Futuhusham_-_The_Islamic_Conquest_of_Syria_-_Al_Waqidi

Part 3: Al - Yarmiik
Khdlid e: :We will give you many rewards and exception from Jizyah for you, your
household and descendants for all eternity. We will give you a document to this
effect.
After obtaining his guarantees, AbU al-Ja'id went to the Romans who did not know
of his pact. He led them to the side of a huge valley filled with water and said to them,
"The 'Arabs frequent this place. I will deceive them for you and destoy them.
Remain here and do not move."
In that way he managed to put the an-Naqusah Creek between the Romans and
'Arabs, but the Romans did not realise just how deep it was. After the 'Day of Losing
One Eye', AbU al-Ja'Id realised that the' Arabs would win. He therefore went to AbU
'Ubaydah es whom he found on night-patrol with a group of Muhajirin ~.
AbU al-Ja'id : Why are you just sitting here?
Muslims: What should we do?
Abu ai-Ja 'td : Tomorrow night you should light many fires.
He then returned to the Romans to implement his plan. The following night the
Muslims lit more than 10,000 fires. AbU al-Ja'id arrived and they said to him, "We
lit the fires as you requested. What is next?
AbU al-Ja'td : I want 500 of your best warriors to show them my plan.
Amongst the 500 chosen were .Qiriir., 'I yaQ, Rafi', 'Abdullah bin Yasir, 'Abdullah
bin Aws, 'Abdullah bin 'Umar, 'Abdurahman bin Abi Bakr, Ghanim bin 'Abdillah
and other such chiefs. He then took them on an untravelled path towards the Romans.
As they neared the Romans he showed them a path which only he knew of and said,
"Fight them then withdraw. I will then deal with them."
The Muslims went and shouted. They attacked and then withdrew to the path as
instructed. AbU al-Ja'id then shouted out loud, "0 Romans, come and get the fleeing
Muslims. They have all come here and lit their fires intending to do battle."
The Romans rushed out thinking it to be true. Some came riding bareback while
others came on foot. They came chasing the Muslims with AbU al-Ja'id guiding
them. When they reached the an-Naqusah creek he said, "You will have to cross this
path to reach them."
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