Ridda wars
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The Ridda wars (also known as the Riddah wars and the Wars of Apostasy) were a set of military campaigns against the apostasy and rebellion against the Caliph Abu Bakr during 632 and 633 AD, following the death of Muhammad.
Contents |
[edit] Campaigns
| Civil Wars of the Early Caliphates |
|---|
| Ridda wars – First Fitna – Ibn al-Zubair's revolt – Kharijite Revolt –Second Fitna – Berber Revolt – Zaidi Revolt– Abassid Revolt |
After the death of Muhammad central Arabia was led by Musaylima, 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 well required for the army and commanders who were affiliated with local tribes.[1]
Generals of the Caliph involved:
- Khalid ibn al-Walid deployed to Al-Yamama (Central 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
[edit] 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 depoloyed 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.[2]
[edit] Oman
The primary opponent was Laqit bin Malik an Azdi also know 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.[3]
[edit] 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.
[edit] Yemen
There were three causes for the troubles in Yemen after the murder of Al Aswad Al-Ansi. First; the weakness and factionlizaton 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 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.[4]
[edit] 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 wife, Abu Bakr 'sownsister, Umm Farwah. Ash'ath stayed in Madina, and during the conquest of Syria and `Iraq fought bravely and recovered his former prestige.[5]
[edit] 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.
[edit] Muslim view
Muslims have widely differing view on these battles.
[edit] Sunni view
The Sunni view is that, by putting down these larger insurrections and defeating the rival prophets among the Bedouin tribes, Abu Bakr was able to solidify the rest of Arabia under Islam, and basically rescue Islam.
[edit] Shi'a view
The Shi'a view is that, although there were some people that took the opportunity to proclaim themselves as prophets, the majority of people who battled against Abu Bakr were people who expected Ali to be the next Caliph,[citation needed] since they claimed to have heard Muhammad express this wish at the Hadith of the two weighty things, ie Shi'as.
Shi'a view Abu Bakr as sending Khalid ibn al-Walid to kill, loot and slaughter the particians of Ali.[6] Shi'a portray Ali's refusal to help in this as him "sitting at home".[7]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Peter Hellyer, Ibrahim Al-Abed, Ibrahim Al Abed, The United Arab Emirates, A New Perspective, London, Trident Press Ltd., June 21, 2001, ISBN 1-900724-47-2 pg 81[1]
- ^ Muhammad Rajih Jad'an, Abu Bakr As-Siddeeq [2] last retrieved August 26, 2006
- ^ Peter Hellyer, Ibrahim Al-Abed, Ibrahim Al Abed, The United Arab Emirates, A New Perspective, London, Trident Press Ltd., June 21, 2001, ISBN 1-900724-47-2 pg 81-84 [3]
- ^ Muhammad Rajih Jad'an, Abu Bakr As-Siddeeq [4] last retrieved August 26, 2006
- ^ Muhammad Rajih Jad'an, Abu Bakr As-Siddeeq [5] last retrieved August 26, 2006
- ^ Aqa Mahdi Puya tafsir of verse 4:94 on al-Islam.org [6]
- ^ http://www.answering-ansar.org/challenges/20questions/en/index.php
