CHAPTER X
Aṭ-Ṭâʾif
The Prophet lays siege to aṭ-Ṭâʾif. When the Hawâzin were defeated in the battle of Ḥunain, and Duraid ibn-aṣ-Ṣimmah was slain, the surviving remnant came to Awṭâs. The Prophet sent them abu-ʿÂmir al-Ashʿari who was put to death. Then abu-Mûsa ʿAbdallâh ibn-Ḳais al-Ashʿari took the command and the Moslems advanced on Awṭâs. Seeing that, the chief of the Hawâzin at that time, Mâlik ibn-ʿAuf ibn-Saʿd of banu-Duhmân ibn-Naṣr ibn-Muʿâwiyah ibn-Bakr ibn-Hawâzin, fled to aṭ-Ṭâʾif, whose people he found ready for the siege with their fortress repaired and the provisions gathered therein. Here he settled. The Prophet led the Moslems until they got to aṭ-Ṭâʾif. Thaḳîf hurled stones and arrows on the Moslems, and the Prophet set a ballista on the fortress. The Moslems had a mantelet[1] made of cows' skins on which Thakîf threw hot iron bars and burnt it, killing the Moslems underneath. The siege of aṭ-Ṭâʾif by the Prophet lasted for fifteen days,[2] the invasion having begun in Shauwâl, in the year 8.
Certain slaves surrender. Certain slaves from aṭ-Ṭâʾif presented themselves before the Prophet. Among them were abu-Bakrah ibn-Masrûḥ,—[later] the Prophet's freed-
