Fijar Wars

The Fijar Wars (Arabic: حرب الفِجَار, romanized: Sacrilegious Wars) were a series of military wars, that took place around the late sixth century CE. It was between the two major tribal confederations of Arabia, namely the Quraysh and the Hawazin tribe of the Qays confederation. Assuming the sources are correct, fighting took place on eight days spread over four years.^[1]

The conflict takes its name from that fact that its battles took place during the sacred months during which warfare was prohibited—a prohibition that usually enabled commerce to take place without interference from tribal feuds.

Protagonists and causes[]

The war was between 'two great confederations including townsfolk of Mecca and Taif': on the one hand, the Qays (excluding the Ghatafan) and, on the other, the Quraysh and the Kinana.^[1] Various Qaysi tribes participated, included the Hawazin, Banu Thaqif, Banu Amir and Banu Sulaym.^[2][3][4]

The motivations for the war have been debated, but the underlying cause of the war is usually identified as competition over control of the trade routes and associated revenues in the Najd. The Quraysh were successfully dominating these routes, and funded the arming of their allies in the ḥarb al-fijār. Notwithstanding the vicissitudes of the war, the Quraysh emerged dominant.^[1]

The sources are consistent in claiming that the Islamic prophet Muhammad, who was a member of the Quraysh, had some involvement in the war, with his age at the time being given by different sources as between 14 and 28. Some, such as Aghani, claim that he actually fought (courageously) at the battle of yawm Shamṭa (where the Quraysh were defeated). Others, such as Ibn Hisham, claim that he merely supplied one or more uncles with arrows.^[1]

First year[]

The first three days of fighting (sometimes considered one war, sometimes three) comprised 'mere brawls'.^[1]

However, there followed a conflict lasting four years. During the sacred months, of the Kinana treacherously attacked of the , which belonged to the Hawazin, which was itself a significant part of the Qays. At the time, Urwa was escorting a caravan of al-Nu'man III from al-Hira to the Ukaz market.^[1]

News of the killing reached Ukaz, where al-Barrad's patron, Harb ibn Umayya, had gathered with other chieftains belonging to the Quraysh. Realising that the Banu Amir ibn Sa'sa'a would be seeking revenge for the killing of Urwa al-Rahhal, the Quraysh and Kinana set off for Mecca. They were pursued by the Hawazin, who attacked them at Nakhla; the day of the battle is accordingly known as yawm Nakhla ('the day of Nakhla'), and is usually counted as the fourth day of fighting in the ḥarb al-fijār and the first day of the second war (though it is sometimes counted as the fourth day of the first war).^[1]

As night fell on the yawm Nakhla, the Quraysh and Kināna managed to escape to the sacred area around Mecca.^[1]

Second year[]

The next year, the warring groups met once more, this time at Shamta/Shamza, again near Ukaz. This day of fighting is known as the yawm Shamṭa. The antagonists were the same, except that the Banū Amir ibn Sa'sa'a' were not joined by its sub-groups, the Banu Ka'b and Banu Kilab. The Hawazin were victorious.^[1]

Third year[]

Fighting recurred again the next year, this time at Ukaz; again the Hawazin won. The battle is known as yawm al-ʿAblāʾ.^[1]

Fourth year[]

The first battle this year is known as yawm ʿUkāẓ or yawm Sharab. On this occasion, the Quraysh and Kinana won. However, another fight followed—the eighth day of fighting in total: yawm al-Ḥurayra, so named because it took place on the Harra near Ukaz, and again the Hawazin won. Peace was restored after a few further skirmishes.^[1]

References[]

Further reading[]

• Ella Landau-Tasseron, 'The Sinful Wars: Religious, Social, and Historical Aspects of the Ḥurūb al-Fijār', Jerusalem Studies in Arabic and Islam, 8 (1986), 37-59.
• Fück, J. W. (1965). "Fidjār". In Lewis, B; Pellat, Ch; Schacht, J. (eds.). Encyclopedia of Islam. Vol. 2 C–G (2nd ed.). Leiden: Brill. pp. 883–884. ISBN 90-04-07026-5.Watt, W. Montgomery (1986). "Kuraysh". Encyclopedia of Islam. Vol. V: Khe–Mahi (New ed.). Leiden and New York: Brill. pp. 434–435. ISBN 90-04-07819-3.