Futuhusham_-_The_Islamic_Conquest_of_Syria_-_Al_Waqidi

Futuhushdm
Thomas (laughing) : Your simple-mindedness makes them more daring. These ideas
have set in your minds, so now these subservient slave people have aimed at you. If
you only fight them with a true heart then you will massacre them.
Damascenes : a sir, remove this aftliction in whatever way you choose, but
remember that if you do not help us then we will open the gates for them to achieve
peace.
Thomas pondered for some time and concluded that they might act upon their word,
so he said, "Do not worry. Tomorrow we will go out together to fight them. We will
pick out their chiefs and kill them and we will kill and drive the enemy away.
However, in such a heavy battle you will have to fight and be my right hand. If you
are willing to sacrifice your lives then you will be successful.
Damascenes : We will be with you, in fact we shall be ahead of you. We will keep
fighting for as long as one of us remains alive.
Thomas : Very good. Utter disaster will befall the 'Arabs.
They thanked him and left, guarding the fort the whole night. They lit fires at the
towers and gates, awaiting Thomas's orders.
On the other side, the ~ahiibah ~ were turning towards Allah, reciting "Allahu
Akbar!" and "La ilaha illallah!" and sending salutations on RasiHullah~. Khalid ~
had left the women and children with the booty at the Monastery while Rafi' bin
'Umayrah stood guard the whole night with the vanguard at the Eastern Gate.
At dawn, each general led his men in ~alatul Fajr and after leading his men in ~alatul
Fajr, AbU 'Ubaydah ~ gave orders for an assault. "Do not lose heart in the battle!"
Abu 'Ubaydah ~ advised his men, "Whoever makes an effort today will be at ease
tomorrow. Be cautious in your archery for arrows miss and hit. Do not sit on your
horses, for the enemies of Allah are in a high place, thus making you easy targets.
Keep helping each other and remain steadfast against the enemy." They therefore
advanced on foot, covering themselves with shields, while Yazid bin Abi Sufyan ~
advanced on the Small Gate, Qays bin Hubayrah on the Kaysan Gate, Rafi' bin
'Umayrah on the Eastern Gate, Shurahbil ~ on the Thomas Gate and 'Amr bin al-
'A~as-Sahmi ~ on the Paradis Gate.
122