CHAPTER XX
The Apostasy of the banu-Walîʿah an al-Ashʿath
ibn-Maʿdikarib ibn-Muʿâwiyah-l-Kindi
The cause of the insurrection of Kindah. The Prophet sent Ziyâd ibn-Labîd al-Bayaḍi of the Anṣâr as governor to Ḥaḍramaut; later extending his power over the Kindah. According to others, it was abu-Bakr aṣ-Ṣiddîḳ who extended his power over the Kindah. This Ziyâd ibn-Labîd was a resolute and sturdy man, and took young she-camels as ṣadaḳah from a certain man of the banu-Kindah. The Kindah man asked him to return them and take something else, but having marked them with the ṣadaḳah brand, Labîd refused his request. Labîd was approached by al-Ashʿath ibn-Ḳais, but still he refused saying, "Never will I return a thing that has been branded with the mark." This caused an uprising of all Kindah against him with the exception of as-Sakûn who still adhered to his side. Hence the verse of their poet:
"It was we that came to the rescue of the faith,
when our people miserably went astray and we supported ibn-umm-Ziyâd.
From the right claim of al-Bayâḍi we sought not to deviate,
and the piety of Allah was our best provision."
Banu-ʿAmr gathered against Labîd. Against Labîd were assembled the banu-ʿAmr ibn-Muʿâwiyah ibn-al-Ḥârith al-Kindi. Labîd, at the head of the Moslems, attacked them during the night time and killed many, among whom were Mikhwas, Mishraḥ, Jamad and Abḍaʿah the sons of Maʿdikarib ibn-Walîʿah ibn-Shuraḥbîl ibn-Muʿâwiyah ibn-Ḥujr
