Muhammad Husain Haekal in his book titled "Sayidina Abu Bakr Ash-Shiddiq رضي الله عنه" mentions Asy'ats as an authoritative leader, loved and respected by his community.
In the Year of Rasulullahﷺ ('Amul Wujud) he came to Madinah to meet Rasulullahﷺ leading eighty people from Kindah. They all wore silk clothes. He declared his conversion to Islam and proposed to Khalifah Sayidina Abu Bakr Ash-Shiddiq رضي الله عنه's sister Umm Farwah رضي الله عنه. The marriage contract was performed by Khalifah Sayidina Abu Bakr Ash-Shiddiq رضي الله عنه himself. But to appease the groom's family with the separation, the execution was then postponed.
Another version tells that the real name of Asy'ats bin Qais is Ma'dikarib, but because of his hair that is always tangled, he was nicknamed Al Asy'ats.
It was narrated from Abu Wa'iul, that Al Asy'ats said, "When God said, 'Indeed those who exchange their promises (with) God and their oaths for a small price, they do not get a share (reward) in the afterlife,"
(QS Ali 'Imran [3]: 77)
When this ayat came down, I had a dispute with a man, then I met Rasulullahﷺ.
Rasulullahﷺ then asked, "Do you have proof?"
I replied, "No."
Rasulullahﷺ asked again, "Does he have to swear?"
I replied, "Yes, he must swear."
After that, Rasulullahﷺ said, "Whoever swears with a false oath to take (other people's) property, then he will meet Allahﷻ while Allahﷻ is angry with him."
Besieged Narrated by Ibrahim An-Nakha'i, he said, "Asy'ats bin Qais apostatized with the people of Kindah, then he was besieged and his peace was threatened. They were then given a conditional security guarantee.
The seventy apostates received assurances of peace, but he himself did not take them. Then he was approached by Khalifah Sayidina Abu Bakr Ash-Shiddiq رضي الله عنه, he said, "Indeed, we will attack you and there will be no more peace for you."
Hearing that, Asy'ats bin Qais said, "Give me peace and I will embrace Islam." After that he did it, then Khalifah Sayidina Abu Bakr Ash-Shiddiq رضي الله عنه married Asy'ats bin Qais to his sister.
Narrated by Qais, he said, "When Asy'ats bin Qais became a prisoner of Khalifah Sayidina Abu Bakr Ash-Shiddiq رضي الله عنه, he decided to free him and marry him to his sister. Then Asy'ats bin Qais رضي الله عنه took out his sword and entered the camel market. Every time he saw a male or female camel in the market, he cut it, so people shouted, "Asy'ats bin Qais has disbelieved!"
Asy'ats bin Qais then threw away his sword and said, "By God, I am not an infidel, but this man has married me to his sister." If this happened in our country, of course, the party would not only be like this. O people of Madinah, slaughter animals and eat! O camel owner, preserve this tradition.”
Disabled-- Another Haekal story. According to him, at the time of fighting the apostate people, Muhajir رضي الله عنه set out from San'a and Ikrimah from Yemen and Aden, and they met at Ma'rib, then together they crossed the Saihad desert. Muhajir رضي الله عنه realized what had happened to Ziyad bin Labid رضي الله عنه, the leader of the Muslim army when facing Asy'ats bin Qais.
He handed over the military leadership to Ikrimah and with a fast-moving team he immediately left. As soon as he joined Ziyad bin Labid رضي الله عنه's team, he immediately attacked Asy'ats bin Qais رضي الله عنه until his opponent was paralyzed. Not a few of his men died.
Asy'ats bin Qais رضي الله عنه himself and his men who were still safe fled and sought refuge in the Nujair fort.
Nujair is a strong city, not easily conquered by force. There are three entrances that connect the lane to the back of the rampart. The Muslim forces led by Ziyad bin Labid رضي الله عنه entered one of the lanes, while Muhajir رضي الله عنه led entered the second lane while the third lane was left open to supply all the needs of the inhabitants of the fort.
But Ikrimah Ibn Abu Jahl رضي الله عنه led his team and immediately occupied the lane. The line to the food supply area was cut off. Not only that, he even sent some of his cavalry scattered in Kindah to the seaside and he continued to slaughter those who were still rebelling. Those who took refuge in the fortress of Nujair saw what his people were experiencing.
They said to each other: "It is better for you to die than to be in this situation. Cut your hair so that it seems as if you have dedicated your lives to Allahﷻ. We have been given pleasure by Allahﷻ and we have enjoyed it; hopefully, He will help us against the people- the tyrant."
By cutting the crest they promised each other not to run away. As soon as the morning light rose they went out and fought all out in the three lanes leading to the fort. But what is the point of fighting to the death like that if Muhajir رضي الله عنه and Ikrimah forces cannot be defeated by strength and a number of people!
The inhabitants of the Nujair fortress were confident when they saw reinforcements for the Muslim forces coming non-stop. They must be destroyed. They begin to despair, their souls are weak and they fear death. Their leaders are also worried about their own fate. Their arrogance is now directly declining.
After that Asy'ats bin Qais رضي الله عنه then went out and met Ikrimah with the intention of asking for protection from Muhajir رضي الله عنه for himself and nine other people with the stipulation that Asy'ats bin Qais would open the fort for the Muslim forces and leave those inside.
His request was approved by Muhajir رضي الله عنه as long as he wrote down the names of the nine people he asked for protection. Asy'ats bin Qais wrote down the names of his brothers, cousins, and other family members. But Asy'ats bin Qais forgot to write his own name in the note. After the letter containing the note was stamped, he handed it over to Muhajir رضي الله عنه.
Asy'ats bin Qais removed the nine men from the fort and the gates were opened for the Muslim army. When they stormed in anyone who put up a fight would be beheaded. The women in the fortress as many as a thousand people were captured.
Muhajir took care of the captives and the property that was in them. After a fifth was counted, it was then sent to Madinah.
This world travel is really strange! Asy'ats bin Qais who has committed this grave betrayal, and who has handed over his people to be killed and handed over a thousand women to be captured, this same Asy'as who could not bear to hear the shouts of his aunts from the Amr bin Muawiyah Family: "Asy'as! Asy' as! Your family, your family!"
So he quickly acted to defend them and free them from Ziyad bin Labid رضي الله عنه 's captivity.
And Asy'ats bin Qais who used to come to see Rasulullahﷺ when alive, who we know was so friendly, was greeted by the Muslims also with a friendly welcome, it was Asy'ats bin Qais who turned out to be so humble, that he was cursed by the Muslims and also cursed by the captive women. They named him: "'ur fun nar" a Yemeni Arabic expression meaning "Traitor."
But when people are too attached to the world and fear death, their life will be very low and they will fall into a valley worse than death. Muhajir رضي الله عنه called the people whose names were already mentioned in the Asy'ats bin Qais record, then they were released.
Because Asy'ats bin Qais's name was not found in the written record, he was shackled and was about to be sentenced to death. "I am grateful to Allahﷻ because you have made a mistake, Asy'as! I really want Allahﷻ to make you feel ashamed!"
But Ikrimah Ibn Abu Jahl رضي الله عنه immediately intervened. "Hang on," he said. "We will first convey it to Khalifah Sayidina Abu Bakr Ash-Shiddiq رضي الله عنه. In this case, he knows better how to make a decision. If people forget to write down their names, while he himself represents them in the discussion, can one cancel the other?"
Muhajir then delayed it. This person was sent to Khalifah Sayidina Abu Bakr Ash-Shiddiq رضي الله عنه along with other captives. Along the way, he was cursed by the prisoners and by the Muslims as well.
In a conversation with Asy'ats, Khalifah Sayidina Abu Bakr Ash-Shiddiq رضي الله عنه recalled everything he had done. "Then what should I do to you?!" asked Abu Bakr.
"I don't know what you think; you know better," said Asy'ats bin Qais.
"In my opinion, you should be killed."
"I am the one who invited my people until they agreed; I should not be killed," said Asy'ats bin Qais in response to Khalifah Sayidina Abu Bakr Ash-Shiddiq رضي الله عنه.
Because his conversation with Khalifah Sayidina Abu Bakr Ash-Shiddiq رضي الله عنه was quite long, Asy'ats bin Qais was afraid that he would be killed as well, so he said: "If you have good intentions towards me, of course, you want to release the prisoners, forgive my mistakes, accept my Islam, treat me like my other colleagues and return my wife to me."
The wife he mentioned was Umm Farwah, the sister of Khalifah Sayidina Abu Bakr Ash-Shiddiq رضي الله عنه. For a moment, Khalifah Sayidina Abu Bakr Ash-Shiddiq رضي الله عنه hesitated to answer. But Asy'ats bin Qais suddenly continued: "Do it, you will see me become the best inhabitant of that land in the religion of God."
After that matter was thought about and considered Khalifah Sayidina Abu Bakr Ash-Shiddiq رضي الله عنهwas able to accept it and his family returned to him saying: "Yes go, you should behave well."
After that Asy'ats bin Qais stayed with Umm Farwah رضي الله عنه in Madinah. Asy'ats bin Qais left the city only at the time of the Caliph Sayidina Umar bin Khattab رضي الله عنه. with duties to Iraq and Sham. In carrying out his duties, he really fought to the death, and then he was able to restore his image in the eyes of the Muslims.
Asy'ats bin Qais رضي الله عنه died in 40 Hijri. His son, Muhammad bin Al Asy'ats, included a great leader and prominent figure, who later became the father of Governor Abdurrahman bin Muhammad bin Al Asy'ats, who went to war with the pilgrims in a famous war that had never existed before. . But in the end, Ibnu Al Asy'ats was weak, then defeated and killed.
