Part 15

When the battle began on the next day, the forces of Musaylamah elated by the pride of victory on the first day made the bid to push forward. Al-Baraa’ was the commander of one of the Muslim wings. There was a strange peculiarity of AlBaraa'. Whenever he would go to fight, his whole body would shake necessitating others to hold him. After some time his body would stop shaking, and he would feel electrified. He would then rush forward against the enemy and fight like a lion. At the battle of ~Aqraba he had his fit of shivering, and thereafter he plunged into the thick of the battle crying, "O Muslims, where do you go? Here am I, Al-Baraa' Ibn Malik: come to me." Al-Baraa' and his men made a determined charge.

‘Abdur Rahmaan Ibn Abi Bakr shot an arrow from his bow that killed Muhhkam Ibn At-Tufayl who commanded the forces of Musaylamah.

At this stage the two armies encountered each other ina headlong combat. As the forces of Musaylamah were larger in number, such. state of affairs was advantageous to them. While the front ranks of the two armies grappled with each other in hand to hand fight, Khalid collected his cavalry reserves, and carrying out a wide outflanking movement, dashed for the mounds where the camp of Musaylamah was located. The boldness of the move of Khalid took Banu Haneefah completely unawares. The bodyguard of Musaylamah fought valiantly. but they could not hold ground for long. As Khalid increased his pressure, Musaylamah lost his nerves, and retreated to a neighboring fortified garden.

The Battle of the Garden:

With the withdrawal of Musaylamah, his army lost the

will to fight, and they too found safety in seeking refuge in the garden. A huge wall surrounded the garden, and the fugitives closed the gate thus shutting access to the pursuing Muslims. Al-Baraa’ Ibn Malik asked his companions to lift him to the top of the garden wall, and from there he jumped into the garden. Some other Muslims did likewise. Thus, hazarding their lives, this group of Muslims rushed to the gate and opened it. With the opening of the gate, the Muslim army rushed into the garden, and let loose a reign of slaughter on the Banu Haneefah. The Banu Haneefah fought desperately for sheer survival, but theirs was a crushing defeat. All advantages now lay with the Muslims. The men of Banu Haneefah were cut to pieces in large numbers, and the garden was virtually drenched with blood. So bloody was the battle of the garden that in the Arab annals it came to be known as the "Battle of the Garden of Death."

In the "Garden of Death" Wahshi, the Negro slave who had fought on the side of the Quraysh against the Muslims at the battle of Uhud, and had killed Hamzah, the uncle of the Prophet ; peace and blessings be upon him, threw in a javelin at Musaylamah, while at the same time Abu Dujaanah rushed forward and fell on Musaylamah with his sword, until he fell dead, and his severed head was hoisted for all to see. Thereupon the Banu Haneefah formally surrendered.

With such surrender the valley of Yamaamah which had so long defied Islam lay prostrate at the feet of the Muslims.

The Treaty of Yamaamah:

The battle of Yamaamah was the bloodiest battle so far

fought by the Muslims. It was a decisive battle that established the supremacy of Islam in Central Arabia. It proved to be a great trial of strength, and though the Muslims won the victory, this was achieved at a heavy cost. The casualties of Banu Haneefah were staggering. As many as 7,000 followers of Musaylamah died in the battle of ~ Aqraba, and equal number fell in the Garden of Death. Twelve hundred Muslims met their martyrdom in this action, and although the number was very much less than the number of the dead of Banu Haneefah, the loss was nevertheless colossal. Almost every family in Makkah and Madeenah suffered the loss of some dear one. Most of the Muslims who had memorized the Quran died in this battle, and their loss was most acute. Among the martyrs were Abu Hudhayfah, Zayd [bn Al-Khattaab, Abu Dujaanah, Yazeed Ibn Aws,Yazeed Ibn Thabit, and many other distinguished persons from among the Ansaars and the Muhajreen.

All the important leaders of the Banu Haneefah were killed, and there was no leader to negotiate terms of surrender. Majaa*ah who had won the confidence of Khalid by saving his wife, Layla, undertook to make negotiations with the Banu Haneefah. Maja*ah was released on parole, and he went to negotiate terms with the Banu Haneefah. He returned to say that the major portion of the army was still in the fort of Yamaamah, and that they were poised for another action Khalid decided that he would himself go to the city to assess the situation, Majaa*ah sent a secret message to the Banu Haneefah that all women, old men, and children should mount the battlements and display their arms. When Khalid went to the city he saw that the battlements were crowded. That set Khalid thinking. After the disastrous war of *Aqrabah, the Muslim forces though victorious, were too exhausted to risk another action. Khalid was under the circumstances keen to avoid another war. Mujaa’ah played upon the feelings of Khalid and

said that if lenient terms were offered he might be able to arrive at some settlement with the Banu Haneefah. Khalid allowed him to go to his people again. Majaa*ah returned to say that if the Muslims were to be content with taking only one fourth of the property of the Banu Haneefah, peace could be negotiated. Khalid agreed and the peace treaty was signed "hereunder the Banu Haneefah were to surrender one fourth of their property.

After the treaty, Majaa* ah was allowed freedom and he returned to his people. The gates of the city were thereafter thrown open. When Khalid rode into the city, the Banu Haneefah army was no where to be seen. "Where are your warriors?" asked Khalid. Pointing to the women and children, Majaa‘ah said, "These women and children were the warriors. I had them dressed as warriors, and made them parade on the battlements". Khalid turned furiously to Majaa*ah and said, "This means that you deceived me”. Majaa* ah merely shrugged his shoulders and said, "You may kill me, if you like, but I had to resort to this ruse to save my people." Khalid felt very bitter, but as he had given his promise to the people of Banu Haneefah, he was not in favor of withdrawing from the terms of the treaty. Khalid had heard of the beauty of the daughter of Majaa*ah, and he asked Majaa* ah to give him his daughter in marriage in case he wanted to escape his wrath. Majaa* ah said, "I am at your disposal, but you know what happened when you married Layla. The Caliph did not approve of that marriage, and he will not approve of your marriage with my daughter." Khalid retorted, "You need not bother about the approval of the Caliph. [| wed your daughter tonight. You may go and make your arrangements accordingly.” That night Khalid married the beautiful daughter of Majaa* ah.

As the Muslims had suffered heavily at the hands of

Banu Haneefah, Abu Bakr sent instructions to Khalid that no

mercy should be shown to the Banu Haneefah and all the male

adults should be killed. Before these instructions reached Khalid, he had given these people general amnesty, and they had accepted Islam. Under these circumstances the instructions of Abu Bakr could not be complied with.

Khalid sent a delegation of the people of Banu Haneefah along with the booty to Madeenah. The delegates expressed regrets, and said that Musaylamah had deceived them. They assured Abu Bakr that they were sincere in their profession of Islam. Abu Bakr treated them with due courtesy and let things rest at that. He was, however, very bitter at Khalid's marriage with Mujaa*ah's daughter. He addressed the following letter to Khalid: "O son of the mother of Khalid, What has gone wrong with you? You are out to wed women when the land around your camp is still drenched with blood of over a thousand martyrs of Muslims!!"

Apart from this mild censure, Abu Bakr chose to take no further action against the Victor of ~ Aqraba.

The Apostates of Bahrain:

After the fall of Musaylamah Al-Khadhaab and _ the overthrow of the Banu Haneefah, Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him, decided that a campaign should be undertaken against the people of Bahrain who had supported Musaylamah in the fight against the Muslims. Bahrain comprised the coastal strip to the west of the Persian Gulf. During the lifetime of the Prophet , peace and blessings be upon him, Al-Mundhir Ibn Saawa Al--Abdyy was the ruler of Bahrain. The Prophet , peace and blessings be upon him, sent a mission headed by Al- ‘Alaa’ Ibn Al-Hadrami_ to Bahrain, and invited Al-Mundhir to embrace Islam. Al-Mundhir welcomed the call and accepted slam. Al-Mundhir continued to be the ruler of Bahrain under the suzerainty of Madeenah. Under the influence of Al-Mundhir

most of the people of Bahrain accepted Islam. During his reign, people abided by the dictates of Islam, and justice was tasted everywhere.

Al-Gharoor brought pressure on Jarood and his people to denounce Islam. The rebels claimed that if Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, had been a Prophet, he would not have died. However, Jarood and his people stood firm on the path of Islam. Thereupon the Bahrain forces led an attack against the Muslims. They laid siege to Jwaatha, and prevented any food or resources to reach the Muslims of ~ Abdul Qays.

At this awkward position, Jarood, steadfast in his faith, assembled the people of his tribe and addressed them thus: "O people of ~ Abdul Qays, let me ask you something and reply to my question if you know, and keep silent if you do not." They said, "You may ask us." Thereupon Jarood said: “Are you aware that there were Prophet s before Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him?’ They answered in the affirmative. ‘Where have they gone?' Jarood continued. They said that they had died. Thereupon Jarood said: "So Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, died just as other Prophet s before him had died. If the deaths of the other Prophet s could not affect their Prophet hood, how can the death of Muhammad, peace