Futuhusham_-_The_Islamic_Conquest_of_Syria_-_Al_Waqidi

Futuhushdm
that his cries reached the skies and both armies. The Romans ran to rescue him.
Seeing this, .!2irar ~ thought that to remain would mean being needlessly crushed to
death by the Roman horses, so proclaiming "Allahu Akbar!", he hacked off Steven's
head. The blood which then gushed out completely covered him as he again shouted,
"Allahu Akbar!" The Muslims then came charging shouting, "Allahu Akbar!"
Mu'ath bin Jabal ~ attacked the right-wing and Sa'id bin 'Amir went for the left.
The Armenians and Christian 'Arabs fired such a shower of arrows which hid the
sun, so Sa'id bin Zayd bin' Amir bin Nufayl ~ called out, "0 people, remember your
death. Do not make Hell compulsory upon you by fleeing in front of Allah. 0
defenders of this Din! 0 readers of the Quran, persevere!"
These words filled them with resolution and encouragement.
The two armies fought until the time of S-alatul A~r and then separated with heavy
losses on both sides, but with Roman losses greater. The Muslim martyrs on the first
day were: Salamah bin Hisham al-Makhzumi, Nu'man al-'Adawi, Hisham bin al-
'A~ at-Taymi, Habban bin Sufyan, 'Abdullah bin' Arnr ad-Dawsi, Tharr bin' Awf an-
Namiri, Ra'b bin Rahin al-Khazraji, Qadim bin Miqdam az-Zuhri, Thul Vassar bin
Khazrajah at-Tamimi, Hizam bin Salim al-Ghanawi, Sa'Id bin al-'A~Abi Layla al-
Kilabi, BMim bin Bashir as-Saksaki, Umayyah bin Habib bin Vassar bin Ahad bin
'Abdillah bin 'Abdidar, Murhifbin Wathiq al-Barbuji, Mahalli bin Hanzhalah ath-
Thaqafi, 'Adi bin Vassar al-Asadi, Malik bin Nu'man at-Iai, Salim bin Ialhah al-
Ghiffari and twelve commoners (non-Sahabah? - translator s note) whose names I
(al-Waqidi) do not know.
The Romans lost about 3,000 men including ten governors: I) Steven, governor of
'Amman province; 2) Marqash, son of Labna, governor of Damin, Dayr al-Harb and
Nawa; 3) Damdar, son of Qala, governor of Jawlan, that region which included the
Cave of the Seven Sleepers; 4) Levi, son of Han a, governor of Black Mountain and
'Amilah; 5) Mithar'un, son of Remus, governor of Ghazzah; 6) Naja, son of' Abdul
Masih, governor of Halhul; 7) Jarqiyas, son of Jarwan, prince of Yanawarmalah; 8)
Maryunus, governor of Balqa; 9) Kfirak, viceroy of Nabalus and 10) an unknown
prince of al-' Awasim,
When Warden returned to his camp, filled with terror at the Muslims, he summoned
his officers for consultation.
Warden: 0 upholders of the Faith of Christ, how do you assess the 'Arabs? I see
them as a conquering nation, unconquerable. Their swords are sharp and cutting
while yours are blunt. Their horses are energetic and enduring while yours just pant.
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