The Demolition of Dhul-Khalasa[1] occurred in April and May 632 CE, in 10 AH of the Islamic calendar. Sources refer to Dhul-Khalasa, (Arabic: ذُو الْخَلَصَة ḏū l-ḵalaṣa), as both a cult image and as a temple, venerated by some Arabian tribes.[2] Muhammad sent the companion Jarir ibn ʿAbdullah al-Bajali, to destroy the image, leaving in ruin the shrine surrounding it.[3][4][5]

Background

In the early 7th century, the worship of Dhul-Khalasa was popular in some regions of Arabia. Its principal sanctuary was the famous al-Ka'bah al-Yamaniyah (the 'Yemenite Ka'ba'), rivaling that of Mecca, and located in the Asir region, south of Mecca.

The Temple of Dhul-Khalasa resided at Tabala, and was worshiped by the Bajila and Khath'am tribes. Pre-Islamic poetry also gives the cult object the name "the White Quartz Idol of Tabalah", a thing sworn by in oath form. According to Hisham Ibn Al-Kalbi, the remains of the shrine of Dhul-Khalasa now constitutes the threshold of the gate of the mosque at Tabalah.

The term Dhul-Khalasa is usually taken to be the name of the temple, as it was referred to as the Yemenite Ka’ba by the tribes who worshiped it. Old accounts say that it was the name of a god who was specifically worshiped there as well.[2] The name Dhul-Khalasa itself means having or possessing purity, or the ability to purify, free, to be clearing, rescuing.

From classical sources there is also an association with divination as well as fertility. Hisham Ibn Al-Kalbi quotes from a certain man: “O Dhul-Khalasa, were the one wronged, your father the one murdered and buried, you would not have forbidden the killing of the enemy.” This incident is usually ascribed to Imru' al-Qais, when shuffling divination arrows before the idol, gave negative results for pursuing the vengeance of his father's death.

Sahih al-Bukhari, 9:88:232 records the following in a report about the signs of the end-times: "Abu Hurairah said, I heard the Prophet say, The Hour will not come until the buttocks of the women of Daws are set in motion while going around Dhul-Khalasa. Dhul-Khalasa was an idol worshiped by the tribe of Daws during the Jahiliyyah."

Some commentators take this simply to mean the women will return to circumambulating around the idol, as the rump is naturally set in motion by walking around. Other commentators have interpreted this to mean hips, pelvises, even flanks and stomach sides of the women, and the motion as shaking, shimmying, quivering, all euphemistic of dancing. The connections between erotic or belly dancing and the phallic-nature of the symbol have been potentially suggestive of a fertility aspect to the cult as well.

Military campaign

After the spread of Islam, Muhammad sent a party of his followers to destroy the cult image of Dhul-Khalasa which stood there. Namely the companion Jarir ibn `Abdullah al-Bajali, with the aid of the Banu Ahmas, a horse-riding sub-branch of the Bajali tribe, were sent to demolish it.

The traditional narrative follows that the Prophet had inquired of Jarir what the condition of his tribe was. He gave the good news to the Prophet, "O Messenger of Allah! Almighty Allah made Islam superior. Adhans are called in the mosques and areas of Sons of Bajila. The tribes demolished the idols they worshiped."

Muhammad was pleased to hear the report, but asked, "What had happened to Dhul-Khalasa?" When Jarir told him that it remained as it was, the Messenger of Allah was saddened. "By Allah! I will be rid of it too. O Jarir! Can you not save me from it? Can you not relieve me?", to which Jarir readily made preparations for an expedition.

According to Sahih Bukhari, Jarir rode with 150 horsemen[6] to Dhul-Khalasa[1] to destroy the "Yemenite Ka’ba".[3]

Hisham Ibn Al-Kalbi mentions when Jarir ibn Abdullah proceeded to Dhul-Khalasa, he was met with resistance. The Muslims led by him, fought and overcame 100 men "of the Bajilah, its custodians, and many of the Khath'am" and another 200 men of the "Banu-Qubafah" tribes. Having defeated them and forced them into flight, he then demolished the building which stood over Dhul-Khalasa and set it on fire.[5][7][8]

Islamic primary sources

The Muslim historian Hisham Ibn Al-Kalbi, mentions this event as follows:

When the Apostle of God captured Mecca and the Arabs embraced Islam, among the delegates who came to pay their homage was Jarir ibn-'Abdullah. He came to the Apostle and embraced Islam before him. Thereupon the Apostle addressed him saying, "O Jarir! Will you not rid me of Dhul-Khalasa?" Jarir replied, "Yea." So the Apostle dispatched him to destroy it. He set out until he got to the Banu Ahmas of the Bajilah [tribe] and with them he proceeded to Dhul-Khalasa. There he was met by the Khath'am and the Bajilah, who resisted him and attempted to defend Dhul-Khalasa. He, therefore, fought them and killed a hundred men of the Bajilah, its custodians, and many of the Khath'am; while of the Banu Qubafah ibn-'Amir ibn-Khath'am he killed two hundred. having defeated them and forced them into flight, he demolished the building which stood over Dhul-Khalasa and set it on fire. A certain woman of the Banu Khath'am thereupon said:

"The Banu Umamah, each wielding his spear,
Were slaughtered at al-Wahyah, their abode;
They came to defend their shrine, only to find
Lions with brandished swords clamoring for blood.
The women of the Khath'am were, then, humiliated
By the men of the Ahmas, and abased."

According to many of the Ulamaa of the Sunnah and Hadeeth of the past, Hishaam ibnul Akhbaaree al-Baahir Muhammad ibn as-Saa'ib bin Bishr al-Kalbee ash-Shee'ee al-Koofee was only a person who spent his nights chatting, talking constantly about genealogies, stories and nothing was known from him of (correct) chains of narrations.

One of Hishaam ibnul Kalbee's bogus claims was that he memorized the entire Qur'aan in three days!


−Ibn-Al-Kalbi, Hisham, The Book of Idols, pp. 31–2[7]

The incident is also referenced in the Sahih Bukhari hadith collection:

In the Pre-Islamic Period of Ignorance there was a house called Dhul-Khalasa or al-Ka'ba al-Yamaniya or al-Ka'ba ash-Shamiya. Jarir said "Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said to me, "Won't you relieve me from Dhul-Khalasa?" I replied, "Yes, (I will relieve you)." So I proceeded along with one-hundred and fifty cavalry from Ahmas tribe who were skillful in riding horses. I used not to sit firm over horses, so I informed the Prophet (ﷺ) of that, and he stroke my chest with his hand till I saw the marks of his hand over my chest and he said, O Allah! Make him firm and one who guides others and is guided (on the right path).' Since then I have never fallen from a horse. Dhul-l--Khulasa was a house in Yemen belonging to the tribe of Khatham and Bajaila, and in it there were idols which were worshipped, and it was called Al-Ka`ba." Jarir went there, burnt it with fire and dismantled it. When Jarir reached Yemen, there was a man who used to foretell and give good omens by casting arrows of divination. Someone said to him. "The messenger of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) is present here and if he should get hold of you, he would chop off your neck." One day while he was using them (i.e. arrows of divination), Jarir stopped there and said to him, "Break them (i.e. the arrows) and testify that None has the right to be worshipped except Allah, or else I will chop off your neck." So the man broke those arrows and testified that none has the right to be worshipped except Allah. Then Jarir sent a man called Abu Artata from the tribe of Ahmas to the Prophet to convey the good news (of destroying Dhu-l-Khalasa). So when the messenger reached the Prophet, he said, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! By Him Who sent you with the Truth, I did not leave it till it was like a scabby camel." Then the Prophet (ﷺ) blessed the horses of Ahmas and their men five times. Sahih al-Bukhari, 5:59:643

The event is also mentioned in Sahih al-Bukhari, 5:59:642, Sahih al-Bukhari, 5:59:643 and Sahih al-Bukhari, 5:59:645.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Dermenghem, Émile (1930). The life of Mahomet. G. Routledge. p. 239. ISBN 978-9960-897-71-4.
  2. 1 2 Robertson Smith, William (2010). Kinship and Marriage in Early Arabia. Forgotten Books. p. 297. ISBN 978-1-4400-8379-2.
  3. 1 2 Muir, William (August 1878). The life of the holy prophet. Kessinger Publishing. p. 219.
  4. ↑ Mubarakpuri, Saifur Rahman Al (2002). When the Moon Split. DarusSalam. p. 296. ISBN 978-9960-897-28-8.
  5. 1 2 Glasse, Cyril (28 January 2003). The new encyclopedia of Islam. US: AltaMira Press. p. 251. ISBN 978-0-7591-0190-6.
  6. ↑ Sahih al-Bukhari, 5:59:641
  7. 1 2 Ibn al Kalbi, Hisham (1952). The book of idols: being a translation from the Arabic of the Kitāb al-asnām. Princeton University Press. pp. 31–2. ASIN B002G9N1NQ.
  8. ↑ The Book of Idols – via Scribd.
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