Futuhusham_-_The_Islamic_Conquest_of_Syria_-_Al_Waqidi

Part 3: Al - Yarmuk
He then ordered the archers to fire simultaneously. They thus fired 100,000 arrows at
the Muslims at the same time. The arrows fell down on the Muslims like hail falling
down from the sky. The Muslims were severely wounded of which 700 lost one eye
each. That day was therefore called the 'Day of Losing One Eye'.
Amongst those who lost an eye on that day were al-Mughirah bin Shu'bah, Sa'id bin
Zayd bin' Amr bin Nufayl at-Tamimi, AbU Sufyan Sakhr bin Harb • and Rashid bin
Sa'id. Afterwards if anyone asked one of the one-eyed ones, "What affiicted your
eye?" he would reply, "Do not call it an affiiction, but it is a test from Allah."
The arrows fell heavily on the Muslims until nothing could be heard save screams of
"0 my eye, my eye!" and they were thrown into heavy confusion. They thus grabbed
their reins and returned.
The accursed Bannes saw the confusion amongst the Muslims and thus encouraged
the archers. He then called out to the infantry. The chained ones then attacked, which
resulted in frightening the already confused Muslims. George, Canter and Theodorus
also came out to attack.
Bannes called out, "Be firm in your attack and shoot the 'Arabs with your arrows."
The archers increased their shower of arrows and the chained ones came with their
weapons in their hands flashing like lightning. They filled the field with war. The
Muslims felt self-pity at the loss of their eyes and began to flee.
,Abbid bin 'Amir narrates:
I saw the army of Polytheism advancing and the Muslims retreating. I said, "There
is no ability to avoid evil and no power to do good except through Allah, the Most
High, the Most Mighty. 0 Allah, send down Your help which You sent down to us in
all the other places."
I then called out to the Himyar, "Do you flee from Jannah towards Hell? What is this
fleeing? Do you not feel shame? Are you not in front of Allah? Is He not the Knower
of secrets but you flee from the Disbelievers?"
By Allah! Not a single one of them replied. It was as if they had all gone deaf and
could not hear. I said, "It is as if your tribe was born deaf' and started to call out to
the other tribes. All were too busy to reply so I repeatedly recited, "There is no
ability to avoid evil and no power to do good except through Allah, the Most High,
the Most Mighty."
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