Futuhusham_-_The_Islamic_Conquest_of_Syria_-_Al_Waqidi

Futuhushdm
AbU 'Ubaydah ~ took the road to al-Baqa' and al-Labuwah. Upon reaching there, he
despatched Khalid ~ to Him~, saying, "0 AbU Sulayman, go with the blessings and
help of Allah. Descend upon the people and attack al-' Awasim and Qinsarin while I
go to Ba'labakk. Perhaps Allah will make matters easy for us and we will be
victorious." He then bade him farewell.
Khalid ~ went with his men to Him~, while AbU 'Ubaydah ~ headed towards
Ba'labakk. The patrician of Jusiyah arrived with many gifts and proposed a one-year
truce with the Muslims and said, "If you conquer Ba'labakk then I present myself to
you and will not oppose a single word of yours."
AbU 'Ubaydah ~ agreed to his terms demanding 4,000 dirham and 500 robes of
brocade.
15) The story of Jabalah bin al-Ayham
After concluding the treaty, AbU 'Ubaydah ~ headed for Ba'labakk and had not
covered much distance from al-Labuwah when a noble horseman appeared. Abu
'Ubaydah ~ recognised him to be Usamah bin Zayd a!-Tai and so he called out, "0
Usamah, from where do you come?"
Usdmah : From al-Madinah.
He then handed over a letter from 'Umar es, AbU 'Ubaydah ~ opened it. It read as
follows:
La ildha illalldh Muhammad Rasiilulldh.
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
From : The slave of Allah, 'Umar; the Commander of the
Believers.
To : The Trustworthy One of the Ummah
Salam 'Alayka
I praise Allah besides whom there is no other deity and convey
salutations upon his Prophet Muhammad
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