Futuhusham_-_The_Islamic_Conquest_of_Syria_-_Al_Waqidi

Futuhushdm
When the Romans began to feel the pinch of the siege, they went to the cathedral,
prostrated before the patriarch and said, "0 Father, the siege of these 'Arabs is
hurting us and we cannot even hope for help from Caesar because he is obviously too
busy recovering after the defeat of his army. The 'Arabs like to fight more than we
do. We have not spoken a single word to them since they arrived because we look
down upon them, but now things are so bad we ask you to go to them and see what
they want. If their terms are acceptable then we will comply, but if they are too
difficult then we will open the gates and fight them until either we are all killed or
we defeat them."
The patriarch agreed. He put on his robes, climbed the wall with them carrying a
cross in front of him. The priests and monks surrounded him, carrying open Bibles
and incense. When they reached the spot facing Abu 'Ubaydah ~ someone shouted
in pure 'Arabic, "0 'Arabs, the pillar of the Christian Faith and master of its Law has
come to speak to you. Let your commander come here."
5) Negotiations
When AbU 'Ubaydah ~ was informed, he said, "By Allah! I will answer him where
he calls me." He went with a group of officers, S-ahiibah ,$, and a translator. Upon
reaching them they said to the translator, " What do you want in our sacred city? God
becomes angry and destroy whoever targets it."
AbU 'Ubaydah ~ : Tell them that yes, she is indeed a noble city. From her our
Prophet ~ was taken to the Heavens and approached his Rabb the distance of two
bows or even closer. She is the origin of the Prophets and their graves are in her. We
are more entitled to her than you and will stay here until Allah grants her to us just
as He granted the other cities to us.
Patriarch: So what exactly do want from us?
AbU 'Ubaydah ~ : One of three options - The first is that you say, "There is no deity
but Allah alone Who has no partner and that Muhammad is His Slave and
Messenger." If you accept these words then our rights and duties will be the same.
Patriarch: Those are very great words. We already recite them except that we do not
accept Prophet Muhammad to be a Messenger.
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