The Prophet continued to receive delegations and individuals. Jareer bin Abdullah Bajli was one such individual who called upon the Prophet and later became one of his most renowned Companions. His tribe, the Bajela and Khash’am, had a large temple called Dhul Khalasa, which its pagan devotees put on par with the Ka’bah. They called Dhul Khalasa the “Ka’bah Yamaniya” and referred to the Ka’bah as the “Ka’bah Shamiya.”

One day, the Prophet said to Jareer, “Will you not give me peace from Dhul Khalasa?” Understanding that the Prophet wanted him to destroy the pagan temple, Jareer told the Prophet that he was not a good horseman. At this the Prophet struck Jareer’s chest and said, “O Allah, keep Jareer firm on his horse. Guide him and let him guide others.”

Accompanied by 150 horsemen from his clan, the Ahmas, Jareer attacked the temple and burned it down. When the Prophet heard the news, he invoked Allah’s blessings five times for the people and horses of the Ahmas.

The rise and fall of Aswad Ansi

Islam continued to spread throughout Yemen in southern Arabia, and soon the Prophet’s administration controlled the entire region. Suddenly, the second false prophet whom the Prophet had seen in his vision arose from the city of Khaf Hannan. His name was Aswad Ansi, and backed by seven hundred warriors, he claimed to be a prophet and ruler.

Aswad captured the city of San’a, and he quickly gained power and territory. The situation became so difficult for the Muslim administrators that they found themselves confined to the territory of Ash’arain. For three or four months these distressing circumstances persisted until Firoz Delmi, a Muslim from Persia, and his men moved against Aswad and his army. Firoz killed the false prophet, cut off his head and threw it outside the citadel. The sight of their leaders severed head shattered the resistance of Aswad’s soldiers, and they fled. When peace was restored, the Muslim administrators wrote to the Prophet and resumed their duties.

Aswad Ansi was killed exactly one day before the Prophet himself died. The Prophet, however, had already been informed by revelation that Aswad would be killed, and he announced the news accordingly. The letter bearing the good news was later received by Abu Bakr Siddeeq.