On their own initiative but with Ibn Saud's approval, Sultan bin Bijad bin Humaid, Chief of the Utaibah and leader of the Ghot-Ghot Ikhwan, and Khalid bin Mansour bin Luay, the Ikhwan leader at Khurmah, marched with 3,000 Ikhwan warriors against the city of Taif, set high in the mountains some 40 miles south east of the Holy City of Makkah.
Taif, a popular summer resort for the wealthy from Jeddah and the Holy City of Makkah, was well defended by stout, newly strengthened walls. It is likely that a determined defense would have succeeded. But Ali, son of Husain bin Ali, had no stomach for a fight with the feared Ikhwan, and he and his men fled, leaving the city with no alternative but to negotiate what terms it could and to surrender. The Ikhwan entered Taif.
Perhaps, as one account says, a citizen of Taif, unaware of the surrender of his city, opened fire on the advancing Ikhwan. Whatever the case, the Ikhwan set upon the people of Taif, leaving at least 300 dead.
Ibn Saud is said to have wept when the news of the bloodshed reached him. They were tears of sorrow and tears of anger.
