yields. (Not to be confused with the much larger Battle of Dhat al-Salasil in Umar’s ﴿ra﴾ reign against the Sassanids.)

Date (Hijri / CE)

Jumada al-Ula or al-Thani 8 AH (629 CE).

Background

The Prophet ﷺ summoned Amr ibn al-As — a Muslim of barely three months — armed him and gave him 300 men, testing the new convert with a modest command. “How beautiful is pure money for the righteous man,” he ﷺ told Amr, who had bristled at being promised spoils (“I did not accept Islam for wealth”).

What happened

• In bitter winter, Amr travelled only by night and forbade fires (“if you light a fire I will push you into it”) for stealth. Reaching Quda’a’s outskirts, he judged 300 too few and sent for reinforcements.
• The Prophet ﷺ sent 200 more under Abu Ubayda ibn al-Jarrah (among them Abu Bakr and Umar), instructing them: “agree, and do not differ.” A dispute over who should lead the prayer/army ended when Abu Ubayda stepped down — “even if you disobey me, I will not disobey you” — leaving Amr in command.
• Amr’s surprise attack scattered Quda’a; no major casualties, much ghanīma, and northern Arabia effectively pacified.
• The tayammum incident. On a freezing night Amr had a wet dream and, fearing death from a cold ghusl, did Tayammum instead and led Fajr. Reported to the Prophet ﷺ, Amr cited “do not kill yourselves; Allah is Merciful to you” (Q 4:29). The Prophet ﷺ laughed and did not rebuke him — establishing that tayammum may replace ghusl even with water present, for legitimate cause.

Outcome & significance

A relatively minor raid, but it (with Mu’tah) secured the north for the Muslims — several tribes then accepted Islam — clearing the last external threats before the Conquest.

Lessons

• Amr’s sincerity — offended at being offered wealth — and the principle that “pure money in a righteous hand” is good, not blameworthy.
• True leadership is sacrifice for unity: Abu Ubayda swallowing his ego for the sake of the Prophet’s ﷺ instruction and the mission.
• Imāmat al-mafḍūl ʿalā al-fāḍil — the less-virtuous may lead the more-virtuous: Abu Ubayda led though Abu Bakr and Umar (greater in taqwa) were present. Leadership needs competence, not only the most Iman — a point against those who require the leader to be the single best person.
• The fiqh of Tayammum and of the sahaba’s ijtihad in the Prophet’s ﷺ own lifetime.
• Always verify a report — there were two sides to the “he led us in janāba” complaint.

Cross-references

Amr ibn al-As (ra) · Abu Ubaydah ibn al-Jarrah (ra) · Abu Bakr al-Siddiq (ra) · Umar ibn al-Khattab (ra) · Tayammum · The Battle of Mu'tah · The Conquest of Makkah · Muhammad ﷺ · Seerah Timeline

Sources

• S010 — Yasir Qadhi Seerah EP 075. Draws on the hadith collections (the tayammum incident, Amr’s own first-person report), Ibn Ishaq/Ibn Hisham and al-Waqidi. Quran 4:29; 4:94 (the Muhallim / Amir ibn al-Adbat incident of sanctity of life is treated in the same lesson).