What is Ghazwa Hunain in Islam? Introduction And Detail of Ghazwa Hunain
update 7 Aug,2026
This article is about ghazwa Hunain that took place after conquest of Makkah, After Conquest of Makkah some enimies of Islam were planning of war against Muslim. This battle was between Muslims and non muslims, we discuss this events of this ghazwa under following toics:
Ghazwa Hunain Introduction
The departure of the Messenger of Allah
Facts of the war
Collecting the wealth and prisoners in Jahrana
Honor and respect to Shema, the prisoner of Haneen
Ghazwa Hunain Introduction
Hanain is the name of a place between Makkah and Taif where the tribes of Hawazin and Saqif were settled. These tribes were warriors and expert in archery. Because of the Fatah Makkah, these tribes became strong so that the Muslims would not attack us that is why they consulted among themselves that before the Muslims attack us, we should attack them. Their leader, Malik bin Aaf, came to attack them with an army of twenty thousand men. Malik Bin Auf advised his troops that everyone should stay with their families so that there would be a good fight and no one should leave his family.
The departure of the Messenger of Allah
Time and date
8 Shawwal, 8 Hijri
Total strength
12 thousands
Rasoolullah went to Hunain With his Troops. Seeing the strength of the army, a man came out of his mind,
"Today we will not be defeated due to shorten of Army". There was pride in this sentence which Allah did not like. Allah Almighty did not like this sentence and was defeated in the first attack.
Facts of the war
Army-of-Islam on Tuesday evening in Hunain Valley reached. Huwazin and Saqif were sitting quietly by their side. Malik bin Auf had instructed them to take out the swords from covers first. And when the army of Islam is there, they attack them with 20 thousand swords. When the Islamic army started passing through this pass, the army of Hawazin and Saqif attacked them, and arrows started raining on the Muslims from all sides.
So the Muslims scattered everywhere. Only 12 people remained with the Holy Prophet. At that time, Hazrat Abbas was holding his mule. And Abu Sufyan bin Haras was holding the stirrup. The voice of Hazrat Abbas was loud. The Messenger of Allah ordered him to give voice to the Mujarin and Ansar Hazrat. Abbas said in a loud voice,
"O Mujarin and Ansar, O people of Bait Rizwan!
All turned towards this voice. And in a small circle all were gathered. He ordered an attack on the polytheists. When the battle was at its height, the Holy Prophet took a fist of clay and threw it at the infidels. There was no human being whose eyes did not fade. This was the moment when the enemy was defeated. Many fled and many were captured. Several of the enemy were killed. A lot of wealth came into their hands.
(Ayoon al-Ahar, Volume 2, Page 192 )
After the defeat of the enemy, Malik bin Auf, the leader of Hawazin and Saqif, fled with a party and took refuge.
Collecting the wealth and prisoners in Jahrana
The Muslims moved towards Taif. Malik bin Auf was locked in the fort of Taif before he left with his army. The Muslims went to Taif and besieged fort. Suddenly stones were hurled at muslims from the fort and arrows was shot because of which many Muslims were injured and 12 were martyred.
It lasted for twenty days, the wall of fort was so strong that the stones thrown did not work. Rasulullah (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam) took the Moasara with the advice of a companion, but later this fort was conquered by itself.
All the people became Muslims and Malik bin Aaf also later became a Muslim.
distributor of wealth and booty
Allah's Messenger went to Jarana in 5 zil Qahda, where the wealth and booty were collected. 6,000 prisoners, 24,000 camels, 40,000 goats, 4,000 cattles.
You went to Hawazin and waited for 10 days for those people to come to free their children and women. But they did not come and you divided the wealth and booty (Fatah al-Bari, Volume 8, Page 38, Yeon al-Athar, Volume 2, Page 193)
The return of the families of Hawazin after the distribution of the booty
A delegation of Hawazin came, consisting of 9 accepted Islam and demanded the return of his property and family. Your foster mother, Halima Sadia, was from the same tribe as the tribe that Khatib said,
"O Messenger of Allah, you are the ancestors of this tribe. If we had such a relationship with a king, we would have been kind. Your glory is much greater than that".
You said that now the wealth has been distributed. Choose one of two things, prisoners or property. The delegation chose family. The 6 thousand prisoners were returned after Zohar.
Honor and respect to Shema, the prisoner of Haneen
Hazrat Muhammad's foster sister, Sheema, was also among these prisoners of war, The Messenger of Allah recognized her and greeted her and spread a blanket for her to sit down. Your eyes be filled with tears of joy And he said, "If you want to stay with me, you can." Shema said, "I want to go back and become a Muslim."
The Holy Prophet gave her some camels and goats and three slaves and a female servant.
(Al-Asba, Volume 2, Page 344)
Distribution of the rewards in the noble Quraysh
The faith of the Quraysh elite who converted to Islam on the occasion of the Fatah of Makkah was weak.
Hazrat Muhammad rewarded them with many rewards, giving some one hundred camels, some two hundred and some three hundred camels.
(Fatah Al-Bari, Volume 8, Page 38-Sharh Al-Mawahib, Volume 3, Page 36)
The Objection of the Ansar and the reply of the Messenger of Allah
This wealth was given to the Quraysh and nothing was given to the Ansar.
The Messenger of Allah gave it to the Quraish but left us, and till our swords are dripping with their blood.
Some say that when they are in trouble, we are called and wealth is distributed to others.
He gathered them together and said,
"Don't you agree that the people took camels and goats and you took the Messenger of Allah with you?"
And he said, "If the migration had not been in destiny, I would have been an Ansari, if the people lived in one valley and the Ansar in one valley, So I will go to the valley of the Ansar and he prayed for them,
"O Allah, have mercy on the Ansar and their children and their children".
It was said that the Ansar cried so much that their beards get wet.
He said, "We have agreed on this division that The Messenger of Allah came to us (Fatah al-Bari, vol. 8, page 40, Sharh al-Mawahib, vol. 3, page 38).
Return to Medina
On the 18th of Dhul Qahdah, you set out from Jharna towards Makkah with the intention of the Umraa.
Later, he appointed Atab bin Sayyid as governor of Makkah and made Muwaz bin Jabbal a preacher of religion.
And two months and 16 days later, on 27 Dhul Qahdah, he entered Madinah with his companions (Zarqani, vol. 2, page 41).
*FAQ: Ghazwa Hunain*
*1. What is Ghazwa Hunain and when did it take place?*
Ghazwa Hunain was a battle between Muslims and the tribes of Hawazin and Saqif. It took place on *8 Shawwal, 8 Hijri*, shortly after the Conquest of Makkah, in the valley of Hunain between Makkah and Taif.
*2. Why did the battle of Hunain happen?*
After Fatah Makkah, the tribes of Hawazin and Saqif feared an attack by Muslims. Their leader, *Malik bin Auf*, decided to attack first. He gathered an army of about *20,000 men* with families and wealth, to prevent anyone from fleeing.
*3. How many Muslims participated in Ghazwa Hunain?*
The Muslim army consisted of *12,000 companions*. This included people who had recently accepted Islam after the Conquest of Makkah.
*4. What happened at the start of the battle?*
The enemy hid in the passes of Hunain Valley and launched a surprise attack with arrows. In the initial attack, many Muslims scattered. Only *12 companions* remained with the Holy Prophet ﷺ, including Hazrat Abbas رضي الله عنه who called out to the Muhajireen and Ansar.
*5. How did the Muslims gain victory?*
When the companions regrouped, the Prophet ﷺ took a handful of dust and threw it toward the enemy. With Allah’s help, the enemy was defeated. Many were killed, many fled, and a large amount of wealth and prisoners were captured.
*6. What was collected as booty after Ghazwa Hunain?*
At *Jahrana*, the following was collected:
- *6,000 prisoners*
- *24,000 camels*
- *40,000 goats*
- *4,000 cattle*
*7. What happened to the prisoners and families of Hawazin?*
The Prophet ﷺ waited 10 days for Hawazin to come and free their families. When a delegation came and accepted Islam, they were given a choice: wealth or prisoners. They chose their families, and *all 6,000 prisoners were returned* after Zuhr prayer.
*8. Who was Sheema and how was she honored?*
*Sheema رضي الله عنها*, the foster sister of the Prophet ﷺ from Bani Sa’d, was among the prisoners. The Prophet ﷺ recognized her, spread his blanket for her, and honored her. She chose to return to her people. The Prophet ﷺ gifted her camels, goats, 3 slaves, and a female servant.
*9. Why did the Ansar object and what was the Prophet’s reply?*
Most of the booty was given to the new Quraysh Muslims to strengthen their faith. The Ansar felt left out.
The Prophet ﷺ gathered them and said:
_"Don’t you agree that people are taking camels and goats, while you are taking the Messenger of Allah with you?"_
He prayed: _"O Allah, have mercy on the Ansar, their children, and their children’s children."_
The Ansar were moved to tears and said they were pleased that the Messenger of Allah was with them.
*10. What happened after Ghazwa Hunain?*
After distributing the booty at Jahrana, the Prophet ﷺ went for *Umrah on 18 Dhul Qadah*. He appointed *Attab bin Usaid* as governor of Makkah and *Muaz bin Jabal* as a teacher.
He returned to *Medina on 27 Dhul Qadah*, about 2 months and 16 days later.
*11. What lesson is taken from Ghazwa Hunain?*
- Victory comes from Allah, not from numbers or pride.
- Mercy to relatives and honoring ties, like with Sheema.
- Wisdom in distributing wealth to strengthen new Muslims.
- The special status and love of the Ansar in Islam.
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