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Futuhusham_-_The_Islamic_Conquest_of_Syria_-_Al_Waqidi

Futuhusham_-_The_Islamic_Conquest_of_Syria_-_Al_Waqidi

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Futu!lushiim<br />

Khdlid ~ : My joke is the sword's strike, so that through it my Rabb becomes pleased<br />

with me. Be alert. I am attacking again.<br />

He struck out, but not with a firm hand, so the enemy was saved. Yet the violence <strong>of</strong><br />

the attack so frightened him that he fled, pursued by Khalid ~.<br />

'Amir narrates:<br />

I was at the centre <strong>of</strong> the army watching the two adversaries when Uriel fled and<br />

could not be caught because <strong>of</strong> his faster horse. He turned around to see Khalid ~<br />

left behind and so (perhaps) thought, "<strong>The</strong> bedouin fears me. I will wait here to<br />

capture him. Jesus will help me," and so he paused there. When Khalid ~ came<br />

close, his horse was perspiring pr<strong>of</strong>usely and was clearly tired.<br />

Uriel : 0 'Arab, do not think that I went away out <strong>of</strong> fear for you. Rather, I have<br />

taken you away from your men so as to catch you.<br />

Khdlid ~ : <strong>Al</strong>lah, the Knower <strong>of</strong> the Unseen, knows best.<br />

Uriel: 'Arab brother, it is still not too late for you to have mercy on yourself. Stop<br />

fighting and taking unnecessary risks. Surrender! However, if you really wish for<br />

death, then I am Uriel, snatcher <strong>of</strong> souls, angel <strong>of</strong> death.<br />

Khdlid ~ : 0 enemy <strong>of</strong> <strong>Al</strong>lah, because <strong>of</strong> my slow horse you suddenly find courage?<br />

If my horse is tired, I will come on foot and kill you if you do not flee.<br />

<strong>The</strong>n he jumped <strong>of</strong>f his horse like a tiger, swinging his sword. Uriel became<br />

emboldened to see him on foot and circled him like a vulture intending to kill him.<br />

But Khalid ~ hacked at a foreleg <strong>of</strong> the horse, bringing it down to the ground. Uriel<br />

ran to his camp with Khalid ~ in pursuit shouting, "0 enemy <strong>of</strong> <strong>Al</strong>lah, your<br />

namesake is becoming angry with you and wants to extract your soul. Be prepared."<br />

He grabbed him with one hand but then the Romans launched an attack to free their<br />

governor. Suddenly, a Muslim army arrived on the scene under the leadership <strong>of</strong> Abu<br />

'Ubaydah es, Khalid ~ had earlier sent a messenger to him from Busra who had met<br />

him along the way and was still accompanying him when they came across Khalid ~<br />

apprehending the governor. When the people <strong>of</strong> Damascus saw the army, they<br />

became frightened and called <strong>of</strong>f the assault, so Khalid ~ arrested Uriel.<br />

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