Futuhusham_-_The_Islamic_Conquest_of_Syria_-_Al_Waqidi

Futuhushdm
After Salatul Fajr on the fifth day, Yazid bin Abi Sufyan ~ went to speak to them.
He unsheathed his sword and took a translator with him. He reached close enough to
the city wall for them to hear him, but they maintained their silence.
Yazid ~ : Say to them that the commander of the' Arabs says - Will you not accept
an invitation to Islam, to the Truth, to the declaration of sincerity i.e. "There is no
deity but Allah and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah." Our Rabb will then
forgive all your past sins and your blood will be safe. If you refuse then surrender as
those before you surrendered. Bear in mind that they were stronger and greater in
number than you. If you refuse both these options then ruin will befall you and you
can reserve your place in Hell.
Translator: a people, who is your spokesman?
Priest (wearing clothing of hair) : I am. What do you want?
Translator: The general calls you to this ... so you now have three options; either
Islam or Jizyah or the sword.
The priest conveyed the message to those behind him. They made declarations of
their disbelief and said, "We will never leave the religion of honour. To be killed is a
lighter matter for us." The translator translated for Yazid ~ who went to tell the other
generals and said, "Why are you still waiting to attack them?"
Generals: Abu 'Ubaydah has not ordered us to attack them, only to besiege them.
We should write to him and if he permits, we will attack.
Yazid ~ therefore wrote to him, informing him of their reply and requesting further
instructions. Abu 'Ubaydah replied that they should attack and that he would
personally arrive soon. Upon receiving the letter, the Muslims spent the night
rejoicing and awaiting the arrival of morning. They all anticipated fighting the enemy
and every general hoped that the city's conquest would be at his hands so that he
could be the first to perform §alah therein and observe all the sacred relics of the
ancient prophets.
At dawn, Yazid ~ led his men in Salatul Fajr and recited:
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