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Futuhusham_-_The_Islamic_Conquest_of_Syria_-_Al_Waqidi

Futuhusham_-_The_Islamic_Conquest_of_Syria_-_Al_Waqidi

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Part 3: <strong>Al</strong> - Yarmiik<br />

and gave it to him. Later he was asked, "You were in such a state <strong>of</strong> combat, yet you<br />

were still worried about your qalansuwah?"<br />

Khdlid • : When Rasfilullah @. shaved his head at his farewell pilgrimage, I took<br />

some <strong>of</strong> his hair. "What are you going to do with it?" he asked me. "0 Rasulullah,"<br />

I replied, "I will seek blesings through it and acquire help through it in fighting my<br />

enemies."<br />

<strong>The</strong> Prophet @.then said, "You will remain victorious for as long as it remains with<br />

you."<br />

I therefore put the hairs in the front <strong>of</strong> my qalansuwah and have never confronted an<br />

army except that I have triumphed through the blessings <strong>of</strong> Rasulullah @..He tied the<br />

qalansuwah with his red turban and attacked Nestor. He struck his shoulder with his<br />

sword with such force that it emerged from the other side. <strong>The</strong>reafter the remaining<br />

patricians were afraid to come and fight. He called them but none responded.<br />

Khalid • went after them, striking them until he reached the point <strong>of</strong> exhaustion. AI-<br />

Harith bin Hisham al-Makhzfimi felt sorry for him and said to AbU 'Ubaydah ss, "0<br />

commander, Khalid.s, has fulfilled his duty and given the sword its due. Why do you<br />

not order him to rest?" So AbU 'Ubaydah • walked to him firmly resolved that he<br />

should not go any further and ordered him to rest.<br />

Khalid. : 0 commander, I seek martyrdom in every possible way. If I miss it then<br />

at least <strong>Al</strong>lah knows my intention.<br />

He then attacked and did not stop until the job was completed. <strong>The</strong> Muslims, led by<br />

the women, joined him, returning after having fled. <strong>The</strong> battle continued between the<br />

two parties until the Romans fled, thousands <strong>of</strong> them having been slain.<br />

<strong>The</strong> chained ones were slashed to pieces. <strong>The</strong> horses crushed them with their hooves.<br />

<strong>The</strong> battle lasted until sunset at which point the two parties separated. Rivers <strong>of</strong> their<br />

blood had flowed and the Earth was carpeted with corpses and the wounded <strong>of</strong> both<br />

parties, although Roman losses were by far heavier. So both sides returned to recoup<br />

them and tend to their wounds. <strong>The</strong> women prepared food, bound the wounds and<br />

applied medicine.<br />

AbU. 'Ubaydah • did not ask anyone to go on night-watch duty as everyone was<br />

tired. He therefore went out himself with a group <strong>of</strong> volunteers. While patrolling he<br />

came across two horsemen who were also patrolling. Each time he said, "La ilaha<br />

illallah," they responded, "Muhammad Rasfilullah @.!"<br />

357

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