Futuhusham_-_The_Islamic_Conquest_of_Syria_-_Al_Waqidi

Futuhushdm
Abu Sabrah Ibrahim bin 'Abdil Aziz bin Abi Qays .., who was from the very
first Muslims and had performed Hijrah twice, reports:
I witnessed Ethiopia with Ja'far bin Abi Ialib, may Allah be pleased with him, and
joined Rasulullah .• at Badr, Uhud and Hunayn. I said to myself that I would partake
in any similar event. When the soul of Rasulullah .• was taken away, I grieved over
him and was unable to remain in al-Madinah. I went to Makkah where I was
reprimanded in a dream for abandoning Jihad. So I went to Syria where I partook in
the Battles of Ajnadayn, Damascus, Khalid's ~ pursuit of Thomas and Herbius and
Ibn Ja'far's expedition. I was with him at the Monastery of AbU al-Quds when I
experienced such an occurrence which I had not experienced with Rasulullah .•. It
was when we were attacking the Romans with such paltry numbers while they were
so many that nothing could hide them from sight. We saw their fearsome bodies
covered in armour which hid their entire bodies except for the eyes. They attacked
like a great crashing storm until none of the Muslims were visible to me, everyone
being trapped in their midst. I could not hear the Muslims except for some
occasionally raised voices. I said to myself, "They have been destroyed."
Then I saw 'Abdullah bin Ja'far ~ raising the flag aloft, attacking the Disbelievers
and not being repulsed. He was waging Jihad at such a young age with the battle
prolonging, its flames intensified and darkened. He was right in the centre of the
enemy who had him surrounded. Wherever he tried to attack, they would respond in
the same direction. We continued fighting until our arms grew weak and our
shoulders numb. Matters became very bad. We lost patience and Ibn Ja'far's sword
became blunt in his hands. His horse was about to collapse under him when he
decided to take refuge with his men at a single place. His men gathered around him,
and when other Muslims saw the flag they began heading towards it, everyone was
wounded at the hands of the enemy. Ibn Ja'far's armour began pressing him but he
was more distressed at the condition of the Muslims than at his own condition. He
sought Allah's protection, handed himself over to Allah, raised his hands to the sky
and said:
"0 He who created His creation and tested some of them with others and made that
a tribulation for them, I ask You through the rank of Prophet Muhammad upon whom
be salutations and peace that You grant us ease and a way out in our affair. "
Then he returned to the fight with the Sahabah of Rasulullah .• fighting with him
under his flag. Praise be to Allah at how amazing AbU Tharr ~ was. He came to the
aid of Rasulullah's .• cousin and fought in front of him.
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