Ridda wars

The Ridda wars (Arabic: حروب الردة), also known as the Wars of Apostasy) were a set of military campaigns against the rebellion of several Arabic tribes against the Caliph Abu Bakr during 632 and 633 AD, following the death of Muhammad.The revolts, in Islamic Historiography later interpreted as religious, were in reality mainly political. [Laura V. Vaglieri in "The Cambridge History of Islam", p.58] [Frank Griffel: Apostasie Und Toleranz Im Islam, p. 61.] However, these revolts also had a religious aspect: Medina had become the centre of a social and political system, of which religion was an integral part; consequently it was inevitable that any reaction against this system would have a religious aspect. ["The Encyclopaedia of Islam". New Edition. Vol. 1, p. 110.]

Campaigns

After the death of Muhammad, central Arabia was led by Musaylima of the tribe of Banu Hanifa, who was considered by the Muslims to be a false prophet, while to the south and east in Bahrain, Oman, Mahra and Yemen. The desert landscape forced the army to traverse around the Empty Quarter, and required reliance on local guides who would be able to find wells required for the army and commanders who were affiliated with local tribes.Peter Hellyer, Ibrahim Al-Abed, Ibrahim Al Abed, " [http://books.google.com/books?vid=ISBN1900724472&id=QcMz3zV0qAMC&printsec=frontcover The United Arab Emirates, A New Perspective] ", London, Trident Press Ltd., 2001, p. 81-84. ISBN 1-900724-47-2.]

Caliph Abu Bakr sent the following generals:
*Khalid ibn al-Walid deployed to al-Yamama (eastern Nejd) against Musaylima, Malik ibn Nuwayra, and Sajah Al-Tamimiyyah
*Al' Ala' bin Al-Hadrami deployed to Bahrain
*Ikrīmah ibn Abu Jahl central Arabia with Khalid ibn al-Walid then onto Mahra to reinforce Arfaja
*Hudaifah bin Mihsan Al-Ghalfani a Himyari to Oman deployed against the Yemeni Himyarites then to reinforce Arfaja
*Arfaja al-Bariqi an Azdi to South east Arabia Mahra then Yemen Hadramawt
*al-Muhajir bin Abi Umayya in Yemen

Nejd

Abu Bakr sent Khalid ibn al-Walid into Nejd with 4000 men. Many clans of Beni Temeem hastened to visit Khalid but the Beni Yerboa branch of the tribe, under its chief, Malik ibn Nuweira, hung back. Malik was a lord of some distinction, a warrior, noted for his generosity and a famous poet. Bravery, generosity and poetry were the three qualities most admired among the Arabs. Unwilling perhaps to demean himself by bowing to Khalid, he ordered his followers to scatter and himself apparently moved away across the desert alone with his family. Abu Bakr had given orders that the test to be applied to suspected rebels was that they be asked to repeat the Muslim formula and that they answer the call to prayer. Khalid also sent out parties of horsemen to round up the fugitives. One such party seized Malik ibn Nuweira and his family and brought them in to Khalid, although they claimed to be Muslims. The prisoners were placed under guard but, during the night, Malik ibn Nuweira and his supporters were killed.

The men of Medina, who had already opposed Khalid's actions, were outraged by the death of Malik. A certain Abu Qatada, an erstwhile friend and companion of the Prophet, hastened to Medina to complain to Abu Bakr, who summoned Khalid to answer the accusation. Umar ibn al-Khattab pressed the caliph to deprive Khalid of his command. Khalid returning to Medina, claimed that he had not ordered the execution of Malik, but that his instructions to the guards had been misunderstood. Abu Bakr, whatever he may have thought of the morals of his lieutenant, was aware of his prowess. ‘I will not sheathe a sword which God has drawn for His service,' he exclaimed. Khalid's excuses were accepted. [John Glubb, The Great Arab Conquests, 1963, p. 112.]

Bahrain

The region of Bahrain refers to the land on the coast of the Persian Gulf between modern day Iraq and Oman. In this region the tribe of 'Abdul-Qays remained Muslim, while other Bahraini tribes became apostates. Al-Ala' bin Al-Hadhrami was deployed to overcome the rebels, led by Hutam, who were engaged in the siege of Juwathah, against Muslim forces led by Jarud. Al-Ala' arrived at Juwathah, but all his efforts to raise the siege failed. After a month the chance came when the Muslims heard an unusual noise at midnight and realized that their enemies were very drunk. Those who managed to escape from him took refuge on a nearby island called Dareen; Al-'Ala' crossed the shallow Gulf water by using donkeys, horses and camels, where he literally annihilated his enemies. Among the tribesmen who helped Al-Ala' in his campaign was Al-Muthanna bin Harithah Al-Shaybani, who also later played an important role in the conquest of Iraq.Muhammad Rajih Jad'an, Abu Bakr As-Siddiq [http://www.ymofmd.com/books/abas/chapter3.htm] , last retrieved August 26, 2006.]

Oman

The primary opponent was Laqit bin Malik an Azdi also known as the "Crowned One (Dhul'-Taj)" who rose against the local Muslim Julanda rulers. The army led by Hudayfa and supported by Ikrīmah and 'Arfaja arrived at Al Ain / Buraimi where they wrote to local tribes to convince them to abandon the revolt. They then marched against and defeated Laqit in battle at Dibba, where reports of combined casualties of 10,000 are mentioned. Hudayfah then remained in Oman as governor restoring peace with the local tribes and bringing them back to the fold of Islam while the remaining troops to Mahra in southern Arabia to Ash Shihr in Yemen.

Mahrah

Ikrimah bin Abu Jahl upon entering the region met two armies preparing for battle. Here he persuaded the weaker to embrace Islam and then joined up with them to defeat their opponents.

Yemen

There were three causes for the troubles in Yemen after the murder of Al Aswad Al-Ansi. First; the weakness and factionalization of the central governance. Second; the rivalry between Arab and Persians. Third; racial tensions between Yemeni and Hejazi Arabs.

After Al-Ansi, Fayruz was appointed ruler by Abu Bakr. Qays bin Abd-Yaghuth, a prominent local Arab chief, was engaged in attempts at the expulsion of those of Persian descent from the region and invited their chiefs to a false feast where one chief called Dathawayh was assassinated. Fayruz, suspecting a plot, however narrowly escaped. While Qays mobilized to deport the Persian families by land and sea, Fayruz returned at the head of an army supplied by the Muslim tribes and ousted Qays from the capital San'a'. Qays then teamed up with Amr bin Ma'di Karib, against Fayruz however by this time two generals of Abu Bakr, Muhajir from the north and 'Ikrimah from the east, were already marching towards Yemen. `Amr turned coat and captured Qays and delivered him to Muhajir, who however imprisoned both and sent them on to Abu Bakr. The caliph Abu Bakr eventually set them free but not before they promised to repent and be good Muslims.

Hadramawt

In the Hadhramawt was Ash'ath bin Qays. The ruler, Ziyad, once took female prisoners from among the apostates, and while they were passing by Ash'ath's home the women shouted for help. He attacked the ruler, set the women free and took refuge in the Najeer stronghold.

It was not long before the stronghold was besieged from three sides by three Muslim leaders, Muhajir, Ikrimah and Ziyad, who blocked the arrival of provisions to Ash'ath by the three roads which led to the castle. Finding escape impossible, the besieged people cut short the hair on the front of their head, which was a sign of determination to fight till death, and then dashed desperately at the Muslims before negotiating with 'Ikrimah to surrender the castle on condition that nine of his near relatives should be spared. Muhajir asked for a list of the names, and Ash'ath made an error when he forgot to put his own name on the list. The castle surrendered and the nine people were spared. Every man in the castle was killed, and 1000 women were reported taken prisoner.

As Ash'ath's name was not on the list, Muhajir wanted to put him to the sword. But 'Ikrimah intervened, and he was sent to Medina as a prisoner of war. All along the road he was denounced by all. On promising that he would repent and be a good Muslim he was set free and given as a wife Abu Bakr's own sister, Umm Farwah. Ash'ath stayed in Madina, and during the conquest of Syria and Iraq fought bravely and recovered his former prestige.

Aftermath

After taking the position of caliph, Abu Bakr defended Mecca from the attacking tribes of Hejaz and Nejd and sent Muslim forces to pursue them.

The Ridda wars eventually led to Muslim expansion into the remnants of Sassanid Persia as well as the fringe territories of the Byzantine empire.

ee also

*Islamic conquest of Persia
*Byzantine-Arab Wars

References

Further reading

*Fred McGraw Donner: "The Early Islamic Conquests". Princeton University Press, 1986.
*Elias S. Shoufani: "Al-Riddah and the Muslim conquest of Arabia". Toronto, 1973.
*Meir J. Kister: "The struggle against Musaylima and the conquest of Yamama". In: "Jerusalem Studies in Arabic and Islam", 27 (2002)
*Ella Landau-Tasseron: "The Participation of Tayyi in the Ridda". In: "Jerusalem Studies in Arabic and Islam", 5 (1984)

External links

* [http://history-world.org/islam11.htm A brief history of the Ridda wars]