The Expedition in Which Mukhallim ibn Juthāmah Killed ʿĀmir ibn al-Aḍbaṭ

Ibn Isḥāq relates:

Yazīd ibn ʿAbd Allāh ibn Qusayṭ told me, on the authority of Ibn ʿAbd Allāh ibn Abī Ḥadrad, from his father, who said:

“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ sent us to (Wādī) Iḍam with a number of Muslims, among them Abū Qatādah al-Ḥārith ibn Ribʿī and Mukhallim ibn Juthāmah ibn Qays. When we reached the valley of Iḍam, ʿĀmir ibn al-Aḍbaṭ al-Ashjaʿī passed by, riding a young camel. He carried a small bundle and a skin of milk. He greeted us with the salutation of Islam, so we held back from him. Mukhallim ibn Juthāmah, however, charged at him and killed him—there had been something between the two of them—and he seized his camel and his provisions. When we returned to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ we informed him of what had happened, and concerning us the Qur’an was revealed:

‘O you who believe, when you set out in the cause of Allah, make sure; and do not say to one who offers you peace, “You are not a believer,” seeking the fleeting goods of this worldly life. With Allah are abundant spoils. You yourselves were like that before, but Allah has been gracious to you; so make sure. Surely Allah is All-Aware of what you do.’ (al-Nisāʾ 4:94).”

Imām Aḥmad transmitted this in like manner, through Yaʿqūb, from his father, from Muḥammad ibn Isḥāq, from Yazīd ibn ʿAbd Allāh ibn Qusayṭ, from al-Qaʿqāʿ ibn ʿAbd Allāh ibn Abī Ḥadrad, from his father, and he cited the incident.

Ibn Isḥāq further said:

Muḥammad ibn Jaʿfar narrated to me, “I heard Ziyād ibn Ḍumayrah ibn Saʿd al-Ḍamrī recount to ʿUrwah ibn al-Zubayr, on the authority of his father and grandfather—both of whom were present at Ḥunayn—that:

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ had just performed the Ẓuhr prayer and had taken a seat in the shade of a tree. ʿUyaynah ibn Badr came forward seeking retaliation for the blood of ʿĀmir ibn al-Aḍbaṭ al-Ashjaʿī, who was the chief of Qays, while al-Aqraʿ ibn Ḥābis arrived to plead on behalf of Mukhallim ibn Juthāmah, the chief of Khindif.

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said to ʿĀmir’s people:

‘Would you accept fifty camels from us now and fifty more when we return to Madinah?’

ʿUyaynah ibn Badr replied, ‘By Allah, I will not relent until I make his women taste grief just as he made my women taste it.’

Then a man of Banū Layth, called Ibn Mukaytil—a man of moderate stature—rose and said, ‘O Messenger of Allah, I see no likeness for this slain man at the dawn of Islam except a flock of sheep coming to drink, where the first is shot and the rest flee. Establish a precedent today and overturn it tomorrow!’

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ repeated, ‘Will you accept fifty camels now and fifty when we reach Madinah?’

He continued to negotiate until they agreed to the blood-money.

Mukhallim’s tribe then said, ‘Bring him so the Messenger of Allah ﷺ may seek forgiveness for him.’

A tall, heavy-set man was brought, dressed in a mantle and ready to submit to judgment. He stood before the Prophet ﷺ, and the Prophet ﷺ said:

‘O Allah, do not forgive Mukhallim.’

He said it three times. The man left, wiping his tears with the edge of his cloak.

Muḥammad ibn Isḥāq added: His people claim that the Prophet ﷺ later did ask forgiveness for him.