| Conflict: | Battle of al-Asnam |
| Partof: | the Berber Revolt |
| Date: | 742 |
| Place: | Chlef, Algeria |
| Result: | Umayyad victory |
| Combatant1: | Umayyad Caliphate |
| Combatant2: | Berber insurgents |
| Strength1: | 10,000 men |
| Strength2: | 300,000 men |
| Commander1: | Handhala ibn Safwan al-Kalbi |
| Commander2: | Abd al-Wahid ibn Yazid al-Hawwari |
| Casualties1: | Unknown |
| Casualties2: | 180,000 killed |
The Battle of al-Asnam (Arabic: معركة الأصنام) was a military engagement between the Umayyad governor of Ifriqya, Handhala ibn Safwan al-Kalbi, and the Sufrite Berber insurgents led by Abd al-Wahid ibn Yazid al-Hawwari. The Umayyads decisively defeated the Berber army, saving Kairouan and Ifriqiya from the Berbers rebels.
In 742 AD, a large two-Berber army marched to attack Kairouan, one led by Oqasha ibn Ayub al-Fezari and the other by Abd al-Wahid ibn Yazid al-Hawwari. Urgent to meet Oqasha on the battlefield, Handhala dispatched an army of 40,000 cavalry led by a Lakhmite to meet Abd al-Wahid, and fought for a month before they were defeated and lost half of their army. Handhala defeated Oqasha at the battle of al-Qarn and executed him, but withdrew after suffering heavy casualties and prepared for Abd al-Wahid. In Kairouan, Handhala recruited the inhabitants and armed them, and raised around 5,000 infantry and 5,000 archers. Handhala also dug a trench around the city, and is said to have wanted to retreat and write to the caliph for reinforcements after seeing the size of Oqasha's army.[1]
Handhala marched to meet the Berbers in a place called al-Asnam in the Chelif River. The Berbers had a large army of around 300,000 men under Abd al-Wahid. The Arab left flank was overwhelmed by the Berber right flank and was soon to break, however the Arabs defeated the Berber left and the center. It wasn't long before the Arab left flank regained its position and repulsed the Berbers, killing many of them in the battle. Abd al-Wahid's army was slaughtered. 180,000 Berbers were killed, including Abd al-Wahid. Abd al-Wahid's body was found and his head was decapitated and shown to Handhala.[2] [3] Handhala reported the victory to Caliph Hisham ibn Abd al-Malik, who was delighted to hear the news.[4] [5]