Futuhusham_-_The_Islamic_Conquest_of_Syria_-_Al_Waqidi

Part 1:Damascus
'Arabs, has there not been enough bloodshed and killing? God will certainly
question you about this. We should therefore come to an agreement and reach peace.
Let your commander or his representative come out to speak to me."
37) David and Khilid's" dialogue
David had hardly finished speaking when the armoured Khalid ~ flashed out riding
a splendid horse with his spear pointed between the horse's ears. The old Christian
exclaimed, "0 'Arab, wait, be soft, I have not come for war. I am not even a soldier.
I carry neither sword, nor spear. I am an envoy who has come to give you a message.
So please put down your spear so that I can talk to you."
Khalid ~ put his spear in the saddlebow and approached David to say, "Do your job
and give your message, but be honest and upright, for the truthful man stands at the
gates of goodness while the liar falls into the pit of misguidance and is destroyed."
David : 0 'Arab, you have spoken the truth. I am here because my commander
dislikes bloodshed and does not wish to fight you good gentlemen and is deeply
grieved at the deaths both sides have suffered. He therefore wishes to offer you a gift.
You should shut the gates of bloodshed. You and your honourable companions
should sign a treaty to the effect that you will not fight us, that you will not harbour
any intentions against our cities and lands and no aggression will take place against
our forts. If you do this, then we will take your word as reliable and will be pleased
with your actions. He also desires that you stop all fighting for the rest of the day and
then meet him alone first thing tomorrow morning so that the two of you can discuss
the terms of the treaty. In this way, if God wills, some good might be achieved and
the bloodshed stopped.
Khalid ~ thought for a while before replying, "If his words and reason for sending
you harbour some kind of plot and scheme, then know that scheming is but a toy in
my right hand - perhaps no-one has ever been born to match me in scheming. He
speaks such matters which will take him to death's door. His treachery and scheming.
will lead to destruction and humiliation for him and his army. However, if he is
sincere then, besides accepting Islam or paying Jizyah, there is no other peaceful
solution. As to his offer of money, I have no desire for it, except in the mentioned
manner of Jizyah collectable at the beginning of each year."
David disliked these words but said, "It will be as you want, but when the two of you
sit together a settlement will definitely be reached. In any case, permit me to leave
now."
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