Three Major Battles that Shaped Islamic Civilisation After the Prophet's Death

A number of major battles occurred after the death of Prophet Muhammad. However, according to Muslim historians, these wars were not aimed at colonising, seizing territory, or oppressing a country’s population. Rather, they were waged to confront rebellion, apostasy, and threats to the stability of the newly established Islamic state. Historians and scholars explain that some of the conflicts that arose after the Prophet’s death were triggered by the emergence of false prophets, the refusal to pay zakat, rebellion against the legitimate Islamic government, and military threats from major powers outside the Arabian Peninsula. One of the greatest battles in the early era of the Rightly Guided Caliphs was the Ridda Wars, which occurred during the reign of Caliph Abu Bakr al-Siddiq. In his book Fikih Tamkin, Professor Dr. Ali Muhammad al-Salabi explains that after Prophet Muhammad died, several Arab tribes left Islam and split into various groups. The first group were those who followed false prophets, such as Tulayha bin Khuwaylid al-Asadi and Musaylima al-Kadhdhab. They abandoned Islamic teachings, including prayer and zakat, and returned to pre-Islamic traditions. The second group still acknowledged the obligation of prayer but refused to pay zakat to the Islamic state. Among them were members of the Bani Tamim, led by Malik bin Nuwayrah, and several other tribes. According to al-Salabi, the companions initially held differing opinions regarding the group that refused zakat. However, Abu Bakr maintained that they must be fought to preserve the integrity of Islamic law and the unity of the ummah. A.R. Shohibul Ulum, in his book Kemelut Perang di Zaman Rasulullah, notes that the Muslim victory in the Ridda Wars was a crucial turning point that saved the Arabian Peninsula from a return to pre-Islamic practices and wider fragmentation. The Battle of Yamama also took place during the caliphate of Abu Bakr al-Siddiq. This conflict was sparked by the resistance of Musaylima al-Kadhdhab, who claimed to be a prophet and opposed the Islamic caliphate. It became one of the most decisive battles during Abu Bakr’s reign. The Muslim army, led by Khalid bin Walid, faced Musaylima’s forces, who were far greater in number and consisted of fanatical followers of the false prophet. Early in the battle, the Muslim forces came under heavy pressure. Repeated attacks from Musaylima’s troops caused some Muslim lines to retreat and shook their formation. Several companions and memorisers of the Qur’an fell in the fierce fighting. Seeing this situation, Khalid bin Walid immediately reorganised his forces. He ordered the troops to be regrouped based on their tribes and into more orderly combat units, making battlefield coordination more effective. This move succeeded in restoring the fighting spirit of the Muslims, who had previously been forced back.