Futuhusham_-_The_Islamic_Conquest_of_Syria_-_Al_Waqidi

Part 1:Damascus
Then he said to 'Arm ~, "I wish to go searching the Disbelievers in a night-raid.
Perhaps booty will be gained or enemy soldiers met who can be killed in revenge."
,Arm ~ said, "May my mother be sacrificed for you, my brother. Fighting will begin
very soon. When it breaks out, you can fight whole-heartedly and not spare a single
enemy."
Khdlid ~ : 1 take an oath that whether anyone joins me or not, 1 will certainly go.
He then prepared his battle-gear intending to go alone but 300 young horsemen from
the Himyar tribe went to 'Arm ~ and said, "Permit us to go with Khalid." He gave
permission, so they left that very day. When they arrived at a meadow, they decided
to encamp there so that the horses could graze and then they would travel at night.
Suddenly Khalid ~ saw some old men in the fissure of a high mountain and said to
his men, "I suspect that they are enemy spies. It should not be that the enemy
descends upon us."
They replied, "They are on top of the mountain while we are here in an open field.
How do we reach them?"
Khalid ~ said, "Alright, you stay here until 1 return."
He then dismounted, tied his turban, strapped his sword to his shoulder and said, "We
can assume that they have not yet seen us, because if they had seen us, they would
not have stayed. Whoever wishes to sacrifice his life in the Path of Allah should do
as 1 do." Ten men got ready and went with him to the mountain. When they reached
the Disbelievers they were still in their place. Khalid ~ exclaimed in a loud voice,
"Catch them! May Allah bless your courage." The Muslims pounced upon them,
killing two and capturing four. Khalid questioned them and they replied, "We are
inhabitants of Dayrul Faqi', Jami'ah and Kafr al-'Azizah. Since the 'Arabs invaded
our land, we have experienced great hardship and so most people have fled and taken
refuge in forts. We came to take refuge here considering this mountain safe. We
climbed to the top to ascertain conditions when you came and caught us."
Khdlid ~ : Where is the Roman army?
Christians : They have reached Ajnadayn and have been placed under the governor
of Palestine in order to protect Jerusalem. The army as well as refugees have
gathered at Ajnadayn and some soldiers have come to us to gather army supplies.
They have taken cattle and mules as beasts of burden but fear that the 'Arabs will
attack. Besides this, we know nothing except that there is no doubt that they have
gone out today to gather supplies.
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