Year of Delegations - 9 AH

Why 9 AH is Called the Year of Delegations

Although delegations came in different years, 9 AH saw the highest frequency, which is why it’s known as the Year of Delegations. A delegation means a tribe sends representatives to negotiate with the Prophet ﷺ. Some came to embrace Islam, others came for peace treaties, some pretended to accept Islam (but apostatized after the Prophet’s ﷺ death), and some came with threats.

After the Conquest of Makkah and the Battle of Tabuk, no major Arab force was left to oppose the Muslims. With Makkah conquered and Quraysh subdued, most tribes realized resistance was futile. This political shift meant tribes either had to accept Islam, negotiate peace, or face war. In 9 AH, Allah also revealed verses from Surah al-Tawbah, giving pagans four months to leave Arabia, marking the start of a new phase where paganism could no longer exist in the region.

Banu Abd al-Qays

The tribe of Abd al-Qays, from Bahrain, sent two delegations — the second one came in 9 AH. They were among the first non-Hejazi tribes to embrace Islam voluntarily. In a hadith, the Prophet ﷺ predicted their visit, calling them "the best people from the East."

A young man from them, Ashaj Abd al-Qays, took time to prepare himself before meeting the Prophet ﷺ. The Prophet ﷺ praised him, saying he had two beloved qualities: forbearance (hilm) and calmness (anāh). Ashaj asked if these traits were natural or acquired, and the Prophet ﷺ said they were divinely gifted, to which Ashaj humbly praised Allah.

The tribe requested the Prophet ﷺ to teach them something that would lead them to Jannah, since they could only visit during the Sacred Months due to conflicts with nearby pagans. The Prophet ﷺ told them to have faith in Allah, say the shahada, perform salah, fast Ramadan, and give zakat. Hajj wasn’t mentioned yet because this took place in the 5th year initially. He also forbade alcohol, listing every type they were familiar with. They were among the first to build a masjid and pray Jumu’ah outside the Hejaz.

Banu Sa'd ibn Bakr: Dimam ibn Tha’laba

This tribe, connected to the Prophet ﷺ through his foster mother Halimah, sent Dimam ibn Tha’laba, a Bedouin chieftain, to negotiate. He entered Madinah in rough form, tied his camel at the masjid door, and bluntly asked, “Where is the son of Abdul Muttalib?” When the Prophet ﷺ identified himself, Dimam questioned him about the fundamentals of Islam including creation, prophethood, prayer, zakat, fasting, and Hajj. This man is known in authentic hadiths for saying: “I will do what is obligatory and nothing more or less.” Once he left, the Prophet ﷺ remarked, “If he is truthful, he will enter Paradise.” Upon returning home, Dimam destroyed idols and his entire tribe embraced Islam the same day. His influence was so powerful that he became one of the most successful delegates in Islamic history.

Tribe of Muzayna and a Miracle in Umar’s House

The tribe of Muzayna came in large numbers, about 400 people, to embrace Islam. As they prepared to return, the Prophet ﷺ told Umar رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ to provide them food. Umar رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ said he only had one bag of dates, but trusted the Prophet’s ﷺ instruction. When he returned home, he found his room miraculously full of dates. The tribe took what they needed, and when the last person left, the pile looked untouched.

Banu Asad ibn Khuzaymah

A delegation of ten men from the tribe of Banu Asad ibn Khuzaymah entered the Prophet’s ﷺ mosque loudly, boasting that they had accepted Islam without being compelled or fought. They claimed their conversion was a favor they had done for the Prophet ﷺ. However, the Qur’anic response firmly corrected their attitude in Surah al-Hujurat [49:17]:
"Do not regard your Islam as a favor to me. Rather, it is Allah Who has done you a favor by guiding you to the faith."

Banu Amir ibn Sa'sa'ah – Assassination Attempt

This tribe was responsible for the massacre at Bi’r Ma’una. Their leader, Amir ibn al-Tufayl, came to Madinah accompanied by his henchman, Arbad ibn Qays, with the intention of assassinating the Prophet ﷺ. However, Allah protected His Messenger. Arbad, who was supposed to attack, found himself unable to even see the Prophet ﷺ, he could only see Amir.

During the visit, Amir arrogantly proposed political deals, seeking to share power or succession after the Prophet ﷺ. The Prophet ﷺ firmly rejected these proposals and prayed for Allah’s protection.

The aftermath was striking: Amir met a disgraceful end, succumbing to a disease he contracted in a prostitute’s house, while Arbad was struck by lightning after uttering blasphemies. This incident is alluded to in Surah al-Ra’d [13:11–13], which speaks of divine punishment and the power of lightning.

Tribe of Tamim al-Dari – Hadith of al-Jassasah & Dajjal

Tamim al-Dari, a Christian who later accepted Islam, narrated a remarkable and supernatural experience that corroborated the Prophet’s ﷺ teachings regarding the Dajjal. The hadith is reported by Fatima bint Qays رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْھَا.

Tamim رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ and a group of thirty men were shipwrecked and landed on a mysterious island. There, they encountered a strange, hairy creature called al-Jassasah, who led them to a chained man in a monastery. 

They approached the chained man cautiously, unsure if he was a devil. He questioned them about signs: the fruit-bearing of Baysan’s date palms (which he said would soon stop), the abundant water of the Lake of Tabariyyah (which he said would soon dry up), and the spring of Zughar, which still flowed and supported crops. He then asked about the unlettered Prophet — where he went, whether the Arabs fought him, and who prevailed. They told him the Prophet ﷺ had moved to Madinah, fought the Arabs around him, and defeated them, and that they now obeyed him. After confirming this, the chained man said obedience to the Prophet ﷺ was better for them and then began to speak about himself.

The man then identified himself as al-Masih (al-Dajjal) and explained that he would soon be released, travel the world for forty nights, but would be unable to enter Makkah and Madinah, as angels would guard their entrances.

The Prophet ﷺ confirmed that Tamim's رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ account aligned with what he had already taught the people about the Dajjal. This narration is found in Sahih Muslim, but it has sparked scholarly debate due to its unique content. It suggests that the Dajjal is already alive and chained, which seems to contradict other narrations indicating he will be born in the future.

Banu Daws and Tufayl ibn Amr al-Dawsi

Tufayl ibn Amr, the chieftain of Banu Daws from Yemen, encountered Islam during a visit to Makkah around the 7th year of Prophethood. Initially, he was warned by Quraysh that the Prophet ﷺ was a "magician" who could influence people just by speaking. Fearing this, Tufayl plugged his ears while at the Ka'bah but still overheard the Prophet ﷺ reciting Qur'an and was deeply moved.

He reconsidered, approached the Prophet ﷺ, listened to him recite a few short surahs, and immediately embraced Islam. He then returned to his tribe and invited them to Islam. His family accepted it the same day, and eventually, over 80 families from Banu Daws embraced Islam through him. The Prophet ﷺ made a special du’a for the guidance of Daws.

Tufayl رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ once offered the Prophet ﷺ refuge in Yemen, but it was not Allah’s will. Later, Tufayl رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ  migrated to Madinah voluntarily, giving up his leadership, land, and comfort. Many from his tribe emigrated with him.

One notable convert was Abu Hurairah رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ, who accompanied Tufayl رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ to Madinah. Though he spent only around two years with the Prophet ﷺ, Abu Hurairah رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ narrated over 5,500 hadith, more than any other companion. The Prophet ﷺ once blessed him directly to remember what he heard. Despite his short time with the Prophet ﷺ, Abu Hurairah رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ became known as the "Preserver of the Sunnah." His reward also extends to Tufayl رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ, who guided him to Islam.

Delegation of Wa’il ibn Hujr

Wa’il ibn Hujr was a Yemeni noble of royal lineage from Hadhramaut. In the 9th year of Hijrah, the Prophet ﷺ foretold his arrival and honored him greatly when he came, bringing him to the minbar and letting him sit on his own cloak. Wa’il accepted Islam without coercion.

Wa’il رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ had complained that his family denied him his rightful leadership. The Prophet ﷺ comforted him, saying he would receive something far better, Jannah.

Banu Thaqif

Background

Banu Thaqif was a pagan tribe from Ta'if who opposed the Prophet ﷺ during the Battle of Hunayn and resisted Islam during the Siege of Ta'if. Despite this history of hostility, the Prophet ﷺ had predicted that they would eventually come to him, which came true later.

Urwah ibn Mas'ud was a respected leader of Thaqif who embraced Islam after the siege of Ta'if in the 8th year of Hijrah. He later went back to Ta'if to call his people to Islam, but they rejected him. He was eventually killed by his own people while giving the Fajr adhan from the roof of his home. The Prophet ﷺ likened him to the "man of Ya-Sin" mentioned in the Qur'an (36:20-27), a martyr who was rejected by his people.

Fearing retribution for Urwah's death, a delegation of 6-7 leaders from Thaqif came to Madinah during Ramadan in the 9th year of Hijrah. They greeted the Prophet ﷺ disrespectfully, using old tribal customs and showing reluctance to accept Islam. Despite this, the Prophet ﷺ treated them with respect and hospitality.

Negotiations

The negotiations between the Prophet ﷺ and the Thaqif delegation lasted around ten days. They made several requests, including the continuation of riba (usury), zina (adultery), and khamr (alcohol), all of which were denied by the Prophet ﷺ. They also requested a delay in the destruction of their idol, al-Lat, but the Prophet ﷺ refused. Additionally, they tried to opt out of the obligatory acts of Islam, including salah (prayer), wudu (ablution), zakat (charity), and jihad (struggle). The Prophet ﷺ conditionally excused them from zakat and jihad.

Two interpretations explain the Prophet's ﷺ temporary leniency: either he ﷺ knew that they would eventually accept Islam in full, or he ﷺ was applying a fiqh precedent where leaders can allow exceptions for new Muslims. Islam emphasizes gentleness and gradual development of faith in new converts, as harshness at this stage could drive them away. While wrong actions should not be justified, they should be overlooked until faith matures. The Thaqif delegation stayed in Madinah for 15 days. They likely embraced Islam on the 10th day and fasted the final five days of Ramadan with the Prophet ﷺ.

The Most Eager to Study Islam

Among the Thaqif delegation, the youngest member, Uthman ibn Abi al-As رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ, was the most eager to embrace Islam. He converted before the rest of the group and spent much of his time outside the tent, studying the Quran with the Prophet ﷺ and learning from Abu Bakr رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ. His passion for Islam led Abu Bakr رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ to suggest that Uthman رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ should lead the tribe, a suggestion which the Prophet ﷺ accepted. Thus, Uthman رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ was appointed leader because of his enthusiasm for learning the Quran.

Destroying al-Lat

Upon returning to Ta'if, the Thaqif tribe urged their people to embrace Islam, as it was part of their agreement. The Prophet ﷺ sent al-Mughira ibn Shu'ba رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ and Abu Sufyan رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ to destroy the idol al-Lat. The incident, not mentioned in Ibn Ishaq but found in later sources, is described humorously. Mughira رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ, known for his playful nature, pretended to fall after striking the idol, causing the crowd to believe something disastrous had happened. When they rejoiced, Mughira رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ revealed his prank and continued to destroy the idol in front of them. The caretaker of the idol, angered by its destruction, warned that the earth would swallow them. Undeterred, Mughira رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ continued until al-Lat was completely destroyed.

The Prophet ﷺ instructed Uthman ibn Abi al-As رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ to build a mosque where al-Lat once stood. All the treasures from the sanctuary were collected and given to the Bayt al-Mal, where they were distributed to the poor and needy. This marked the end of paganism in the Thaqif tribe. In the end, the tribe of Thaqif embraced Islam wholeheartedly, just as the Prophet ﷺ had foretold. Eventually, they paid zakat and took part in jihad.

Banu Hanifa

Musaylimah al-Kadhdhab, also known as Musaylimah the Liar, was the leader of the Banu Hanifa tribe and a self-proclaimed prophet. Born Maslamah ibn Habib, he was a Christian from a respected tribe in al-Yamama, and he had studied Christianity in Jerusalem. When Islam spread, parts of his tribe converted, but others resisted. Musaylimah, feeling threatened, sought recognition from the Prophet ﷺ, suggesting that he too should share in prophethood. When he visited Madinah, the Prophet ﷺ rejected his claim, stating that even a simple stick would not be given to him and prophesied his humiliation.

Musaylimah's arrogance grew when he sent a letter to the Prophet ﷺ, claiming that the Quraysh had half the power, and he held the other half. This letter was seen as blasphemous, and the Prophet ﷺ condemned it. Musaylimah is infamous for attempting to imitate the Qur'an, creating absurd verses that parodied it, such as his version of Surah al-Kawthar and Surah al-Fil, both of which were nonsensical.

Eventually, Musaylimah was killed in the Wars of Ridda by Wahshi رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ. His death marked the end of one of the first false prophets in Islamic history. Musaylimah's rise and fall illustrate the emergence of false prophets following the success of the Prophet ﷺ, a phenomenon that had been unheard of in the Arabian Peninsula prior to Islam.

The Tribe of Jurash

The tribe of Azd, who had embraced Islam, was tasked by the Prophet ﷺ to conquer the neighboring pagan tribe of Jurash. When two envoys from Jurash arrived in Madinah, they were unaware that the attack was already underway. Upon meeting the envoys, the Prophet ﷺ remarked, "Verily, Allah's camel is being sacrificed at Jurash as we speak," signaling their tribe's impending defeat. They asked the Prophet ﷺ for help, and he ﷺ prayed for the guidance of the people of Jurash. 

When they returned home, they discovered that on the very same day they had been in Madinah, the tribe of Azd had nearly defeated Jurash, though the commander Surad رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ chose to spare them, avoiding bloodshed. When the envoys reported what had happened, the tribe saw it as a miracle, embraced Islam, and sent a new delegation—this time to formally accept Islam.

The Tribe of Himyar

A delegation from Himyar (Yemen) came to the Prophet ﷺ with profound theological questions about creation. The Prophet ﷺ explained that before anything existed, Allah alone existed, and the heavens and the earth were created from water, with His Throne upon it. Imran ibn Husayn, رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ who was present at the time, missed part of the hadith because he was distracted by a camel that had run away.

The Christians of Najran

In 9 AH, the Prophet ﷺ sent a letter to the Christian province of Najran, a region known for its strong ties with the Roman Empire. In the letter, the Prophet ﷺ invited them to Islam in the name of the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He ﷺ presented them with three options: accept Islam, pay the jizya (a tax for non-Muslim citizens), or prepare for battle. In response, the leaders of Najran decided to send a delegation of sixty individuals, much larger than typical delegations, to assess the Prophet ﷺ and his message firsthand.

When the delegation arrived in Madinah, they entered the Prophet’s Masjid dressed in Roman-style garments, a reflection of their advanced culture. They arrived around the time of Asr, and when they sought to perform their prayer, the Prophet ﷺ allowed them to do so facing east, even though the Sahabah were hesitant. This act showed the Prophet’s ﷺ tolerance toward people of other faiths. For three to four days, the Prophet ﷺ engaged them in theological discussions, particularly about the nature of Isa ibn Maryam عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ. When they asked who Jesus' father was, given his virgin birth, the Prophet ﷺ deferred the answer, awaiting divine revelation.

The following day, the first 60 verses of Surah Ali-Imran were revealed. Among them was verse 59, which stated that the example of Jesus is like that of Adam, created from dust by the command of Allah, without a father. Moreover, verse 67 clarified that Ibrahim عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ was neither a Jew nor a Christian, but a Hanif Muslim.

After lengthy dialogue, Allah revealed verse 61, the verse of Mubahala, a spiritual challenge where both parties call upon Allah to curse the liars among them. This was a last resort after the reasoned argument had been exhausted. The next day, the Prophet ﷺ came prepared for Mubahala with his closest family members: Fatimah, Ali, Hasan, and Husayn رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمْ. Witnessing this, the Christian delegation grew fearful. They reasoned that if the Prophet ﷺ was indeed truthful, invoking such a curse could destroy them. They chose instead to withdraw from the challenge and agreed to pay the jizya.

The Prophet ﷺ accepted this and set a fair annual tribute in cloth and silver, stating that it would remain as long as Allah willed. Impressed by the justice and character of the Prophet ﷺ, the people of Najran also requested a neutral judge to help resolve their internal disputes. In response, the Prophet ﷺ appointed Abu Ubaydah ibn al-Jarrah رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ to fulfill this role for a period of time.

Abd al-Rahman ibn Abi Aqil

Abd al-Rahman ibn Abi Aqil led a delegation that initially despised the Prophet ﷺ but left loving him. One young delegate asked the Prophet ﷺ why he didn’t ask Allah for a kingdom like Sulayman. The Prophet ﷺ responded that each prophet has one ungranted prayer, and his request was for intercession for his ummah on the Day of Judgment.