Page:William Muir, Thomas Hunter Weir - The Caliphate; Its Rise, Decline, and Fall (1915).djvu/51

 24 from the Beni Yerbūʿ, her family had migrated north and joined the Beni Taghlib, among whom in Mesopotamia she had been brought up as a Christian. How long she had assumed the prophetic office and what were her peculiar tenets, we do not know. At the head of the Taghlib and other Christian tribes she now crossed into Arabia hoping to profit by the present confusion, and was on her way to attack Medīna. Reaching the seats of Temīm, she summoned to her presence the Beni Yerbūʿ her own clan, and promised them the kingdom should victory crown her arms. They joined her standard, with Mālik ibn Nuweira at their head. The other clans of Temīm refused to acknowledge the Prophetess; and so, diverted from her design upon Medīna, she turned her arms against them. In a series of combats, though supported by Mālik, she was worsted. Then, having made terms and exchanged prisoners, she bethought her of attacking the rival prophet Museilima, and so passed onwards to Al-Yemāma.

As Khālid flushed with victory now approached, most of the branches of the Temīm hastened to tender their submission. At this critical juncture, the withdrawal of Sajāḥ left Mālik ibn Nuweira with the Yerbūʿ tribe in a position of some perplexity, and he was undecided how to act. Conflicting views respecting Mālik's loyalty divided the Muslim camp. For some reason Khālid was bent on attacking the Yerbūʿ. The men of Medīna were equally opposed to the design, for which they alleged there was no authority. It had been better for Khālid to have listened. But he replied haughtily, "I am Commander, and it is for me to decide. I will march against Mālik with such as choose to follow me. I compel no man." So he went forward and left the malcontents behind. These, however, thinking better of it rejoined the army. Khālid then in full force, marched straight against the headquarters of Mālik, but found not a soul upon the spot. It was utterly deserted.

In fact, Mālik had resolved on submission, though his proud spirit rebelled against presenting himself before Khālid. He knew the ordinance of Abu Bekr, that none but they who resisted and who refused the call to prayer should be molested. So he told his people that there was