Futuhusham_-_The_Islamic_Conquest_of_Syria_-_Al_Waqidi

Part 1: Damascus
they replied, "The 'Arabs have conquered Arakah, Palmyra, Hawran, and Busra and
they are now heading for Damascus."
Calius replied, "I have received information that the 'Arabs are now at al-Jabiyah, It
amazes me how they have managed to conquer these cities and forts."
Ba'labakkis : Yes, there is an 'Arab force stationed at al-Jabiyah. However, these
places were conquered by a different army coming from 'Iraq under a man called
Khalid bin al-Walld.
Calius : How big is his army?
Ba 'labakkis : 1500 men.
Calius : I take oath by my religion that I will cut off his head and hang it on my spear.
He then left for Damascus.
The governor of Damascus, Uriel, was greatly revered by the Romans and had 3,000
cavalry and infantry under him. When Calius reached Damascus, the city elders came
out to welcome him. He read out his letter of appointment to fight the Muslims and
said, "I will fight with you against them and drive your enemies from your city on
condition that Uriel is evicted from the city so that I remain in sole command." They
replied, "Our Lord, how can we do that when the enemy is almost here? Instead of
evicting a leader at such a crucial time, we would rather welcome ten leaders who
could help us against them."
The governor said, "When the 'Arabs arrive, we can take turns of one day each to
fight them. Whoever defeats them will administer the city."
The elders approved of this suggestion and so the decision was made. The two
leaders then went to their separate quarters carrying hatred and enmity for each other
in their hearts.
The Romans would leave daily from al-Jabiyah Gate for a distance of one Farsakh
(5.5km) in anticipation of Abu 'Ubaydah's ~ army. Instead, Khalid ~ was first
encountered in the direction of the Thaniyah Gate.
Rif'i'ah bin Muslim narrates from his grandfather:
I was in the army of Khalid bin al-Walid ~ encamped near the monastery when
suddenly Romans were seen coming like a swarm of locusts. He donned
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