Delegation

Delegation of Banu Amir ibn Sa'sa'ah and the Assassination Attempt on the Prophet ﷺ

Name: Delegation of Banu Amir ibn Sa'sa'ah and the Assassination Attempt on the Prophet ﷺ
Location: Madinah

~Probably 7th or 8th year AH, before the Conquest of Makkah · 7 AH

What happened

Banu Amir ibn Sa'sa'ah, the tribe responsible for the Massacre of Bir Ma'una [see episode 51], sent a delegation to Madinah probably in the 7th or 8th year of the Hijrah, before the Conquest of Makkah. Among them came Amir ibn al-Tufayl, one of the massacre's chief instigators, with no intention of embracing Islam. He arranged with his henchman Arbad ibn Qays to assassinate the Prophet ﷺ with a poisoned dagger during a private audience, on a secret signal. The Prophet ﷺ refused Amir a private audience unless he embraced Islam. Amir tried repeatedly and gave the signal three times, but Arbad never acted; he later explained he could only ever see Amir, never the Prophet ﷺ, whenever the signal was given. When it became clear the plot had failed, Amir offered the Prophet ﷺ three options: split leadership of the towns and the Bedouins between them, be named his successor, or face an army of a thousand camels. The Prophet ﷺ refused all three and prayed against him. Amir fell fatally ill on the journey home while lodging at a prostitute's house; realizing he was dying, he fled on his horse into the darkness rather than die there, and was never seen again. Arbad returned to his own tribe and spoke impiously of Allah; the next day he and his camel were struck dead by lightning in front of his people. It is said Qur'an 13:11-13 refers to his fate.

Significance

Direct evidence of Allah's protection of the Prophet ﷺ from a serious assassination plot, and of the grim ends met by two of his most determined adversaries.

Around this time

Other events recorded in 7 AH. Their order within the year is not established; use the storyline above for the sequence.

PersecutionAttempt to Poison the Prophet ﷺ at Khaybar~Muharram-Safar, 7 AH (628 CE), shortly after the conquest of Khaybar · 7 AH BattleThe Battle of Khaybar~Muharram to Safar 7 AH (628 CE) · 7 AH ConversionAmr ibn al-As's Encounter with the Najashi in Abyssinia~c. 7 AH, before Umrah al-Qada · 7 AH EventArrival and Conversion-Era Joining of Abu Hurairah RA at Khaybar~7 AH, after the conquest of Khaybar · 7 AH DelegationBadhan's Spies and the Prophet ﷺ's Prophecy of Khosrow's Death~Jumada al-Awwal 7 AH / Feb 628 CE · 7 AH EventExtracting the Location of Huyayy's Gold From Sa'ya~7 AH, after the conquest of Khaybar · 7 AH DelegationLetter to Heraclius, Emperor of Rome~c. 7 AH, after Hudaybiyyah and before Khaybar · 7 AH DelegationLetter to Khosrow, Emperor of Persia~c. 7 AH · 7 AH DelegationLetter to the Muqawqis of Egypt~c. 7 AH · 7 AH MarriageMarriage of the Prophet ﷺ and Safiyyah bint Huyayy~7 AH, after the conquest of Khaybar · 7 AH InstitutionNew Fiqh Rulings Legislated Around the Time of Khaybar~7 AH, around the time of Khaybar · 7 AH EventReunion With Ja'far ibn Abi Talib RA and the Abyssinia Emigrants~Muharram-Safar, 7 AH (628 CE) · 7 AH

Sayings & Actions3

Amir ibn al-TufaylTo Muhammad ﷺ

Saying · Probably 7th or 8th year AH, before the Conquest of Makkah

Give us a private audience.

Said after arriving in Madinah with the Banu Amir delegation, having secretly plotted with his henchman Arbad ibn Qays to assassinate the Prophet ﷺ once alone with him.

Muhammad ﷺ

Saying · Probably 7th or 8th year AH, before the Conquest of Makkah

No; not until you embrace Islam.

Amir ibn al-Tufayl

Saying · Probably 7th or 8th year AH, before the Conquest of Makkah

I give you three options: if you want, you take charge of the people of the cities, and I will take charge of the Bedouins. If not, then the second option: you make me the leader after you. If you refuse both of these, then the third option: one thousand male camels and one thousand female camels against you.

Having pressed again for a private audience and been declined, and having signaled his henchman Arbad ibn Qays three times to strike without effect.

Muhammad ﷺ

Supplication · Probably 7th or 8th year AH, before the Conquest of Makkah

Allah AWJ will stop you. O Allah, I put You in charge of being sufficient for me against Amir ibn al-Tufayl. O Allah, take care of him and guide his people.

Amir ibn al-TufaylTo Arbad ibn Qays

Saying · Probably 7th or 8th year AH, before the Conquest of Makkah

What was the problem with you? You are considered to be the most powerful warrior, and that is why I chose you out of all the people! Yet you didn't obey me when I told you to kill, kill, kill!

Furious with his henchman Arbad ibn Qays after leaving the Prophet ﷺ, the assassination plot having failed.

Arbad ibn Qays

Saying · Probably 7th or 8th year AH, before the Conquest of Makkah

Don't get angry at me. When I entered in upon him, it was my intention to do as you intended, but I could only see you, and not him. Every time you were giving me the signal, I could only see you!

Amir ibn al-Tufayl

Quote · Probably 7th or 8th year AH, before the Conquest of Makkah

Amir ibn al-Tufayl will die in such a house?!

Realizing he was dying of a sudden affliction while lodging at a prostitute's house on the way home to his tribe.

People involved3

muslims

M
Muhammad ﷺ

opponents

Amir ibn al-Tufayl
instigator
Arbad ibn Qays
accomplice

Related Quran3

Surah Ar-Rad · 13:11

references

لَهُ مُعَقِّبَاتٌ مِّن بَيْنِ يَدَيْهِ وَمِنْ خَلْفِهِ يَحْفَظُونَهُ مِنْ أَمْرِ اللَّهِ ۗ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُغَيِّرُ مَا بِقَوْمٍ حَتَّىٰ يُغَيِّرُوا مَا بِأَنفُسِهِمْ ۗ وَإِذَا أَرَادَ اللَّهُ بِقَوْمٍ سُوءًا فَلَا مَرَدَّ لَهُ ۚ وَمَا لَهُم مِّن دُونِهِ مِن وَالٍ

“For each one there are successive angels before and behind, protecting them by Allah's command. Indeed, Allah would never change a people's state [of favor] until they change their own state [of faith]. And if it is Allah's Will to torment a people, it can never be averted, nor can they find a protector other than Him.”

It is said (hedged in the lecture as "it is said") that this passage refers to Arbad ibn Qays' death by lightning.

Surah Ar-Rad · 13:12

references

هُوَ الَّذِي يُرِيكُمُ الْبَرْقَ خَوْفًا وَطَمَعًا وَيُنشِئُ السَّحَابَ الثِّقَالَ

“He is the One Who shows you lightning, inspiring [you with] hope and fear, and produces heavy clouds.”

It is said (hedged as "it is said") that this passage refers to Arbad ibn Qays' death by lightning.

Surah Ar-Rad · 13:13

references

وَيُسَبِّحُ الرَّعْدُ بِحَمْدِهِ وَالْمَلَائِكَةُ مِنْ خِيفَتِهِ وَيُرْسِلُ الصَّوَاعِقَ فَيُصِيبُ بِهَا مَن يَشَاءُ وَهُمْ يُجَادِلُونَ فِي اللَّهِ وَهُوَ شَدِيدُ الْمِحَالِ

“The thunder glorifies His praises, as do the angels in awe of Him. He sends thunderbolts, striking with them whoever He wills. Yet they dispute about Allah. And He is tremendous in might.”

It is said (hedged as "it is said") that this passage refers to Arbad ibn Qays' death by lightning.

← All events

Delegation

Delegation of Banu Amir ibn Sa'sa'ah and the Assassination Attempt on the Prophet ﷺ

~Probably 7th or 8th year AH, before the Conquest of Makkah · 7 AH

Madinah

What happened

Significance

Direct evidence of Allah's protection of the Prophet ﷺ from a serious assassination plot, and of the grim ends met by two of his most determined adversaries.

Around this time

Other events recorded in 7 AH. Their order within the year is not established; use the storyline above for the sequence.

Sayings & Actions3

Amir ibn al-TufaylTo Muhammad ﷺ

Saying · Probably 7th or 8th year AH, before the Conquest of Makkah

Give us a private audience.

Said after arriving in Madinah with the Banu Amir delegation, having secretly plotted with his henchman Arbad ibn Qays to assassinate the Prophet ﷺ once alone with him.

Muhammad ﷺ

Saying · Probably 7th or 8th year AH, before the Conquest of Makkah

No; not until you embrace Islam.

Amir ibn al-Tufayl

Saying · Probably 7th or 8th year AH, before the Conquest of Makkah

Having pressed again for a private audience and been declined, and having signaled his henchman Arbad ibn Qays three times to strike without effect.

Muhammad ﷺ

Supplication · Probably 7th or 8th year AH, before the Conquest of Makkah

Allah AWJ will stop you. O Allah, I put You in charge of being sufficient for me against Amir ibn al-Tufayl. O Allah, take care of him and guide his people.

Amir ibn al-TufaylTo Arbad ibn Qays

Saying · Probably 7th or 8th year AH, before the Conquest of Makkah

What was the problem with you? You are considered to be the most powerful warrior, and that is why I chose you out of all the people! Yet you didn't obey me when I told you to kill, kill, kill!

Furious with his henchman Arbad ibn Qays after leaving the Prophet ﷺ, the assassination plot having failed.

Arbad ibn Qays

Saying · Probably 7th or 8th year AH, before the Conquest of Makkah

Don't get angry at me. When I entered in upon him, it was my intention to do as you intended, but I could only see you, and not him. Every time you were giving me the signal, I could only see you!

Amir ibn al-Tufayl

Quote · Probably 7th or 8th year AH, before the Conquest of Makkah

Amir ibn al-Tufayl will die in such a house?!

Realizing he was dying of a sudden affliction while lodging at a prostitute's house on the way home to his tribe.

People involved3

muslims

M
Muhammad ﷺ

opponents

Amir ibn al-Tufayl
instigator
Arbad ibn Qays
accomplice

Related Quran3

Surah Ar-Rad · 13:11

references

It is said (hedged in the lecture as "it is said") that this passage refers to Arbad ibn Qays' death by lightning.

Surah Ar-Rad · 13:12

references

هُوَ الَّذِي يُرِيكُمُ الْبَرْقَ خَوْفًا وَطَمَعًا وَيُنشِئُ السَّحَابَ الثِّقَالَ

“He is the One Who shows you lightning, inspiring [you with] hope and fear, and produces heavy clouds.”

It is said (hedged as "it is said") that this passage refers to Arbad ibn Qays' death by lightning.

Surah Ar-Rad · 13:13

references

“The thunder glorifies His praises, as do the angels in awe of Him. He sends thunderbolts, striking with them whoever He wills. Yet they dispute about Allah. And He is tremendous in might.”

It is said (hedged as "it is said") that this passage refers to Arbad ibn Qays' death by lightning.