The war between the Ahlaf and Banu Malik

A war fought in al-Ta'if between two branches of Thaqif, the Ahlaf and Banu Malik, shortly before Islam. Ibn al-Athir narrates it in "al-Kamil". ¹

The Ahlaf's part in taking al-Ta'if was great, and they boasted of it over Banu Malik. When their horses multiplied, they set aside a protected pasture called Jaladhan in the land of Banu Nasr ibn Mu'awiya of the Yarbu'. Banu Nasr and their chief Afif ibn Awf were angered and fought them. ¹

Banu Malik and their chief Jundub ibn Awf seized the opportunity, given old grudges, and allied with Banu Yarbu' against the Ahlaf. ¹

The first battle between them was on the day of al-Ta'if. The Ahlaf won and drove their opponents into a valley called Lahab, and they slaughtered them in great numbers in the gorge of al-Aban. They then fought for days, among them the day of Umar Dhi Kinda and the day of Karuba. Ibn al-Athir says that Afif gave a cry which, they claim, made seventy pregnant women miscarry. ¹

Banu Malik went seeking alliance with Daws and Khath'am. The Ahlaf went out to Medina seeking the alliance of the Ansar, and Mas'ud ibn Mu'tib came to Uhayha ibn al-Julah. Uhayha turned him away and said that his brother, whom he had left behind, had the better claim to reconciliation, even if it cost him much. ¹

Mas'ud left, and Uhayha provided him with a boy skilled in building fortified towers (utum). He built for him a tower, the first fortified tower built in al-Ta'if. Ibn al-Athir says that no notable war was fought between them after that. ¹

The date is approximate and derived, and it needs an additional source.