—for the horses of the Muslims at al-Abarq, and as pasture for the rest of al-Rabadhah. When the clans of ʿAbs and Dhubyān fled, they went off to reinforce Ṭulayḥah, who was encamped at Buzākhah.

On the day of al-Abarq Ziyād ibn Ḥanẓalah recited:

A day at al-Abarq we beheld—
against Dhubyān a blaze that raged and burned.
We came upon them with a crushing doom,
together with the Truthful One, once he had dropped all blame.

His Departure for Dhū al-Qaṣṣah After He Had Tied the Eleven Banners

After Usāmah’s army had been reassembled and allowed to rest, al-Ṣiddīq again mounted with the Muslim forces, sword drawn, and set out from Madinah toward Dhū al-Qaṣṣah, a single day’s march from the city. ʿAlī ibn Abī Ṭālib was leading the rein of the Caliph’s mount (may Allah be pleased with him), as will be mentioned. The Companions—ʿAlī among them—pressed him earnestly to return to Madinah and to send someone else in his stead to fight the Bedouin, appointing whichever of the valiant champions he chose. He acceded to their request and tied banners for eleven commanders, whose names we shall soon detail, Allah willing.

Al-Dāraqutnī ⦗1⦘ relates, on the authority of ʿAbd al-Wahhāb ibn Mūsā al-Zuhrī, from Mālik, from Ibn Shihāb, from Saʿīd ibn al-Musayyab, from Ibn ʿUmar, who said:

“When Abū Bakr rode out to al-Qaṣṣah and was seated on his mount, ʿAlī ibn Abī Ṭālib took hold of its halter and said, ‘Where are you going, O Successor of the Messenger of Allah? I say to you what the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said on the Day of Uḥud: “Sheathe your sword and do not leave us bereft of you.” Return to Madinah, for by Allah, if we are deprived of you, Islam will never again hold together.’ So he returned.”

This is an unusual narration through the chain of Mālik. Zakariyyā al-Sājī also transmitted it from ʿAbd al-Wahhāb ibn Mūsā ibn ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz ibn ʿUmar ibn ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ibn ʿAwf; al-Zuhrī likewise reported it from Abū al-Zinād, from Hishām ibn ʿUrwah, from his father, from ʿĀʾishah, who said:

“My father set out with sword drawn, riding his mount toward the valley of al-Qaṣṣah. ʿAlī ibn Abī Ṭālib came and took the halter of his beast, saying, ‘Where are you going, O Successor of the Messenger of Allah? I say to you what the Messenger of Allah said on the Day of Uḥud: “Sheathe your sword and do not leave us bereft of you; for by Allah, if we lose you, Islam will never again have order.”’ So he came back while the army proceeded.”

Sīf ibn ʿUmar ⦗2⦘ narrates, through Sahl ibn Yūsuf, from al-Qāsim ibn Muḥammad:

“When Usāmah and his force had rested, and much charity wealth had arrived in excess of their needs, Abū Bakr began dispatching the detachments and tying the banners. He tied eleven banners:

• A banner for Khālid ibn al-Walīd, charging him with Ṭulayḥah ibn Khuwaylid; once finished, he was to march on Mālik ibn Nuwayrah in al-Biṭāḥ, should the latter continue to resist.

• A banner for ʿIkrimah ibn Abī Jahl, whom he ordered against Musaylimah.

• He dispatched Shurahbīl ibn Ḥasanah to follow him to Musaylimah the Liar, and thereafter to the Banū Quḍāʿah.