Battle of Autas

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Battle of Autas
Part of the military campaigns of Muhammad
Date630 C.E.
Location
Autas, Hejaz, present-day Saudi Arabia
Result Muslim victory
Belligerents

Muslims

Thaqif
Hawazin
Hilal
Commanders and leaders
Muhammad
Khalid b. Al-Walid		 Malik b. Awf
Strength
12,000 Unknown
Casualties and losses
few notable

The Battle of Autas or Awtas (Arabic: غَزْوَة أَوْطَاس, romanized: Ġazwat Awṭās) took place in 630 C.E. between the forces of the Islamic prophet Muhammad and the tribal coalition centered around Taif. It was an immediate follow-up engagement following the victory at the Battle of Hunayn.[1]

Background

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After the conquest of Mecca by the Muslims, the conflict between Mecca and Ta'if which had been kept at the low for so long finally unveiled itself. Under Malik b. Awf, a coalition of consisting of Thaqif, Hawazin and their allies prepared to take the offensive against Muhammad and his troops. They met at the valley of Hunayn where they were soon sent into a retreat.[1]

Battle

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After the victory at Hunayn, Muhammad advanced on with his force of 12,000 men into Autas, pursuing remnants of the defeated Hawazin-Thaqif coalition. The opposition was already weakened and scattered, and although some resistance was offered, it quickly collapsed under the weight of the Muslim pursuit. Several enemy leaders and warriors were killed, many making their way towards Ta'if, where they would help to defend against the well-known siege that followed.[2] Autas thus served as a finish-up operation and as part of the Hunayn Campaign, rather than a detached and independent battle.[3]

Aftermath

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See also: Siege of Ta'if

The clash yielded significant spoils of war. Large numbers of livestock, prisoners and weapons fell into Muslim hands. These captives and spoils were distributed in Ji'rana among his allies, solidifying loyalty in the disaffected and new converts.[2][4]: 73–75  The victory at Autas reinforced Muslim dominance in the Hijaz, broke the strength of the Hawazin alliance, and accelerated the submission of surrounding tribes. Within weeks, many tribal leaders who had fought at Hunayn sought reconciliation with Muhammad and the release of their captives, either by sending delegations or by joining him at Ji'rana.[4]: 49 

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Watt, W. Montgomery (1956). Muhammad at Medina. Oxford, England, the U.K.: Clarendon Press. pp. 71–72.
  2. ^ a b Donner, Fred M. (1981). The Early Islamic Conquests. Princeton, New Jersey, the U.S.A.: Princeton University Press. p. 65. ISBN 978-0-691-05327-1.
  3. ^ Guillaume, A. (1955). The Life of Muhammad: A Translation of Ibn Ishaq’s Sirat Rasul Allah. Oxford: Oxford University Press. pp. 574–575. OCLC 752473457.
  4. ^ a b Donner, Fred M. (2010). Muhammad and the Believers: At the Origins of Islam. Cambridge, Massachusetts, the U.S.A.: Harvard University Press. pp. 49–75. ISBN 978-0-674-05097-6.

Further reading

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