ISLAMIC HISTORY: BATTLE OF YAMAMAH

The Battle of Yamamah was one of the most consequential battles in early Islamic history, fought in December 632 CE / 11 AH.

Context

After the death of the Prophet Muhammad in June 632, many tribes in Arabia either left Islam or refused to pay zakat to Medina, and several men claimed prophethood. The first caliph, Abu Bakr, launched a series of campaigns known as the Ridda Wars — the Wars of Apostasy — to re-establish control over Arabia.

The most dangerous opposition came from central Arabia, in the region of Al-Yamamah, modern-day Najd near Riyadh.

There, the leader of the Banu Hanifa tribe, Musaylimah al-Kadhdhab — "Musaylimah the Liar" in Muslim sources — had claimed prophethood even during Muhammad's lifetime. He had a large following, a fortified town, and an army estimated by early sources at 40,000 men.

The Battle

Abu Bakr first sent Ikrimah ibn Abi Jahl and Shurahbil ibn Hasana, but they were defeated. He then sent his best commander, Khalid ibn al-Walid, with a large force of Muhajirun and Ansar.

The two armies met at Aqraba Plain in Yamamah.

The first phase was disastrous for the Muslims. Musaylimah's forces pushed them back and nearly broke into Khalid's tent. The Banu Hanifa fought with high morale, shouting their war cry.

Khalid reorganised the army — grouping tribes and Muhajirun/Ansar separately so each could see who held and who retreated — and launched a counter-attack. The fighting became hand-to-hand in what became known as the "Garden of Death" — Hadiqat al-Mawt — a walled garden where Musaylimah and his remaining elite had taken refuge.

Its walls were high, and gates were locked from inside. Khalid ibn al-Walid's army had taken heavy losses trying to break in.

The Muslims were stuck outside under a hail of arrows.

Al-Bara Ibn Al-Malik, younger brother of Anas ibn Malik — who was known to be thin, wiry, and fearless — shouted:

“Ya Ahl al-Madina, la Madinata lakum al-yawm, innama huwa Allahu wal-Jannah!”

“O people of Medina! There is no Medina for you after today — there is only Allah, then Paradise!”

He then told his companions, "Put me on a shield, lift me with spears, and throw me over the wall."

In some narrations he asked to be placed in a catapult—"Place me in the catapult, and throw me"—into the garden.

His men did it. He was hurled over the high wall alone into thousands of enemies. He landed, fought his way to the gate, killed the guards holding it, and opened it from inside despite being wounded severely — accounts say he suffered over 80 wounds that day.

"Soon a Muslim soldier, al-Bara' ibn Malik, asked his fellow men to let him climb the wall so that he could open the gate by killing the guards there. The soldier jumped into the garden and opened the gate. The Muslims entered the garden, and the last phase of the Battle of al-Yamama had begun."

Once the gate was open, the Muslims poured in, and the final slaughter took place where Musaylimah was killed.

For this, Khalid praised him, and Umar ibn al-Khattab later said about him, "Do not put al-Bara' in command of an army, for he will destroy them with his recklessness in seeking martyrdom."

Al-Bara' survived Yamamah but carried the scars. He was finally martyred years later at the Battle of Shushtar/Tustar against the Persians, around 20 AH.

Musaylimah was killed in the garden, reportedly by Wahshi ibn Harb, the same man who had killed Hamza at Uhud, and Abu Dujana al-Ansari. With his death, his army collapsed.

Aftermath and Significance

1. End of the Ridda Wars in central Arabia. With Yamamah secured, Muslim control over Arabia was largely restored.
2. Heavy losses of memorisers. Around 70 companions who had memorised the entire Quran — known as huffaz — including prominent companions like Zayd ibn al-Khattab and Salim Mawla Abu Hudhayfa, were martyred.
3. Compilation of the Quran. Alarmed by the loss of so many huffaz, Umar ibn al-Khattab urged Abu Bakr to compile the Quran into a single written codex. Abu Bakr ordered Zayd ibn Thabit to lead the effort. This master copy later became the basis for Uthman's standardised text.

The battle cemented the position of the Medinan state and marked the transition from defending the new community in Arabia to the expansion that followed into Iraq and Syria.

WHO WAS MARTYRED

Early sources say about 1,200 Muslims were martyred, most of them in or near the wadi, and half of them from the Ansar and Muhajirun — the closest companions. It is also said the martyrs included 300 who knew the whole Quran by heart.

Among the most well-known:

• Zayd ibn al-Khattab — elder brother of Umar ibn al-Khattab, commander of the right wing. He carried the banner and was a famous companion.
• Abu Hudhayfa ibn Utba — commander of the left wing
• Salim Mawla Abu Hudhayfa — freed slave of Abu Hudhayfa, renowned as one of the best Quran reciters. He was martyred after his arms were cut off.
• Abu Dujana Simak ibn Kharasha — famous for his red bandana at Uhud. He was martyred in 12 AH in the Battle of Yamamah.
• Tufayl ibn Amr al-Dawsi — chief of the Daws tribe, the one who brought Abu Hurayra to Islam. He fell as a martyr at Yamamah.

On the other side, about 21,000 of Musaylimah's men were killed, including Musaylimah himself inside the "Garden of Death" — Hadiqat al-Mawt.

Were any women involved?

Yes, on both sides.

1. On the Muslim side — Nusaybah bint Ka'ab al-Ansariya, known as Umm Amarah:

She is the most documented woman at Yamamah. Already famous for defending the Prophet at Uhud, she was in her late 50s at Yamamah.

She had a personal motive — her son Habib ibn Zayd had been sent as an envoy to Musaylimah, who tortured and dismembered him when he refused to accept him as a prophet.

She went to Abu Bakr and asked permission to join Khalid ibn al-Walid's army. He said, "Nothing can stop a woman like you from going to participate in the battle. Go forth in the name of Allah.”

At Yamamah she fought alongside her son Abdullah ibn Zayd:

She participated in the Battle of Al-Yamaamah... Her hand was cut off in this battle, and she received fourteen wounds in her body.

Other reports say eleven wounds. Her son Abdullah is credited as one of those who struck Musaylimah.

2. On the opposing side — Sajah bint al-Harith:

She was a Christian Arab woman from the Banu Taghlib who also claimed prophethood around the same time. She marched with her followers to Yamamah and made a political alliance with Musaylimah, even marrying him according to some accounts, but her troops left before the actual battle, so she was not present when the fighting started.

Early historians also mention women of the Banu Hanifa inside the fortified garden urging their men to fight, but the only Muslim woman named in the battle reports as a combatant is Umm Amarah.

Hj Zulheimy Maamor

20 October 2026: 12:37 a.m.