Pre-Islamic series of battles between Quraysh and Hawazin fought during sacred months, violating traditional Arab prohibitions on warfare.
Key Facts
- Duration
- Four years, fought on eight days
- Time period
- Late 6th century
- Primary belligerents
- Quraysh and Hawazin tribal confederations
- Name origin
- Battles occurred during sacred months when war was prohibited
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
The wars arose from conflict between the Quraysh and Hawazin tribal confederations of Arabia. A key aggravating factor was that fighting occurred during the sacred months traditionally observed as a truce period, enabling trade and commerce to proceed free from tribal hostilities.
The Fijar Wars were a series of pre-Islamic battles fought over four years, with combat taking place on eight distinct days. The confrontations pitted the Quraysh against the Hawazin in Arabia, and their sacrilegious character came from the deliberate violation of the prohibition on warfare during sacred months.
By taking place during the sacred months, the wars established a precedent of violating long-held Arab conventions protecting commerce and pilgrimage. The conflict is remembered as a formative episode of pre-Islamic Arab tribal history, and the young Prophet Muhammad is traditionally said to have witnessed some of these battles.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Side B
1 belligerent