Futuhusham_-_The_Islamic_Conquest_of_Syria_-_Al_Waqidi

Futuhushdm
Dawsi ~. While we were sitting near the gate we heard the Romans calling out, so I
rushed to AbU 'Ubaydah ~ and told him. He was pleased and said, "Go and tell them
that they have our guarantee of safety."
When I told them they asked, "Who are you?"
I said, "I am AbU Hurayrah, the SaMbi of Rasulullah lllf" but even if a slave had to
give you safety from us in the pre-Islamic period we would not betray you, so (think
for yourselves) what our condition is now that Allah has guided us to Islam."
So they opened the gate and 100 of their priests and elders came out, going to AbU
'Ubaydah's ~ army. The Muslims went to them and took away their crosses. When
they reached Abu 'Ubaydah's ~ tent, he welcomed them and after seating them said,
"Our Prophet Muhammad lllf, has said, 'When the respected one of a nation comes to
you, you should honour him. ' "
They began speaking about peace and said, "We want you to leave our churches and
not destroy them."
Amongst the churches of that time were the Cathedral of John the Baptist, which is
today the al-Jami' al-Umawi; the Church of Mary; the Church of Hanna; the Church
of the Night Market and the Church of Warning.
AbU 'Ubaydah ~ said, "None will be destroyed" and wrote out the treaty of
surrender and guarantee of safety without signing it or having it witnessed because
he was not the commander-in-chief. They took it and said, "Come with us to the
city."
So he stood up and the following rode with him: AbU Hurayrah, Mu'ath bin Jabal,
Nu'aym bin 'Amr, 'Abdullah bin 'Amr ad-Dawsi, Ihul Kala' al-Himyari, H.assan bin
Nu'man, Jarir bin Nawfal al-Himyari, Sayf bin Salamah, Ma'rnar bin Khalifah,
Rabi'ah bin Malik, al-Mughirah pin Shu'bah, AbU Lubabah bin al-Munthir, 'Awfbin
Sa'idah, 'Amir bin Qays, 'Ubadah bin 'Atibah, Bishr bin 'Amir and 'Abdullah bin
Qurt al-Asadi, totalling thirty-five senior Sahabah ~ as well as sixty-five ordinary
people. When they approached the gate, AbU 'Ubaydah ~ said, "I need hostages until
we enter with you," so they handed the hostages over.
It is said that AbU 'Ubaydah ~ had seen Rasulullah lllf, in a dream. Rasulullah ~
told him, "If Allah wills you will conquer the city tonight."
He said, "0 Rasulullah, I see that you are in a hurry?"
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