Detailed Account

The Battle of Mu'tah represented the first military engagement between Muslims and the Byzantine Empire. The expedition was prompted by the execution of the Prophet's ﷺ emissary, al-Harith ibn Umayr al-Azdi, by Shurahbil ibn Amr, the Byzantine governor of Busra. Violating the diplomatic immunity of emissaries was considered a serious breach of international norms warranting response. The Prophet ﷺ dispatched 3,000 soldiers under the command of Zayd ibn Harithah, with contingency leadership assignments: if Zayd fell, Ja'far ibn Abi Talib would take command; if Ja'far fell, Abdullah ibn Rawahah would lead; if he too fell, the Muslims should select their commander. This unprecedented triple contingency plan proved prescient. Upon reaching Mu'tah near modern Jordan, Muslims discovered they faced a vastly larger Byzantine force supported by Arab Christian tribes, potentially exceeding 100,000 soldiers. Despite the overwhelming odds, they chose to fight rather than retreat. In the ensuing battle, all three designated commanders attained martyrdom in succession: Zayd was struck down while holding the standard; Ja'far continued fighting even after losing both arms, sustaining over 70 wounds; and Abdullah ibn Rawahah overcame initial hesitation to lead a valiant charge. Khalid ibn al-Walid, who had embraced Islam only two months earlier, then took command and executed a strategic withdrawal, reorganizing troops and using tactical deception to suggest reinforcements had arrived. This masterful maneuver allowed the Muslim army to disengage without being pursued, preserving most of the force. Though technically a defeat, the encounter demonstrated remarkable courage against overwhelming odds, with the Prophet ﷺ describing the martyred commanders as ascending to Paradise. The battle established Islam's military presence beyond Arabia, initiated conflict with the Byzantine Empire, and showcased Khalid's military genius, leading to his title 'Sword of Allah' (Sayfullah).