Ridda Wars
The Ridda Wars (Arabic: حُرُوْبُ الرِّدَّةِ, lit. 'Apostasy Wars') were a series of military campaigns launched by the first caliph Abu Bakr against rebellious Arabian tribes. They began shortly after the death of the Islamic prophet Muhammad in 632 and concluded the next year, with all battles won by the Rashidun Caliphate. These wars secured the caliphate's control over Arabia and restored its nascent prestige.
| Ridda Wars حُرُوب ٱلرِّدَّة | |||||||||
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Map of the major battles of the Ridda Wars | |||||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||||
| Rashidun Caliphate | Rebel Arab tribes | ||||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
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Abu Bakr Khalid ibn al-Walid Amr ibn al-As Zubayr ibn al-Awwam Ali ibn Abi Talib Zayd ibn al-Khattab † Talha ibn Ubayd Allah Al-Nu'man ibn Muqrin Ikrima ibn Abi Jahl Shurahbil ibn Hasana Khalid ibn Sa'id Al-Ala'a Al-Hadrami Hudhayfah al-Bariqi Arfaja al-Bariqi Al-Muhajir ibn Abi Umayya Suwaid ibn Maqaran Shahr ibn Badhan † Fayruz al-Daylami |
Musaylima † Aswad Ansi † Tulayha Malik ibn Nuwayra † Sajah Umm Zhiml Salma Laqeet bin Malik † Al-Ash'ath ibn Qays Ghayth ibn Abd Yaghuth Qays ibn Makshuh Amr ibn Ma'adi Yakrib | ||||||||
During Muhammad's lifetime, many Arab rebels declared themselves prophets. After Muhammad died in June 632, Abu Bakr was elected as the caliph of the Muslim community at Saqifah. The next day, he launched a successful expedition into Byzantine Syria. Meanwhile in Arabia, the self-proclaimed prophets started to cause mischief and arranged rebellions against Abu Bakr. The first attack on the caliphate was done by Tulayha, who prepared an army in an attempt to capture Medina, the capital of the caliphate. This was a major failure as Tulayha's forces were crushed in Zhuqissa. In the battle, Tulayha retreated and then again attacked the Muslims at Abraq and Buzakha, both were unsuccessful attempts. After the defeat, Tulayha became a Muslim, though this was not enough to stop the rise of more self-proclaimed prophets.
In September 632, Banu Azd's chief Laqit prepared an army to attack Oman. However, the commander Hudayfa's forces defeated Laqit and his army. The next month, attacks were faced in Northern Arabia and Yemen, though they were easily defeated. Few months later, Banu Hanifa's chief Musaylimah, with an army 40,000 soldiers was killed in the Battle of Yamama. The last major attack was done by the powerful tribe of Kinda in Hadhramaut in January 633. The campaigns came to end in June 633 as Abu Bakr successfully united all tribes of Arabia.
The Rashidun Caliphate secured its control by defeating the rebel tribes. These military campaigns are regarded by historians as Abu Bakr's greatest political and military triumph. These wars also cemented Khalid ibn al-Walid's reputation as a great tactician and cavalry commander. A detailed reconstruction of the events is complicated by the frequently contradictory and tendentious accounts found in primary sources.