What happened at Dhul Khalasah?

What happened at Dhul Khalasah?


Mohamad Mostafa Nassar

Twitter:@NassarMohamadMR

In the name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful

Islam prohibits any military attack against peaceful people, especially women, children, and civilians. The principles of just war are expressed in numerous places in the Quran and Sunnah and classical jurisprudence, and they continue to be upheld in mainstream Islam today.

This fact must be appreciated when interpreting the large body of hadith traditions, which are sometimes recorded in truncated form without the larger context.

One incident that has been used to misrepresent Islam is a tradition related to the conflict with the tribe of Daws and their idolatrous temple known as Dhul Khalasah. The Prophet (s) ordered the temple to be destroyed due to their persistent hostility to Islam and attempt to undermine monotheism on the Arabian peninsula.

Jarir ibn Abdullah reported: In the time of ignorance, there was a house named Dhul Khalasah and it was claimed it was the Kaโ€™bah of Yemen.

The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

ู‡ูŽู„ู’ ุฃูŽู†ู’ุชูŽ ู…ูุฑููŠุญููŠ ู…ูู†ู’ ุฐููŠ ุงู„ู’ุฎูŽู„ูŽุตูŽุฉู

Will you relieve me of Dhul Khalasah?

Jarir said:

ููŽู†ูŽููŽุฑู’ุชู ุฅูู„ูŽูŠู’ู‡ู ูููŠ ู…ูุงุฆูŽุฉู ูˆูŽุฎูŽู…ู’ุณููŠู†ูŽ ู…ูู†ู’ ุฃูŽุญู’ู…ูŽุณูŽ ููŽูƒูŽุณูŽุฑู’ู†ูŽุงู‡ู ููŽูƒูŽุณูŽุฑู’ู†ูŽุงู‡ู ูˆูŽู‚ูŽุชูŽู„ู’ู†ูŽุง ู…ูŽู†ู’ ูˆูŽุฌูŽุฏู’ู†ูŽุง ุนูู†ู’ุฏูŽู‡ู

I rode to it with one hundred and fifty men from the tribe of Ahmas and we tore it down and killed whoever we found there.

Source: แนขaแธฅฤซแธฅ Muslim 2476, Grade: Sahih

The narrators of this tradition would have been familiar with the names mentioned and their unstated details. Two important pieces of context help us see the larger picture of this event: Why was the military attack justified and were civilians killed in the battle?

Jarirโ€™s statement โ€œwe killed whoever we found thereโ€ is not an absolute statement. Implied in this particular phrase is that combatants were killed as necessary, not that literally everyone there was killed. It is well known that the Prophet (s) would warn his military deputies to fear Allah, which is to say fear committing acts of injustice, and specifically to avoid harming civilians and non-combatants.

Buraydah reported: If the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, sent a commander to the army, he would enjoin him personally to fear Allah and to be good to the Muslims who were with him, saying:

ุงุบู’ุฒููˆุง ุจูุณู’ู…ู ุงู„ู„ูŽู‘ู‡ู ูˆูŽูููŠ ุณูŽุจููŠู„ู ุงู„ู„ูŽู‘ู‡ู ู‚ูŽุงุชูู„ููˆุง ู…ูŽู†ู’ ูƒูŽููŽุฑูŽ ุงุบู’ุฒููˆุง ูˆูŽู„ูŽุง ุชูŽุบูู„ูู‘ูˆุง ูˆูŽู„ูŽุง ุชูŽุบู’ุฏูุฑููˆุง ูˆูŽู„ูŽุง ุชูู…ูŽุซูู‘ู„ููˆุง ูˆูŽู„ูŽุง ุชูŽู‚ู’ุชูู„ููˆุง ูˆูŽู„ููŠุฏู‹ุง

Go forth in the name of Allah and in the way of Allah. Fight against those who deny. Go forth and do not plunder, do not commit treachery, do not mutilate, and do not kill children.

Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhฤซ 1408, Grade:ย Sahih

In another narration, the Prophet said:

ุงู†ู’ุทูŽู„ูู‚ููˆุง ุจูุงุณู’ู…ู ุงู„ู„ูŽู‘ู‡ู ูˆูŽุจูุงู„ู„ูŽู‘ู‡ู ูˆูŽุนูŽู„ูŽู‰ ู…ูู„ูŽู‘ุฉู ุฑูŽุณููˆู„ู ุงู„ู„ูŽู‘ู‡ู ูˆูŽู„ูŽุง ุชูŽู‚ู’ุชูู„ููˆุง ุดูŽูŠู’ุฎู‹ุง ููŽุงู†ููŠู‹ุง ูˆูŽู„ูŽุง ุทููู’ู„ู‹ุง ูˆูŽู„ูŽุง ุตูŽุบููŠุฑู‹ุง ูˆูŽู„ูŽุง ุงู…ู’ุฑูŽุฃูŽุฉู‹ ูˆูŽู„ูŽุง ุชูŽุบูู„ูู‘ูˆุง ูˆูŽุถูู…ูู‘ูˆุง ุบูŽู†ูŽุงุฆูู…ูŽูƒูู…ู’ ูˆูŽุฃูŽุตู’ู„ูุญููˆุง ูˆูŽุฃูŽุญู’ุณูู†ููˆุง ุฅูู†ูŽู‘ ุงู„ู„ูŽู‘ู‡ูŽ ูŠูุญูุจูู‘ ุงู„ู’ู…ูุญู’ุณูู†ููŠู†ูŽ

Go forward in the name of Allah, with Allah, and upon the religion of the Messenger of Allah. Do not kill the elderly, children, young people, or women. Do not steal from the spoils but collect them, and behave righteously and in the best manner. Verily, Allah loves those who behave in the best manner.

Source: Sunan Abฤซ Dฤwลซd 2608, Grade:ย Hasan

Abdullah ibn Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, said:

ุฃูŽู†ูŽู‘ ุงู…ู’ุฑูŽุฃูŽุฉู‹ ูˆูุฌูุฏูŽุชู’ ูููŠ ุจูŽุนู’ุถู ู…ูŽุบูŽุงุฒููŠ ุฑูŽุณููˆู„ู ุงู„ู„ูŽู‘ู‡ู ุตูŽู„ูŽู‘ู‰ ุงู„ู„ูŽู‘ู‡ู ุนูŽู„ูŽูŠู’ู‡ู ูˆูŽุณูŽู„ูŽู‘ู…ูŽ ู…ูŽู‚ู’ุชููˆู„ูŽุฉู‹ ููŽุฃูŽู†ู’ูƒูŽุฑูŽ ุฑูŽุณููˆู„ู ุงู„ู„ูŽู‘ู‡ู ุตูŽู„ูŽู‘ู‰ ุงู„ู„ูŽู‘ู‡ู ุนูŽู„ูŽูŠู’ู‡ู ูˆูŽุณูŽู„ูŽู‘ู…ูŽ ู‚ูŽุชู’ู„ูŽ ุงู„ู†ูู‘ุณูŽุงุกู ูˆูŽุงู„ุตูู‘ุจู’ูŠูŽุงู†ู

A woman was found killed in one of the battles of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, so the Messenger of Allah condemned the killing of women and children.

Source: แนขaแธฅฤซแธฅ al-Bukhฤrฤซ 2851, Grade:ย Muttafaqun Alayhi

Umar ibn al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him, said:

ู„ุง ุชูŽุบูู„ูู‘ูˆุง ูˆูŽู„ุง ุชูŽุบู’ุฏูุฑููˆุง ูˆูŽู„ุง ุชูู…ูŽุซูู‘ู„ููˆุง ูˆูŽู„ุง ุชูŽู‚ู’ุชูู„ููˆุง ูˆูŽู„ููŠุฏู‹ุง ูˆูŽุงุชูŽู‘ู‚ููˆุง ุงู„ู„ูŽู‘ู‡ูŽ ูููŠ ุงู„ู’ููŽู„ุงุญููŠู†ูŽ ุงู„ูŽู‘ุฐููŠู†ูŽ ู„ุง ูŠูŽู†ู’ุตูุจููˆู†ูŽ ู„ูŽูƒูู…ู ุงู„ู’ุญูŽุฑู’ุจูŽ

Do not steal the spoils, do not be treacherous with the enemy, do not mutilate the dead, do not kill children, and fear Allah regarding the farmers who do not wage war against you.

Source:ย Sunan Saโ€™ฤซd ibn Mansลซr 2466

And Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, said:

ย ู„ูŽุง ุชูŽู‚ู’ุชูู„ููˆุง ุงู„ู†ูู‘ุณูŽุงุกูŽ ูˆูŽู„ูŽุง ุงู„ุตูู‘ุจู’ูŠูŽุงู†ูŽ ูˆูŽู„ูŽุง ุงู„ุดูŽู‘ูŠู’ุฎูŽ ุงู„ู’ูƒูŽุจููŠุฑูŽ ูˆูŽู„ูŽุง ู…ูŽู†ู’ ุฃูŽู„ู’ู‚ูŽู‰ ุฅูู„ูŽูŠู’ูƒูู…ู ุงู„ุณูŽู‘ู„ูŽู…ูŽ ูˆูŽูƒูŽููŽ ูŠูŽุฏูŽู‡ู ููŽุฅูู†ู’ ููŽุนูŽู„ู’ุชูู…ู’ ู‡ูŽุฐูŽุง ููŽู‚ูŽุฏูŽ ุงุนู’ุชูŽุฏูŽูŠู’ุชูู…ู’

Do not kill women, children, old men, or whoever comes to you with peace and he restrains his hand from fighting, for if you did so you would have certainly transgressed.

Source:ย Tafsฤซr al-แนฌabarฤซ 2:190

Many traditions of this nature establish the principle that civilians, non-combatants, and surrendering soldiers may not be harmed in battle. Jurists and commentators on the tradition of Jarir never understood his statement to mean it is permissible to kill these protected classes of people.

Indeed, not even terrorists who claim to be Muslims use the statement of Jarir to justify their misdeeds, instead relying on another train of distorted logic.

Furthermore, the idols at Dhul Khalasah belonged to the tribe of Daws, among others, who was hostile to Islam and was attempting to rival the Kaโ€™bah at Mecca with their idolatrous religion.

Abu Huraira, may Allah be pleased with him, said:

ุฐููˆ ุงู„ู’ุฎูŽู„ูŽุตูŽุฉู ุทูŽุงุบููŠูŽุฉู ุฏูŽูˆู’ุณู ุงู„ูŽู‘ุชููŠ ูƒูŽุงู†ููˆุง ูŠูŽุนู’ุจูุฏููˆู†ูŽ ูููŠ ุงู„ู’ุฌูŽุงู‡ูู„ููŠูŽู‘ุฉู

Dhul Khalasah was an idol of the tribe of Daws which they worshipped in the time of ignorance.

Source: แนขaแธฅฤซแธฅ al-Bukhฤrฤซ 6699, Grade: Sahih

The people of Dhul Khalasah referred to their temple as the โ€œKaโ€™bah of Yemen,โ€ a direct challenge to the holiest site in Islam. The very presence of Muslims worshipping one God in Mecca was an affront to their gods. Daws was also known to be a hostile tribe steeped in the pre-Islamic culture of tribalism, blood feuds, violence, and vengeance.

Abu Huraira reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said to me:

ู…ูู…ูŽู‘ู†ู’ ุฃูŽู†ู’ุชูŽ

Who are you from?

I said, โ€œI am from the tribe of Daws.โ€ The Prophet said:

ู…ูŽุง ูƒูู†ู’ุชู ุฃูŽุฑูŽู‰ ุฃูŽู†ูŽู‘ ูููŠ ุฏูŽูˆู’ุณู ุฃูŽุญูŽุฏู‹ุง ูููŠู‡ู ุฎูŽูŠู’ุฑูŒ

I have not seen anyone from the tribe of Daws with good in him.

Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhฤซ 3838, Grade: Sahih

Despite this, the Prophet (s) refused to condemn the tribe of Daws as a whole and he encouraged his companions to invite them to Islam in a gentle manner.

Abu Huraira reported: The companions said, โ€œO Messenger of Allah, the tribe of Daws has disbelieved and rejected you, so pray to Allah against them.โ€ And it was said, โ€œMay the tribe of Daws be destroyed!โ€ The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

ุงู„ู„ูŽู‘ู‡ูู…ูŽู‘ ุงู‡ู’ุฏู ุฏูŽูˆู’ุณู‹ุง ูˆูŽุงุฆู’ุชู ุจูู‡ูู…ู’

O Allah, guide the tribe of Daws and bring them to me.

Source: แนขaแธฅฤซแธฅ al-Bukhฤrฤซ 4131, Grade:ย Muttafaqun Alayhi

In another narration, the Prophet said to them:

ุงุฑู’ุฌูุนู’ ุฅูู„ูŽู‰ ู‚ูŽูˆู’ู…ููƒูŽ ููŽุงุฏู’ุนูู‡ูู…ู’ ุฅูู„ูŽู‰ ุงู„ู„ูŽู‘ู‡ู ูˆูŽุงุฑู’ููู‚ู’ ุจูู‡ูู…ู’

Return to your people and invite them to Allah, and be gentle with them.

Source: Tฤrฤซkh Dimashq 24591

Al-Qari comments on this tradition, saying:

ุฃูŽูŠู’ ุจููˆูู‚ููˆุนู ุงู„ู’ุนูŽุฐูŽุงุจู ููŽุธูŽู†ูŽู‘ ุงู„ู†ูŽู‘ุงุณู ุฃูŽู†ูŽู‘ู‡ู ูŠูŽุฏู’ุนููˆ ุนูŽู„ูŽูŠู’ู‡ูู…ู’ ููŽู‚ูŽุงู„ูŽ ุฃูŽูŠู’ ู„ููƒูŽูˆู’ู†ูู‡ู ุฑูŽุญู’ู…ูŽุฉู‹ ู„ูู„ู’ุนูŽุงู„ูŽู…ููŠู†ูŽ ูˆูŽู‡ูุฏู‹ู‰ ู„ูู„ู†ูŽู‘ุงุณู ุงู„ู„ูŽู‘ู‡ูู…ูŽู‘ ุงู‡ู’ุฏู ุฏูŽูˆู’ุณูŽุง ูˆูŽุงุฆู’ุชู ุจูู‡ูู…ู’

Meaning, the companions wanted them to be punished. The people thought that the Prophet would supplicate against them, but he said, because of his existence as mercy for the worlds and a guide for people, โ€˜O Allah, guide the tribe of Daws and bring them to me.โ€™

Source: Mirqฤt al-Mafฤtฤซแธฅ 6005

From this we can understand that the Prophet (s) had benevolent intentions towards the tribe of Daws, even though they had malicious intentions towards Islam and Muslims. He ordered the attack on Dhul Khalasah near the end of his life after giving the tribe of Daws many years to hear the message of Islam, without sanctioning violence against their civilians and only as a last resort to secure the right of Muslims to practice monotheism in Arabia.

Success comes from Allah, and Allah knows best.

Abu Amina