Futuhusham_-_The_Islamic_Conquest_of_Syria_-_Al_Waqidi

19) Battle of the Monastery
Part 1:Damascus
Abu 'Ubaydah .t;, intended dismounting, but Khalid .t;, forbade him under oath
because ofthe great love Rasfilullah ~ bore for him. They met and exchanged salam.
AbU 'Ubaydah .t;, : My son, I was overjoyed to receive the Khalifah's order
concerning you. Not a shadow of a grudge passed my heart because I know what you
have achieved in Persia and 'Arabia.
Khdlid .t;, : I will do nothing without consulting you and will not blink an eyelid
against you. By Allah, were it not in obedience to the Khalifah, I would never accept
this post in consideration of your precedence in Islam and your being a special
5.ahabi of Rasttlullah ~.
The two shook hands and Khalid's .t;, horse was presented to him, which he
mounted. As they were riding together to the camp at the monastery, he was telling
AbU 'Ubaydah es about the capture of the two generals and Allah's help. When they
arrived, the Muslims exchanged salam.
The next day both camps prepared for battle, with the Romans coming out under the
command of Heraclius's son-in-law, Thomas, a great general. Khalid es, said, "They
truly fear the Muslims. Yesterday they were thoroughly humiliated and the capture
of their two generals weakened them. So now we should mount a joint attack on
them."
Abu 'Ubaydah ss : Very well, I 'am with you.
The Muslims altogether raised loudly the cry, "Allahu Akbar! Allahu Akbar! Allahu
Akbar!" until the cries reached the surrounds of Ghawtah. With this cry on their lips,
the 5.ahabah ~ of Rasulullah ~ attacked, and the teeth of the Christians rattled. The
Christians were humiliated while Allah's friends, intoxicated with Jihad considered
their heads a small price to pay for their Friend's pleasure.
•Amir bin a1-Iufayl .• narrates:
In that battle, each of us killed about ten Romans. The battle had hardly lasted an
hour when they were dislodged. We chased them all the way from the Monastery to
the Eastern Gate. When the Damascenes saw their cowardice, they shut the gates so
as to prevent the cowards from entering.
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