Expedition of Dhat al-Riqa
Previously the accounts from the life of Hazrat Uthman (ra) were being narrated and the battles he took part in. One of those expeditions was Dhat al-Riqa. The Holy Prophet (sa) set off against the Ghatfan tribes of Banu Tha‘labah and Banu Maharib in Najd with an army of 400 companions, or according to another narration, 700 companions. The Holy Prophet (sa) appointed Hazrat Uthman (ra) as the amir in Medina, whereas according to another narration, the Holy Prophet (sa) appointed Hazrat Abu Dharr Ghaffari (ra) as the amir.
The Holy Prophet (sa) reached a place in Najd called Nakhl, which was also known as Dhat al-Riqa. A large army had gathered there in order to confront the Holy Prophet (sa). Both armies lined up against each other, but a battle did not ensue and the people remained fearful of each other. During this very battle, the Muslims offered Salat al-Khauf [prayer during a time of danger] for the first time.
(Ibn Hisham, Sirat Ibn Hisham, Ghazwat Dhat al-Riqa [Beirut, Lebanon: Dar al-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, 2001], pp. 614-615) (Ibn Saad, Al-Tabaqat al-Kubra, Vol. 2, Ghazwat Rasul Allah (sa) Dhat al-Riqa [Beirut, Lebanon: Dar Ihya al-Turath al-Arabiyy, 1996], p. 280)
Why this expedition was called Dhat al-Riqa is because the companions patched their flags. It is also stated that there was a tree or a mountain in this area by the name of Dhat al-Riqa. A narration in Bukhari is as follows, Hazrat Abu Musa Ash‘ari (ra) relates:
“We set off for a battle alongside the Holy Prophet (sa). There were six of us. We had one camel among us, which we rode in turns. Our feet were cut open (that is, there was not six men in the expedition, but there were six men designated to one camel during the battle). Both of my feet were cut open as well and the nails had fallen off. We would wrap pieces of cloth around our feet. As such, it has been called the Battle of Dhat al-Riqa, that is, the battle of patches, as we had wrapped patches of cloth around our feet.”
(Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab al-Maghazi, Ghazwat Dhat al-Riqa, Hadith 4128)
There is an [additional] note by the Research Cell, which is important and so I will mention it as well. According to the books of history and biographies of the Holy Prophet (sa), the Battle of Dhat al-Riqa took place in 4 AH. However, Imam Bukhari (rh) has stated that this battle took place following the Battle of Khaybar, as Hazrat Abu Musa Ash‘ari (ra) participated in this battle and he accepted Islam after the Battle of Khaybar. Therefore, the date of 7 AH seems to be more plausible.
(Ibn Kathir, Al-Sirah al-Nabawiyyah, Ghazwat Dhat al-Riqa [Beirut, Lebanon: Dar al-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, 2001], p. 614) (Ibn Saad, Al-Tabaqat al-Kubra, Vol. 2, Ghazwat Rasul Allah (sa) Dhat al-Riqa [Beirut, Lebanon: Dar Ihya al-Turath al-Arabiyy, 1996], p. 280) (Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab al-Maghazi, Ghazwat Dhat al-Riqa, Hadith 4128)