The Chaliphate - Muir - The Search For Mecca

86 'OMAR [chap. XII.
A. IT. 13-14.
'Omar's calm
reception of
the tidings.
Summons for
a fresh levy.
Numerous
reinforcements
join
Muthanna,
As on his first advance, so now he sought to recruit the
diminished ranks from kindred tribes about him ; and,
before long, regained a firmer footing.
'Omar received with cahnness the unhappy tidings.
Abu 'Obeid's levies kept on their flight till they reached
home
;
and, some who belonged to Medina returning thither,
covered their faces with shame. The Caliph spoke comfortably
to them thus :— " Verily, I am a defence to every
believer that faceth the enemy, even if trouble overtake
him. The Lord have mercy on Abu 'Obeid, and be gracious
unto him. Had he survived, and taken refuge on some
sandy mound, I surely would have been his advocate and his
defender." Mo'adh, famous as a reciter of the Kor'an,
was among those who fled. Shortly after, in the course
of public recitation, he came to the verse "
: Whosoever in
the field shall give his back to the enemy (excepting again
to join in battle), or shall turn aside unto another party,
verily he draweth the wrath of God upon himself; his
refuge shall be hell-fire—an ill ending!"^ and he lifted up
his voice and wept. 'Omar addressed him kindly: "Weep
not, O Mo'adh, thou hast not turned aside unto another
party; thou hast turned aside to none but unto me.".
Such was the spirit of these Muslim heroes, even in defeat.
The reverse had no other effect than to nerve the Caliph
to redoubled effort. The fresh cry for a levy en masse soon
resounded all over the Peninsula. But reinforcements in
response would have been too late to help Al-Muthanna if
(fortunately for Islam) earlier succour had not reached him.
For the previous call was still drawing. Levies from
every quarter daily reached Medina, eager — now the ban
against Apostasy was removed—to show the sincerity of
their repentance, and share in the rewards of victory. Each
band as it came, besought 'Omar to send them to the
favoured land of Syria. But the late victories in Syria had
made him easy in that direction ; and every available man
must now be hurried forward to Al-'Irak. A brave levy
raised under the banner of Jarlr, urged that their ancestral
relations were all with Syria ; but 'Omar was firm, and at last
reconciled them to set out at once for Persia by the promise
that they should have one-fourth of all the royal fifth of
'
Sura viii. 16.