JIHAD SECTION · 172 – SENDING A MESSENGER
Cerir (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated:
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him) said to me, “Can you relieve me from Zülhalasa?” Cerir ibn Abdullah al-Bajali went to that temple and set it ablaze. Then a man from the Banu Hamza tribe, who was known as Abu Urta, was sent to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him) as news-bringer. [514]
COMMENTARY:
Zülhalasa: This was a temple belonging to the tribes of Devs Has’am and Bajila. It was the temple of the Arabs living in the Tibale region between Mecca and Yemen. It is mentioned that it was house-shaped, that circumambulation was performed around it like the Ka'ba, and according to Ibn Hisham’s record, that a lottery was drawn before it. Cerir ibn Abdullah al-Bajali went and burned this temple, which was in a state of idolatry, upon the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him)’s command. A news-bringer was sent to announce that he had carried out the order.