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The Battle of Mu'tah (Template:Lang-ar) was fought in 629 near the village of Mu'tah, located in what is now Jordan, to the east of the Jordan River, between a Muslim force dispatched by Muhammad and the Byzantine army. In historical Muslim sources, the battle is usually portrayed as a heroic feat wherein the Muslims held against a vastly superior Byzantine force. Academic scholars view the battle as an unsuccessful expedition by Muhammad aimed at conquering the Arabs living to the east of Jordan.

Muslim account

According to historical Muslim sources, which traditionally refer to Byzantium as Rome, the reason for the expedition at Mu’tah was the murder by the Ghassanids of Muhammad’s envoy to the Byzantine governor. Muhammad then dispatched 3,000 troops to the area east of Jordan River; the army was led by Zayd ibn Haritha, whose deputy was Jafar ibn Abi Talib, who in case of his death was supposed to be replaced by the poet Abdullah ibn Rawahah. Muslim historians claimed that the Byzantine emperor Heraclius himself had gathered an army, which was 100,000 or, according to ibn Hisham, 200,000 strong. When the Muslim troops arrived at the area to the east of Jordan and learnt about the numerousness of the Byzantine army, they lost their spirit and wanted to wait for reinforcements from Muhammad. However, Abdullah ibn Rawaha was able to inspire into the soldiers such enthusiasm for death in a battle that they immediately marched upon the enemy. At sight of the great Byzantine army, the Muslims withdrew southwards to the village of Mu’tah, where they were decisively defeated. The three Muslim leaders fell in the order of succession: first, Zayd ibn Haritha, then Jafar ibn Abi Talib, then Abdullah ibn Rawaha. After the death of the latter, the troops asked Thabit ibn Arkan to assume command; however, he declined and offered Khalid ibn al-Walid to take the lead. Al-Walid managed to save the remaining troops from complete annihilation; Muslim historians, except al-Wakidi, are silent on how he achieved his success.

Academic view

Academic scholars find the traditional Muslim account of the events as an attempt to find excuses for the Muslim defeat, which should not be taken seriously due to great exaggerations and embellishments, especially regarding the size of Byzantine army. Instead, they accept the Byzantine chronicle written by the historian Theophanes, which is the earliest written mention of Muhammad. The actual reason for Muhammad’s expedition was thus his desire to subjugate the Arabs living to the east of Jordan. According to Theophanes, the Muslim army intended to attack the local Arabs on a feast day (the word that Theophanes used most likely indicates a pagan rather than a Christian holiday). However, the vicar Theodorus learnt about their plans and gathered a force from the garrisons of local fortresses. He fell upon the Muslims at Mu'tah and routed them; three of the Muslim leaders were killed, and only Khalid ibn al-Walid managed to escape.

Muslim veneration of the battle

A mausoleum was built in Mu'ta over what are traditionally considered to be the tombs of those Muslims who fell in that battle.

References

1. ^ Buhl, F. "Mu'ta". In P.J. Bearman, Th. Bianquis, C.E. Bosworth, E. van Donzel and W.P. Heinrichs (ed.). Encyclopaedia of Islam Online Edition. Brill Academic Publishers. ISSN 1573-3912.{{cite encyclopedia}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: editors list (link)

See also

• History of Islam
• Muhammad as a warrior
• Ali ibn Abu Talib
• Jihad

• Battles of Muhammad
• Battles of the Byzantine Empire
• 629