The Battle Of Taif

Ka’b b. Zuhayr Accepts Islam:

Ka'b b. Zuhayr paid a visit to the Apostle after the latter returned to Medina from Ta’if. Ka'b was a poet whose father had also been a versifier. He had composed many satirical poems ridiculing the Apostle but when he fell on evil days, his brother Bujayr wrote to him that he should better go to the Apostle as a repentant sinner and accept Islam. Ka'b’s brother also warned him of the dire consequences of disregarding his advice. Ka'b at last, came to the Apostle and composed the famous panegyric ode praising the Apostle beginning with Banat Su’ad.1

When Ka'b came to Medina he called upon the Apostle just after the latter had finished the morning prayers and placed his hands in his. The Apostle, however, did not know who he was. Ka'b then said to the Prophet, “O Messenger of Allah, Ka'b b. Zuhayr has come as a repentant Muslim and asks for security from you. Will you accept his repentance?” One of the Ansars leapt upon him saying, “O Apostle of God, let me deal with this enemy of God. I will now cut off his head.” But the Apostle asked him to leave Ka'b alone since he had come remorseful of his past deeds. It was then that Ka'b recited the well-known ode beginning with the verses:

"Su’ad is gone, and today my heart is love-lorn; Enthralled, put in chain, no bloodwit coming to unrein."

Then, in another verse he praised the Prophet thus:

"Indeed the Messenger is a light whence illumination is sought,

A drawn, sharp-edged sword, the sword of Allah."

The Apostle gave away his robe to Ka'b when he recited these verses.2

Footnotes:

1. Meaning Su’ad has departed
2. Zad al-Ma’ad, Vol. I, pp. 466-68. Qastalani realtes in the Mawahib, on the authority of Abu Bakr b. al-‘Anbari that when K’ab recited this verse, the Apostle gave his robe to him. Caliph Mu’awiyah offered 10, 000 dinars for the Apostle’s robe, but K’ab refused and said that he could not part with it for anything. Mu’awiyah obtained the robe, after the death of K’ab, for 20,000 dinars, from the heirs of K’ab. Qastalani further says that the roberemain with Caliphs for long time, (Al-Zurqani, Commentary on Al-Mawahib, Vol. III, p. 70).

No Complaisance To Idolatry

When the deputation of Thaqif came to Medina, a tent was pitched for them in the Prophet’s mosque. They requested the Apostle not to destroy their chief deity, the idol al-Lat, for three years. The Apostle refused, then they continued to reduce the period by one year, but the Apostle remained firm in his refusal until they finally settled for a period of one month after they had returned to their homes. The Apostle again rejected their request and ordered Abu Sufyan and Mughira b. Shu’ba al-Thaqafi to destroy al-Lat. Thereafter, the Thaqif asked the Prophet that they might be excused from offering prayers. To this the Apostle replied, “Nothing remains of a religion which has no prayer.” Abu Sufyan and Mughira b. Shu’ba accompanied the deputation of Thaqif when they returned to Ta’if. Mughira smote al-Lat with a pickax and broke it into pieces. Thereupon, the people of Ta’if accepted Islam liberating all of them from paganism.1 Footnotes: 1 Zad al-Ma’ad, Vol. I, pp. 458-59

The Lesser Pilgrimage

After distributing the spoils and captives at J’irrana, the Apostle wore the Ihram needed in performing the lesser pilgrimage for this was the place from where the people going for pilgrimage to Mecca from Ta’if changed into Ihram. After completion of the lesser pilgrimage the Apostle returned to Medina.1

The Apostle came back to Medina in Dhul Q’ada, 8 A.H.2 While the forces were returning from Ta’if, the Apostle of God asked the men to recite: “We are those who revert and repent and worship and glorify our Lord.” Some of the people then asked the Prophet to call down evil on Thaqif. The Apostle raised his hands to entreat, “O Allah! Guide Thaqif on the right path and bring them here.”

‘Urwa b. Mas’ud al-Thaqafi met the Apostle while he was on his way back to Medina. He became a Muslim and returned to his people inviting them to Islam. He was very popular and enjoyed the esteem of his clansmen but when he broke the news that he had accepted Islam, the people turned against him. They shot arrows at him from all directions until one hit him eventually causing his death.

Thaqif waited for a few months after killing ‘Urwa, but after having counseled among them, they have realized that it would be beyond their power to fight all those tribes which had already taken the oath of allegiance personally with the Apostle. Ultimately, they decided to send a deputation to the Apostle.

Footnotes:

1. Ibn Hisham, Vol. II, p. 500
2. Bukhari, Dhul Q’ada is the 11th month of the Islamic Calendar.

Loving Kindness

Among the captives rounded up during the battle, the Muslims also took Shayma bint Halima Sa'adiya into custody. The men taking her captive did not know her although she told them that she was the foster-sister of the Apostle. However, they did not mind her and proceeded to treat her roughly instead.

When Shayma was presented before the Apostle she said:

“O Prophet of God, I am your foster-sister.” The Apostle asked for a proof and she replied, “The bite you rendered me at my back when I carried you over my hip. The mark is still there.” The Apostle agreed and stretched out his robe for her to sit on then treated her courteously. He gave her the choice of living with him in affection and honor or going back to her people with presents. She chose to be reunited with her tribe. She accepted Islam and the prophet gave her three bondsmen, a slave girl and some goats.1

Footnotes:

1. Zad al-Ma’ad, Vol. I, p. 449

Captives Released

A deputation of the Hawazin consisting of fourteen persons called upon the Apostle. They requested him to take pity on them and return their kinsmen and property. The Apostle replied, “You see the people accompanying me. What I like best is that you come out with the truth. Now tell me, which of the two is dearer to you?” Your children and your women or your property?”

They replied with one voice, “We treasure nothing more than our children and women.”

Now, the Apostle advised them, “Tomorrow morning when I have finished the prayer you get up and say: We ask the Apostle’s intercession with the Muslims and the Muslims’ intercession with the Apostle that our children and women be returned to us.” When they did as told by the Apostle he gave the reply, “Whatever was appointed to me and the Bani ‘Abdul Muttalib is yours. To others I make a recommendation for you.” Thereupon the Muhajirrin and the Ansar said, “Whatever share has been given to us is passed on to the Apostle.”

The persons belonging to Bani Tamim, Bani Fazara and Bani Sulaym refused to leave their shares. The Prophet said to them, “These fellows have come after accepting Islam. I waited for their arrival and gave them choice but preferred nothing to their women and children. Now, if anybody has serfs whom he wants to donate cheerfully, the way is open to him. But if anybody does not want to do so, he may refuse. He who holds a right to such captives shall be given six shares in lieu of each from the first booty Allah grants us.”

Everyone replied, “We give back our shares cheerfully for the Apostle’s sake.” The Prophet, however, said, “I do not know who among you is contented and who is not. You go back now and your chiefs will tell me correctly about your affairs.” All of them returned the captives, women and children, and not one of them decided to retain his share. The Prophet also offered a garment to every released captive.1

Footnotes:

1. Zad al-Ma’ad, Vol. I, p. 449, Bukhari

Love For Ansar And Their Selflessness

The Prophet partitioned a large portion of the spoils to the Quraish who had to be reconciled to Islam while the Ansar was also meted out its petty share. Some of the lads among the Ansar aired their grievances at the meager gifts turned over to them. The Apostle ordered the Ansar to assemble in an enclosure. Then he delivered an extremely moving speech that tugged at the inner crevices of their hearts and which finally brought them on the brink of tears.

The Apostle said: "Did I not come to you when you were aberrant and God guided you through me; you were poor and God made you rich; you were divided and He softened your hearts to unite?”

The Ansar replied,”yes, indeed, God and His Apostle are most kind and generous.”

But, the Apostle again queried: “o Ansar, why don’t you answer me?”

They said, “what answer can we give! “O messenger of God, kindness and generosity belongs to God and His Apostle."

The Apostle continued, “Had you wished, you could have said. And verily you would have spoken the truth and I would have acknowledged if you had replied, you came discredited and we believed you; you came deserted and we helped you; you were fugitive and we gave you shelter; you were poor and comforted you.”

The Apostle then turned to speak out something which expressed the love he had for the Ansar and, at the same time substantiated the disparity in the distribution of the pillage. He said, “do you have some misgivings about me, O Ansar, because of what I have given to them for the short-lived bloom of this life by which they may become Muslims while I have entrusted you to Islam?” The Apostle then posed a question, which inflamed the Ansar's love for the Prophet. He inquired, “O Ansar, are you not satisfied that these men should take away sheep and goats while you go back with the Apostle of God? By him who has the life of Muhammad (peace be upon him) in His hand, what you take back with you would be better than the things with which they would return. Had there been no migration, I would have been one of the Ansars myself. If all the people go one way in a wadi and the Ansar take another, I would take the way of the Ansar. The Ansar are the undergarments and the others are the outergarments. O Allah, have mercy on the Ansar, their sons and their sons’ sons.”

All the Ansars wept until tears rolled down their beards as they said, “We are satisfied and happy that the Apostle falls to our lot.”1

Footnotes:

1. The incident has been narrated in Sahihain, but Zad-al-Ma’ad gives more details

The Spoil Of Hunayn

On his way back from Ta’if, the Apostle stayed over Jirrana with his men. He intended to give an opportunity to the Hawazin to make amends by calling upon him and accepting Islam. Thereafter, he distributed the spoils, apportioning them first to those whose hearts were to be won. Abu Sufyan and his two sons Yazid and Mu’awiya were doled out handsome gifts. Hakim b. al-Hizam, Nadr b. al-Harith, ‘Ala’b. al-Haritha and other Quraishite leaders were treated generously and then every man in the army was awarded his share of the spoils.1

Footnotes:

1. Zad al-a’ad, Vol. I, p. 448. Also see Bukhari and Muslim , Ghazwa Ta’if

The Siege Raised:

Allah had not willed the fall of Ta’if.’Umar was asked by the Apostle to announce the deferral of the siege and return of the army. Feeling disappointed, some of the people raised an outcry at the sudden order of retreat. They said. “Shall we go back without reducing Ta’if? “The Apostle replied, alright, mount an attack. They bore down on the enemy but were confronted with losses of lives. Then the Apostle said, God willing, we shall return very soon. The people then felt relieved and started making preparations for breaking the camp. The Prophet smiled when he saw them returning.1

Footnotes:

1. Ibid

Kindness In The Battlefield:

When the siege did not deliver the desired outcome, the Apostle threatened to cut down the vineyards of Thaqif. The enemy was extremely perturbed for its economy depended on the fine quality of grapes grown in these vineyards. Thaqif populace begged the Prophet in the name of God and their relationship with him to spare their orchards and farms as a whole. Taking pity on the enemy, the Apostle said, “certainly, I leave it to God and to the kinship between us.”

The Apostle issued a statement announcing that if any slave originating from Thaqif came to him from the city, he would be set free. One of the ten or more so slaves who deserted Ta'if was Abu Bakrah. Later on, he distinguished himself by his profound knowledge of the Traditions. The Prophet freed all of them and asked the Muslims to take care of their deeds. However, the people of Ta’if were greatly irked on the desertion of their slaves.1

Footnotes:

1. Zad al-Ma’ad, Vol. I, p. 457 on the authority of Ibn Is’haq

Siege Of Ta’if

As the Muslims’ camp was just within the range of arrows shot from the rampart of Ta’if, the Apostle transferred it to another side of the city. The siege continued for some twenty-five to thirty nights during which the two opponents fought tooth and nail to get the better of one another as they traded a barrage of arrows. The Prophet, used for the first time catapults in the siege of Ta’if whose ingress and egress were completely blocked. The arrows shot by the enemy had taken a heavy toll on the lives of several Muslims.1

Footnotes:

1. Ibn Hisham, Vol. II, pp. 478-83

Fugitives Of Thaqif

The warriors of Thaqif who fled from Hunayn returned to Ta’if. They closed the gates of the city after storing stocks of food enough to serve them for a year. Thus, they prepared themselves in time for another encounter with the Muslims.

The Prophet went at once to Ta’if. After establishing his camp outside the city, he set about besieging it in order to humble the enemy. The siege lingered on for sometime, but the Muslims, whose avenues of entry had already been blocked by the defenders, were unable to enter Ta’if. Thaqif combatants were good archers, so that the thick volley of arrows that they unleashed appeared like swarms of locusts.