THE BATTLE OF DHUL QISSAH
When Abu Bakr rejected the demand of the tribes to absolve them of the obligation to pay Zakaah, they took such refusal as a challenge. Islam sat lightly on them, and tribal feelings were most dominant in them. They accordingly decided that if Islam involved the payment of Zakaah to Madecnah, they would prefer to forego Islam, rather than yield to the dictates of the authorities in Madecnah.
During their stay in Madeenah, the delegates of the tribes saw for themselves that with the march of the main Muslim army under Usamah to the Levant, there was hardly any fighting force with the Muslims in Madecnah, and as such the city was vulnerable. When the delegates returned to their tribes, and gave an account of what Abu Bakr had said, they incited them to fight him. They decided to attack Madeenah when the main Muslim army was away, and teach the then authorities a lesson. The tribes concentrated their forces at Dhul Missa and Dhul Qissah to the north east of Madeenah on the way to Najd, and decided to launch the attack against Madeenah.
When the delegates of the tribes left Madeenah in a sullen mood, Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him, discerned that they meant mischief, and that an attack by the tribes was imminent. He immediately gave orders to Muslims to make their arrangements for the defense of Madeenah. Strong pickets under Khalid Ibn Al-Waleed, Az-Zubayr, Talhah, ‘ Abdur-Rahmaan Ibn Awf, ‘Abdullaah Ibn Mas’ood and ‘ Ali Ibn Abi Taalib, may Allah be pleased with them, were posted at strategic approaches to the city. These pickets were required to remain at their posts, and to make immediate reports to the Caliph about the movements of the tribes. All the adult male Muslims were asked to assemble in the Prophet ‘s mosque, where Abu Bakr As-Sideeq, may Allah be pleased with him, informed them of the impending danger of an attack from the tribes, and asked them to do their duly to Islam. He brought home to them the point that if they staked their everything in the way of Allah, Allah would come to their help as He had helped them during the lifetime of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him. He said to them: “The delegation noticed that your number are few, and you do not know whether they will attack you by day or at night, and they are not far from you, so be on your guard and make arrangements.” A roster of all Muslim male adults in the city was prepared, and their turns for keeping the vigil during the nights were fixed.
After three days, the withholders of Zakaah made brisk movement in the camp of the tribes at Dhul Hissah. The Muslim scouts brought intelligence that the tribes planned to attack Madeenah that night. Abu Bakr collected all the Muslim male adults in the mosque. After Salaatul-‘Ishaa’ (night prayer) these men were required to spread out in groups to keep vigil in the various quarters of the city. At the head of a contingent Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him, took position at a strategic point in the direction of Dhul Hissah from where the attack was expected.
The tribes launched the attack at midnight. They had hoped that they would take the city by surprise; and that as there was no fighting force in Madeenah, they would meet no resistance, and ii would be an easy walk-over for them. As the tribal force advanced in the darkness of the night fully assured of their victory, the contingent of Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him, leapt on the advancing horde, and took them unawares. Many tribesmen fell victims to the swords of the Muslims; the rest fled in utter confusion.
The Muslims chased the enemy and advanced to Dhul Hissah. Mere the retreating tribesmen were joined by their reserves. In the battle at Dhul Hissah. The Muslims though few in number, fought with grim determination. As a stratagem the tribesmen threw inflated water skins in the path of the Muslim army, and that frightened the camels on which the Muslims were riding; the camels did not rest till they reached Madeenah. The tribes felt jubilant at what they regarded as the repulse of the Muslims. Thinking that all was over, the tribes retired to their camps at Dhul Hissah and Dhul Qissah.
Back in Madeenah, Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him, rallied the Muslim forces, and mustered all available reserves to attack the enemy. In the late hours of the night, the Muslim forces rushed out of the city, and led a violent attack against the enemy at Dhul Hissah. The tribal forces were taken unawares and they retreated to Dhul Qissah. The Muslims pursued them to Dhul Qissah. There was fighting at Dhul Qissah but the tribal force could not withstand the fury of the attack of the Muslims. Many tribesmen were cut to pieces. Those who survived fled in confusion. Before the day dawned the Muslims had won a victory and they were the masters of Dhul Qissah. Abu Bakr was on the vanguard of the Muslim army, and when his men said to him: “O successor of Allah’s Messenger, do not expose your life to danger, for if you are harmed there would be no guide for Muslims, so send a man in your behalf, and if he is killed send another one.” Thereupon Abu Bakr said, “Nay, By Allah I will never do this, nor will I sacrifice your souls to save myself.” Such was the ideal Abu Bakr. who fought in defense of Islam in the absence of Usamah Ibn Zayd from Madeenh.
The battle of Dhul Qissah had many good consequences. The victory of Dhul Qissah was the first significant event of the caliphate of Abu Bakr As-Sideeq, may Allah be pleased with him. When Abu Bakr returned to Madeenah from Dhul Qissah he was acclaimed as a hero, a worthy successor of the Prophet. In the midst of the most adverse circumstances he remained firm and never lost faith. By his superb leadership he had averted the threat to the city of Madeenah. By refusing to compromise on principles in spite of heavy odds, he established that he was made of stuff that characterizes heroes.
Another important consequence of the battle of Dhul Qissah was (hat it crystallized the issues. Heretofore there were tribes which favored Islam, but still wavered in their allowance to Madeenah. Again there were tribes which preferred to sit on the fence and watch developments. After the battle of Dhul Qissah, many tribes sent their delegations to Madeenah, swore allegiance to the authorities in Madeenah and paid Zakaah. The tribes that did not favor Islam openly apostatized. Henceforward the issue was not between Muslims and Muslims; the issue was between the, Muslims and the apostates. The battle of Dhul Qissah indeed set the stage for the apostasy campaigns.
(Source: Biographies of the Rightly Guided Caliphs.)
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