The conquest of Mecca astounds both the Arabs and other tribes, most of whom realize that they are doomed and have to submit.

Some of the fierce, powerful, and proud tribes do not submit to Islam and favor resistance.

At the head of these are the Bedouin sects of Hawazin and Thaqif, Nasr, Jashm, Sa‘d bin Bakr, and the people of Bani Hilal.

The Hawazin and their allies, the Thaqif, had begun mobilizing their forces when they learned from their spies that Muhammad and his army had departed from Medina to begin an assault on Mecca.

The confederates apparently had hoped to attack the Muslim army while it besieged Mecca.

Muhammad, however, had uncovered their intentions through his own spies in the camp of the Hawazin, and marches against the Hawazin just two weeks after the conquest of Mecca with a force of twelve thousand men.

Only four weeks had elapsed since quitting Medina.

The spies that Malik had already dispatched to spy Muslim forces, returned with their limbs cut off.

On Wednesday night, the Muslim army arrives at Hunain.

Malik bin ‘Awf, who had previously entered the valley by night, gives orders to his army to hide inside the valley and lurk in wait for the Muslims on roads, entrances, and narrow hiding places.

His orders to his men are to hurl stones at Muslims whenever they catch sight of them and then to make solo attacks against them.

When the Muslims start camping, arrows begin raining on them.

Their battalions start a fierce attack against the Muslims, who retreat in disorder and utter confusion.

It is reported that only a few soldiers stayed behind and fought, including Ali bin Abu Talib, the standard bearer, Abbas, Fazal bin Abbas, Usamah, and Abi Sufyan bin Hirith.

Muhammad, however, rallies his troops to victory.

About seventy men of Thaqif alone are killed, and the Muslims capture all their riding camels, weapons and cattle.

Some flee, and Muhammad chases after them.

Similar battalions chase after other enemies, killing some.

Because Malik ibn Awf al-Nasri had brought the families and flocks of the Hawazin along, the Muslims are able to capture huge spoils, consisting of six thousand women and children taken prisoner and twenty-four thousand camels captured.

Some Bedouins fled, and split into two groups: one group goes back, resulting in the Battle of Autas, while the larger group finds refuge at al-Ta'if, where Muhammad besieges them.