Al-Ahnaf

7th century Arab Muslim commander

Abu Bahr Al Ahnaf ibn Qays (الأحنف بن قيس) was a Muslim commander who lived during the time of Islamic prophet Muhammad. He hailed from the Arab tribe of Banu Tamim and was born of noble parents. Initially, his father named him ad Dhahhak, but people called him al Ahnaf, which meant "the clubfooted" in classical Arabic. Al Baladhuri, however, noted that he was also identified as Abdallah ibn Khazim.

In the early years of Islam, Muhammad sent a missionary to the tribe of Banu Tamim. The tribe members had informed the missionary that no decision could be taken until Al Ahnaf told them his opinion. Al Ahnaf listened and questioned the missionary who succeeded in persuading him and his entire tribe to embrace Islam. Al Ahnaf had never met Muhammad in his lifetime. After Muhammad's death in 632, a number of tribes rebelled for different reasons, al Ahnaf and his people, however, remained Muslims. When he heard about Musaylimah's claim of prophecy, al Ahnaf went with his uncle to meet him. After listening to Musaylimah, he returned to his tribe and discouraged them from believing to Musaylimah's claim.

Al Ahnaf returned to Basra after the campaigns in Persia and remained serving Islam, until the time of the caliph Ali ibn Abi Talib (died 660) when the Muslims were split into two warring parties. Al Ahnaf isolated himself from this trial and sent a message to Ali saying: "I will restrain ten thousand swords from fighting you." When Muawiyah became caliph in 661, al Ahnaf visited him and warned him strongly against fighting the Muslims or engaging in any Fitna (trial). When he left, the caliph's sister said angrily: "Who was that man who warned and threatened you?" He replied: "He is the one, who if he gets angry, a hundred thousand men from Banu Tamim get angry for him without knowing the reason behind his anger." During the Second Fitna, he participated in Battles of Madhar and Harura leading the Tamim tribes. Al Ahnaf spent the rest of his life in Kufa where he died at the age of 70.