A Critical Exposition of the Popular 'Jihád'/Introduction/31

[Sidenote: List of the deputations of conversion received by Mohammad at Medina during A.H. 9 and 10.]

31. Here is a list of the important deputations and embassies as well as the conversion of notable personages during these two years arranged in alphabetical order with geographical and genealogical notes. Sir W. Muir thinks it "tedious and unprofitable" to enumerate them all, while he takes notice of every apocryphal tradition and devours with eagerness all fictions unfavourable to the cause of Islam.


 * Bani Aámir.
 * Bani Abd-ul-Kays.
 * Bani Ahmas.
 * Bani Anaza.
 * Bani Asad.
 * Bani Azd (Shanovah).
 * Bani Azd (Oman).
 * Bani Báhila.
 * Bani Bahra.
 * Bani Bajíla.
 * Bani Baka.
 * Bani Bakr bin Wail.
 * Bani Bali.
 * Bani Báriq.
 * Bani Dáree.
 * Farwa.
 * Bani Fezára.
 * Bani Gháfiq.
 * Bani Ghánim.
 * Bani Ghassán.
 * Bani Hamadán.
 * Bani Hanífa. A Christian branch of the Bani Bakr who inhabited Yemama.

"The account of the embassy of the Bani Hanífa is more decidedly unfavourable to Christianity, but its details appear of doubtful authority. Moseilama, the false Prophet, was among the number, and there are some unlikely anticipations of his sacrilegious claims.

"As the embassy were departing, Mahomet gave them a vessel in which were the leavings of the water with which he had performed his lustration; and he said,&mdash;' When you reach your country, break down your church, and sprinkle its sight with this water, and make in its place a mosque '....

"The story appears to me improbable, because nowhere else is Mahomet represented as exhibiting such antagonism to Christians and their churches when they submitted themselves to him."&mdash;Muir's Life of Mahomet, Vol. II, pp. 303-4, footnote. The author changes his opinion in the fourth volume of his work and says: "I have there stated (in Vol. II) the story to be improbable. But I am now inclined to think that during the last year or two of Mahomet's life, there was quite enough of antagonistic feeling against Christianity as it presented itself in the profession of the Arab and Syrian tribes to support the narrative."&mdash;Life of Mahomet by Sir W. Muir, Vol. IV, page 218, footnote.

This is a mere presumption on the part of the writer, and there is no proof of Mohammad's antagonism towards Christianity at any period of his life except against those who waged war with him. The following verse of the Koran will show how far I am true:&mdash;

"Verily they who believe (Moslems), and they who follow the Jewish religion, and the Christians and Sabeites, whoever of those believeth in God and the Last Day, and doth that which is right shall have their reward with their Lord: Fear shall not come upon them, neither shall they be grieved."
 * Bani Háris of Najrán.
 * Bani Hilál bin Aamir bin Sáasáa.
 * Bani Himyar.
 * Bani Jaad.
 * Bani Jaafir bin Kelab bin Rabia.
 * Jeifer bin al Jalandi.
 * Bani Joheina.
 * Bani Jufi.
 * Bani Kalb.
 * Bani Khas-am bin Anmár.
 * Bani Khaulán.
 * Bani Kiláb.
 * Bani Kinána.
 * Bani Kinda.
 * Bani Mahrah.
 * Bani Mohárib.
 * Bani Morád.
 * Bani Muntafiq.
 * Bani Murrah.
 * Bani Nakhá.
 * Bani Nohd.
 * Bani Ozra.
 * Bani Raha.
 * Bani Rawasa.
 * Bani Saad Hozeim.
 * Bani Sadif.
 * Bani Sadoos.
 * Bani Sahim.
 * Bani Sakeef. The Bani Sakeef (Thackif) were a branch of the Mazar

tribes of the Moaddite stock. They were a sub-tribe of the Hawázin and sister tribe to the Bani Adwán, Ghatafán, and Suleim. They (the Bani Sakeef) lived at Tayif and worshipped the idol "Lat" or Táqhia. Orwa, a chief of Tayif, had gone to Medina to embrace Islam. His first generous impulse was to return to Tayif and invite his fellow-citizens to share in the blessings imparted by the new faith. Upon his making public his conversion, he was wounded by a mob and suffered martyrdom. But he left a favourable impression of Islam at Tayif. Their deputation consisted of six chiefs with fifteen or twenty followers. The Prophet received them gladly and pitched a tent for their accommodation in the court of his mosque. Every evening after supper he paid them there a visit and instructed them in the faith till it was dark. Sir W. Muir writes:&mdash;"The martyrdom of Orwa compromised the inhabitants of Tayif, and forced to continue the hostile course they had previously been pursuing. But they began to suffer severely from the marauding attacks of Bani Hawazin under Malik. That chief, according to his engagement, maintained the increasing predatory warfare against them."&mdash;Life of Mahomet, Vol. IV, page 204. At page 155 he says regarding Malik,&mdash;"being confirmed in his chiefship he engaged to maintain a constant warfare with the citizens of Tayif." But there was no such engagement with Málik. The authority (Hishamee) referred to by Sir W. Muir does not speak anything of the alleged engagement. Vide Hishamee, page 879. Hishamee has only so much that Mohammad made Malik chief of those who were converted from the tribe. These were the clans of Somála, Salma, and Fahm, and that he used to fight with them against the Sakifites. Sir W. Muir further writes that the inhabitants of Tayif said among themselves: "We have not strength to fight against the Arab tribe all around that have plighted their faith to Mahomet, and bound themselves to fight in his cause" (Vol. IV, p. 205). The italics are mine and these words are not to be found in the original authorities. Hishamee (page 914) has "Bayaoo va Aslamoo", i.e., they have plighted and submitted (or converted to Islam).
 * Bani Salámáni.
 * Bani Shaibán.
 * Bani Sodaa.
 * Bani Taghlib.
 * Bani Tajeeb.
 * Bani Tamim.
 * Bath Tay.
 * Bani Zobeid.

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