The Wars of Sultan Sa’aduddin and Sabruddin

‘Adal 

The historian, the great Sheikh ‘Ali al Wafaa al-Qayduni​1​ in his book ​Sidq al Ikhlaq fi Tarikh
al-Khawwas:

Sa’aduddin bin Ahmad as-Somali al-Makhiri arose for jihad at the start of the 8th century of
the Prophetic calendar against all who worshipped other than Allah swt from the disbelievers
and idolatry in the lands of the Somaal. He gathered the Somalis who resided in Makhira
As-Somaal for war, the largest cities being at that time the city of Las Qorey, His, Maydh and
farther down the coast Ra’s Hafun.

He raised an army that numbered 6,500 that included 1,000 archers and 200 cavalrymen, all
soldiers were armed carrying spears, short-swords, daggers and poisoned arrows. They
embarked on Makhiri dhow boats and landed at the island​2​ which today is named after the
Sultan, making camp therein and building temporary residences made of branches.

Islam at that time was in a fragmented state within the lands of the Somalis, except for the
towns that were found along the coast from Makhir as-Somali, Mogadishu and other than it
along the nothern western coast. As is recorded in history, on Monday the 17th of Shawwal
735 A.H the war began, the soldiers landed on the shores near Zayla’, and Zayla’ at that
time was desolate and not prosperous.

The Sultan commanded the generals of the army, six of them, each commanding a division
of 1,000, that they further divided each division into four, allocating to each division two
hundred archers, one hundred at the front, and one hundred divided along the flanks.
Once the army had then been organised alongside these formations, the Sultan commanded
that they attack the pagans, al-Galla al-Hariyya in the early morning, with the cavalry men
versed in the Qur’an, chanting​3​ His words (insert Al ‘Adiyat)

The al-Galla pagans were crushed and defeated after being met with a barrage of arrows,
despite having large numbers, they were poorly organised and were not well equiped. 400 of
them were slain, and more than 800 fled wounded. They fled after witnessing the relentless
barrage of arrows being fired their way. As for the Muslims, 120 of them were martyred, and
forty were wounded, they returned to the island, victorious and in good spirits.

Two days later, they embarked on the smaller boats after the dawn prayer, landing on the
shore soon thereafter. Half of them returned to the island, as commanded by Sultan
Sa’aduddin, that they be prepared as reinforcements, he informed them that they would
arrive on the shore at around the afternoon prayer, in order to carry the Muslims back to the
island.

1
A great historian and scholar that was included in the praise of the ‘Ulama that Al Shaykh ‘Abd al
Rahman bin Ahmad az-Zayla’i mentioned in his Tawsila; “By ‘Ali al-Wafa along with al-Damiri”
2
Al Jazirat as-Sa’aduddin, Somaliland
3
Surat al ‘Adiyat
The Wars of Sultan Sa’aduddin and Sabruddin

Just before noon, as was in the first day of battle, a fierce encounter ensued. The forces of
the Sultan were moving on the offensive until they were surprised by their enemy being
reinforced with support by newly arrived groups, by Dhuhr they surrounded the Sultan and
his forces from all directions. They continued battling on the defensive up until the ‘Asr
prayer despite being heavily outnumbered. When it was nearly sunset the Galla Al Hariya
had turned back on their heels and the Muslims likewise retreated to the coast, embarking
on their boats to return to the island. The battle ended with hundreds of the Galla al Hariya
being killed, and more being wounded. 307 Muslims were martyred, and a further 400 were
wounded.

The following day the Sultan ordered a renewed attack which this time happened slightly
more inland from the coast, the battle on this day was far more vicious and gruesome than
those earlier. It was said, that the Muslims grew tired of relentlessly throwing spears, and
how their short swords and daggers were lodged with the blood and flesh of the Al Galla al
Hariya, this battle lasted from the early morning until late afternoon without pause.
Undoubtedly this battle was much more difficult than those that took place on the previous
days, and at around the time of ‘Asr the Galla al Hariya fought with a renewed sense of
urgency after they had observed that if the battle continued it would reach their villages and
towns.

Due to this they began frantically panicking and fled to protect their properties but the
Muslims pursued them seizing 97 camels, 65 oxen, and 473 heads of sheeps and goats.
They then set fire to their villages, and then returned to the coast around dusk, embarking on
their boats going back to the island along with their spoils. The Sultan that night slaughtered
camels and oxen, it being fed through Thursday and Friday.

On that friday, the Sultan called for a council and had remarked on his plans of going to the
Arabian coast, acting on the request of its Sultan after he sent two soldiers inquiring if
whether they needed assistance, whereby Sultan Sa’aduddin confirmed that he did. On the
Battle that had occured on Wednesday, up to 817 fighters of the Galla al Hariya were killed
and much more were wounded.