ISLAMIC HISTORY: BATTLE OF MUT'AH

The Battle of Mu'tah - Ghazwat Mu'tah / Ma'rakat Mu'tah معركة مؤتة - was fought in September 629 CE, 1 Jumada al-Awwal 8 AH, near the village of Mu'tah, east of the Jordan River in what is now Karak Governorate, Jordan. It was the first major encounter between the Muslims and the Byzantine Empire (Romans).

Background - Why it happened 

1. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ sent an emissary, al-Harith ibn Umayr al-Azdi, with a letter to the ruler of Busra (Bostra).
2. On his way, at the village of Mu'tah, he was executed on the orders of the Ghassanid official Shurahbil ibn Amr al-Ghassani. The Ghassanids were Arab Christian vassals of Byzantium. In Arab custom, killing an envoy was a grave violation.
3. The Byzantines were also re-occupying the area after their peace with the Sasanians in July 629. Their sakkellarios, Theodore, was in command in the Balqa region with local Arab tribal allies.

In response, the Prophet mobilised an army.

The Two Armies

Muslims: 3,000 men

Led by three commanders appointed in order: 

1. Zayd ibn Harithah - the Prophet's adopted son
2. Ja'far ibn Abi Talib – cousin of the Prophet, brother of Ali
3. Abdullah ibn Rawahah

The Prophet ﷺ said, "If Zayd is martyred, Ja'far will take the flag. If Ja'far is martyred, Abdullah will take it. If Abdullah is martyred, let the Muslims choose a commander from among themselves."

Byzantines and Ghassanids: 10,000, according to modern historians like Walter Kaegi. Early Muslim sources like al-Waqidi and Ibn Ishaq report 100,000 or even 200,000, which modern historians consider greatly exaggerated. The overall commander was Theodore, and the Arab vassal leader was Malik ibn Zafilah.

How the Battle Unfolded

The Muslim army marched to Ma'an. There they learned the size of the Byzantine coalition and wanted to wait for reinforcements from Medina. Abdullah ibn Rawahah rallied them, reminding them that what they sought was shahadah (martyrdom), and they continued.

They first engaged at Musharif, then withdrew toward Mu'tah, where the main fighting took place in a valley between two heights, which helped negate the Byzantines' numerical advantage.

One by one, the three appointed commanders fell as martyrs: 

• Zayd ibn Harithah took the flag and fought until he was martyred.
• Ja'far ibn Abi Talib took it. His hands were cut off while holding the banner; he held it with his arms until he was martyred. For this he is known as Ja'far al-Tayyar – the one who flies – as the Prophet said, 'Allah gave him two wings in Paradise.'
• Abdullah ibn Rawahah then took the flag and was also martyred.

The army was on the verge of being routed. Thabit ibn Aqram took the banner to save the army from collapse and handed it to Khalid ibn al-Walid.

Khalid, who had only become Muslim months earlier, showed his military genius:

He reorganised the army overnight. He swapped the right wing with the left, the vanguard with the rear, and brought up new units from the back, making the Byzantines think fresh reinforcements had arrived. He then launched aggressive hit-and-run attacks and then gradually disengaged in good order, saving the bulk of the 3,000 from annihilation.

According to Muslim sources, 12 martyrs fell – though modern historians note the casualty count for ordinary soldiers is disputed. They include: Zayd, Ja'far, Abdullah, Mas'ud ibn al-Aswad, Wahb ibn Sa'd, and others.

Aftermath

When the army returned to Medina, some people berated them for retreating, calling them furrar - those who fled. The Prophet ﷺ defended them, saying, "They are not furrar; they are kurrar – those who will return to attack again."

It was after this battle that the Prophet gave Khalid the title Saifullah – The Sword of Allah.

The graves of Zayd, Ja'far, and Abdullah are in al-Mazar near Mu'tah in Jordan today, where a mausoleum was built.

Three years later, the Prophet appointed Usama ibn Zayd - the son of Zayd ibn Harithah - to lead an expedition to the same area to avenge Mu'tah. That campaign became the first successful Muslim raid into Byzantine territory and paved the way for the later conquests of al-Sham.

Why Muslims remember it

1. Sacrifice and obedience: The three commanders knew they would likely die, yet accepted command without hesitation.
2. Leadership under pressure: The lesson of Thabit ibn Aqram and Khalid – saving the Ummah's army is more important than personal glory.
3. It set the stage: Mu'tah was not a conquest, but it was the first time the young Islamic state measured itself against the superpower of its age, the Byzantine Empire.

Hj Zulheimy Maamor

19 October 2026: 7:45 a.m.