Futuhusham_-_The_Islamic_Conquest_of_Syria_-_Al_Waqidi

Futuhusham
their wealth and paid no attention to their needs, being too absorbed in his eating and
drinking.
51) Rebellion in Shayzar
When AbU 'Ubaydah ~ was informed of this he despatched a squadron of horsemen
who raided Shayzar. A great tumult resulted. The governor came out of the fort and
gathered all the leaders in the cathedral and said, "0 people of Shayzar, you know
that Caesar has appointed me over you to protect your city, wealth and women folk."
He then opened the armoury and distributed the contents amongst them, ordering
them to fight. In the meanwhile Khalid ~ suddenly appeared with the vanguard
followed by Yazid bin Abi Sufyan ~ and then AbU 'Ubaydah 40 with the rest of the
army. The Romans were terrified and bewildered.
When AbU 'Ubaydah ~ saw them in this state he wrote the following letter:
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
o people of Shayzar! Your fort is no stronger than Ba'labakk
nor ar-Rastan, nor are your men any braver. Once you have
read my letter you should immediately surrender or else a great
calamity will ajjlict you. You are already aware of our justice
and good character so become like the other cities under our
rule and surrender just as the rest of Syria has. Was-saldm.
He folded the letter and gave it to one of the subject Disbelievers to deliver it to them.
Once it was delivered and read to the governor he said, "What do you say, a people
of Shayzar, with regard to what the 'Arabs say?"
Shayzaris : a great patrician, the 'Arabs have spoken the truth. Our fort is not
stronger than ar-Rastan, Ba'labakk, Damascus or Busra, You are well acquainted
with the strength of Hims. and the singular bravery, yet even they had to reach an
agreement with the 'Arabs. So have the Palestinians and Jordanians with all their
strongholds. So how can our little fort of Shayzar resist them? If you oppose the
'Arabs then you will be the cause of our destruction and our city's ruin.
They began a heated debate wherein Niks began to swear at the Shayzaris and then
ordered his men to beat them up. This infuriated them. They drew their weapons and
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