his commander at the very moment he needs him most. Still, the Anṣār insisted on turning back, whereas Khālid and those with him remained determined. The Anṣār tarried for a day or two, weighing the matter; then they regretted it and said, “By Allah, you have no excuse before Allah, nor before Abū Bakr, if this vanguard is struck while we have abandoned them.” So they hurried after Khālid and caught up with him. He then marched toward al-Yamāmah.

At that time Mujāʿah ibn Murārah, the chief of Banū Ḥanīfah, had gone out with twenty-three horsemen to seek blood-money from Banū ʿĀmir. The Muslims surrounded them, killed Mujāʿah’s companions, and took him captive in iron restraints.

ʿAṭṭāf ibn Khālid related: My brother ʿAbd Allāh told me, from one of the household of ʿAdī, from Wahshī, who said: “We advanced until we came to Ṭulayḥah, and Allah routed them. Khālid then said, ‘I will not turn back until I reach Musaylimah; then Allah will judge between us and them.’ Thābit ibn Qays replied, ‘We were only sent against these people, and Allah has already spared us their burden.’ Khālid would not accept that and pressed on, and a day later Thābit followed him with the contingent of the Anṣār.”

The Killing of Mālik ibn Nuwayrah al-Tamīmī al-Ḥanẓalī al-Yarbūʿī

Ibn Isḥāq said: Khālid ibn al-Walīd was brought Mālik ibn Nuwayrah along with a party of his clan, Banū Ḥanẓalah, and he struck off their heads. He then proceeded through the land of Tamīm. When they came upon another group from the tribe, the latter took up arms, saying, “We are Muslims.” They were told, “Lay down your weapons,” so they did; the Muslims prayed, and the others prayed as well.

Sālim ibn ʿAbd Allāh narrated from his father: Abū Qatādah al-Anṣārī arrived before Abū Bakr and informed him of the killing of Mālik ibn Nuwayrah and his companions. Abū Bakr was deeply pained by this, then