Futuhusham_-_The_Islamic_Conquest_of_Syria_-_Al_Waqidi

Futiihushdm
AbU 'Ubaydah ~ was also happy and said, "It is a good and true dream. Its
interpretation is that of victory. I hope thatAlliih will grant victory to us and the good
outcome of the pious."
Another Muslim: 0 commander, what is stopping us from these Christian dogs. Why
are you waiting to fight when the enemy of Allah wants to trap us through delay.
They are only holding back in order to strike us with some calamity."
AbU 'Ubaydah ~ : Matters are closer than you think.
45) Men and women
Sa'id bin Rifa'ah al-Himyari narrates:
While we were in that state we heard shouts and screams of battle rising from every
direction indicating that the Romans had already attacked us. AbU 'Ubaydah ~
thought that the Muslims must have been caught by surprise and attacked at dawn.
He arose to go and look. Sa'id bin Zayd bin 'Amr bin Nufayl al-'Adawi ~ was on
guard that night. He came shouting, "To arms! To arms!" until he stood in front of
AbU 'Ubaydah ~ with a Christian 'Arab.
Sa 'id ~ : 0 commander, Bannes has tricked the Muslims by tarrying from war. He
has now mobilised his army and is launching a surprise attack while we are without
gear or preparations. This man came to us desiring to enter Islam and to warn us. He
says that Bannes and his patrician advisors have decided upon this strategy that on
each day one general will attack with all his men and this is the hardest possible
attack against us.
The Muslims saw the flags and crosses of Rome coming. AbU 'Ubaydah ~
exclaimed, "There is no ability to avoid evil and no power to do good except through
Allah, the Most High, the Most Mighty. Where is AbU Sulayman Khalid bin al-
Walid?"
Khdlid ~ : I am at your service.
AbU 'Ubaydah ~ :You are for me, AbU Sulayman, Take the best warriors and defend
the women until such time and we can organise and get our gear.
Khdlid ~ : I willingly obey.
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