Battle of Yamama

 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Yamama

After the death of Muhammad many Arab tribes revolted against the State of Medina. Caliph Abu Bakr organized 11 corps to deal with those Rebels. Abu Bakr appointed Ikrimah as the commander of one of the corps. Ikrimah's orders were to advance and make contact with the forces of Musaylimah at Yamamah, but not to get involved in battle with him. Abu Bakr knew the power and ability of Musaylimah, and did not wish to risk fighting him with insufficient forces. Since Khalid ibn al-Walid was his finest general, the Caliph had made up his mind to use him to deal with Musaylimah after he had finished with the other enemies of Islam. Abu Bakr's intention in giving Ikrimah this mission was to tie Musaylimah down at Yamamah. With Ikrimah on the horizon, Musaylimah would remain in expectation of a Muslim attack and thus not be able to leave his base. With Musaylimah so committed, Khalid would be free to deal with the Apostate tribes of North-Central Arabia without interference from Yamamah. Ikrimah advanced with his corps and established a camp somewhere in the region of Yamamah.
The location of his camp is not known. From this base he kept the forces of the Bani Hanifa under observation while awaiting instructions from the Caliph, and the presence of Ikrimah had the desired effect of keeping Musaylimah in Yamamah. When Ikrimah received reports of the defeat of Tulaiha by Khalid, he began to get impatient for battle. Ikrimah was a fearless man and a forceful general, but he lacked Khalid's cool judgement and patience - qualities which distinguish the bold commander from the rash one. The next development that Ikrimah heard of was that Shurahbil bin Hasanah was marching to join him. Shurahbil too had been given a corps by the Caliph with orders to follow Ikrimah, and await further instructions. In a few days Shurahbil would be with him. Then came news of how Khalid had routed the forces of Salma, the queenly leader of men. Ikrimah could wait no longer, and he set his corps in motion. This happened at the end of October 632 (end of Rajab, 11 Hijri). He was defeated by Musaylimah. He wrote to Abu Bakr and gave him a complete account of his actions. Abu Bakr was both pained and angered by the rashness of Ikrimah and his disobedience of the orders given to him. Abu Bakr ordered him to march to Mahra to help Arfaja and thereafter go to the Yemen to help Muhajir. Shurahbil remained in the region of Yamamah. To ensure that he did not fall into the error of Ikrimah, Abu Bakr wrote to him: "Stay where you are and await further instructions."
The Caliph sent for Khalid and gave him the mission of destroying the forces of Musaylimah at Yamamah. In addition to his own large corps, Khalid would have under command the corps of Shurahbil. Khalid rode to Butah where his old corps awaited him. Meanwhile the Caliph wrote to Shurahbil to work under Khalid ibn al-Walid's command. A few days before Khalid's arrival Shurahbil had given in to the same temptation as Ikrimah; seeking glory, he had advanced and clashed with Musaylimah, but was defeated. Khalid got news that Musaylimah was encamped in the plain of Aqraba with an army of 40,000 warriors. The two successful actions fought by them against Ikrimah and Shurahbil had increased their confidence in themselves and created an aura of invincibility around Musaylimah.

The Second Strike of the Muslims

On the orders of Khalid, the Muslim army again swept forward. The Muslims launched violent assaults all along the front. The most dreadful carnage took place in a gulley in which human blood ran in a rivulet down to the wadi. As a result, this gulley became known as the Gulley of Blood-Shueib-ud-Dam, and it is still known by that name.
But the battle hung in the balance. Khalid now realised that, with their fanatical loyalty to their false prophet, the rebels would not give in. It was evident that only the death of Musaylimah could break the spirit of the infidels; it would be a moral setback, which would lead quickly to physical defeat. However, Musaylimah was not dueling in front like Khalid. He would have to be drawn out of the safety of the rebel ranks in which he stood surrounded by his faithful followers. As the first violent spasm of combat spent itself, the warriors stopped to regain their breath. There was a lull.
Then Khalid stepped out towards the enemy centre and threw a challenge to single combat. Several champions came out of the rebel ranks to accept the challenge of Khalid ibn al-Walid and advanced towards him one by one; Khalid disposed of each opponent. Slowly and steadily Khalid advanced towards Musaylimah, killing champion after champion, until there were none left that were brave enough to come forth against him. By now he was close enough to Musaylimah to talk to him without shouting, and he proposed talks. Musaylimah agreed; he stepped forward cautiously and halted just outside duelling distance of Khalid. Khalid had already determined to kill Musaylimah; the talks were only bait to draw him close enough. At that instant Khalid sprang at him. Khalid ibn al-Walid was fast, but Musaylimah was faster. But in that moment of flight, something meaningful happened to the spirit of the two armies, depressing one and exalting the other. The flight of their 'prophet' and commander from Khalid was a disgraceful sight in the eyes of the rebels, while the Muslims rejoiced. To exploit the psychological opportunity which now presented itself, Khalid ibn al-Walid ordered an immediate renewal of the offensive. The rebels began to fall back as the Muslims struck. After some time the infidel front broke into pieces. The bulk of the army broke and fled, scattering in all directions.

Last Phase of the Battle

Only about a fourth of Musaylimah's army remained in fighting shape, and this part hastened to the walled garden while Muhakim (commander of the right wing) covered its retreat with a small rear-guard. This rear-guard was soon cut to pieces by the Muslims, and Muhakim fell to the arrow of the Caliph's son, Abdur-Rahman. Soon the Muslims arrived at the walled garden, where a little over 7,000 rebels, Musaylimah among them, had taken shelter. The infidels had closed the gate. The Muslims were anxious to get into the garden and finish the job. Soon a Muslim soldier Al Baraa ibn Malik asked his fellow men to let him climb the wall so that he could open the gate by killing the guards there. The soldier jumped in to the garden and opened the gate. The Muslims entered the garden and the last and most gory phase of the Battle of Yamamah had begun.

Garden of Death

The apostates stepped back as the Muslims poured into the garden. The fighting became more vicious. But Musaylimah was still fighting: he had no intention of giving up. As the front moved closer to him, he drew his sword and joined in the combat. The last phase of the battle now entered its climax. The Muslim army pressed the rebels everywhere and it was only the endeavours of Musaylimah which prevented a general collapse. Then Musaylimah came under the hawk-like gaze of the Wahshy ibn Harb (the same man who killed Hamza, the uncle of Muhammad, in the Battle of Uhud before accepting Islam). He threw the same javelin that killed Hamza ibn ‘Abd al-Muttalib and struck Musaylimah in the belly; the next moment Abu Dujana cut off his head. The news of the death of Musaylimah brought about the rout of the rebel forces. The garden where this last phase of the battle took place became known as "Garden of Death", as the 7,000 rebels within were slaughtered to a man.

Meilleures salutations. Youssef CHARHABAILI.