Harb al-fijar

The Ḥarb al-fijār ('sacrilegious war', also known as the Fijār War) took place around the late sixth century CE, during the reign of al-Nuʿmān III (580-602 CE). It takes its name from that fact that its battles took place during the sacred months during which warfare was prohibited -- a prohibition that usually enabled commerce to take place without interference from tribal feuds. Assuming the sources are correct, fighting took place on eight days spread over four years.[1]

Protagonists and causes

The war was between 'two great confederations including townsfolk of Mecca and al-Ṭāʾif': on the one hand, the Qays-ʿAylān (excluding the Ghaṭafān) and, on the other, the Quraysh and the Kināna.[1]

The motivations for the war have been debated,[2] but the underlying cause of the war is usually identified as competition over control of the trade routes and associated revenues in the Najd. The Quraysh were successfully dominating these routes, and funded the arming of their allies in the ḥarb al-fijār. Notwithstanding the vicissitudes of the war, the Quraysh emerged dominant.[1]

The sources are consistent in claiming that the Prophet Muḥammad, who was a member of the Quraysh, had some involvement in the war, with his age at the time being given by different sources as between 14 and 28. Some, such as Aghāni, claim that he actually fought (courageously) at the battle of yawm Shamṭa (where the Quraysh were defeated). Others, such as Ibn Hishām, claim that he merely supplied one or more uncles with arrows.[1]

First year

The first three days of fighting (sometimes considered one war, sometimes three) comprised 'mere brawls'.[1]

However, there followed a conflict lasting four years. During the sacred months, al-Barrāḍ ibn Qays al-Ḍmıī of the Kināna treacherously attacked ʿUrwa al-Raḥḥāl of the Banū ʿĀmir ibn Ṣaʿṣaʿa, which belonged to the Banū Hawāzin, which was itself a significant part of the Qays-‘Aylān. At the time, ʿUrwa was escorting a caravan of al-Nuʿmān III from al-Ḥīra to the ʿUkāẓ market.[1]

News of the killing reached ʿUkāẓ, where al-Barrād's patron, Ḥarb ibn Umayya, had gathered with other chieftains belonging to the Quraysh. Realising that the Banū ʿĀmir ibn Ṣaʿṣaʿa would be seeking revenge for the killing of ʿUrwa al-Raḥḥāl, the Quraysh and Kināna set off for Mecca. They were pursued by the Hawāzin, who attacked them at Nakhla; the day of the battle is accordingly known as yawm Nakhla ('the day of Nakhla'), and is usually counted as the fourth day of fighting in the ḥarb al-fijār and the first day of the second war (though it is sometimes counted as the fourth day of the first war).[1]

As night fell on the yawm Nakhla, the Quraysh and Kināna managed to escape to the sacred area around Mecca.[1]

Second year

The next year, the warring groups met once more, this time at Shamṭa/Shamẓa, again near ʿUkāẓ. This day of fighting is known as the yawm Shamṭa. The antagonists were the same, except that the Banū ʿĀmīr ibn Ṣaʿṣaʿa were not joined by the sub-groups Banū Kaʿb and Banū Kilāb. The Hawāzin were victorious.[1]

Third year

Fighting recurred again the next year, this time at ʿUkāẓ; again the Hwāzin won. The battle is known as yawm al-ʿAblāʾ.[1]

Fourth year

The first battle this year is known as yawm ʿUkāẓ or yawm Sharab. On this occasion, the Quraysh and Kināna won. However, another fight followed -- the eighth day of fighting in total: yawm al-Ḥurayra, so named because it took place on the Ḥarra near ʿUkāẓ, and again the Hawāzin won. Peace was restored after a few further skirmishes.[1]

References

Fück, J. W. (1965). "Fidjār". In Lewis, B; Pellat, Ch; Schacht, J. (eds.). The Encyclopedia of Islam, Vol. 2, C-G (2nd ed.). Leiden: Brill. pp. 883–884. doi:10.1163/1573-3912_islam_SIM_2358. ISBN 90-04-07026-5..
Karim Samji, 'Narrative Early Islāmic History' (unpublished Ph.D. thesis, University of Michigan, 2013), pp. 20-21.