The Chaliphate - Muir - The Search For Mecca

A.D. 633] BATTLE OF CHAINS 51
Then placing Al-Muthanna in command of the advanced A.H. 12.
column, and 'Adi son of Hatim (the famous chieftain of the
Beni Tai') over the second, Khfdid himself bringing up the
rear, advanced on Al-Haflr, the frontier station of the Persian
Empire.^
Startled by the strange summons, Hormuz having sent Battle of
word to Chosroes the King,'- himself set out to meet the HcTrmuE
invader with an army whose wings were commanded by -•^i"-
Princes of the royal blood. He marched in haste, thinking
to have an easy victory over untrained desert tribes ; and
being first to reach the water bed of Al-I.IafIr, took possession
of its springs. Khalid coming up, bade his force alight
and at once unload their burdens, " Then," said he, " let us
fight for the water forthwith ;
by my life ! the springs shall
be for the braver of the two." Thereupon Hormuz
challenged Khalid to single combat and, though he
treacherously posted an ambuscade, was in the encounter
slain. The Muslims then rushed forward and with great
slaughter put the enemy to flight, pursuing them to the
banks of the Euphrates. The Arabs had now a foretaste
of the spoils of Persia. The share of each horseman was a
thousand pieces, besides great store of arms. The jewelled
tiara of Hormuz, symbol of his rank, was sent to the Caliph
with the royal fifth. An elephant taken in the field and
led as part of the prize to Medina, was paraded about the
town much to the wonder of the admiring citizens, but eventually
sent back as unsuitable to the place. The action was
called Dhdt as - Saldsil, "the Mistress of the Chains," from
a portion of the Persian soldiers being bound together (as
tradition contemptuously says) to prevent their giving way.
The defeated army fled towards the Capital, and "The Lady's
Al-Muthanna with his horse hastened after them. Crossing
the Euphrates, he came upon a fortress called " The
Lady's Castle," held by a Persian princess. Leaving his
brother to besiege it, he advanced to a second fort
defended by her husband. This he took by storm, and
put the garrison to the sword ; which, when the lady heard
'
Tab. makes out four columns, one under 'Asim ibn 'Amr. Each
column was accompanied by a native yuide. Al-I.Iafir or Al-I.lufeir
was the rendezvous ; i. 2022 f.
- Shira ibn Kisra. Tab. i. 2023.