Futuhusham_-_The_Islamic_Conquest_of_Syria_-_Al_Waqidi

Futuhushdm
I praise and thank Allah that the Muslims are well and the
Dis believers destroyed. The sparks of their fire have been cooled
and they have been utterly defeated. I confronted the Roman
forces at the Field of Ajnddayn where Warden, the governor of
Him~ was. Despite them making great preparations; coming out
with great pomp and splendour; raising their crosses; and
taking oaths upon their religion that they would never flee under
any condition, we attacked them relying on Allah. Allah knew
what was in our hearts and granted us patience, help and
victory. Defeat encircled them and we slew them in every place,
in every ditch, in every field. When we counted their dead we
found 50,000. From the Muslims, 575 were martyred of which
20-25 were Ansdr and Himyarfs, 30 from Makkah and the rest
from other peoples. I make du 'a that Allah includes them all in
the ranks of the martyrs.
I have written this letter on Thursday 2 Jumddd al-Ukhra. We
are now heading for Damascus so make du 'a that Allah grants
us victory. Convey my saldm to all the Muslims. Was-saldmu
'alayka.
He gave the letter to 'Abdurahman bin Humayd saying, "Take it to al-Madinah,"
while he himself headed for Damascus.
AbU Bakr ~ would leave al-Madinah daily after Salatul Fajr for news on Syria. One
day as he was leaving al-Madinah as was his habit, Ibn Humayd was seen coming.
The Sahabah ~ hurriedly asked, "From where are you coming?"
Ibn liumayd : From Syria - Allah has granted the Muslims victory.
AbU Bakr es immediately fell into prostration out of thanks. Ibn Humayd went to him
and said, "0 Khalifah of Rasulullah lli), lift your head for Allah has comforted you by
granting the Muslims victory."
He lifted his head and softly went through the letter and then after absorbing it, read
it out to the others. This news spread like lightning throughout al-Madinah. The
people eagerly ran to hear it, so he read out the letter before everyone once again.
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