A battle of the military expedition in which the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) took part himself usually with a large infantry is called in Arabic, غزوة “Ghazwa”. Islamic historians have differed in their reports of the number of battles or “Ghazawat” غزوات plural of Ghazwa.

According to Imam Bukhari (RA), 17 battles took place. Imam Muslim (RA) narrated 19. Hakim (RA) narrated 21. Others have said 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, and 27. Ibn Ishaq (RA) has quoted that 27 is the correct amount and that the majority of them agree upon 27. Ibn Ishaq (RA) narrated that out of these battles, in only 9 of them, actual fighting took place. They are the Battles of Badr, Uhud, Bani Mustalaq, Khandaq, Bani Quraizhah, Khayber, Fathu Makkah, Hunain, and Taif.

Those in which the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) did not participate, but deputed a smaller group of his companions are called in Arabic, سرية “Sariya”. These ranged from 36-100 battalions dispatched. Ibn Ishaaq opines they were 47. In the chart below, the battles that took place between the second through the ninth year of hegira are listed.