|
Hurub Ar-Riddah (The Wars of Apostasy)
Muslims
were stricken by the demise of the Prophet, peace and blessings be
upon him, and none could pacify them but Abu Bakr, may Allah be
pleased with him, when he recited to people the Qur’anic verse,
{Muhammad is but a messenger, messengers (the like of whom) have
passed away before him. Will it be that, when he dieth or is slain,
ye will turn back on your heels? He who turneth back doth no hurt
to Allah, and Allah will reward the thankful}. (Al `Imran: 144) But
some Arab tribes began to reject Islamic Law and refused to pay the
due Zakat, while some others made undue claims to prophethood.
After
becoming Caliph, as the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him,
recommended before his death, Abu Bakr pursued the policy of
the Prophet, peace be upon him. So he considered those who refused
to pay Zakat as apostates, and said: “By Allah, if they withhold
a rope of a camel they used to give its due Zakat to Allah’s
Messenger, I will fight them for it.”
Abu
Bakr set for preparing the Muslim armies, but, beforehand, he sent
envoys to the rebel tribes to call them to return to Islam or face
severe punishment.
At
the beginning of Rajab, eleven Muslim armies set out to fight
renegade tribes all over the Arab Peninsula. Khalid Ibn Al-Walid
led three-thousand army to the tribe of Taiy whole leader Tulaihah
Ibn Khwailed Al-Asdi claimed prophethood. War broke out between
them in a place called Bozakhah at the beginning of Ramadan, 11
A.H. Then the Muslim fighters managed to win the war and end
temptations against Islam, Tulaihah could flee. Later on he
repented and pledged allegiance to `Umar and fought in the cause of
Allah.
|
