The Success of Usamah’s Expedition and Abu Bakr Siddiq’s رضي الله عنه Stand Against Apostasy

Success achieved by Usâmah (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ):

Usâmah (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) reached the valleys of Jardon and Balqa' and defeated the Roman army. He returned after forty days with an immense amount of spoils of war and prisoners. Even as the departure of the Muslim army was in an atmosphere charged with disorder, disruption and misdirected emotion, and to invade and punish the formidable Romans looked unreasonable and risky to the extreme, the fruits of this adventure were justly wholesome and sweet. It sent terror into the hearts of the apostates and the opponents of Islam and convinced them to the core that the absence of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) did not diminish the Muslim's invincible determination and courage and love for Islam. As a result, the claimants of prophethood like Tulaihah Asadi and Musailamah the liar could not muster enough courage to step forth from their own territories. Those who had refused to pay Zakât meekly surrendered to the will of Islam. Moreover, the substantial quantity of spoils of war played a significant role in strengthening the Islamic army and improving the economic condition of the believers.

Trial of Apostasy

To assume that the death of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) sent Arabia except Al-Madinah, Makkah and Tâ'if into the fold of apostasy is not the truth. They had not shifted from Tauhid to Shirk (polytheism) all of a sudden and took to idol worship. The fact is that even the false claimants to prophethood were not against Salât (prayer). They were, however, particularly against the payment of Zakât for it went against their sense of freedom and dignity, and these new Muslims were ahead of others in rejecting what they claimed as an 'undignified' demand of Islam. Since they could be easily aroused against this most important pillar of Islam, men like Musailamah and Tulaihah used it as a tool to fulfil their evil plans.

In short, the issue before the Muslims was not polytheism and idol worship; what was threatening and injurious was the question of unity and solidarity of the system Islam had established at the cost of many sacrifices. The rejection of the demand of Zakât was even more dangerous to the cause of Islam than the battles fought by the Muslims against the external forces inimical to Islam. The Chief of the believers, Abu Bakr (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) held an emergency meeting of the Companions on this explosive issue. But they put forward their opinion against fighting with the rejecters of Zakât, just as they were not in favor of Usâmah (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) leading an army against the Romans. But on this occasion too, the inimitable courage and determination of Abu Bakr (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) prevailed over all kinds of anxieties and misgivings. He announced with indomitable spirit and firmness that he would go and fight against any tribe who refused to pay even one animal or one rope that was due.

In the meantime the deputations of the apostates came to Al-Madinah and said, "We perform prayer but we want an exemption from Zakât." But this hard-hitting reply made them silently go back to their respective places. In the wake of the hard line adopted by Abu Bakr Siddiq (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ), they rose as one man against the Islamic State. The prevailing confusion and threat to the unity and integrity of Islam needed a leader of outstanding courage and determination. Abu Bakr (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) was fit to face this disorderly situation and the unruly people who were making preparations to invade Al-Madinah, in the absence of Muslim troops, who were fighting the Romans far away from their center.

However, even in the face of such a trying situation, the Caliph of Islam was not ready to give any concession concerning his decision and would not compromise with the forces seeking to break the basic tenets of Islam. He was in full control of the situation both internally and externally. He kept himself in close contact with the Muslim forces fighting in the far off lands and issued the necessary orders to the collectors of Zakât. He encouraged the people of Al-Madinah to keep firm and unified and he made the preparations necessary to deal with the opportunistic alliances of those who had vested interests.

He asked the fighters among the people of Al-Madinah to keep alert and be on guard in front of the Prophet's Mosque, while Ali, Zubair, Talhah and Abdullah bin Mas'ud (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) were sent on patrol duty around Al-Madinah. Information reached the headquarters that the people of Abs, Dhubyân, Banu Kinânah and Banu Asad tribes had collected to attack the Muslims. Their march towards Al-Madinah was checked by the patrols, which also sent news to Al-Madinah about the enemy movement. Abu Bakr Siddiq (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) himself went to repulse the enemy attack up to Dhu Khushub. However, when Abu Bakr Siddiq (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) went again for an encounter, they used drums and other instruments that caused the camels of the Muslims to get scared and they fled back to Al-Madinah. Abu Bakr Siddiq (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) organized them and made a fierce charge on the enemy and routed them completely killing many of them after a fight of five or six hours.

Abu Bakr Siddiq (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) sent the spoils of war to Al-Madinah under the charge of Nu'mân bin Muqrin (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) and a small party, and himself went to Dhul-Qassah in hot pursuit of the enemy. Meanwhile the enemy invaded some tribes in the back area and martyred many Muslims there. When Abu Bakr (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) came to know of the incident on his return, he vowed to kill as many apostates equal to the number of Muslims who were martyred at their hands. He was on the verge of leaving Al-Madinah when Usâmah (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) entered Al-Madinah with booty in large quantity. Because the detachment was terribly exhausted, he left it in Al-Madinah to take rest and guard it against any fresh attack. And he himself left Al-Madinah at the head of a small detachment and went up to Dhu Khushub and Dhul-Qassah raiding their centers and routing who ever faced them. After finishing his task, he stayed at Abraq for a couple of days before his departure to Al-Madinah.