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A sense of humour was not
one of Umar's strong points; and not being able to think of a suitable
rejoinder, he turned away.
Tulaiha returned to his tribe and lived
amongst them until the third invasion of Iraq. Then he volunteered
for service in Iraq as a Muslim warrior and commander. He served
with distinction, performing prodigies of valour and skill, and
took part in the great battles of Qadissiyah and Nihawand, where
he fell a martyr. Tulaiha thus more than earned his redemption.
As soon as the battle was over, Khalid sent out columns
to pursue the fleeing apostates and subdue the neighbouring tribes. One
column caught up with some apostates in the hilly region of Ruman, 30
miles south-south-east of Buzakha, but they submitted without a fight
and became Muslims again. Khalid led a fast column in pursuit of Uyaina,
who had fled to the south-east with his clan of Bani Fazara and some elements
of the Bani Asad. Uyaina had only got as far as Ghamra, 60 miles away
1 (see Map
8), when Khalid overtook him. Uyaina then turned to fight again, for
although he was now totally disillusioned about Tulaiha, he remained defiant
and unrepentant. There was a sharp clash in which several apostates were
killed and the rest fled. Uyaina was taken prisoner.
Uyaina's father had been a very prominent
and highly respected chieftain of the Ghatfan, as a result of which
Uyaina regarded himself as second to none in birth and rank. But
this proud scion of a long line of chiefs, with whom the Holy Prophet
himself had sought to negotiate peace at the Battle of the Ditch,
was now put in irons and led as a humble captive to Madinah.
As he entered Madinah, the children, on
discovering his identity and circumstances, crowded around him.
They began to prod him with sharp sticks, chanting awhile "O
Enemy of Allah! You disbelieved-after-belief." Uyaina protested
piteously, "By Allah, I never was a believer."
In other words, since he had never become a Muslim (as he now falsely
claimed), he could not be accused of apostasy.
He pleaded his case before Abu Bakr, who
pardoned him, and so Uyaina became a Muslim again and lived in peace
amidst his tribe for many long years.
In the time of Caliph Uthman, Uyaina, now
grown old, visited Madinah and called on the Caliph. It was well
after sunset. Uthman, as always the generous host, asked him to
stay for supper and was taken aback when Uyaina declined the invitation
on the plea that he was fasting. (The Muslim fast begins at the
first light of dawn and ends at sunset.) Seeing the look of surprise
on Uthman's face, Uyaina exclaimed hastily, "I find it easier
to fast by night than by day!" 2
After the action at Ghamra, Khalid set off for Naqra
where certain clans of the Bani Sulaim had gathered to continue the struggle
against Islam. (See Map 8)
In command of this group of Bani Sulaim was a rash chieftain whose name
was Amr bin Abdul Uzza, but who was more commonly known as Abu Shajra.
This man had learnt no lesson from the defeat of Tulaiha, and in order
to encourage his men to remain firm in their defiance of Muslim authority,
he composed and recited the following lines:
My spear shall play havoc
With the regiments of Khalid.
And I trust thereafter
It shall also crush Umar 3
1. Ghamra lies 15 miles north north-east
of Samira, and a hill overlooking the present village is also named
Ghamra. This place has been called Ghamr by Ibn Sad who places it
at two stages from Feid (p. 590). It is actually 30 miles from Feid
as the crow flies, and would be a little farther by caravan route.
2. Ibn Qutaiba: p. 304.
3. Tabari: Vol. 2, p. 494.
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