Expedition of Abdullah Ibn Unais


The Expedition of Abdullah ibn Unais, also known as the Assassination of Sufyan bin Khaled was the first attack against the Banu Lahyan, which took place in the month of Muharram in the year A.H. 4. It was reported that Khaled bin Sufyan Al-Hathali, considered an attack on Madinah and that he was inciting the people on Nakhla or Uranah to fight Muslims. So Muhammad sent Abdullah ibn Unais to assassinate him. After cutting off Khalid ibn Sufyan ibn Nubayh al-Hudhali's head at night, Unais brought it back to Muhammad.

Attack on the chief of Banu Lahyan

found Hudayr in the company of his wife, when asked about his identity. Unais replied:
"I am an Arab tribesman who has heard of you and of the army you are raising to fight Muhammad and I have come to you to join your ranks."

Sufyan bin Khaled ibn Nubayh al-Hudhayli trusted him. Then Unais asked to talk to him privately, once, while conversing, Abdullah ibn Unais walked a short distance with Khalid ibn Sufyan ibn Nubayh al-Hudhali, and when an opportunity came he struck him with his sword and killed him. After killing Khalid ibn Sufyan ibn Nubayh al-Hudhali, he cut off his head and brought that to Muhammad. Muhammad gave him his staff as a reward and said:
This will function as a sign of recognition for you and me, on the day of resurrection

This assassination had the effect of silencing the Banu Lahyan, for some time. But another branch of Banu Lihyan wanted to take revenge for the killing of their leader, Khalid ibn Sufyan ibn Nubayh al-Hudhali and were thinking of means to do so.

Islamic sources

Biographical literature

This event is mentioned in Ibn Hisham's biography of Muhammad. The Muslim jurist Ibn Qayyim Al-Jawziyya also mentions the event in his biography of Muhammad, Zad al-Ma'ad. Modern secondary sources which mention this, include the award winning book, Ar-Raheeq Al-Makhtum.
The Muslim jurist Tabari, also mentions the event in his biography of Muhammad:

Hadith literature

The incident is also mentioned in the Sunni Hadith collection Sunan Abu Dawud:
The event is also mentioned in Musnad Ahmad 3:496.