Musaylima

Musaylima was born in Yamama and belonged to the Banu Hanifa.[7] His father's name is cited as Habib or Thumama by early sources.[8]

Among the first records of him is in late 9th Hijri, the Year of Delegations, when he accompanied a delegation of his tribe to Medina. The delegation included two other prominent Muslims. They would later help Musaylimah rise to power and save their tribe from destruction. These men were Nahar Ar-Rajjal bin Unfuwa (or Rahhal)[9] and Muja'a bin Marara. In Medina, the deputation stayed with the daughter of al-Harith, a woman of the Ansar from the Banu Najjar. When the delegation arrived at Medinah the camels were tied in a traveler's camp, and Musaylimah remained there to look after them while the other delegates went in. They had talks with Muhammad. The delegation before their departure embraced Islam and renounced Christianity without compunction. As was his custom, Muhammad presented gifts to the delegates, and when they had received their gifts one said, "We left one of our comrades in the camp to look after our mounts." Muhammad gave them gifts for him also, and added, "He is not the least among you that he should stay behind to guard the property of his comrades." On their return they converted the tribe of Banu Hanifa to Islam. They built a mosque at Yamamah and started regular prayers.

It is reported that Musaylimah's followers were Sadakians, practiced a religion called Sadakiah, which survived in the 17th century.[14] At the Mughal ruler Akbar's council of religions, a discussion of Musaylimah religion also took place with the help of its priests. His teachings were almost lost but a neutral review of them does exist in Dabestan-e Mazaheb.[14] Muslim writers often portray Musaylimah negatively. But he gives a fascinating picture into 7th century Arabia where religious reformations were taking place and people were eager to accept new ideas, including that of Muhammad and his contemporary Musaylimah. It has been reported that in the 19th century, Musaylimah is still remembered as a prophet in Najd, Saudi Arabia.[15]

According to the account of Musaylimah in the Dabestan-e Mazaheb (authored mid-17th century[16]), he taught three daily prayers to God, facing any direction. He criticized Muslims for selecting the Ka'aba as the direction of prayers, arguing that God is not limited to one direction. Musaylimah declared that the Ka'aba was not the House of God, because an all-powerful God has no house. Musaylimah said fasting should be at night instead of daytime during Ramadan. He prohibited circumcision. Musaylimah considered men and women equal, and allowed premarital sex. Musaylimah prohibited polygamy and cousin marriage. Musaylimah declared that any slave who converted to his religion would become free. Musaylimah stated that Iblis did not exist, because a fair and merciful God would not allow a being like Iblis to throw people into error. Musaylimah also said it was wrong to include his name or any prophet's name in worship to God.[17]

Musaylimah, who is alleged as having been a skilled magician by Muslim historians,[18] dazzled the crowd with miracles. He could put an egg in a bottle; he could cut off the feathers of a bird and then stick them on so the bird would fly again; and he used this skill to persuade the people that he was divinely gifted.

During the Ridda wars which emerged following the death of Muhammad, Sajah bint al-Harith ibn Suaeed declared that she was a prophetess after learning that Musaylimah and Tulayha had declared prophethood.[19] 4,000 people gathered around her to march on Medina. Others joined her against Medina. However, her planned attack on Medina was called off after she learned that the army of Khalid ibn al-Walid had defeated Tulayha al-Asadi (another self-proclaimed prophet).[20] Thereafter, she sought cooperation with Musaylimah to oppose the threat of Khalid. A mutual understanding was initially reached with Musaylimah. Later, the two married and she accepted his self-declared prophethood. Khalid then defeated the remaining rebellious elements around Sajah, and then moved on to defeat Musaylimah.

Musaylimah refused to acknowledge caliph Abu Bakr (r. 632–634) and rebelled against him. Musaylimah gathered an army of 40,000 soldiers and fought in the Battle of Yamama against the 13,000 Muslim forces under the command of Khalid ibn al-Walid. Commander Shurahbil created an aura of invincibility around Musaylimah.[21] During the battle, Musaylimah was killed by Wahshi ibn Harb.

Musaylimah is described as being yellow-skinned and pug-nosed/flat-nosed.[22][23]

• Al-Aswad Al-Ansi
• Ibn an-Nawwahah
• Non-Muslim interactants with Muslims during Muhammad's era
• Ridda wars
• Saf ibn Sayyad
• Sajah
• Tulayha

• Kister, M. J. (2002). "The Struggle against Musaylima and the Conquest of Yamama". Jerusalem Studies in Arabic and Islam. 27: 1–56.
• Makin, Al (July 2013). "From Musaylima to the Kharijite Najdiyya". Al-Jami'ah. 51 (1).

This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Wood, James, ed. (1907). The Nuttall Encyclopædia. London and New York: Frederick Warne. {{cite encyclopedia}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)