Futuhusham_-_The_Islamic_Conquest_of_Syria_-_Al_Waqidi

Futub.usham
14) The sixty set out
They all went to their families to fulfil their promise (of meeting at the grave) and
bid them farewell. As for .!2iriir., he went to his tent to make his preparations. When
he made saliim to his sister, Khawlah bint al-Azwar, and put on his armour, she asked
him, "0 my brother, why is it that I see you departing like one who is certain never
to return? Tell me what you intend doing."
When he told her she wept and said, "0 my brother, do what you want to do and meet
your enemy for you are one who has firm belief in Allah, Most Blessed and High. He
will help you. Your enemy will not be able to approach you even from afar and will
not be able to escape from you even a short distance. If anything should befall you
then I swear by Allah who is Most Mighty that Khawlah will not find rest on this
Earth until she avenges you."
.!2iriir. wept because of her weeping, but continued his preparations just as the other
sixty ~ahiibah ~ of Rasulullah It. were doing. They did not sleep at all that night, but
were bidding their children and wives farewell and wept the whole night in humility
before Allah, begging him for help against the enemy.
In the morning AbU 'Ubaydah • led them in ~aliitul Fajr. Upon completing it, the
first to rush out for the mission was Khiilid • who recited:
l.> L.4...S::.J\ . - . ..Loo.J I .
~ J .r--' L;,.I J ) ~ ~l t: _0 ~ I~
l>- 4--:-JI J jrAJl !JI~ ~ ..,.:.
L.> ":A--.P L:......J .&I J j.r-!-J
o my brethren, all of you give up your life
Towards the enemy we go seeking strife.
In that way we hope for triumph and success
When for that we give our lives in sacrifice.
Allah will grant us goodness
Morning and evening He will help us.
He recited another couplet which I (al-Waqjdi) do not know.
He went out of the camp leading the Muslims who came one by one until all sixty he
had chosen gathered behind him. The last to emerge was az-Zubayr bin al-'Awwiim
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