Futuhusham_-_The_Islamic_Conquest_of_Syria_-_Al_Waqidi

Priest : Are you the commander?
KJuilid. (pointing at AbU 'Ubaydah) : No, he is.
Priest: I am the messenger of the governor of Qinsarin and al-' Awa.s.im.
Part 2: Hims..
He took out the letter and handed it over to AbU 'Ubaydah • who read it out to the
Muslims.
When Khalid • heard the description of the city, the quantity of their supplies and
men, and their threat of Heraclius's reinforcements, he shook his head and said to
Abu 'Ubaydah es, "By Him who helps us and made us from amongst the Ummah of
Muhammad !iii, the pure one, this letter is from such a man who does not desire
peace, but war."
Turning to the priest, he said, "Your people wish to deceive us until your master's
armies arrive. As soon as you see them arriving, you will repudiate the treaty and will
be the ftrst to fight us. Then if you see us victorious, you will run away to that
despot, Heraclius. If you really intend to make a truce, then we promise you a oneyear
truce. If any army comes to you during the truce, we will fight it. However,
whoever remains in the city and does not come out to fight with the army will be
considered to be at peace with us and we will not interfere with him."
Priest: We accept. Please put it in writing for us.
After Abu 'Ubaydah es wrote out the document, the priest said, "0 commander, our
land borders that of the prince of Aleppo. We wish for markings to be set up so that
when your men go on raids they will not trespass our lands."
Abu 'Ubaydah • was pleased and said, "I will send men to mark off the border for
you."
Priest: We do not need any of you. We will manufacture a pillar with the statue of
Heraclius thereon and erect it. When your men see it they should not trespass.
AbU 'Ubaydah es : Do that.
He handed over the document and announced to the Muslims, "Whoever sees the
pillars. should not trespass, but should only confine his raids to the territory of
Aleppo. Whoever has heard this announcement should inform any absentees."
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