Muhammad: Seal of the Prophets — Page 427
MUHAMMAD : SEAL OF THE PROPHETS 427 till near the close of the life of the Holy Prophet, and the tidings, which he received were hardly of so grave a nature as to raise serious uneasiness. The least important of the three impostors was Tulaiha, chief of Bani Asad, and a warrior of note and i nfluence in Nejd. When the news of his imposture reached the Holy Prophet he sought, by aid of the faithful converts in his tribe, to put down the pretender. However, subsequent to the Holy Prophet’s death he broke out into open rebellion, and was defeated , after a severe engagement, by Khalid, whereupon he retired into Syria. On Umar’s summoning, he returned to his tribe and submitted to Umar’s authority, and thereafter fought bravely on the side of Islam. It has already been noticed that Musailamah had accompanied the deputation of Bani Haneefa to Medina. He was a man of small stature, in presence insignificant, but ready and powerful in speech. He claimed that he was the recipient of divine revelation and pretended also to work miracles. The Holy Prophet, hearing the rumour of his insolent pretentions, sent him a summons to submit to Islam. Musailamah returned the reply that he too was a Prophet like Muhammad himself. ‘I demand, therefore,’ he said, ‘that t hou divide the land with me; as for Quraish, they are a people that have no respect for justice. ’ The Holy Prophet’s reply was, ‘The earth is the Lord’s, and He causeth such of His servants as He pleaseth to inherit the same. Peace be on him that follows t he guidance. ’ Musailamah went on consolidating his authority and in the time of Abu Bakr constituted a menace for the Islamic state. He was fought in the battle of Yamamah and was killed by Wahshi, now a Muslim, who