Ridda Wars - The First Challenge to the Caliphate

Ridda Wars were the series of campaigns launched by the  Rashidun Caliph Abu Bakr (R.A) soon after the death of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) in 632 AD. These wars were fought against false prophets and other apostates who refused to pay Zakat or reject the authority of the Caliphate. The Ridda Wars re-established the rule of the Caliphate over the entire Arabian Peninsula. Additionally, they proved to be a prelude for later conquests of Persia, the Byzantine Levant (Bilad al-Sham), and Egypt.

Causes of Ridda Wars

Tribal Society

Most of the tribes of the Arabian Peninsula gradually recognized the authority of Muhammad (PBUH) and accepted Islam after the Muslim conquest of Makkah. But soon after the death of the Prophet (PBUH), several of these tribes rejected the centralized government. They referred to their agreement with Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) as a tribal agreement between two tribal chiefs and deemed it null and void after his death.

The Emergence of False Prophets

The success of Islam in the Arabian Peninsula convinced some people to try their luck by claiming prophethood. Their claim was widely accepted by their tribesmen and they further strengthened their position with tribal alliances. The most prominent self-proclaimed prophet was Musaylimah ibn Habib (from Banu Hanifa), who made this claim during the life of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). The other famous ones were Tulayha (chief of Banu Asad) and Sajjah (from Banu Tamim).

Rejection to pay Zakat

Zakat is a religious obligation in Islam. A certain amount of tax is collected from the rich to fulfill the requirements of the poor in society and to run government affairs. However, many tribes considered it a burden as they were not used to such conditions. They refused to pay Zakat, and it became necessary to wage war against them on religious and political grounds.

Major Events During Ridda Wars

Defense of Medina

The first and foremost issue for the Caliphate was to secure its capital, Madinah, from invasion. Hejaz (Makkah, Madinah, and the area between them) was the only area that remained committed to their allegiance. Tribes in other parts of Arabia refused to accept the authority of the Caliphate on different grounds. Caliph Abu Bakr also dispatched the force to northern Arabia under Usama, which was planned by Muhammad (PBUH) before his death. This allowed the rebel tribes to invade Madinah. The nearby tribes of Ghatfan, Hawazin, and Tayy gathered their forces around the capital of the Rashidun Caliphate. These tribes were aided by the self-proclaimed prophet Tulayha.

At this crucial moment, Abu Bakr took command of his remaining forces in Madinah. These forces were short of men and consisted of inferior camels. To compensate for his weakness, Abu Bakr used a few surprise raids at night. These raids uprooted the rebel tribes from nearby areas and allowed the Caliphate to counterattack the rebel forces in other parts of Arabia.

Defeat and Repentance of Tulayha

After securing Mainah, Abu Bark organized 11 military squads under different commanders. The largest core was under Khalid bin Walid’s command, who was also given the most important tasks. Khalid’s first task was to engage the false prophet Tulayha and his Banu Asad tribe at Bazukha in north-central Arabia.

Khalid initially engaged Tulayha in Bazukha, where the false prophet was also joined by the defeated tribes of Ghatfan and Hawazin. Tayy decided to rejoin Muslims thanks to efforts from its tribal chief and a devout Muslim, Adi bin Hatem. Tulayha and his followers were comprehensively defeated first in the Battle of Bazukha and then in the Battle of Ghamra. Tulayha later apologized and was pardoned by Caliph Abu Bakr.

The Assassination of Malik bin Nuweira

The 2^nd important task for Khalid was to check Malik bin Nuweira, chief of a clan belonging to the Banu Tamim tribe in Najd (central Arabia). He was made zakat collector of his area by Muhammad (PBUH) but he refused tax collection after the appointment of Abu Bakr as caliph. Most of the clans of Banu Tamim rejoined Muslims after the Battle of Bazukha except Malik and his clan. He also made a pact with the false prophetess, Sajjah.

After learning about Khalid bin Walid’s victories, Malik decided not to take arms against him and recollected Zakat to prove his submissiveness. Khalid arrived in the area but didn’t find any enemy. He called the Azaan, but Malik and his family failed to answer the call, which was considered an act of defiance.

When Khalid asked Malik about his crimes, he couldn’t prove his innocence. Instead, he was even dubious about accepting Abu Bakr as Caliph. This was an act of rebellion against the Caliphate. Khalid declared him a traitor and assassinated him. This assassination was not welcomed by a few Muslims. However, it eradicated a potential threat to the Caliphate and urged Malik’s clan to ensure their submission to the authority.

Defeat and Death of Musaylma

The real test of Khalid was the battle against the false prophet and chief of Banu Hanifa, Musaylma. He and his tribe were present in the Al-Yamama region of Najd. He had the strongest military among rebels, due to support from his tribe and other devotees. False prophetess Sajjah had also joined him after she was rejected by her tribe. Musaylma had already defeated two small Muslim armies led by Ikrimah and Shurhabil.

The Battle of Yamama was the bloodiest battle during the Ridda Wars. 13,000 Muslims faced 40,000 men under Musaylma. It ended with a clear victory for Muslims as Musaylah and more than half of his forces perished compared to around 1,200 deaths for Muslims. This was effectively proved to be the end of the major part of the rebellion against the Caliphate.

The Defeat of Laqit bin Malik in Oman

Laqit bin Malik al-Azdi (chief of the Azd tribe) also rebelled against the Caliphate in Oman. There are also reports of his proclamation of prophethood. Combined Muslim forces of Hudaifa and Ikrimah along with their local supporters defeated the apostate chief and his tribe in the Battle of Dibba. Around 10,000 men from both sides lost their lives in this bloody battle. 

Suppression of other Rebellions

Various tribes rebelled in other places, such as Yemen, Bahrain, and Hadhramaut (southern Arabia). They also faced defeat by invading Muslim forces one by one. Those who surrendered and reverted to Islam were forgiven. These victories marked the end of the Ridda Wars.

Importance of Ridda Wars

Ridda Wars played a major role in shaping the political structure of Arabia. The scope and severity of these wars made it extremely difficult for the Caliphate to regain control of these areas. However, a well-planned military strategy, along with the devotion and steadfastness of Muslims assisted in achieving this important victory. The effects of victory in the Ridda Wars were far-reaching and prominent. 

The Emergence of Central Government in Arabia

Arabia always remained a tribal society and the people had no intention to come under a central government. They bitterly confront any effort in history. It is an important reason that the Arabian Peninsula acted as a buffer zone between the Byzantine and Persian Empires and they never tried to rule over this area directly. It is the same instinct that forced many Arab tribes to resist the Caliphate. But the victory of Muslims in these wars made it clear to these tribes that now they have to accept a central government as a religious obligation. Ridda Wars made it the first time in centuries that a central rule was established in Arabia.

High Morale in Future Campaigns

The situation at the start of these wars was very critical. Muslims had to fight several enemies at the same time. A part of their military was involved in northern Arabia against the Christian tribes during which they also managed to repel the invasion of local tribes. Soon after, several corps were dispatched to different parts of Arabia to subdue the rebellion.

The success of this strategy boosted the morale of Muslims. They believed they could open multiple fronts simultaneously with success. This experience was an important reason that the Caliphate started the campaigns against Persia and the Byzantine Empire, thus spreading their rule over large parts of the Middle East and North Africa in a short period.

Availability of Additional Troops

An important factor behind the inferiority of Arabs in front of other major powers was their tribal differences. However, the Ridda Wars established central control over all the tribes, enabling them to participate in campaigns outside Arabia. Many tribes were also forgiven after their defeat in the rebellion, which resulted in their favorable response and support.

This assisted the Caliphate in attaining a large number of troops for their campaigns against Persians and Byzantines. These additional war-hardened soldiers played a vital role in victories against the Byzantine and Persian empires.

Compilation of Quran

Arabs were known for their good memory, and it was uncustomary for them to write something. But more than 70 huffaz (those who memorize the Quran) were martyred in the Battle of Yamama. After this incident, Abu Bakr decided to compile the Holy Quran to save these holy teachings from distortion. He collected all the scattered pieces of the Quran (written on different materials) and compiled them into a single copy.