Expedition of Usama bin Zayd

Expedition of Usama ibn Zayd
Part of The Arab-Byzantine wars
DateJune 632 AD
Location
Balqa, modern-day Jordan
Result Successful operation
Belligerents
Rashidun Caliphate Byzantine Empire
Commanders and leaders
 Heraclius
Strength
Approximately 3,000 soldiers Unknown
Casualties and losses
Unknown Unknown

The Expedition of Usama bin Zayd was a military expedition of the early Muslim Caliphate led by Usama ibn Zayd that took place in June 632, in which Muslim forces raided Byzantine Syria.[1][2] The expedition came three years after the Battle of Mu'tah.

After the Farewell Pilgrimage, the Islamic prophet Muhammad appointed Usama ibn Zayd as the commander of an expeditionary force which was to invade the region of Balqa in the Byzantine Empire. Muhammad sent Usama to Syria to avenge the Muslim martyrs of the Battle of Mu'tah, in which Usama's father and Muhammad's adopted son, Zayd ibn Harithah, had been killed.[3]

Usama's campaign was successful and his army was the first Muslim force to successfully invade and raid Byzantine territory, thus paving the way for the subsequent Muslim conquest of the Levant and Muslim conquest of Egypt, both of which took place during Usama's lifetime.

  1. ^ Abu Khalil, Shawqi (1 March 2004). Atlas of the Prophet's biography: places, nations, landmarks. Dar-us-Salam. p. 249. ISBN 978-9960897714.
  2. ^ Gil, A history of Palestine, 634-1099, p. 31.
  3. ^ Razwy, Sayed Ali Asgher. A Restatement of the History of Islam & Muslims. p. 283.