05) A short Biography of Prophet Muhammad - The Message

The Battle of Mu’tah
(Jumada Al-Ula 8 A.H.): It was the most significant
and fierce battle during the lifetime of the Messenger
(bpuh). Mu’tah was a village on the borders of Greater
Syria.
The Prophet (bpuh) had sent Al-Harith bin 'Umair Al-
Azdi on an errand to carry a letter to the ruler of
Busra. On his way, he was intercepted by Sharhabeel
bin 'Amr Al-Ghassani, the governor of Al-Balqa' and a
close ally to Caesar, the Byzantine Emperor. Al-Harith
was tied and beheaded by Al-Ghassani.
Killing envoys and messengers used to be regarded as
the most awful crime, and amounted to the degree of
declaration of war. The Prophet (bpuh) was shocked on
hearing the news and ordered that a large army of
3000 men be mobilized and dispatched to the north to
discipline the transgressors. It was the largest Muslim
army ever mobilized on this scale except in the
process of the Confederates Battle.
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