View source for Siege of Ta'if

{{Short description|630 CE besiegement of the city of Ta'if by the early Muslims under Muhammad}}
{{Infobox military conflict
| conflict          = Siege of Ta'if
| image             = 
| image_size        = 
| alt               = 
| caption           = 
| date              = February 630 (8 [[Islamic calendar|AH]])
| place             = [[Ta'if]], [[Mecca Province|Mecca]], [[Arabia]]
| result            = Inconclusive
| combatant1        = [[Muslims]] of [[Medina]]
| combatant2        = Citizens of [[Ta'if]]
| commander1        = [[Muhammad]]<br />[[Ali ibn Abi Talib]]<br/>[[Abu Sufyan]]<br />[[Khalid ibn Waleed]]
{{citation needed|date=September 2022}}<br />[[Tufayl ibn Amr]]
| commander2        = Unknown
| strength1         = 12,000
| strength2         = 10,000
| casualties1       = 12
| casualties2       = Unknown
| partof            = [[Military career of Muhammad|Muhammad's campaigns]]
}}
 
{{Campaignbox Rise of Islam}}
{{Campaignbox Campaigns of Khalid ibn Walid}}
The '''siege of Ta'if''' took place in 630, as the Muslims under the leadership of [[Muhammad]] besieged the city of [[Ta'if]] after their victory in the battles of [[Battle of Hunayn|Hunayn]] and [[Battle of Autas|Autas]]. One of the [[Ta'if#Chieftains|chieftains]] of Ta'if, [[Urwah ibn Mas'ud]], was absent in [[Yemen]] during that siege.<ref name="WP1">[http://www.witness-pioneer.org/vil/Books/MH_LM/year_of_deputations_and_abu_bakrs_leadership.htm The Year of Deputations and Abu Bakr's Leadership of the Pilgrimage<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> However, the city did not succumb to the siege. Muhammad brought [[trebuchet]]s<ref name="CoetzeeEysturlid2013">''[https://books.google.com/books?id=DW2jAQAAQBAJ&pg=PA2 Philosophers of War: The Evolution of History's Greatest Military Thinkers &#91;2 Volumes&#93;: The Evolution of History's Greatest Military Thinkers]''. ABC-CLIO; 21 October 2013. {{ISBN|978-0-313-07033-4}}. p. 2.</ref> and [[testudo formation|testudos]] to use against the fortress, but was unable to penetrate it with these weapons.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=Feo9AAAAYAAJ&pg=PA145 The life of Mahomet and history of Islam, Volume 4, By Sir William Muir, Pg 145]</ref>

==Battle==
Sunni sources state the following regarding the siege of Ta'if:

:[[Abu Sufyan ibn Harb]] lost his one eye in the siege of Ta'if. He told Muhammad of his loss for God to which Muhammad said ''“Which would you prefer: An eye in heaven or shall I pray to Allah that He brings it back?” ''To this Abu Sufyan said he would rather have his eye in heaven.<ref>[http://www.sahaba.net/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=62 Sahaba.net :: Stories of the Companions – An Eye Now or an Eye in Heaven?<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120204104932/http://www.sahaba.net/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=62 |date=2012-02-04 }}</ref>

==Blockade of Ta'if==
A few unsuccessful attempts were made by Muhammad's forces to break through the gates of Ta'if. Muhammad may have even used the Roman [[Testudo formation]] during this siege, but it was reported that the inhabitants of Ta'if were able to break this siege by dropping hot irons upon the Muslim armies from the city walls. Muhammad allegedly told the people of Ta'if that he would burn and cut down their vineyard, as he saw no other way to make them surrender. Muhammad angered the citizens of Ta'if by offering freedom to slaves who surrendered themselves to Islam. However, only ten people were able to avail themselves of this option and become followers of Muhammad.<ref name="Muir August 1878 146">{{citation|title=The Life of Mahomet|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QyIPouT4DqcC&pg=PA146|first=William|last=Muir|date=August 1878|publisher=Kessinger Publishing Co (10 August 2003)|isbn=978-0-7661-7741-3|page=146}}{{Dead link|date=March 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

The siege went on for half a month with little change and soldiers became very impatient. Following consultation with advisors and a prophetic dream, Muhammad ended the siege and withdrew his forces.<ref name="Muir August 1878 146"/>

To aid in the siege of Ta'if, Muhammad sought to get the chief of the Banu Hawazan (called Malik) on his side, and promised the release of his family and the return of all his property if Malik embraced Islam. Malik accepted the offer and became a Muslim, aiding Muhammad in his blockade of Ta'if. Malik disrupted the ability of the citizens of Ta'if to graze their cattle outside of the city, further increasing the difficulty of life inside the walls.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=Feo9AAAAYAAJ&pg=PA155 The life of Mahomet and history of Islam to the era of the Hegira: Volume 4, By Sir William Muir, Pg 155]</ref>

==Aftermath==
Although the siege was unsuccessful, Muhammad vowed to return to Ta'if after the lapse of the sacred months in which fighting was forbidden. During this period, the inhabitants of [[Ta'if]], the [[Banu Thaqif]], sent a delegation to Mecca. They demanded that Muhammad let them continue to worship their goddess [[Al-lāt]] for a period of three years, yet had conspired to have him assassinated. When this conspiracy was discovered, and their ambush failed, Muhammad refused the proposal and would only accept their surrender if they agreed to disarm. Eventually the Banu Thaqif consented to Muhammad's request, surrendering and allowing the Muslims into their city.<ref name="WP1"/>

==Participants==
*[[Abu Sufyan ibn Harb]]<ref>[http://www.sahaba.net/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=62 Sahaba.net :: Stories of the Companions - An Eye Now or an Eye in Heaven?<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120204104932/http://www.sahaba.net/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=62 |date=2012-02-04 }}</ref>
*[[Tufayl ibn Amr]]<ref name="WP2">[http://www.witness-pioneer.org/vil/Books/MH_LM/campaigns_of_hunayn_and_al_taif.htm Campaigns of Hunayn and al Ta'if<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
*Khalid ibn Waleed

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{coord missing|Saudi Arabia}}

[[Category:Battles of Abu Ubaidah ibn al-Jarrah|Ta'if]]
[[Category:Campaigns led by Muhammad|Taif]]
[[Category:Sieges|Taif]]
[[Category:Battles of Khalid ibn Walid|Ta'if]]
[[Category:630s conflicts|Ta'if]]
[[Category:630]]