Futuhusham_-_The_Islamic_Conquest_of_Syria_-_Al_Waqidi

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took her prisoner and tied her up. I retraced my steps, mounted a Roman horse and
said to myself, "By Allah! I must go and see what has happened to Yunus." I found
him crying and sitting with his wife who was covered in her own blood. I said to her,
"Become a Muslim." She replied, "By Christ, I will never join you people." Then she
took out a knife and committed suicide. I said, "Allah has given you a
replacement better than her. She wears brocade, has a net of pearls on her head and
is more beautiful than the moon. So take her in place of your wife." He said, "Where
is she?" I replied, "Here, this woman who is with me."
When he saw her, her dress and her ornaments and realised how extremely beautiful
she was, he began speaking to her in Greek and asked her her identity. She replied
in Greek and wept. He then turned to me and exclaimed, "Do you know who this is?"
I replied, "No."
He said, "She is Heraclius's daughter, Thomas's wife. Someone like me is not suited
for her. Heraclius will definitely look for her and pay her ransom."
It is narrated that the Muslims could not find Khalid ~ or any trace of him and were
greatly worried about him. He was in fact deep in battle aiming for Herbius after
Thomas was killed. While attacking in all directions, he spotted a heavily-built, redcoloured
Christian whom he thought must be the accursed one, so he headed towards
him on his horse with great effort to kill him. When the Christian saw him coming
he fled, but Khalid ~ hit him with his spear and he fell down on the ground on his
head. Khalid pounced on him like a lion saying, "0 Herbius, did you think that you
could escape me? Destruction be upon you."
The Christian knew' Arabic and replied, "0 'Arab, I am not Herbius so spare me and
do not kill me."
Khdlid ~ : Your only way out is to lead me to him. When you have done that, I will
release you.
Christian: You are sure that you will let me go if! show him to you?
Khdlid ~ : I am sure. You will be released.
Christian : 0 'Arab brother, get off my chest so that I can show him to you.
When Khalid ~ got off he sprang up, looked right and left and said, "Look towards
the mountain. One of those horses climbing is mounted by him." Khalid ~ handed
him over to Ibn Jabir and then gave his horse free rein in pursuit of the enemy.
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