Futuhusham_-_The_Islamic_Conquest_of_Syria_-_Al_Waqidi

Futuhusham
Nasr bin Salim al-Mizini narrates:
I saw that as Khalid • and his men departed AbU 'Ubaydah • recited a verse of the
Quran, weeping until his tears flowed down his cheeks. I asked him, "0
commander, why do you weep?"
"0 Ibn Salim," he answered, "By Allah! These are the helpers of the Din. Ifanything
should happen to even one of them under the command of AbU 'Ubaydah ., then
what excuse can he offer to the Rabb of all the worlds and to the Commander of the
Believers, 'Umar bin al-Khagab?"
When Khalid • and his men arrived at the Roman camp they saw that it was spread
over a distance of five Farsakh (27.4 km).
Nawfal bin DahYah narrates:
Khalid • and the 100 men dismounted. They walked confidently and dragged their
swords. They fearlessly went right through the ranks of attendants and patricians
fearing none of them until they reach Bannes who was sitting on his throne.
Cushions, rugs and brocade decorated the tent. When the £ahiibah • sawall this
beauty and pomp they declared Allah's greatness and refused to sit on the chairs that
were brought for them. They went to the extent of removing the rugs etc. and sitting
on the bare ground. Bannes smiled at this and said, "0 'Arabs, you refuse our
hospitality. Why did you remove the seats and sit on the bare ground? You showed
no etiquette towards us and trampled on our rugs."
Khdlid ~ : To show etiquette to Allah is better than to show etiquette to you. The mat
of Allah, the Earth, is much purer than your filthy mat for' our Prophet fJ> has said,
"The Earth has been made a masjid and means of purification for me."
From the earth We have created you. To it We will return you
and then extract you a second time. [20:55J
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