Futuhusham_-_The_Islamic_Conquest_of_Syria_-_Al_Waqidi

Futu!lushiim
Jdbir ~ : If you will not leave your religion then at least refrain from fighting us.
Wait and see who is victorious. Ifwe are victorious and you want to accept Islam we
will still welcome you and you will be a brother unto us. If however you wish to
remain as a Christian then we will be satisfied with Jizyah from you and will leave
you in control of your lands and the lands of your ancestors as well.
Jabalah : I fear that should I refrain from fighting and the Romans are victorious, I
will not be safe and will lose my territory. They will only be satisfied with me if I
fight against you and have proclaimed me as a leader over all the 'Arabs. Were I to
become a Muslim I would be reduced to a low status and it is not in my nature to be
a mere follower.
Jdbir ~ : Bear in mind that if you refuse our offer and we win we will certainly
execute you. Therefore stay away from us and our swords which crack open skulls
and break bones. However, we would much prefer it if the battle were to take place
without you and your men participating.
The An~ar ~ were trying to frighten Jabalah and convince him to withdraw, but he
remained adamant.
• Jabalah : By Christ and the Cross! I will definitely fight on Rome's behalf even if it
has to be against all my relations.
Qays bin Sa 'd ~ : The result of what you wish is that the Devil will clasp your heart
and sink with you into Hell. You will thus be of the destroyed ones. We have come
to invite you to Islam because your lineage links up to ours. If you refuse then you
will taste of such a terrible war wherein a toddler will age before his time and become
an old man.
Qays ~ then sprang up and said to the Muslims, "Arise with the blessings and help
of Allah Most High and in His complete obedience. To Hell with this man!"
Jabalah got up saying, "Be prepared for the battle tomorrow."
12) Khalid's" audacious plan
The An~ar • mounted their horses and returned to AbU 'Ubaydah ~ and Khalid ~
to report to them that Jabalah was set on fighting them. Khalid ~ exclaimed, "May
Allah exterminate him! He will certainly see what we are going to do with him." He
then addressed the Muslims.
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