Musaylima the Liar (False Prophet)

Musaylima ibn Habib al-Hanafi, known as al-Kadhdhab (the Great Liar), was the leader of the Banu Hanifa tribe of Yamama in central Arabia and the most significant of the false prophets (mutanabbiun) who arose during and after the Prophet Muhammad's time. He had come to Madinah as part of a delegation and met the Prophet, but later returned to Yamama and declared himself a prophet, attempting to imitate and rival the Quran with his own 'revelations' — fragments of which survived and were noted for their poor quality. He even wrote a letter to the Prophet claiming co-prophethood. After the Prophet's death, the Riddah (apostasy) wars began, and the suppression of Musaylima became the central military priority. Abu Bakr sent Khalid ibn al-Walid against him. The Battle of Yamama in 12 AH was one of the bloodiest battles of the early Islamic period — both sides suffered heavy casualties. Many hafiz (memorizers of the Quran) were killed, which precipitated Abu Bakr's decision to compile the Quran into a written mushaf. Musaylima was killed in the battle by Wahshi ibn Harb — the same Abyssinian slave who had killed Hamza ibn Abd al-Muttalib at Uhud. Wahshi reportedly said that he was glad he had killed the best of men (Hamza) in ignorance and now killed the worst of men (Musaylima) in faith.