12.05.2013 Views

Futuhusham_-_The_Islamic_Conquest_of_Syria_-_Al_Waqidi

Futuhusham_-_The_Islamic_Conquest_of_Syria_-_Al_Waqidi

Futuhusham_-_The_Islamic_Conquest_of_Syria_-_Al_Waqidi

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

Wathilah bin al-Asqa'" reports:<br />

Part 2: Hims.<br />

We gathered the booty and ate the good food and took out <strong>of</strong> the monastery the gold<br />

and silver vessels, curtains, seats, wealth and the daughter <strong>of</strong> the patrician who had<br />

with her forty slave-girls all wearing costly dresses and jewellery. We loaded these<br />

on Turkish horses, mules and donkeys and returned with great wealth and booty.<br />

It is narrated that the success <strong>of</strong> this expedition was attributed to three men:<br />

'Abdullah bin Ja'far es, the commander; 'Abdullah bin Unays es, who brought the<br />

reinforcements and Khalid bin al-Walid ~, who saved the day. Khalid ~ had<br />

undergone great difficulties and had sustained painful wounds.<br />

As they were leaving, Khalid ~ went to the monastery and called out to the monk,<br />

"0 monk." He received no reply and so called out a second time and threatened him,<br />

so he came to him.<br />

Monk : What do you want? I take oath in the name <strong>of</strong> Christ that the Master <strong>of</strong><br />

Heaven will retaliate against you for the blood <strong>of</strong> those whom you have slain.<br />

Khdlid ~ : How can He retaliate against us when He Himself has commanded us to<br />

fight you and wage Jihad against you and has in fact promised us reward for doing<br />

so? By <strong>Al</strong>lah! Had Rasulullah it. not forbidden us, I would not leave you in your<br />

monastery, but would kill you in a most evil manner.<br />

<strong>The</strong> monk kept quiet and did not reply.<br />

Khalid ~ and the Muslims returned with the booty to Damascus. <strong>The</strong>re AbU<br />

'Ubaydah ~ thanked them and made salam to Ibn Ja'far ~ and Khalid ~. He<br />

returned to his quarters where he took the state's one-fifth share out <strong>of</strong> the booty and<br />

divided the rest amongst the Muslims. To Wrar ~ he gave the patrician's horse with<br />

the saddle and whatever else was on it such as gold and silver jewellery, jewels and<br />

gems. Wriir ~ took it to his sister, the lady Khawlah, who took the gems out and<br />

distributed them amongst the Muslim women, with a single gem being worth quite a<br />

sum.<br />

<strong>The</strong> captives, including the patrician's daughter, were brought in front <strong>of</strong> AbU<br />

'Ubaydah es,<br />

Ibn Ja 'far ~ : I want her.<br />

AbU 'Ubaydah ~ : I will have to ask 'Umar for permission.<br />

177

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!