[2] When Muḥammad received intelligence that a Meccan caravan was heading towards Syria led by Abū Sufyān ibn Ḥarb, he directed about 150-200 Muslim volunteers in order to intercept it.
He drank of the well at al-Ḍabū'ah and then traversed the plain of Malal until he met the road at Ṣukhayrāt al-Yamām and then went on along it till he reached al-’Ushayrah, in the valley of Yanbu‘.
[citation needed] This was the same caravan led by Abū Sufyān that Muhammad set out to intercept on its return from Syria two months after Dhi’l ‘Ushayrah invasion, and was the direct reason for the break out of the Battle of Badr.
In the process of this campaign, Muhammad entered into an alliance by contracting a non-aggression pact with Banū Madlij/Mudlij, a tribe inhabiting the vicinity of al-‘Ushayrah.
Muhammad also concluded another treaty that was made previously with Banū Ḍamrah during the expedition of Waddān.
They are Uḥaymir of Thamūd who slaughtered the camel of Ṣālih and the man who will strike you on this,' and he placed his hand on 'Alī's head, 'so that this will become soaked from it.'