Ridda Wars
Background
Background
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In May 632, [Muhammad](/wiki/Muhammad_in_Islam "Muhammad in Islam") ordered a large [expedition](/wiki/Expedition_of_Usama_bin_Zayd "Expedition of Usama bin Zayd") to be prepared against the [Byzantine Empire](/wiki/Byzantine_Empire "Byzantine Empire") in order to avenge the martyrs of the [Battle of Mu'tah](/wiki/Battle_of_Mu%27tah "Battle of Mu'tah"). He appointed [Usama ibn Zayd](/wiki/Usama_ibn_Zayd "Usama ibn Zayd"), the son of [Zayd ibn Harithah](/wiki/Zayd_ibn_Harithah "Zayd ibn Harithah") who was killed in the Battle at Mu'tah, as commander of this force so he could avenge the death of his father.Ibn Sad: p. 707 However, as Muhammad was ailing, the expedition was delayed. In June 632, Muhammad died and [Abu Bakr](/wiki/Abu_Bakr "Abu Bakr") was chosen as the caliph at [Saqifah](/wiki/Saqifah "Saqifah").

On the first day of his caliphate, Abu Bakr ordered the army of Usama to prepare to march into battle. Abu Bakr was under great pressure regarding this military expedition due to rising rebellion, with many regions across [Arabia](/wiki/Arabia "Arabia") withholding [zakat](/wiki/Zakat "Zakat") and leaving Islam. Before his march into battle, Usama sent [Umar](/wiki/Umar "Umar") to Abu Bakr and is reported to have said:

Abu Bakr however refused his demands. On June 26, 632, the army of Usama broke camp and moved out. After leaving [Medina](/wiki/Medina "Medina"), Usama marched to [Tabuk](/wiki/Tabuk%2C_Saudi_Arabia "Tabuk, Saudi Arabia") where most of the tribes in the region opposed him fiercely, but were defeated. Usama raided far and wide in the region of Northern Arabia, starting with the [Quza'a](/wiki/Quza%27a "Quza'a"), and then made his way to Dawmatu l\-Jandal (modern [Al Jawf, Saudi Arabia](/wiki/Al_Jawf%2C_Saudi_Arabia "Al Jawf, Saudi Arabia")). Usama next marched to [Mu'tah](/wiki/Mu%27tah "Mu'tah"), attacked the [Christian Arabs](/wiki/Christian_Arab "Christian Arab") of the tribes of [Banu Kalb](/wiki/Banu_Kalb "Banu Kalb") and the [Ghassanids](/wiki/Ghassanids "Ghassanids") in a small battle. Then he returned to Medina, bringing with him a large number of captives and a considerable amount of wealth, part of which comprised the spoils of war and part taxation of the re\-conquered tribes. The Islamic army remained outside of Medina for 40 days. This expedition became notable in Islamic history as the eighteen year old Usama had been appointed as overall commander, leading veterans and high ranked [Companions of the Prophet](/wiki/Companions_of_the_Prophet "Companions of the Prophet") such as [Umar](/wiki/Umar "Umar"), [Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas](/wiki/Sa%27d_ibn_Abi_Waqqas "Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas"), [Sa'id ibn Zayd](/wiki/Sa%27id_ibn_Zayd "Sa'id ibn Zayd"), [Abu Ubayda ibn al\-Jarrah](/wiki/Abu_Ubayda_ibn_al-Jarrah "Abu Ubayda ibn al-Jarrah"), and [Qatada ibn al\-Nu'man](/wiki/Qatada_ibn_al-Nu%27man "Qatada ibn al-Nu'man").

Usama's expedition succeeded in forcing several rebel tribes to resubmit to Medinan rule and rejoin [Islam](/wiki/Islam "Islam"). The Quza'a remained rebellious and unrepentant, but ['Amr ibn al\-'As](/wiki/%27Amr_ibn_al-%27As "'Amr ibn al-'As") later attacked them and forced them to surrender again.

Meanwhile, the rebels of the [Ghatafan](/wiki/Ghatafan "Ghatafan") clan from [Qays](/wiki/Qays "Qays")'s tribe made several attempts to capture [Mecca](/wiki/Mecca "Mecca"), which was still loyal to Islam, before joining the rebel from the north, Tulayha of the Banu Asad, who was seen by many as a rival prophet to Muhammad.


How did Abu Bakr handle the demands of Usama?