Ali's expedition to destroy al-Fuls, the idol of Tayy'

An expedition the Prophet sent in Rabi' al-Awwal of 9 AH under Ali ibn Abi Talib with a hundred and fifty fighters on a hundred camels and fifty horses, carrying a black banner and a white flag, to demolish al-Fuls, the idol of Tayy ¹.

They raided Hatim's dwelling at dawn, demolished the idol and filled their hands with captives, cattle and sheep; among the captives was the sister of Adi ibn Hatim, who had fled to al-Sham. In al-Fuls's treasury the Muslims found three swords and three coats of mail ².

Adi's sister pleaded with the Prophet, saying: "Messenger of God, the one who could pay my ransom is gone and my father is dead, and I am an old woman with no servant to look after me — be gracious to me." He asked: who is your kinsman? She said: Adi ibn Hatim. He said: the one who fled from God and His Messenger? Then on the third day he released her and ordered mounts for her ³.

She returned to her brother in al-Sham and told him: he has done something your father would never have done — go to him, willingly or warily. Adi came, and the Prophet said to him: what makes you flee? Is it that you should say there is no god but God? Do you know any god besides God? He reminded him that he had been a rakusi who consumed a fourth of his people's wealth, which was not lawful to him in his own religion; Adi recognised that this was a prophet sent who knew what he did not know — and he became Muslim ⁴.