Futuhusham_-_The_Islamic_Conquest_of_Syria_-_Al_Waqidi

Futuhushdm
I went with them until I came across a huge army with raised flags and crosses. They
took me to Jabalah's tent. He was wearing Roman brocade and sitting on a reddish -
golden throne. On his head were netted pearls and around his neck was a cross with
sapphires in it.
As I stood in front of him, he raised his head and said, "From which 'Arab nation are
you?"
Sa 'id • : I am of the Yamani people.
Jabalah : To which tribe do you belong to?
Sa 'td • : I am of the descendants of Harithah bin Tha'labah bin 'Amr bin 'knir bin
Hiirithah bin Tha'labah bin Imra-il Qays bin 'Abdillah bin al-Azwar bin 'Awfbin
Malik bin Kahlan bin Saba.
Jabalah : To which branch are you connected to?
Sa 'id • : I am of al-Khazraj bin Harithah and am of the An~iir of Muhammad bin
'Abdillah, salutations and peace be upon him.
Jabalah : I am Jabalah bin al-Ayham who left Islam because 'Umar bin al-Khagab
would not have someone like me as a helper for this Din. He wanted to punish me
for the sake of a lowly slave whereas I am a Yamani king and chief of Ghassanl
Sa 'id • : a Jabalah, verily Allah's right takes precedence over your right. Our Din
is not maintained except through truth and justice. When 'Umar acts in obedience to
Allah then he does not fear the words of those who blame and rebuke.
Jabalah : What is your name?
Sa'id es : Sa'id bin 'Amir al-Ansari,
Jabalah: Sit down, a Sa'id.
So I (Sa'id.) sat down.
Jabalah :Do you have any knowledge of Hassan bin Thabit?
Sa'id e«: He is the poet of Rasulullah ~ who said to him, "You are Hassan and your
tongue is a sword." It was not long ago that he had invited me to a gathering of his,
wherein he ordered his slave-girl to recite a poem about you. Then we came out to
Syria and that was the last I heard of him.
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