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The Battle of Dibba took place between 632–634 CE during the
Ridda Wars The Ridda Wars ( ar, حُرُوْبُ الرِّدَّةِ, lit=Apostasy Wars) were a series of military campaigns launched by the first caliph Abu Bakr against rebellious Arabian tribes. They began shortly after the death of the Islamic proph ...
and is associated with the deaths of 10,000 men on the plain inland of the coastal town of Dibba, in what is now the
United Arab Emirates The United Arab Emirates (UAE; ar, اَلْإِمَارَات الْعَرَبِيَة الْمُتَحِدَة ), or simply the Emirates ( ar, الِْإمَارَات ), is a country in Western Asia (Middle East, The Middle East). It is ...
(UAE). The graves of the fallen are still to be seen in the area.


Al Azd

When the Persian
Sasanian Empire The Sasanian () or Sassanid Empire, officially known as the Empire of Iranians (, ) and also referred to by historians as the Neo-Persian Empire, was the last Iranian empire before the early Muslim conquests of the 7th-8th centuries AD. Named ...
waned, the Al Azd kings became the major political force in the Oman peninsula. The Prophet
Muhammad Muhammad ( ar, مُحَمَّد;  570 – 8 June 632 CE) was an Arab religious, social, and political leader and the founder of Islam. According to Islamic doctrine, he was a prophet divinely inspired to preach and confirm the mon ...
sent a messenger, Amr ibn Al As, who passed through Buraimi and presented his letter to the Sasanian governor, who rejected the Prophet's message. Al As went on to present his message at Nizwar to the Al Azdi Ruler, Abd Al-Juland and his brother Jayfar, who ruled the interior of the Oman peninsula. The brothers brought together the elders of the Al Azd tribe, who agreed that they should convert to Islam. In 630 CE, the Al Azd allied with the Julanda and attacked the Sasanian governor Maskan and defeated Maskan's forces at Damsetjerd in
Sohar Sohar ( ar, صُحَار, also Romanized as Suḥār) is the capital and largest city of the Al Batinah North Governorate in Oman. An ancient capital of the country that once served as an important Islamic port town, Suhar has also been credited ...
, killing Maskan. Leaving behind all their silver and gold, the Sasanians evacuated the country. On the Prophet's death in 632, Abd travelled to
Medina Medina,, ', "the radiant city"; or , ', (), "the city" officially Al Madinah Al Munawwarah (, , Turkish: Medine-i Münevvere) and also commonly simplified as Madīnah or Madinah (, ), is the Holiest sites in Islam, second-holiest city in Islam, ...
to swear fealty to the Caliph Abu Bakr, who received him with pleasure.


Uprisings

A series of apostate uprisings took place across Arabia, the suppression of which became known as the Ridda Wars, with a series of commanders despatched to put down the rebellions. Abu Bakr sent two commanders to Oman, Hudhayfa bin Mihsan Al Ghalfani, a Yemeni Himyarite and Arfajah, an Azdi. These were to support the Julanda kings against any dissident Al Azdis. The leader of the apostates of Oman was Laqit bin Malik Al-Azdi, known as 'the one with the crown', or ''Dhu'l Taj''. A natural rival to the Julanda kings, he forced them into retreat before the army from Medina completed its arduous journey through the
Rub Al Khali The Rub' al KhaliOther standardized transliterations include: / . The ' is the assimilated Arabic definite article, ', which can also be transliterated as '. (; ar, ٱلرُّبْع ٱلْخَالِي (), the "Empty Quarter") is the sand des ...
to reach the Oman peninsula. Meeting up with the Madinan army, the forces of the Julanda were bolstered by tribes from the region who deserted Laqit.


Battle

The combined force then marched on Dibba, then described as 'a great market and town'. Laqit found early success in the ensuing battle, placing his men's families behind their lines in order to encourage them to fight harder. However, the Medinan army prevailed following the arrival of reinforcements, the Beni Abdul Kais and Beni Najia tribes who had formed part of the Caliph's army but who had been delayed during the long journey from Medina. Contemporary texts put the death toll at 10,000. The town of Dibba was looted and the captives, one fifth of the treasure and the livestock of the town were sent as tribute to Abu Bakr. The phrase 'Day of Dibba' is still used, signifying the defeat of paganism by Islam.


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dibbla History of the United Arab Emirates 630s conflicts Ridda Wars Dibba