The Rightly Guided Caliphate - Abu Bakr Siddiq (R.A) - Part 2

Uprooting the Apostates

After dispatching emissaries with circulars, Abu Bakr organised eleven detachments, each under a chosen leader, to address various threats. 

1. Khalid bin Walid received the first standard, tasked with confronting Tulaihah bin Khuwailid Asadi and then targeting Malik bin Nuwairah at Butah. 
2. Ikrimah bin Abu Jahl received the second standard to confront Musailamah the liar at Yamamah. 
3. Shurahbil bin Hasanah was entrusted with the third standard to support Ikrimah and then proceed to Hadramout to engage Banu Kindah and Banu Quda'ah. 
4. Khalid bin Saeed bin Al-As received the fourth standard to quell uprisings in Syria. 
5. Amr bin Al-As was given the fifth standard for Banu Quda'ah. 
6. Hudhaifah bin Mihsan and Arfajah bin Harthamah were dispatched to Oman 
7. Mahrah respectively with seventh standards. 
8. Tarqah bin Hajib received the eighth standard for Banu Sulaim and Banu Hawazin. 
9. Suwaid bin Muqarrin was ordered to Yemen with the ninth standard. 
10. Ala' bin Hadrami received the tenth standard for Bahrain
11. Muhajir bin Abu Umayyah was sent to San'a' with the eleventh. 

Each leader received a circular outlining their mission.

Tulaihali Asadi

Tulaihah, once a soothsayer who converted to Islam, later falsely claimed prophethood after the Prophet's passing, attracting some followers, including some from the Children of Israel tribes. Dirar bin Al-Azwar was sent to confront him but returned upon hearing of the Prophet's demise, allowing Tulaihah to regain strength. Gathering support from tribes like Ghatfan and Hawazin, Tulaihah established his camp at Buzakhah. 

Khalid bin Walid led an attack on Tulaihah's forces, engaging his brother Khayyal in battle while Tulaihah pretended to await revelation. As the Muslim troops gained the upper hand, an apostate leader, Uyainah, questioned Tulaihah about revelation, prompting Tulaihah's false claims and subsequent flight. 

Many apostates were captured or killed, with several re-embracing Islam. Tulaihah eventually surrendered during Umar's caliphate. Another apostate leader, Salma bint Malik, gathered forces against the Muslims, but Khalid defeated them, resulting in Salma's death. Additionally, Al-Fajah bin Abd Yalil, initially a Muslim, turned apostate, prompting Abu Bakr to send Abdullah bin Qais to apprehend and execute him for his treachery.

Sajah and Malik bin Nuwairah

Banu Tamim, residing in a few settlements, had individuals like Malik bin Nuwairah, Waki' bin Malik, Safwan bin Safwan, and Qais bin Asim collecting Zakat and other charitable contributions during the Prophet's lifetime. However, upon the Prophet's passing, Qais bin Asim apostatized, while Malik bin Nuwairah openly expressed joy. Yet, Safwan bin Safwan remained steadfast in his faith.

During this time, Sajah bint Al-Harith bin Suwaid from the Taghlib tribe proclaimed herself a prophetess. And massing around four thousand soldiers to invade Al-Madinah. Learning that Khalid bin Walid was also mobilizing against her, Sajah became anxious, especially as both she and Musailamah claimed prophethood, causing mutual unease. Ikrimah and Shurahbil's arrival at Yamamah with Muslim forces added to their caution.

Musailamah reached out to Sajah to ascertain her intentions. She responded, expressing a desire to invade Al-Madinah, suggesting a joint attack due to their shared claims of prophethood. Musailamah, arrogantly asserting his sole rule over half the country after the Prophet's passing, proposed dividing prophethood equally between them for consultation on the invasion.

Upon receiving Musailamah's message, Sajah hastened to meet him. They held secret discussions, resulting in Sajah accepting Musailamah's prophethood and marrying him. . When their forces encountered Khalid bin Walid's army, Sajah's soldiers fled, leaving her isolated. Later she rejoined her tribe, living out the remainder of her days in obscurity.

Malik bin Nuwairah, who initially celebrated the Prophet's demise, later faced execution by Khalid bin Walid for disrespectful remarks.

Musailamah the Liar

Musailamah, a member of the Banu Hanifah tribe, seized the opportunity to declare himself a prophet when he learned of the Prophet Muhammad's illness. He even sent a letter to the Prophet, suggesting that they divide the land between them since they both claimed prophethood. In response, the Prophet Muhammad firmly rejected his claim, emphasizing that the earth belongs to Allah alone.

To address the growing threat posed by Musailamah, the Prophet sent Rajjal bin Anfuh, a respected member of the Banu Hanifah tribe, to reason with him. However, Rajjal ended up joining Musailamah's ranks, further legitimizing his claim.

Subsequently, Ikrimah bin Abu Jahl was dispatched to confront Musailamah, but he suffered defeat at Musailamah's hands. Abu Bakr then sent Shurhabil bin Hasanah to deal with the situation. Meanwhile, Khalid bin Walid returned to Al-Madinah, and instead of facing repercussions for his earlier actions, he was given the significant task of punishing Musailamah. This assignment, given to Khalid, underscored his importance and capabilities despite his previous setbacks.

Musailamah, with an army of forty thousand from the Rabi'ah tribe, faced off against Khalid bin Walid's force of thirteen thousand. Despite Musailamah's claims of divine support, the battle turned in favour of Khalid's army after fierce fighting. Musailamah attempted to flee but was struck down by Wahshi, known for slaying Hamzah, with a deadly lance. Panic engulfed Musailamah's forces, resulting in their complete defeat with heavy casualties.

With the city of Yamamah poised for conquest, Mujja'ah, a captive, convinced Khalid to negotiate peace, falsely claiming the city's readiness for a prolonged conflict. Khalid agreed to a peace treaty, offering terms progressively less stringent until an agreement was reached, only to find upon entering the city that it was defended only by women and children. Despite this deception, Khalid upheld the treaty. The battle of Yamamah, occurring in Dhul-Hijjah 11 AH, demonstrated the Muslims' commitment to honouring agreements even in the face of deceit.

Laqit bin Malik

Abu Bakr Siddiq dispatched Hudhaifah bin Mihsan to Oman and Arfajah bin Harthamah to Mahrah, instructing them to coordinate their efforts. However, upon hearing of the Prophet's passing, Laqit declared himself a prophet in Oman, leading the people of Oman and Mahrah into apostasy. They expelled the Prophet's appointed collectors of charity.

Abu Bakr ordered Hudhaifah to proceed to Oman first, then Mahrah, with Ikrimah joining him. The three commanders united in Oman, where Laqit assembled his forces to confront the Muslims. In the ensuing battle, Ikrimah led the advance guard, while Hudhaifah and Arfajah commanded the wings, with influential Omani Muslims in the middle.

Initially, the Muslim army faced setbacks due to the enemy's advantageous high ground position. However, their perseverance and steadfastness eventually turned the tide, causing the enemy to flee. The Muslims emerged victorious, with a thousand enemies slain, four thousand taken captive, and significant booty seized. Subsequently, Ikrimah proceeded to Mahrah, leading to the region's eventual return to Islam.

Complete Eradication of Apostasy

Abu Bakr Siddiq swiftly quelled all uprisings of apostasy across the Arabian Peninsula in less than a year, clearing the region of polytheism and rebellion. His resolute courage and unwavering determination, honed under the tutelage of the Prophet Muhammad, guided him through turbulent times. While he commanded formidable generals like Khalid, Ikrimah, Shurhabil, and Hudhaifah, it was Abu Bakr's leadership that orchestrated the strategic campaigns and dispatched forces across distant lands.

Despite facing daunting challenges, Abu Bakr's visionary strategies and decisive actions swiftly eradicated the threat of apostasy. His refusal to delay the planned expedition of Usamah bin Zaid and his steadfastness in collecting Zakat from the apostates demonstrated his unparalleled foresight and resolve. In the face of adversity, Abu Bakr emerged as the true successor to the Prophet Muhammad in temporal affairs, leading Islam through its most challenging period with unparalleled wisdom and courage.