9:25
Assuredly Allah did help you in many battlefields and on the day of Hunain: Behold! your great numbers elated you, but they availed you naught: the land, for all that it is wide, did constrain you, and ye turned back in retreat.
The Battle of Ḥunayn and the Events at Ṭāʾif
In 630 CE, shortly after the peaceful conquest of Makkah, the nearby city of Ṭāʾif organized a military force to confront the Muslims. The army was led by Mālik ibn ʿAwf al-Naḍrī and was primarily composed of members of the powerful Hawāzin and Thaqīf tribes. Confident in their expected victory, these tribes brought their women, children, and livestock with them to the battlefield in order to strengthen their determination to fight (al-Ṭabarī).
Upon receiving news of this mobilization, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) assembled a Muslim army numbering more than twelve thousand soldiers and departed from Makkah to confront the opposing forces. In preparation for the campaign, the Prophet requested weapons from the residents of Makkah—many of whom had only recently embraced Islam or had been former adversaries. The Meccans willingly lent their weapons, appreciating that the Prophet requested assistance rather than taking supplies by force.
As the Muslim army entered the valley of Ḥunayn, they were suddenly ambushed by a much larger force—estimated at nearly twenty thousand fighters. The attack began with a heavy barrage of arrows followed by a rapid infantry assault. The surprise of the attack caused confusion among the Muslim ranks, and many soldiers temporarily retreated. Despite this setback, the Prophet Muhammad and a small group of loyal companions remained firm on the battlefield and continued to advance. Among those who stood beside him was Abū Sufyān, a recent convert to Islam, who helped defend the Prophet during the intense attack.
The Prophet then called for the Muslims to regroup and instructed his uncle al-ʿAbbās to call out loudly to the retreating soldiers. Al-ʿAbbās addressed them by invoking their earlier pledges and devotion, calling, “O companions of the Tree!”—a reference to those who had participated in the Pledge of Riḍwān—and reminding them of their commitment to the faith. Moved by these reminders and ashamed of their retreat, many of the Muslims returned to the battlefield. With renewed determination, they pushed back the opposing forces, eventually forcing the Hawāzin and Thaqīf fighters to flee.
In their retreat, the opposing tribes abandoned their camp, leaving behind their families, livestock, and possessions. The Muslim forces captured approximately six thousand individuals, including men, women, and children, and subsequently advanced toward the city of Ṭāʾif, where the enemy forces had taken refuge behind fortified walls. The Muslims then laid siege to the city.
During the siege, some companions suggested that the Prophet should pray for the destruction of the people of Ṭāʾif. However, the Prophet instead prayed for their guidance and eventual acceptance of Islam. Reinforcements soon arrived, including siege equipment and catapults brought by the recently converted tribe of Banū Daws. Despite these efforts, the siege lasted for less than a month. The Prophet eventually lifted the siege upon the arrival of one of the sacred months, during which warfare was traditionally suspended. Nevertheless, he informed the defenders that he would return with another force if they did not reach an agreement.
Shortly afterward, a delegation from Ṭāʾif arrived at the Prophet’s camp before he had returned to Makkah. The representatives sought peace and announced their acceptance of Islam. They requested the return of their captured families and property. The Prophet offered them a choice: the return of their captured people or the return of their confiscated goods. The delegation chose the return of their families. The Prophet then encouraged his companions to release the captives as an act of generosity toward their new brothers in faith. As a result, approximately six thousand captives were freed.
In addition, the Prophet granted one hundred camels to Mālik ibn ʿAwf and confirmed him as the leader of Ṭāʾif. Mālik, impressed by the Prophet’s generosity and magnanimity, later composed a poem praising the Prophet’s character and mercy (al-Ṭabarī).
References:
Emerick, Yahiya. The Meaning of the Holy Qur’an in Today’s English (p. 829). Unknown. Kindle Edition.