Futuhusham_-_The_Islamic_Conquest_of_Syria_-_Al_Waqidi

Futuhusham
say, "Allah is sufficient for us and the best disposer of affairs. "
[7:173J
The battle continued from midday until sunset. The two parties did not separate until
night-fall. They did not recognise each other except by calling out code-words and
each' Arab tribe called out its tribal name. Thus each group returned to its camp. The
Muslim women met the returning men. They wiped their hair on their husbands'
faces saying, "Glad tidings of Jannah, 0 friend of Allah." The Muslims spent the
night in a happy and good state for there were few dead from both camps on the first
day. A handful of Romans had been killed while ten Muslims were martyred. Two
martyrs were from Ha4ramawt: Mazin and ~iirim; three martyrs were from 'Usfan:
Rafi', Mujli and 'Ali; one was an Ansari: 'Abdullah bin al-Akhzam; three were of
Bujaylah; one wis of Murad tribe: Suwayd, the nephew of Qays bin Hubayrah.
40) The women of Jannah are calling me
Qays was troubled when his nephew went missing. Supposing him to be amongst
those killed, he went with his tribesmen to search for him but they could not find him.
When they intended to return they saw a fire coming from the direction of the
Romans. They were looking for a patrician's body. Qays said to his people,
"Extinguish your fire for by Allah 1will avenge my nephew on these people."
They extinguished their fire and sat amongst the corpses preparing for combat. 100
highly equipped Romans eventually appeared. On the other hand, Qays had only
seven men with him. His tribesmen said, "They are 100 while we are only seven and
are very tired."
"Then you can go back," retorted Qays, "I will seek death and nothing else. 1 will
wage Jihad in the Path of Allah as it should be waged."
They were astonished at his words and stayed with him as only noble people can.
. The Romans were searching the corpses and paused at the corpse of the patrician
whom 'Abdurahman bin Abi Bakr had killed in the first duel. As they carried the
corpse and turned towards their camp, Qays, followed by his men, shouted.
Bewildered, the Romans threw down the corpse as the Muslims began working their
swords amongst them and massacred them. Each time Qays hit he declared, "This is
for my nephew." Qays personally killed sixteen while his men killed most of the rest
and the survivors fled.
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