Islamic History
The Night at Shaykhayn
The Islamic army spent the night in Shaykhayn. Our Prophet (PBUH) performed the afternoon, evening and night prayers there. He appointed Muhammad bin Maslama as the leader of a fifty-man guard unit and tasked them with patrolling around the army. The polytheistic Quraysh, seeing that our Prophet (PBUH) had arrived and settled in Shaykhayn, gathered their cavalry. They assigned Ikrimah bin Abu Jahl to lead the cavalry, tasking them with reconnaissance and patrol duties. The polytheist cavalry spent the night without stopping or resting. They advanced as far as Harrah but could not proceed further due to the rugged terrain of Harrah and fear of Muhammad bin Maslama.[142]