The Chaliphate - Muir - The Search For Mecca

A.D. 632-3] CAAirAIGN IN HADRAMAUT 37
other, after Arab wont, lampoons in bitter verse. Opposition A.H. n,
being now vain, 'Amr sought by an unworthy stratagem to
gain his safety. Making a night attack on Keis, he carried
him prisoner to Al-Muhajir ; but he had forgotten a safeconduct
for himself Al-Muhfijir, therefore, seized both, and
sent them in chains to Medina. The Caliph was at first
minded to put 'Amr to death because of the murder of
Daduweihi, but he denied the crime, and there was no
evidence to prove it. " Art thou not ashamed," said Abu
Bekr to him, "that following the rebel cause, thou art ever
either a fugitive or in bonds ? Hadst thou been a defender
of the Faith instead, then had the Lord raised thee above
thy fellows." " So assuredly it is," replied the humbled
chief; " I will embrace the faith, and never again desert it."
The Caliph forgave them ;
and his clemency was not abused,
for we find both these gallant and unscrupulous chiefs soon
after fighting loyally in the Persian war. After this, the
Yemen was speedily reduced to order, and Al-Muhajir was
at liberty to pursue his march to Hadramaut.
The government of the great southern province of na.iramaiu.
Hadramaut was held with difficulty during the protracted ^^^'^'^ '^"
absence of Al-Muhajir by one Ziyad, who aroused the hatred
of its occupants the Beni Kinda, by exacting from them the
tithe ; but with the support of some still loyal clans he was
able to hold his place. In one of his raids Ziyad having
carried off the families of a vanquished tribe, Al-Ash'ath ibn
Keis, chief of the Beni Kinda, was moved by their cries
;
and, having gathered a strong force, fell upon Ziyad and
rescued the captives. It is the same Al-Ash'ath who, when
he tendered homage to Mohammad, betrothed to himself
the sister of Abu Bekr.^ Now compromised, he went into
active rebellion, and roused the whole country against
Ziyad who, surrounded by the enemy, despatched an urgent
summons for Al-Muhajir to hasten to his deliverance.
By this time Al-Muhajir and 'Ikrima, marching respectively
from San'a and Aden, had effected a junction at Ma'rib, and
were crossing the sandy desert which lay between them and
Hadramaut. Receiving the message, Al-Muhajir set off
in haste with a flying squadron and, joined by Ziyad, fell
upon Al-Ash'ath and discomfited him with great slauL;htcr.
subdued by
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Life of Mohaviviadi p. 463.