and assigned to fight the most powerful of the rebel forces. Other corps were given areas of secondary importance in which to subdue the less dangerous rebel tribes, and were dispatched after Khalid, according to the outcome of his operations. Abu Bakr's plan was first to clear west-central Arabia (the area nearest to Medina), then tackle Malik bin Nuwaira, and finally concentrate against his most dangerous and powerful enemy: Musaylima, leader of the Banu Hanifa tribe and rival prophet claimant to Muhammad.

Battle of Dhu al-Qassah