Ridda Wars
Central Arabia
### Central Arabia

Renouncement of and rebellion against Islam in central Arabia was led by [Musaylima](/wiki/Musaylima "Musaylima"), a rival prophet, in the fertile region of Yamamah. He was mainly supported by the powerful tribe of [Banu Hanifa](/wiki/Banu_Hanifa "Banu Hanifa"). At Buzakha in north central Arabia, another rival prophet, [Tulayha](/wiki/Tulayha_ibn_Khuwaylid_ibn_Nawfal_al-Asadi "Tulayha ibn Khuwaylid ibn Nawfal al-Asadi"), a tribal chief of [Banu Asad](/wiki/Banu_Asad_ibn_Khuzaymah "Banu Asad ibn Khuzaymah"), led the rebellion against Medina aided by the allied tribes of [Banu Ghatafan](/wiki/Banu_Ghatafan "Banu Ghatafan"), the [Hawazin](/wiki/Hawazin "Hawazin"), and the [Tayy](/wiki/Tayy "Tayy").

[thumb\|400x400px\|Map detailing the route of Khalid ibn Walid's conquest of Arabia.](/wiki/File:Mohammad_adil_rais-conquest_of_Arabia.PNG "Mohammad adil rais-conquest of Arabia.PNG")

Meanwhile, another anti\-Medina led by [Sajah](/wiki/Sajah "Sajah") from [Banu Tamim](/wiki/Banu_Tamim "Banu Tamim") rose up from the north. Translation of Chapter: Translation of\= [Taqu̅sh, Muhammad Suhail](/wiki/%D9%85%D8%AD%D9%85%D8%AF_%D8%B3%D9%87%D9%8A%D9%84_%D8%B7%D9%82%D9%88%D8%B4 "محمد سهيل طقوش")  References:
 [History of the Prophets and Kings](/wiki/History_of_the_Prophets_and_Kings "History of the Prophets and Kings"); [Al\-Tabari](/wiki/Al-Tabari "Al-Tabari"): Vol. 3, p. 115, 116, 271, 272\-275
 At\-Ṭabaqāt al\-Kubra; [Ibn Sa'd](/wiki/Ibn_Sa%27d "Ibn Sa'd"): Vol. 1, p. 293, 294
 Kitāb Mu'jam al\-Buldān; [Yaqut al\-Hamawi](/wiki/Yaqut_al-Hamawi "Yaqut al-Hamawi"): Vol. 2, p. 254, 255
 [Abu Zayd al\-Balkhi](/wiki/Abu_Zayd_al-Balkhi "Abu Zayd al-Balkhi"): Vol. 2 p. 198\.
  ASIN: 9771425587* + - * + The situation of Tamim tribe during the life of Sajah was they are the subject of [Sasanian Empire](/wiki/Sasanian_Empire "Sasanian Empire"). This relationship was established through the Kingdom of Hira. A kingdom that was an extension of Persia in the Arabian Peninsula. Persian traders passed through several regions first to reach Hirah. Bani Tamim played a role in maintaining the security of Persian trade caravans that crossed the Arabian Peninsula. Meanwhile, due to their adherence to Christian religion, the Tamim tribe also develop close relationship with the Christians in the Euphrates region and northern Syria. The Yarbu branch which Sajah hailed from has monopoly in [Souk Okaz](/wiki/Souk_Okaz "Souk Okaz") However, their domination of Souk Okaz came into abrupt end two years before [Muhammad](/wiki/Muhammad "Muhammad") preaching [Islam](/wiki/Islam "Islam"). After the death of Muhammad, Sajah self\-proclaim herself as one of the prophet. At first, Sajah came into Hizn region, where she manage to gain the allegiance from [Bani Malik](/wiki/Bani_Malik_%28tribe%29 "Bani Malik (tribe)") under Waki' ibn Malik, and Banu Yarbu' under [Malik ibn Nuwayra](/wiki/Malik_ibn_Nuwayra "Malik ibn Nuwayra"). However, Her proclamation was not entirely successful, as although the Taghlib tribe under Hudhayl ibn 'Imran pledge their allegiance by abandoning Christianity, majority of the Tamim confederation branches rejected her call, which made Sajah gave up hope of getting the support from the majority of her own kinsmen. As the [Ridda wars](/wiki/Ridda_wars "Ridda wars") broke out, she moved into [al\-Yamama](/wiki/Al-Yamama "Al-Yamama"), where she joined forces with Musaylima in anti\-[Medinese](/wiki/Madinah "Madinah") coalition. Thereafter, 4,000 people gathered around her to march on [Medina](/wiki/Medina "Medina"). Others joined her against Medina. However, as the time passed on, the alliance between Musaylima and Sajah came into abrupt end as Musaylima grew suspicious towards Sajah. Thus, Sajah left Musaylima's force alone to fought against the Muslim army in al\-Yamama.

#### Najd

[alt\=Map detailing the route of Khalid ibn al\-Walid's military campaigns in central Arabia\|thumb\|400x400px\|Map of Khalid's campaigns against the Arab tribes of [Najd](/wiki/Najd "Najd") and the [Yamama](/wiki/Al-Yamama "Al-Yamama"), both in central Arabia, during the [Ridda wars](/wiki/Ridda_wars "Ridda wars"). The itinerary of his campaign is indicated by dashed, red arrows. The territory of the early Muslim state, comprising [Mecca](/wiki/Mecca "Mecca"), [Medina](/wiki/Medina "Medina") and [Ta'if](/wiki/Ta%27if "Ta'if") and their environs, is shaded in green](/wiki/File:Khalid_ibn_al-Walid%27s_Ridda_campaign.png "Khalid ibn al-Walid's Ridda campaign.png")

At [Najd](/wiki/Najd "Najd"), on learning of Khalid's decisive victories against rebels in Buzakha, many clans of [Banu Tamim](/wiki/Banu_Tamim "Banu Tamim") hastened to visit Khalid, but the Bani Yarbu', a branch of Bani Tamim, under their chief, [Malik ibn Nuwayrah](/wiki/Malik_ibn_Nuwayrah "Malik ibn Nuwayrah"), hung back. Malik was a chief 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.

At the time of [Muhammad](/wiki/Muhammad "Muhammad"), he had been appointed as a tax collector for the tribe of [Banu Tamim](/wiki/Banu_Tamim "Banu Tamim"). As soon as Malik heard of the death of Muhammad, he gave back all the tax to his tribespeople, saying, "Now you are the owner of your wealth."al\-Balazuri: book no: 1, page no:107\. Most scholars agreed that he was adhering to the normal beliefs of the Arabs of his time in which they could cease to pledge their allegiance to a tribe upon the death of its Sheikh.

His riders were stopped by Khalid's army at the town of Buttah. Khalid asked them about the pact they signed with the rival prophetess Sajjah; they responded it was merely for revenge against their enemies.Tabari: Vol 9 p. 501\-2\.

When Khalid reached [Najd](/wiki/Najd "Najd") he found no opposing army. He sent his [cavalry](/wiki/Cavalry "Cavalry") to nearby villages and ordered them to call the [Azaan](/wiki/Azaan "Azaan") (call to prayer) to each party they met. Zirrar bin Azwar, a squadron leader, arrested the family of Malik, claiming they did not answer the call to prayer.
Malik avoided direct contact with Khalid's army and ordered his followers to scatter, and he and his family apparently moved away across the desert. He refused to give zakat, differentiating between prayer and zakat.

Nevertheless, Malik was accused of rebellion against the state of Medina. He was also to be charged for his entering into an alliance with Sajjah against the caliphate. Malik was arrested along with those of his clan.

Malik was asked by Khalid about his crimes, and responded, "your master said this, your master said that", referring to [Muhammad](/wiki/Muhammad "Muhammad"). Khalid declared Malik a rebel apostate and ordered his execution.Tabari: Vol. 2, p. 5

#### Yamamah

[Ikrimah ibn Abi\-Jahl](/wiki/Ikrimah_ibn_Abi-Jahl "Ikrimah ibn Abi-Jahl"), one of the corps commanders, was instructed to make contact with [Musaylima](/wiki/Musaylima "Musaylima") at [Yamamah](/wiki/Yamamah "Yamamah"), but not to engage until Khalid joined him. Abu Bakr's intention in giving Ikrimah this mission was to tie Musaylima down at Yamamah, thereby freeing Khalid to deal with the rebel tribes of north\-central Arabia without interference.

Meanwhile, Abu Bakr sent Shurhabil's corps to reinforce Ikrimah at Yamamah. Ikrimah, however, in early September 632, attacked Musaylima's forces before the reinforcements arrived, and was defeated. He reported his actions to Abu Bakr, who, both pained and angered by the rashness of Ikrimah and his disobedience, ordered him to proceed with his force to [Oman](/wiki/Oman "Oman") to assist Hudaifa; once Hudaifa had completed his task, he was to march to [Mahra](/wiki/Mahra_Sultanate "Mahra Sultanate") to help Arfaja, and thereafter go to [Yemen](/wiki/Yemen "Yemen") to help Muhajir.

Meanwhile, Abu Bakr sent orders to Khalid to march against Musaylima. Shurhabil's corps, stationed at Yamamah, was to reinforce Khalid's corps. In addition to this, Abu Bakr assembled a fresh army of [Ansar](/wiki/Ansar_%28Islam%29 "Ansar (Islam)") and [Muhajireen](/wiki/Muhajireen "Muhajireen") in Medina that joined Khalid's corps at Butah before the combined force set out for Yamamah.

Though Abu Bakr had instructed Shurhabil not to engage Musaylima's forces until Khalid's arrival, Shurhabil engaged Musaylima's forces anyway and was defeated. Khalid linked up with the remnants of Shurhabil's corps early in December 632\.

The combined force of Muslims, now 13,000 strong, finally defeated Musaylima's army in the [Battle of Yamama](/wiki/Battle_of_Yamama "Battle of Yamama"), which was fought in the third week of December. The fortified city of Yamamah surrendered peacefully later that week.

Khalid established his headquarters at Yamamah, from which he despatched columns throughout the plain of [Aqraba](/wiki/Aqraba_%28region%29 "Aqraba (region)") to subdue the region around Yamamah. Thereafter, all of central Arabia submitted to Medina.

What remained of the multiple rebellions in the less vital areas of Arabia was rooted out by the Muslims in a series of well\-planned campaigns within five months.


Why did Abu Bakr instruct Ikrimah to tie Musaylima down at Yamamah?