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1.
Tabari: Vol. 2, p. 462.
2.
Ibid
: Vol. 2, P. 462.
3.
Ibid
.
4.
Ibid
.
5.
Ibid
: Vol. 2, p. 463.
6.
Only a purely material perspective could regard this as a mistake, and even then this
statement is difficult to defend categorically. It could easily be argued that the astonishing
victories against the apostates, Persians and Romans during Abu Bakr's short caliphate
were partly from the blessing of this decision to continue a matter begun by the Prophet
(SAWS), one of the first major decisions made by Abu Bakr as caliph.
7.
Balazuri: p. 104.
Chapter 12
(Abu Bakr Strikes)
Page 1
"If the faith of Abu Bakr were to be weighed against the faith of all the people of the
earth, his faith would outweigh theirs."
[Umar bin Al-Khattab]
"Abu Bakr was the bravest of the people."
[Ali ibn Abi Talib]
1
The apostasy had become so general that it affected every tribe in Arabia with the
exception of the people in Makkah and Madinah and the tribe of Thaqeef at Taif. In some
cases the entire tribe apostatised. In other cases part of the tribe apostatised while part
continued to follow the true faith; and among those who remained Muslims, many had to
pay with their lives for their faith. The flames of disbelief were fanned by two false
prophets, Tulaiha bin Khuwailid and Musailima bin Habib, and a false prophetess by the
name of Sajah bint Al Harith. Musailima had been an impostor for some time, while
Tulaiha made his claim to prophethood during the illness of the Holy Prophet. The most
immediate threat to Madinah was posed by Tulaiha and the tribes of West-Central and
North-Central Arabia that followed him. These tribes were the Ghatfan, the Tayy, the
Hawazin, the Bani Asad and the Bani Sulaim.
The concentrations of apostates nearest Madinah were located in two areas: Abraq, 70
miles north-east of Madinah, and Zhu Qissa, 24 miles east of Madinah.
2
(See Map 8)
These concentrations consisted of the Ghatfan, the Hawazin and the Tayy. A week or two
after the departure of the Army of Usama, the apostates at Zhu Qissa sent a delegation to
Abu Bakr.
"We shall continue the prayers"
, said the delegates,
"but we shall not pay any
taxes."
Abu Bakr would have none of it.
"By Allah"
, he replied,
"if you withhold a single
ounce of what is due from you, I shall fight you. I allow you one day in which to give your
reply."
3
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The envoys were taken aback by the determination and confidence of the new Caliph
who seemed to be entirely unaware of the weakness of his position. And he had given
them one day! The following morning, before the single day's ultimatum had expired, the
envoys slipped out of Madinah, which meant a rejection of Abu Bakr's demands. Soon
after their departure, Abu Bakr sent his own envoys to all the apostate tribes, calling upon
them to remain loyal to Islam and continue to pay their taxes.
But the apostate envoys from Zhu Qissa, before leaving Madinah, had had a good look at
the place, and their keen eyes had noticed the absence of warriors. On returning to Zhu
Qissa they told their comrades about their conversation with Abu Bakr and the very
vulnerable state of Madinah. Meanwhile Tulaiha, who was now at Samira, had reinforced
the apostates at Zhu Qissa with a contingent under his brother, Hibal-a wily and
resourceful general. When the apostates heard the reports of the envoys, the temptation
proved too much for them; they decided to have a crack at Madinah while it was still
defenceless. Consequently, the force at Zhu Qissa moved forward from Zhu Hussa
4
,
from where, after forming a base, part of the force advanced still nearer Madinah and
went into camp, preparatory to attacking the town. It was now the third week of July 632
(late Rabi-ul-Akhir, 11 Hijri).
Abu Bakr received intelligence of this move and at once undertook the organisation of
the defences of Madinah. The main army was out under Usama, but Madinah was not as
defenceless as the rebels had imagined. Quite a few warriors were still there, especially
from the clan of Bani Hashim (the Prophet's own clan) who had remained behind to
mourn their departed kinsman. From these remnants Abu Bakr scraped together a
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fighting force. The confidence of Abu Bakr, never shaken, was strengthened by the
thought that he had such stalwarts with him as Ali, Zubair bin Al Awam and Talha bin
Ubaidullah. Each of these was appointed to command one?third of the newly created
force.
For three days nothing happened. The apostates, uncertain of how they should set about
their task, remained inactive. Then, on orders from Abu Bakr, the Muslims sallied out of
Madinah. They launched a quick attack on the forward camp of the apostates and drove
them back. The apostates withdrew to Zhu Hussa. The Muslims informed Abu Bakr of
their success, and the Caliph ordered them to stay where they were and await his
instructions.
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