After the chieftain Abu Bara Amir ibn Malik guaranteed protection for Muslim preachers in Najd, the Prophet ﷺ sent 70 of the best reciters and worshippers, mostly of the Ahl al-Suffa. Their messenger Haram ibn Milhan was treacherously killed by the arrogant chieftain Amir ibn al-Tufayl, who then rallied the tribes of Asiya, Ra'l, and Dhakwan (roughly 400-500 men) and massacred the 70 at the Well of Bir Ma'una. Only Ka'b ibn Zayd (left for dead beneath the bodies of the shuhada), Amr ibn Umayyah, and al-Mundhir ibn Muhammad were not killed outright in the initial attack; al-Mundhir chose to go back in and was killed, while Amr was freed and, on his way home, unknowingly killed two men under the Prophet ﷺ's protection before bringing the news to Madinah. According to one report the Prophet ﷺ learned of this and of al-Raji on the same night, and grieved so greatly that he prayed qunut against the four tribes responsible (Asiya, Ra'l, Dhakwan, and Banu Lahyan) in every prayer for a month.
Outcome: 70 sahaba were killed; Amir ibn al-Tufayl later died in misery of a spreading leprosy after the Prophet ﷺ prayed against him.
The worst massacre of the seerah. Verses were revealed about the martyrs, later abrogated in recitation (Naskh al-Tilawah) though preserved in hadith, and it established the sunnah of qunut for a communal calamity. The Prophet ﷺ later paid blood money for the two innocent men Amr ibn Umayyah killed by mistake, refusing to hold them responsible for their tribe's crime.
Other events recorded in 4 AH. Their order within the year is not established; use the storyline above for the sequence.
مَنْ يُبلِّغُ إِخْوانَنا عنا أنَّا أحْياءٌ في الجنَّةِ
Who will go and tell our brothers that we are alive in Paradise?
Words revealed to the Prophet ﷺ about the martyrs of Bir Ma'una; later abrogated in recitation (Naskh al-Tilawah) though preserved in hadith.
I think we should go back to the Prophet ﷺ in order to tell him that some calamity has happened. Let's go back and get reinforcements.
Said on seeing vultures circling over the camp after returning from an errand.
As for me, I will not give up being in the place where my companions have been killed, neither do I want other men telling of my story.
They were known for their Quran, known for their tahajjud, known for filling up the buckets of the Ansar at night.
Anas ibn Malik's later description of the 70 sent to Bir Ma'una.
I won! By the Lord of the Ka'bah!
His last words, cried out the instant he was speared from behind while waiting to be received by Amir ibn al-Tufayl.
If only you were to send a group of your Companions to the people of Najd and call them to this matter, I am sure a lot of them will respond to your call. So send us your people and we will go and spread your Message.
Said to the Prophet ﷺ after visiting Madinah and being impressed by Islam, though Abu Bara himself did not convert.
I will accept Islam either if you take charge of the cities and leave all of the Bedouin lands to me, or make me your chieftain after you die.
His attempted condition for accepting Islam, reported before the massacre.
On my way back, I came upon two men from the tribe responsible for the massacre. Not knowing they were under the Prophet ﷺ's protection, I killed them in retribution for our slain brothers.