The Chaliphate - Muir - The Search For Mecca

28 ABU BEKR [chap. v.
A. 11. II.
His marriage
with Sajali,
the Prophetess.
'Ikrima and
Shurahbil's
reverse.
Khalid sets
out for
Yemama.
Maja'a taken
prisoner.
instituted prayers like those of Mohammad. In short, his
religion was but a wretched travesty of Islam. Though
strongly supported by his own people both as their
Prophet and their Ruler, he now felt that the meshes of
Abu Bekr began to close round him. The Caliph's Generals
were steadily reclaiming the coast of the Persian Gulf, and
Khalid whom he dreaded most was not far behind. At this
juncture came tidings that the Prophetess Sajah, worsted
as we have seen by the Beni Temlm, was coming with
troops against him. In his perplexity he sent her a
friendly invitation. She came, and their sentiments were
so much alike that the Prophet of Al-Yemama took the
Prophetess of Mesopotamia to wife, and celebrated their
nuptials on the
spot—the dower to be one-half the revenues
of Al-Yemama. After a few days, Sajah departed for her
northern home and, like a meteor, vanished, just as she
had startled Arabia by her advent. Parties of Mesopotamian
horse still ranged over the land collecting her dues when
Khalid's approach at once changed the scene ; and
Museilima marching out with a heavy force to meet
him, pitched his camp at 'Akraba.
'Ikrima and Shurahbil, sent by Abu Bekr to quell the
rising at Al-Yemama, had already suffered badly at the hands
of Museilima from a hasty and ill-advised advance. The
reverse was so serious that Abu Bekr wrote angrily to
'Ikrima— "I will not see thy face, nor shalt thou see mine,
as now tho.u art. Thou shalt not return hither to dishearten
the people. Depart unto the uttermost coasts, and there
join the armies in the east and south." So, skirting
Al-Yemama, 'Ikrima went forward to 'Oman, there to
retrieve his tarnished reputation. Shurahbil, meanwhile,
was directed to halt and await the approach of Khalid.
It was upon this reverse that Khalid, when summoned
to Medma about the affair of Malik, received his commission
to attack Museilima. In anticipation of severe fighting the
Caliph sent with him a fresh column of veterans from
amongst the men of Mecca and Medina. Thus reinforced
Khalid returned to his camp at Al-Bitah, and advanced
in strength to meet the enemy.
While yet a march from 'Akraba, Khalid surprised a
mounted body of the Beni Hanifa under command of their