Futuhusham_-_The_Islamic_Conquest_of_Syria_-_Al_Waqidi

Part 4: Baytul Muqaddas
Khdlid ~ : There must be some kind of reason for all this which we will find out.
AbU 'Ubaydah ~ : For now, destroy them with war.
The Muslims then attacked.
4) The Battle
The Muslims attacked Baytul Muqaddas during a harsh winter and the inhabitants
thought that their enemies would not be able to overcome them at that time.
The Yamani archers took aim and opened fire with arrows made of mountain trees
which had a heavy impact. The Romans had no protection due to their indifference
and before they knew it the arrows came thudding into their chests right through to
their backs.
Muhalhil or 'Awf bin Muhiyil narrates:
Allah be praised at the 'Arabs of Yaman. I saw them firing at the Romans who came
tumbling down their wall one after the other like a flock of sheep. When they saw the
effect of the arrows they covered the wall with shields, leather and anything else
strong enough to deflect the arrows.
The Romans saw Wrar ~ coming towards the Great Gate. At the top of the gate there
was a great patrician wearing a jewelled cross on his head and exhorting the people
to battle. He was surrounded by boys holding stringed bows and spears.
'Awf bin Muhalhil narrates:
I saw J2irar ~ sneaking towards the tower where the patrician was. When he came
near he fired an arrow. I saw how high the wall and tower were and said to myself,
"What can that arrow do when that patrician is wearing shiny upper-body armour and
the wall is so high?"
But I swear by Allah! The arrow penetrated his mouth and he fell to the bottom of
the tower. The people heard a great scream with a frightening echo and realised that
he had been killed.
Four months had passed since AbU 'Ubaydah's ~ arrival and not a day had gone
without intense fighting. The Muslims persevered against the cold, snow and rain.
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