CAMPAIGN AGAINST TULAYHAH
Tulayhah belonged to the tribe of Banu Asad in northern Arabia. He had laid claim to Prophethood and divine revelation during the lifetime of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him. He used to ridicule the Muslim way of Performing Salaah, and ask the followers of Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, to pray standing. He used to say, “Allah does not want you to invert your faces or bend your backs in ugly postures, pray to Allah while standing, in a noble manner.”
The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, directed punitive action against the false Prophet. He sent to him Daraar Ibn Al-Azwad to crush him and all Muslims in the tribe of Asad. In his anxiety to have the benediction of killing a false Prophet, Daraar sneaked into the camp of Tulayhah with a view to murdering him, hut the attempt was foiled, and that made the followers of Tulayhah proclaim that no sword could harm their so-called Prophet.
Before the Muslim army commissioned by the Prophet could advance against Tulayhah, the Prophet passed away. Tulayhah then declared that the death of the Prophet was a sign corroborative of his claim to Prophethood. Many other tribes acknowledged Tulayhah as the Prophet, and the argument that weighed with them was that while Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, was dead, Tulayhah was alive, and a living Prophet was to be preferred to a dead one. Tulayhah used to say to his people, “A Prophet from Banu Asad is dearer to me than a Prophet from Banu Hashim.”
The Banu Fazarah tribe joined their leader ‘ Uyaynah Ibn Hisn and supported Tulayhah. The tribes of Abs, Ghatafaan, Banu Bakr also made common cause with Tulayhah. Parts of the Bani Tayy’ and Banu Jadeelah also joined the ranks of Tulayhah. That made Tulayhah sufficiently strong and powerful, and he came to lead a confederacy of numerous tribes who held Northeast Arabia.
Just then when Tulayhah began to influence the people and a great number had followed him and apostated from Islam, Abu Bakr As-Sideeq, may Allah be pleased with him, commissioned Khalid lbn Waleed, may Allah be pleased with him, to undertake punitive operations against Tulayhah. He mustered an army of 4,000 Muslims from the Ansaar and Muhajlreen and those who followed in their footsteps.
Adiyy Ibn Halim At-Taa’i may Allah be pleased with him, who was fighting in the army of Khalid Ibn Al-Waleed, may Allah be pleased with him, used his influence on the people of the tribes of Tayy’ and Jadeelah and convinced them not to follow Tulayhah. Me managed to wean them from the support of Tulayhah and brought them hack to the fold of Islam; they were even influenced by his invitation to the extent that they joined the ranks of the Muslim army under the command of Khalid Ibn Al-Waleed, may Allah be pleased with him. Through the efforts of’ Addiyy, the allied tribe Banu Jadeelah also detached itself from Tulayhah and joined the fold of Islam. The addition of the contingents of Bani Tayy’ and Banu Jadeelah considerably strengthened the Muslims.
It was not long before the two armies met at Buzakhah. When the Muslim army reached Buzakha, they were confronted by the forces of the apostate tribes. In spite of some defections, the forces of the confederate tribes were considerable in strength, and outnumbered the Muslim force. Khalid lbn Al-Waleed, may Allah be pleased with him, called upon Tulayhah to surrender to Islam, but the latter refused and rejected the invitation. Thereupon the two armies clashed. The Muslim forces were commanded by Khalid, while the forces of Tulayhah were commanded by ‘ Uyaynah Ibn Hisn, the chief of Bani Fazarah. The two armies were well matched, and the outcome of the battle seemed uncertain.
Tulayhah did not take part in the battle, but kept himself hidden inside a tent, and pretended to await inspiration from Heaven. While Khalid Ibn Al-Waleed was increasing his pressure, ‘Uyaynah hard pressed, waited on Tulayhah to inquire whether he had received any heavenly message about the outcome of the battle. Tulayhah replied that the request made by him was under consideration in heaven, and a reply was expected any moment. ‘ Uyaynah led a charge against the Muslim forces, but was beaten back with heavy losses. He again waited on Tulayhah, and wanted to know whether any reply had come to him from the heavens. Tulayhah said that Allah had spoken to him in the following terms: “Your hopes and that of Khalid shall remain at variance, and between you matters are so ordained that an event will take place which you will never forget.” At this ambiguous message carrying no sense, ‘Uyaynah realized that Tulayhah was an imposter, and his cause was doomed to failure. He told Tulayhah, “Woe unto you! I am leaving.” ‘Uyaynah asked the men of his tribe to break camp and retreat to save themselves.
With the withdrawal of ‘ Uyaynah and his men the tide of the battle was turned in favor of the Muslims; Khalid intensified the attack, and the battlefield came to be strewn with the dead bodies of the men of Tulayhah. Finding resistance useless, Tulayhah escaped with his wife to As-Shaatn. With the withdrawal of Tulayhah the battle was over. The Muslims had achieved a significant victory, and most of the tribes surrendered and accepted Islam. Those who still remained opposed to Islam retreated and sought refuge further inland.
After the battle had finished, Kjialid declared general amnesty for those who re-entered the fold of Islam and expressed regret for their past behavior. Those who had perpetrated atrocities on the Muslims were likewise apprehended and subjected to severe punishment. Abu Bakr approved of the action Khalid had taken, and sent him a message, saying: “May Allah bestow on you more blessings. Fear Allah as regards your duties, for Allah lo! Allah is with those who keep their duty unto Him and those who are good- doers.”
The vacillating tribes in the region who had been sitting on the fence, and had preferred to watch the course of events submitted to the authority of Madeenah, paid Zakaah and were re-admitted to Islam. The chiefs of the tribes who surrendered were sent to Madeenah for presentation before Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him.
Tulayhah being left alone, jumped onto his horse, and on escape from Buzakhah, he sought refuge in Ash-Shaam. When Ash-Shaam was occupied by the Muslims, Tulayhah re- embraced Islam, and again his career as a false Prophet came to an end. Later he joined the Muslim army and took conspicuous part in the battles of Qadsiyyah and Nehavand, during the caliphate of ‘ Umar Ibn Al-Khattaab, may Allah he pleased with him.
(Source: Biographies of the Rightly Guided Caliphs.)
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