Historians have narrated that when Abu Bakr Ssiddiq had become established in the Khalifate, he delivered the following harangue in a select assembly after he had praised God—whose magnificence be exalted: ‘O ye people, be ye aware and apprised that the compact of governing you is established and fixed on my neck. Aid me with your wishes and advice if my life is in conformity with justice and philanthropy, but admonish me when I am remiss or faulty in the execution of my duties. Abstain from flattering and cajoling me, because to speak the truth is honesty, and to utter falsehood is treachery. Be certain that the weakest person is strong enough for me to cause me to mete out justice to him. Be aware that no men are tardy in encountering the opponents of the Faith without becoming abased and despised, nor can any nation be rebellious and forward in opposition without being overtaken by the vicissitudes of time and sudden calamities. You are to obey and follow me as long as I continue to obey the Creator of the world and of its denizens; but if I perpetrate any act contrary to the ordinances of God, you must likewise abandon loyalty and obedience to me. Farewell.’ When Ssiddiq had terminated this allocution, he came down from the pulpit, returned to his house, and engaged with all his might in the discharge of the arduous duties of the Khalifate.
A short time afterwards disheartening news arrived from various quarters, that certain Arabs had not only rebelled and apostatized, but that some were laying claims to prophecy, whilst others kept the dues to the public treasury in abeyance, and others, having addicted themselves to ease, neglected prayers and fasting. Ttolhah B. Khowylad Asdy pretended to be a prophet, and was followed by numbers of the Bani Asad. Also Moseylamah the liar proclaimed himself in Yamâmah as a prophet, and gathered many under his deceitful banner. A number of Arabs having been led astray in Moussul by a woman, Sajâh, the daughter of Mundher, considered her to be their prophetess, and girded up their loins in her service to transgression and apostasy. In the same manner the Bani A´amer and Ghuttafân, the Bani Salym, the Bani Tamym, with numerous Arab tribes, to record whom would be prolix, stepped out from the circle of obedience. If the sweetly ambling courser of the reed were to enter the plain of the details of every event, the account would be greatly prolonged, and therefore it will be recorded in a brief manner. In fine, when Ssiddiq had been informed of the apostasy of the Arabs, he exerted himself with all his might in despatching rank-breaking champions and man-slaying braves to overthrow and conquer the rebels, in order to renovate the tenets of the brilliant law. Of the various commanders whom he sent against the opponents, one was Khâled B. Alwolyd, who marched with three thousand men to attack Ttolhah B. Khowylad Asdy and some other apostates.