Futuhusham_-_The_Islamic_Conquest_of_Syria_-_Al_Waqidi

He then returned to Bannes and reported to him.
Part 3: Al - Yarmuk
Lakhmi : a king, I have come to you from such a nation who fast during the day and
pray at night. Were one of them to steal they would cut off his hand even if he is of
high status and would stone him were he to commit adultery. They do not give
preference to personal desire over Truth, Truth is always preferred. Their
commander may be the feeblest amongst them, yet they obey him. When he stands
they stand. When he sits they sit. Their desire is battle. Their passion is attack. Their
intention is to die as martyrs in fighting you. The only reason they tarry in attacking
you is so that the aggression can be from your side when you start, not theirs.
Bannes : They will be victorious except that I now have a plan to prevent that.
Lakhmi : What is it, a king?
Bannes : Did you not claim that they will not attack first until we attack and become
the aggressors?
Lakhmi: Yes.
Bannes ; Then we will not attack them until they become neglectful. We will then
attack them by surprise when they do not have their gear with them. Perhaps we will
triumph.
Bannes then summoned the princes and tied for them flags and crosses. The crosses
totalled 160, beneath each were 10,000 men. He gave the first flag to Canter who was
his equal in rank and ordered him to command the right-wing. Then he put Trajan in
charge of the Armenians, the plainsmen, the North Europeans, the Nubians and the
slaves. Caesar's sister's son, Theodorus, was given the Franks, Hercalaneans,
Caesareans, the Yarfal and the Duqas, labalah was given a flag to command the
vanguard consisting ofthe 'Arab Christians ofLakhm, luthiim, Ghassan and 12abbah.
Bannes then said, "You are 'Arabs and our enemies are 'Arabs. Iron is only cut with
iron." He then distributed the divisional banners.
At dawn all preparations had been completed. He then ordered his tent to be erected
on a sand-hill at the side of the Yarmuk River, so that he could watch over both
armies. On his right he stationed 1,000 strong, fierce horsemen who were heavily
armed. On his left he had a similar number of aristocrats who were of the Imperial
Court. He ordered them to be alert and then said, "What worry can be greater to the
'Arabs than the fact that we are prepared and they are without preparatios. When the
sun rises and you see the Muslims unprepared then attack them from every direction.
Compared to us they are but like a white spot on a black camel."
321