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Futuhusham_-_The_Islamic_Conquest_of_Syria_-_Al_Waqidi

Futuhusham_-_The_Islamic_Conquest_of_Syria_-_Al_Waqidi

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Part 1:Damascus<br />

anxiety whatsoever. This carried on with great effort from our side and from our<br />

horses. I then split up my men to attack them from all four sides so they shied away<br />

from us and went to mountain passes, hills and fertile valleys. We only caught a few.<br />

While we were roasting them, the others returned to fight us. I was looking at them<br />

when the mountain passes and jungles called out to the Muslims, "Mount your<br />

horses in pursuit <strong>of</strong> them. May <strong>Al</strong>lah bless you."<br />

<strong>The</strong> Muslims and myself mounted and chased them until I caught a great donkey and<br />

killed him. <strong>The</strong> Muslims started hunting and killing until only a few were left. I was<br />

overjoyed and wanted to return with the Muslims to their homeland when I fell <strong>of</strong>f<br />

my horse and my turban flew <strong>of</strong>f my head. I wanted to pick it up but awoke afraid<br />

and frightened. Can any <strong>of</strong> you interpret this? I think it is about our current state.<br />

Everyone took this badly and Khalid ~ intended to return when 'Abdurahman bin<br />

Abi Bakr ~ said, "<strong>The</strong> donkeys are the Romans we are chasing. Your falling from<br />

your horse is your decline from a high position to a low position. As for the falling<br />

<strong>of</strong> your turban, well turbans are the crowns <strong>of</strong> 'Arabs, so it is some lowering <strong>of</strong><br />

status you will encouter."<br />

Khdlid ~ : If that is the interpretation then I ask <strong>Al</strong>lah to make it a matter <strong>of</strong> the world<br />

and not the Hereafter. I seek <strong>Al</strong>lah's help and rely upon Him in every matter.<br />

Khalid ~, with the guide ahead, crossed the mountain. We hoped to capture the<br />

Romans the following morning and that night, it rained as if water was being poured<br />

from waterskins. Through <strong>Al</strong>lah's mercy, the rain stopped the Romans from further<br />

travel.<br />

Raw!! bin Ianf narrates:<br />

We were travelling with the rain falling on us the whole night like water being poured<br />

from water-skins. At sunrise, Yfmus said, "0 commander! Halt here until I find them.<br />

<strong>The</strong>y are doubtlessly close to us for I have heard their shouting."<br />

Khdlid ~ : Have you truly heard them, 0 Yunus?<br />

Yunus : Yes, permit me to go and gather information on them.<br />

Khalid ~ turned to al-Mufrit bin Ja'dah and said, "Go with Yunus and beware <strong>of</strong><br />

them discovering the two <strong>of</strong> you."<br />

<strong>Al</strong>-Mufrit : I hear and obey <strong>Al</strong>lah and you.<br />

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