Futuhusham_-_The_Islamic_Conquest_of_Syria_-_Al_Waqidi

53) Return to Him~
Part 2: liims.
AbU 'Ubaydah ~ then headed for Him§. A detachment of cavalry formed his
vanguard. They began raiding the Romans of Hims who fled to the city, locked the
gates and said, "By Christ! The' Arabs have deceived us." The Muslims sealed Him§
off from all directions. Her provisions had been spent and most of the inhabitants had
gone to trade and to acquire provisions and were thus spread out in the lands.
Upon reaching Him§, AbU 'Ubaydah ~ ordered the slaves and freed-slaves to spread
out in all the roads and check-points, and said to them, "Bring me whoever you find
returning to Him§ with provisions or merchandise." They obeyed him and this made
life difficult for Herbius. He therefore wrote the following letter to AbU 'Ubaydah.ss:
"0 'Arabs! We did not know that you are deceptive and break your word. Did
you not agree to leave us in exchange for provisions? You then sought to
trade with us which we happily agreed to, so why have you now broken our
agreement? "
Abu 'Ubaydah ~ wrote back:
"I want you to send to me those priests and monks you had previously sent
so that I can establish what terms I agreed to and then they can prove to you
that we had not deceived you nor had we broken our word, for people like us
do not do that, Allah willing. "
After reading the letter, Herbius sent the priests and monks to AbU 'Ubaydah ~.
They greeted him and sat down in front of him.
AbU 'Ubaydah ~ : Do you not know that I had made an agreement with you and
promised to leave you until I conquer one of the cities of Syria, be it on the coast or
in the mountains? Thereafter I would have a choice of whether I want to return to you
or go elsewhere.
Romans: By Christ! Certainly.
AbU 'Ubaydah ~: Allah has conquered for us ar-Rastanand Shayzar in the shortest
span of time. He has granted us the booty of the patrician Niks and more besides that
which we could not have hoped to acquire in such a short while. So now you have
no promise to hold against us and there is no longer any peace except that you
surrender your city and accept our rule and protection.
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