Sariyya of Abdullah ibn Unays against Sufyan ibn Khalid
سرية عبد الله بن أنيس إلى سفيان بن خالد
c. April 627 CE · c. Dhu al-Qa'da 5 AH† †
† Hijri date derived by computation from the Gregorian/Julian date; it may differ from the transmitted date by a day or two.
A single-man sariyya the Prophet ﷺ sent in Muharram of the sixth year, as Waqidi reports, to kill Sufyan ibn Khalid al-Hudhali, who was gathering forces at Uranah; Ibn Unays went alone, identified him by the Prophet's description, and joined him to get close.
At a glance
- Era
- The Prophetic Era
- Region
- Arabia
- Review
- Draft Completeness 1/5 · Help complete it
In time
Skirmishes, raids and expeditions
Overview
Al-Waqidi relates with his chain that the Prophet heard that Sufyan ibn Khalid al-Hudhali had gathered forces at Urana and around it, so he called Abd Allah ibn Unays and sent him alone with a detachment to kill him. 1
The description
The Prophet told him to recognise him by his description: he would inspire awe in him, and he would feel a shiver when he saw him. Ibn Unays had told him that he was not frightened of men, and that was the sign. 2
The approach
The report says that Ibn Unays set out in disguise, claiming descent from Khuza'a. He passed Qudayd and Urana, until he met Sufyan in the bottom of Urana walking with the Ahabish. He recognised him by the description, came near him and slipped into his company, pretending agreement, so that he could get close to him. 2
I have limited this account to this much and have not given its conclusion, which is taken up in its place.
Connections
- Had participant
- Abdullah ibn Unays
- Part of
- The Prophetic Era
People and things also explored
The Pledges of Aqaba· Ali's expedition to destroy al-Fuls, the idol of Tayy'· Ali ibn Abi Talib's expeditions to Yemen (twice)· The Expedition of Dhat al-Salasil· The Expedition of Dhu Qarad (Ghazwat al-Ghaba)· The expedition of Usama ibn Zayd· The expedition to Tabuk· Abdullah ibn Rawaha's expedition to Khaybar and the killing of al-Yasir ibn Rizam
Sources
- al-Maghazi — al-Waqidi, p. 531–532
- al-Maghazi — al-Waqidi, p. 532
Cite this page
islam.museum contributors. “Sariyya of Abdullah ibn Unays against Sufyan ibn Khalid”. islam.museum, https://islam.museum/en/event/sariyya-of-abdullah-ibn-unays/. CC BY-SA 4.0. Accessed 2026-10-17.