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Musayliama the Liar (مُسَيْلِمَةُ), otherwise known as Maslama ibn Ḥabīb (مَسْلَمَةُ بْنُ حَبِيبٍ) d.632, was a claimant of prophethood from the Banu Hanifa tribe, of which present day descendants include the House of Saud among other Najd tribes. Based from Diriyah in present day Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, he claimed to be a prophet and was an opponent of Islam in 7th-century Arabia. He was a leader during the Ridda wars. He is considered by Muslims to be a false prophet (اَلْكَذَّابُ al-Kadhāb). He is commonly called Musaylima al-Kadhdhāb (Musaylima the Arch-Liar). Musaylima's real name was Maslama ibn Habib, but Muslims altered his name to Musaylima, which is the diminutive of Maslama (i.e., 'Little Maslama'). Musaylima was the son of Habib, of the tribe Banu Hanifa, one of the largest tribes of Arabia that inhabited the region of Najd. The Banu Hanifa were a Hanafite Christian branch of Banu Bakr and led an independent existence prior to Islam. Among the first accounts of him describe events in the late 9th Hijri, the Year of Delegations, when he accompanied a delegation of his tribe to Medina. The delegation included two other prominent Muslims. They would later help Musaylima rise to power and save their tribe from destruction. These men were Nahar Ar-Rajjal bin Unfuwa (or Rahhal) and Muja'a bin Marara. In Medina, the deputation stayed with the daughter of al-Harith, a woman of the Ansar from the Banu Najjar. When the delegation arrived at Medina the camels were tied in a traveler's camp, and Musaylima remained there to look after them while the other delegates went in. They had talks with Muhammad. The delegation before their departure embraced Islam and renounced Christianity without compunction. As was his custom, Muhammad presented gifts to the delegates, and when they had received their gifts one said, "We left one of our comrades in the camp to look after our mounts." Muhammad gave them gifts for him also, and added, "He is not the least among you that he should stay behind to guard the property of his comrades.

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Related concepts (6)

Rashidun Caliphate

The Rashidun Caliphate (al-Khilāfah ar-Rāšidah; 632 661) was the first caliphate to succeed the Islamic prophet Muhammad. It was ruled by the first four successive caliphs of Muhammad after his death in 632 CE (11 AH). During its existence, the empire was the most powerful economic, cultural, and military force in West Asia. The caliphate arose following Muhammad’s passing in June 632 and the subsequent debate over the succession to his leadership.

Banu Hanifa

Banu Hanifa (بنو حنيفة) is an ancient Arab tribe inhabiting the area of al-Yamama in the central region of modern-day Saudi Arabia. The tribe belongs to the great Rabi'ah branch of North Arabian tribes, which also included Abdul Qays, Taghlib, al-Nammir ibn Qasit, and Anazzah. Though counted by the classical Arab genealogists as a Christian branch of Bani Bakr, they led an independent existence prior to Islam. The ruling House of Saud of Saudi Arabia belongs to it.

Ridda Wars

The Ridda Wars (حُرُوْبُ الرِّدَّةِ) were a series of military campaigns launched by the first caliph Abu Bakr against rebellious Arabian tribes. They began shortly after the death of the Islamic prophet Muhammad in 632 and concluded the next year, with all battles won by the Rashidun Caliphate. These wars secured the caliphate's control over Arabia and restored its nascent prestige. During Muhammad's lifetime, many Arab rebels declared themselves prophets.