O-Level Islamiyat (2058) notes by Hassaan Mian – LGS JT, Beaconhouse, SICAS, Newlands, The City School
Q: Write an account of major battles fought during the reign of the First Caliph. [10]
The Persian Empire was the first source of danger posed to the Islamic State under the rule of Abu
Bakr RA. Hence, a series of wars were fought to neutralize this emerging threat.
The first target was Bahrain. Though Mundhir-the ruler of Bahrain alongside his subjects, had entered
the faith during the life of Prophet ﷺ- he died soon leading to chaos in his land. Despite the
apostatizing citizens of Bahrain, the successor of Mundhir, Jarud, also the leader of the tribe-Banu
Abdul Qais-stayed adamant in his position to uphold and promote Islam. However, a new enemy
arose in the form of a person known as, Munhiz, a man from the progeny of Arab kings ruling Hira,
who took an oath on battling against Islam. Simultaneously, Al-Hadrami, the Muslim ambassador to
Bahrain, left for Madinah in search of help. In response, the Muslim army followed him back to
Bahrain and dug a trench around their camp. They lay in wait for a chance to launch an attack on
the apostates. This opportunity came when the Bahraini people were commemorating a national
festival and were under influence of intoxicants. The Muslims charged and fell on the enemy,
leaving the opponents shocked and consequently, defeating them. The soldiers of Munhiz
surrendered and peace was restored to Bahrain.
In Oman, an imposter in the guise of a prophet, rose to power. His name was Laquit bin Malik and
he and his 10,000 companions were killed in the Battle of Daba.
Mahrah was a centre of civil unrest, where inhabitants were fighting each other and also against
Islam. The Muslim military in tandem with a minority in Mahrah, put the majority to rout. As a result,
the people of the land re-converted to Islam.
The tribe of Ash’as in Hadramout was the leader of the apostasy. The Muslim army struck on the
enemy and routed them to the city of Nujiar. This was also the site of the Muslims’ siege and they
won the offensive in February 633 AD.
The Battle of Chains happened when Khalid bin Walid headed the Muslim fighters to the Persian
border where he presented 3 options to Hurmuz (the Persian king). These were: to accept Islam,
pay Jizya, or war. Hurmuz went for the last option. The rivals came head to head at Kazima, where
the Persians soldiers were linked by chains. The purpose of these chains was to instill unity amongst
the army and primarily, to prevent any one soldier to fall or retreat. Contrary to the prediction, the
very chains meant to stave off Persian defeat, became their defeat. The Persians were unable to
pull back and prevent the Muslims from forging ahead. Hurmuz also fell victim to the courage of
Muslims, and was killed along with many Persian captives of war. Hence, this was a mortifying failure
for Persians at the hands of the Islamic Empire.
After the victory at Kazima, the Muslims retained their streak by vanquishing the Persians at Mazar,
Walja and Ullies. The Muslims then proceeded to Hira, but the governor and the citizens had fled to
Madain hearing news of the Muslim military’s advancement towards the land. Conquering Hira, put
the entirety of central Iraq in the Muslim dominion. The next Muslim stop under Khalid bin al Walid
was Anbar, which was guarded by a ditch on its borders. At the narrowest point of the trench, the
Muslims dumped the bodies of their oldest and weakest camels, forming a make-shift bridge, which
led to the takeover of Anbar. This was because the governor agreed to accede his land to the
Islamic State, provided, the Muslims gave a safe passage to the people of his land and brought
about no harm.Thereafter, Enat-ul-Tamar was besieged for a few days conclusively, putting the
entire territory under Islamic influence.
The Byzantines had conspired with Bedouin tribes on the Syrian front against the Islamic Empire,
which is why they had to be dealt with during the first Caliph’s reign.
February 634 AD was the month Abu Bakr RA summoned the Muslim army to tackle the conspiring
Byzantines. The great Muslim army was partitioned into 4 units headed by Amr ibn al-Aas, Yazid ibn
