Battle of Tayma (659)
The Battle of Tayma was a military confrontation that took place during Mu'awiya's Southern Campaigns after Mu'awiya I dispatched a military expedition against the fort of Tayma which was under the control of the fourth Rashidun caliph Ali ibn Abi Talib. The expedition was a failure for the Umayyad forces who were forced to retreat, resulting in Ali's forces securing control over the fort of Tayma.
Background
After the assassination of the third Rashidun caliph Uthman ibn Affan, conflicts arose between his successor, the fourth Rashidun caliph Ali ibn Abi Talib, and Uthman's Umayyad kinsman Mu'awiya ibn Abi Sufyan, the long-time governor of Greater Syria, who demanded retribution for all those who took part in Uthman’s death. This led to the outbreak of the First Fitna, during which Ali's Iraqi army fought Mu'awiya's Syrian forces to a stalemate at the Battle of Siffin, which was followed by an inconclusive arbitration.Mu'awiya then launched a campaign against Egypt, during which Ali's governors Muhammad ibn Abi Bakr and Malik al-Ashtar were killed, and Egypt was annexed by the Umayyads. Subsequently, Mu'awiya also launched raids against the Hejaz, sending Abd Allah ibn Mas'ada with 7,000 men to persuade the people of the Hejaz to accept Mu'awiya's authority.
Battle
When Ali heard that Mu'awiya was sending Abd Allah ibn Mas‘ada to the Hejaz, he dispatched Al-Musayyib ibn Najabah. Al-Musayyib marched to Tayma, where they reportedly fought until the sun nearly set. Al-Musayyib charged at Ibn Mas‘ada and struck him three times while Ibn Mas‘ada called to escape. Consequently, Ibn Mas‘adah and those with him fled to the fortress, while the rest escaped to Syria.Al-Musayyib then seized the camels that were with Ibn Mas‘ada and besieged him for three days. He piled wood in front of the gate and set it on fire until the fortress began to burn. Those inside the fortress called out to Al-Musayyib that they were his own people. He then felt pity on seeing them perish, so he responded by extinguishing the fire. That night, Ibn Mas‘ada and those with him escaped to Syria.