Futuhusham_-_The_Islamic_Conquest_of_Syria_-_Al_Waqidi

Futuhushdm
Hearing these words, .Qiriir ~ felt that he had been given enough respite and hacked
at his shoulder and removing his crown said, "He who hastens for something is most
entitled to it."
They then hacked him to pieces, reddening their swords and included his robes in the
booty.
Khdlid ~ : I fear that since the Romans are awaiting their leader they might come
and attack you suddenly. It is therefore better that he be beheaded right away. Then
dress in the Roman's gear and head towards the enemy. When you near them, shout,
"Allahu Akbar!" When the Muslims hear, they will come and attack.
They went towards the enemy with Khiilid ~ and .!2iriir ~ in front. Khiilid • was
carrying Warden's head on the end of his sword. When they turned and became
visible after being covered by the hill, the Romans thought that they were Romans
who were carrying Khiilid's ~ head. They began cheering, clapping and displaying
crosses out of joy and filling the skies with their noise.
This scene confused the Muslims into thinking that disaster had befallen Khiilid ~.
Some started making du'ii, some became terrified, some started weeping and others
started screaming. When Khalid ~ approached the enemy ranks, he held Warden's
head aloft and shouted, "0 enemies of Allah, this is your general's head and I am
Khiilid bin al-Walid, a Companion of the Messenger of Allah!"
He then flung the head and shouting "Allahu Akbar!", attacked them. Then .Qiriir ~
and the others followed, also reciting "Allahu Akbar!"
When AbU 'Ubaydah ~ saw this he ordered the troops, "0 defenders of the Din,
attack!"
He charged, followed by the entire army. When the Romans saw what had happened
to their leader, they started fleeing, but the Muslims surrounded them and killed
them. There was no rock, no stone, nothing which could hide them; wherever they
went they tasted iron. From midday, the swords found no rest. The Romans scattered
like mad camels.
,Amir bin al-IufayI ad-Dawsi'" narrates:
I was in the army of Abu 'Ubaydah ~ mounted on a horse of Damascus. We pursued
the Christians until we reached a rough road where we saw a dust-cloud rising from
a distance. We thought that it was reinforcements sent by Heraclius so we went on
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