Expansion of Islam and Military Campaign

Battle Of Namaraq

Muthanna returned from Madina to Hira in September 634 A D. 

The Persians commissioned two forces to fight against the Muslims. One was placed under the command  of Narsi and it was stationed at Kaskar. The other army under the command of Jaban was required to  march to Hira. Heralds were sent to various parts of Iraq to foment an insurrection against the Muslims by  appealing to their sense of religious honor. 

Seeing the Persians to be in an offensive mood, Muthanna decided to remain on the defensive. All Muslim  outposts in Suwad were pulled back and all Muslim garrisons were withdrawn to the west of the  Euphrates. As Jaban marched through Suwad he met no resistance from the Muslims. As Jaban  approached Hira, Muthanna evacuated Hira and moved to Khaftan closer to the desert. The strategy was  to tempt the Persians come as near the desert as possible. 

Abu Ubaid set off from Madina in September 634 with a force of one thousand fighting men. In the way he  recruited more fighting men from the tribes, and when he reached Khaftan early in October he had a force  of 4,000 fighting men with him. 

Jaban crossed the Euphrates and camped at Namaraq near the site of modern day Kufa. Abu Ubaid  moved with the Muslim forces from Khaftan, and came to Namaraq. At Namaraq the two armies were  deployed for battle. The Persians led the attack, but the Muslim ranks held fast. Then the Muslims led the  charge, and the Persians had to fall back. The Muslims redoubled the charge, and the Persians retreated  confusion. The battle ended in the defeat of the Persians, who lost heavily. Jaban himself was captured  by a Muslim soldier. Jaban did not reveal his identity and he bargained with his captor that if he was  released he would offer two Persians in his place. The unsophisticated Muslim warrior agreed to the  bargain, and Jaban was set free. 

Later it was found that Jaban was the commander of the Persian forces and that he had escaped due to  a stratagem. The matter was reported to Abu Ubaid. Abu Ubaid felt satisfied that a Muslim soldier had in  fact given the promise to Jaban, and the Muslims could not go back on that promise. 

This episode has been versified by Allama Iqbal in his poem. 

"The Mysteries of Selflessness" as an illustration of Muslim brotherhood. 

The poem reads: 

"A certain general of Kind Yazdjird 
Became a Muslim's captive in the wars; 
A fireworshipper he was, inured to every trick 
Of fortune, crafty, cunning, full of guile. 

He kept his captor ignorant of his rank 
Nor told him who he was, or what his name, 
But said, "I beg that you will spare my life 
And grant to me the quarter Muslims gain." 

The Muslim sheathed his sword. "To shed thy blood," 
He cried "is forbidden for me." 

When Kaveh's banner had been rent to shreds, 
The fire of Satan's sons turned all to dust" 
It was disclosed the captive was Jaban 
The Commander of the Persian host. 

Then was his fraud reported, 
And his blood petitioned from the Arab General. 

But Abu Ubaid the Muslim Commander 
Answered their request 
"Friends, we are Muslims, strings upon one lute 
And of one concord. 

Ali's voice attunes with Abu Dharr's, 
Although the throat be that of Qanbar or Bilal. 

Each one of us is trustee to the whole community 
And one with it in malice or in truce. 

As the Community is the sure base 
On which the individual rests secure, 
So is its covenant his sacred bond. 

Though Jaban was a foeman to Islam, 
A Muslim granted him immunity; 
His blood, O followers of the best of men 
Cannot be spilled by any Muslim sword."

Battle Of Kasker

After the battle of Namaraq, the defeated Persian force who survived sought refuge with Narsi at Kaskar.  Narsi was a cousin of the Kisra Puran Dukht and Kaskar was his estate. Kaskar was the Tigris  downstream of Ctesiphon the capital of Persia. It was about two hundred miles from Namaraq across the  entire Doab between the Euphrates and the Tigris. 

Narsi had a good concentration of force at Kaskar. With the coming of the Persian forces who had been  defeated at Namaraq the strength of the Persian forces at Kaskar further increased. The Persian  Commander-in-Chief promised to send some more Persian forces under the command of Jalinus to Kaskar.  With these forces at his disposal, Narsi felt secure at Kaskar. Kaskar was so far away from the Muslim  camp that Narsi felt that no Muslim attack could be imminent. 

Abu Ubaid, the Muslim commander, thought otherwise. He thought that it would have a good  psychological effect if in the wake of the battle of Namaraq the Muslims rushed to Kaskar and deal with  the Persian forces there before the forces under Jalinus could come to their assistance. Abu Ubaid  accordingly ordered a march across the Suwad to Kaskar. Dashing across the Suwad the Muslim forces  appeared before Kaskar. The two forces met at Saqatia a few miles from Kaskar. The strategy of the  Persians was to defer action till the arrival of the force under Jalinus. The strategy of the Muslims was to  press the attack and force immediate decision. 

The right wing of the Persian army was commanded by Banduyah and the left wing by Tairuyah. Both of  them were the cousins of Kisra. Abu Ubaid launched the attack. The battle was hotly contested. No details  about the battle are available. All that we know is that the Persians were defeated, and those who  survived retreated to Ctesiphon. Immense booty fell to the Muslims. The most prized possession that the  Muslims got was the Narsi garden which was known throughout Persia for its delicious fruit. The fruit of  the garden were heretofore reserved for Narsi, and he sent occasional gifts to the Kisra. On getting hold  of the garden the Muslims distributed the fruit among all soldiers. Some fruit was also sent to Umar to  taste. 

Abu Ubaid stayed at Kaskar but he sent Muslim contingents in the adjoining areas to bring the people  under Muslim rule. Muthanna was sent with his force to the region of Barosma. Walid was sent against  Zawabi Asim was sent against Nahrjubar. No resistance was offered anywhere. The chiefs of these places  waited on Abu Ubaid at Kaskar and offered submission. They also offered him some delicious food. He  asked whether this food was meant for the entire Muslim army. The chiefs stated that the food was  meant for him and his officers and that they would give a feast for the army later. Thereupon Abu Ubaid  refused to accept the food and returned it with the remarks that as the General of the Muslim army he  could only eat what the common soldiers ate. 

In the meantime the Persian force under Jalinus advanced. While the Persian force was still in the territory  of Barosma, Abu Ubaid advanced from Kaskar to meet it. The two forces met at Baqsiasa after a hot  contest the Persians were defeated and they retreated after leaving many soldiers dead on the  battle-field. 

Abu Ubaid wrote to Umar a detailed report of the battles of Kaskar and Baqsiasa. Umar in reply advised  Abu Ubaid in the following terms: 

"You have entered the land of trickery and guile, dishonesty and oppression. You have marched against a  people who love evil and know it well and abjure goodness of which they are ignorant. So be on your  guard and watch your tongue. Reveal not your secrets for those who guard their secrets are secure  against unpleasantness and loss."

Battle Of The Bridge

The Muslims under the command of Abu Ubaid had won a few initial successes against the Persians. That  emboldened Abu Ubaid. 

The Persians now sent another force under Bahman. Bahman was a veteran General of considerable  standing, and he undertook to drive away the Arabs from the soils of Persia. 

Bahman marched with his army towards Hira and camped at Quss Natif on the east bank of the Euphrates  some distance north of Hira, and little below the site of Kufa. 

When Abu Ubaid came to know of the movements of the Persian army, he marched the Muslim forces from  Hira and camped with 9,000 men on the west bank of the Euphrates at the village called Marauha. 

Now the river Euphrates lay between the two forces, Bahman sent an emissary to Abu Ubaid with the  message "Either you cross and come over to our side; or we will cross and come over to your side." 

Abu Ubaid was advised that he should ask the Persiaus to cross. The Persian emissary played on the  emotions of Abu Ubaid, and said that in the Persian camp the general belief was that the Muslims were  afraid of the might of Persia. Abu Ubaid made him understand that one Arab was equal to ten Persians.  The emissary said that if such claim was not an empty boast, the Muslims should substantiate it by taking  the initiative and crossing over to the Persian side. In a vainglorious mood Abu Ubaid declared, "We will  cross the river; go and tell your Commander accordingly." 

As soon as the Persian emissary had left, Abu Ubaid ordered that the Muslim forces should prepare for  crossing the river. Saleet bin Qais who had been appointed by Umar as the Adviser to Abu Ubaid told Abu  Ubaid that his decision to cross the river was not sound. Abu Ubaid retorted "Saleet, you are frightened  Have trust in God." 

Muthanna who commanded the cavalry also tried to persuade Abu Ubaid reconsider his decision. Abu  Ubaid remained adamant and he removed Muthanna from the commend of the cavalry. In his place he  appointed his cousin Abu Mihjan to the command of the cavalry. 

Some other veterans in the Muslim army said to Abu Ubaid, "O Commander do not cut your means of  escape, and do not make yourself a target of the Persians." Abu Ubaid said that such were the counsels  of the chicken-hearted, and I that those who were fighting in the way of God should have the courage  and boldness to beard the lion in its den. 

The previous night, Dauma the wife of Abu Ubaid who was with him in the camp had a dream. In the  dream she had seen a man come down from heaven with a vessel from I which Abu Ubaid drank.  Thereafter his brother al-Hakam drank from it. Next his son had a drink from it, and then some other  members of the tribe of Abu Ubaid drank from the vessel. After all had drunk the person concerned carried  the vessel back to the heaven. 

When Dauma related her dream to Abu Ubaid, he interpreted it to mean that he and all the other people  who had drunk from the vessel would be blessed with martyrdom. That did not in any way unnerve Abu  Ubaid. On the other hand he felt happy at the prospects of martyrdom. 

A bridge of boats was thrown across the river, and the Muslim army marched along the bridge on the  morning of 28th November 634 A D. The Persians watched the Muslim army cross the river. They, however  remained arrayed in battle order in light formation. 

As the Muslim army crossed over to the other side of the river they found that the space at their disposal  was circumscribed, and there was no room for any maneuvers or out" flanking movements. 

Immediately after crossing, the Muslims formed themselves into battle formation and faced the Persian  hosts. The Persian army had with them a large number of war elephants. Each elephant carried a howdah  in which sat soldiers armed with javelins and bows. To each howdah branches of palm trees were tied to  give the illusion of size. Bells were tied round the neck of the elephants, and these appeared to produce  an unearthly din. 

When the battle began the Muslim cavalry advanced to the charge. At the sight of the monster elephants  the Arab horse shied, turned, and bolted. That led to confusion and the Muslim cavalry was disorganized. 

Seeing this confusion in the Muslim ranks, Bahman ordered an advance by the Persian forces. As the  Persian forces advanced the noise from the bells of the elephants became louder. The Persians seated in  the howdahs of the elephants made good use of their bows and arrows and drove several wedges in the  Muslim front. 

At this stage Abu Ubaid ordered the Muslim cavalry to dismount and attack on foot Abu Ubaid himself led  the attack. He exhorted his men to attack the elephants and cut their girths. In the attempt many Muslims  were killed, but some Muslims succeeded in cutting the girths of some elephants. Abu Ubaid rushed at the  leading elephant, a white monster elephant, with his javelin. The beast was blinded in one eye. Then Abu  Ubaid got under the elephant and cut its girth bringing down the howdah and its occupants. In the scuffle  that followed the elephant knocked down Abu Ubaid and trampled him under its heavy foot. 

Al Hakam the brother of Abu Ubaida rushed to the spot. He shot the animal dead. He picked up the  standard and led fighting. After some time he too fell fighting and the command was taken over by Jabr  the son of Abu Ubaid. The battle waged with unrelenting fury and one after another all the Muslim  commanders were martyred. All those whom Dauma the wife of Abu Ubaid had seen drink from the vessel  brought from the heaven tasted martyrdom. 

The Persians increased the violence of their attack and the Muslims fell back. At this stage Abdullah bin  Marthad who belonged to the clan of Abu Ubaid cut off the boat bridge and to those who sought the  bridge he shouted' O people die for what your Commanders have died." Some people turned back to fight  and fell dead at the battle-field. Others plunged in the river and were drowned. 

The Muslim forces were at this stage without a Commander, and the Persians increased the violence of  their assaults. At this critical moment Muihanna took command of the army. He ordered the bridge to be  rebuilt and when it was ready he organized a rear guard action. With a select force he faced the Persians,  and asked the others to cross calmly without being panicky. Muthanna and his reserves remained at their  posts until the entire army had crossed. Muthanna was the last to cross. In guarding the bridge he had  received innumerable wounds and as he reach the Muslim camp he fell exhausted. 

As the Muslim forces assembled at Marauha on the other side of the Euphrates, only 3,0OO persons  assembled out of the total strength of 9,000. Some 2,000 persons fell fighting, some 2000 persons were  drowned in the river, and some 2,000 persons fled away to Madina and elsewhere. 

The immediate worry of Muthanna was pursuit by the Persians. If in the wake of their victory the Persians  had crossed the Euphrates, all that had been left of the Muslim army would not have been able to face  the Persians. Bahman felt elated at his victory over the Muslims. He had demonstrated that the Persians  were still a mighty force. He had a mind to pursue the Muslims across the Euphrates but at that crucial  moment there was a revolt against Rustam at the Persian capital, and Rustam recalled Bahman to  al-Madain to help in putting down the revolt. 

When the scouts brought the news that the Persians were marching back to al-Madain Muthanna felt  relieved. Hira was now unsafe for the Muslims. Muthanna accordingly abandoned Hira and marched with  his weary army to Ulleis. 

Abdullah bin Zaid carried the news of the tragedy of the Battle of the Bridge to Madina. Umar felt grieved  at the reverse of the Muslims, but the disaster did not unnerve him in any way. 

In this moment of crisis Umar rose to great heights of leadership. Instead of apportioning blame, he said: 

"O Lord every Muslim is in my charge and I am a refuge for all Muslims. May Allah bless Abu Ubaid. Having  crossed the river he should have secured his position by the side of a hill. I wish he had not crossed, and  sought his death, but had returned to me." 

Some persons who had fled from the battle-field and had returned to Madina wept bitterly at the disaster.  To them, Umar consoled with the following words: 

"Do not weep. I am your refuge, and you have returned to me." 

To Muthanna at Ulleis, Umar sent the message: 

"Stay at your post. Help will soon come."

Battle Of Buwaib

After the disaster of the Bridge the Muslim army under Muthanna was stationed at Ulleis. Both Umar and  Muthanna sent heralds and emissaries to all parts of Arabia inviting the Arabs to participate in the war  against the Persians. 

In response to this call volunteers came from all parts of Arabia. Makhnaf b. Salim the chief of the Azd  tribe came with 700 horsemen. A contingent of a thousand men of the Banu Tameem came under the  command of Hasin b. Mabid. Adi the son of the legendary Hatim Tai came with a large contingent of his  tribesmen. Contingents also came from the tribes of Rabab, Banu Kinanah, Khath'am, Banu Hanzalah, and  Banu Dabbah. The Christian Arabs of the tribes of Narmr and Taghlab also joined to reinforce the Muslim  war effort. To the clan of Bajeela led by Jareer bin Abdullah, Umar offered an additional share of the  booty, out of the Khums-the state share. 

After having received reinforcements, Muthanna moved to Zu Qar a few miles south of Qadisiyya. When  the Persians came to know of the preparations of the Muslims they decided to send a strong force against  the Muslims fed by Mihran. Mihran had been in Arabia and was regarded as an expert in the Arabian way  of war. The Persian army under .Mihran marched to the Euphrates and camped on the east bank opposite  he site of modern Kufa. 

Muthanna with the Muslim army advanced from Zu Qar, and arriving on the west bank of the Euphrates  camped at Nakheila. At Nakheila a stream Buwaib took off from the Euphrates. 

Mihran sent a message to Muthanna whether the Muslims would like to cross the Euphrates, or whether  they would like the Persians to cross over to their side. The Muslims have had a bitter experience of  crossing the river in the 'Battle of the Bridge', and so Muthanna said to the Persian emissary "You cross." 

The following day, the Persians crossed the river, and Mihran arranged his forces in battle order with  display of much splendor and pomp. 

One wing of the Muslim army was led by Adi b. Hatim, and the other wing was led by Jareer. Masud, a  brother of Muthanna held the command of the infantry. Muthanna mounted his horse 'Shams', and rode  from one and to the other. Addressing the army he said: 

"Brave soldiers! beware, lest, on account of you, the stigma of dishonor should fall to the Arabs." 

The Persians dashed forward roaring like thunder. Muthanna shouted to his men not to pay any heed to  such noise, as it was mere sound signifying nothing. He asked the wing commanders to stick fast, as he  was going to make a rush on the Persian forces. 

With the shouts of Allah-o-Akbar the Muslim army rolled forward, and such was the overwhelming  impetuosity of their onslaught that they rent asunder the serried ranks of the Persian right flank, and  penetrated the Persian center. The Persians reeled before the terrible onset, but they rallied and fought  so desperately that the Muslim ranks began to waver. 

Seeing some Muslims turn back, Muthanna thundered: "O Muslims' whither are you going. I am here;  come to me. Muthanna rallied his forces and ordered a fresh attack. Masud the brother of Muthanna  received many wounds, and fell down. That made the Muslims lose heart. Turning to the Muslims,  Muthanna said: 

"O Muslims, never mind if my brother is killed. Valiants always die like that. See that the standard that you  carry is not lowered." 

Masud himself while dying cried, "Let not my death make you lose heart; you must forward to your task." 

Anas b. Hilal, a Christian commander fighting with the Muslim forces fell fighting heroically. Muthanna took  him up in his arms, and laid him alongside his brother Masud. Many Muslim officers of note were killed, but  Muthanna wanted his men to persevere. Mihran the Commander-in-Chief of the Persian army fought  heroically. Muthanna asked his men to advance, and make Mihran their target. A youthful warrior of the  Taghlab tribe rushed forward with great courage and intrepidity, and penetrating the Persian ranks slew  Mihran with his sword. The youth proclaimed: 

"I am a young men of the Taghlab tribe; 

"I have killed Mihran, the Persian Chief." 

The death of Mihran turned the tide of the battle. The Persians lost nerve, and fled in disorder. Muthanna  at once made a dash for the bridge and captured it. That prevented the Persians from recrossing the  river. The Muslims made mincemeat of the Persians. According to the annals, no battle had ever left so  many corpses for its sanguinary souvenir as were strewn on the battle-field of Buwaib. For years  thereafter the travelers in the region witnessed the grim spectacle of heaps of bones scattered in all  directions. 

The battle of Buwaib was the reply of the Muslims to the battle of the Bridge. In the battle of the Bridge a  greater part of the Muslim army managed to escape; in the battle of Buwaib the entire Persian army was  annihilated. 

At the conclusion of the battle, Muthanna said: 

"I have fought Arabs and Persians. I have fought them in the time of Ignorance and again in the time of  Islam. By Allah during the days of Ignorance a hundred Persians were stronger than a thousand Arabs,  but to-day a hundred Arabs are stronger than a thousand Persians." 

The battle of the Buwaib was fought in April 635.

Campaigning In South Iraq

Uballa on the Persian Gulf was the key of South Iraq. When Khalid bin Walid began his campaigns in Iraq  he started with Uballa and occupied it without much resistance. Later as the Muslims won victories after  victories in Iraq the focus shifted north west to Hira. 

When Khalid bin Walid went to Syria very few Muslim forces were left in Iraq. Consequently the Muslims  abandoned many posts in Iraq including Uballa. Uballa was re-occupied by the Persians. A small Muslim  force under Qutba bin Qatada, however, continued to be stationed in the neighborhood of Uballa to  protect the routes to Arabia. 

When Umar sent Abu Ubaid on the main Iraq front, he felt that it was necessary to send some  reinforcement to the southern sector as well. Umar accordingly sent a contingent under Shareeh b. Amr to  reinforce Qutba. Qutba was instructed to raid deeper into Persia. 

Qutba sent Shareeh across the Tigris to raid Ahwaz. In the way at Daris, Shareeh was intercepted by the  Persian forces and killed. 

After the battle of Buwaib, Qutba wrote to Umar asking for more aid for intensifying activities in the  southern sector. 

Umar realized the importance of the southern sector. He sent for Utba b Ghazwan an early Companion  and offered him the command of the southern sector. Addressing him the Caliph said: 

"Allah Most High and Mighty has given Hira and what is around it to your brothers who have subdued the  region of Babylon. Many of the Persian nobles have been killed. I feel that the Persians from the south will  go to the help of the Persians in the north west. My strategy is to prevent the Persians on one side from  helping the Persians on the other. Go to the region of Uballa and keep the people of Ahwaz and Fars and  Meisan occupied so that they do not help their comrades in the Suwad. 

Fight them in the hope that Allah will give you victory. March with faith in Allah and fear Allah. Be fair in  judgment; say your prayers at the appointed times and remember Allah much." 

Utba bin Ghazwan set off from Madina with 2,000 men and arrived in the neighborhood of Uballa in June  635. He took over the command of the sector. The Muslims were encamped at a site twelve miles from  modern Basra amidst the ruins of an ancient town. 

The Commander of the Persian forces of the district of Furat marched to battle. His strategy was to fall  upon the, Muslims unawares and thereby crush them. When the Persian forces arrived they found the  Muslims ready for war. In the battle that followed the Persians were defeated. The Muslims pursued the  defeated Persians to Uballa. No resistance was offered to the Muslims at Uballa which was occupied by  the Muslims in September 635 A.D. 

With Uballa as the base, Utba sent a force across the Tigris which occupied the district of Furat. The  Muslim forces next marched into the district of Meisan. The Persians contested the advance of the Muslims  but they were defeated and the entire district of Meisan was occupied by the Muslims. Another Muslim  force advanced further afield and occupied the district of Abarqubaz. Another column captured Mazar.  After subjugating these areas the Muslim forces returned to Uballa. The southern sector was now under  the command of the Muslims, and the Persian supply line from Fars was cut off. 

A little later the Governor of Abarqubaz revolted. Utba sent a column under Mugheera b. Shu'ba to deal  with the revolt. The two forces met at Marghab. The Persians were defeated, and their Commander  Feelhan was killed. 

Next, there was a revolt in the district of Meisan. A column under Mugheera marched against the rebels  and the revolt was successfully suppressed. 

By November 635 A.D. the Muslim hold in the southern sector was quite firm Utba went on a short leave  to Madina, where he died. Umar appointed Mugheera b. Shu'ba to the command of the Muslim forces in  South Iraq.

S'aad Bin Abi Waqas

Another revolution in Persia brought Yazdjurd to the throne of Persia. He was young and intelligent, and  on coming to the throne his principal concern was to take effective steps to drive away the Arabs from the  soil of Iraq. 

Heretofore some battles had been fought on the soil of Iraq, but these had not been decisive. "The  Muslims had occupied some areas, but their hold had not been firm. In the counter movements of the  Persians the Muslims were pushed out of such areas. The Muslims retaliated and occupied such areas  again. And again they abandoned them either of their own accord for strategically reasons or were pushed  back. This to and fro process had been repeated several times, and this had led to political instability in  the Suwad, the fertile area between the Euphrates and the Tigris. 

Yazdjurd decided to organize things in a big way, and mobilize the resources of his empire for a titanic  struggle with the Arabs. The Persians mustered a strong force under the veteran General Rustam. The  force fully armed and equipped was cantoned at Sabat near al-Madain. 

When these developments were reported to Umar, he realized that the scanty. Muslim forces in Iraq  under the command of Muthanna were exposed to great danger. The Caliph ordered Muthanna to  abandon Hira and other advanced posts in Iraq and to withdraw to the edge of the desert. Musanna  pulled back his forces and stationed them at Sharaf close to the edge of the desert. In the southern  sector the Muslims also pulled back and encamped in the hills of Ghuzayy. 

The entire Suwad and all the main cities of Iraq were once again under Persian occupation. The war  against the Persians, had to start once again from the periphery. Umar gave the call to Jihad. Throughout  the Arabian peninsula messages were sent to the Governors and the chiefs of tribes to muster in full  strength at Madina. The command of Umar was: 

"Leave none who has weapons or a horse or strength or intelligence. Take him and send him to me.  Hurry, O hurry!" 

The response to the call was encouraging. Volunteers began to pour into Madina. Umar organized the  camp at Sirar three miles from Madina on the route to Iraq. In March 636 A D. the first concentration of  troops was complete, and Umar moved in person to the camp at Sirar leaving the administration at  Madina to the charge of Ali. 

Umar addressed the troops mustered at Sirar, apprised them of the situation in Iraq, and invited their  reaction. The congregation said with one voice, "Go, and we go with you for the glory of Islam." Umar  said, "Prepare for war, and I will go with you unless some better counsel comes forth." 

Umar summoned a council of war at Sirar to which leading Companions were invited. The council was  required to advise whether the campaign in Iraq should be led personally by Umar, or should some one  else be appointed to the command. 

Ali said, "Go yourself for that will have a greater psychological effect both upon the Muslims as well as the  enemy". Talha endorsed this view. 

Abdur Rehman bin Auf said, "Stay, and send the army; and the will of Allah in respect of your wishes will  be manifested in the fortunes of your army. If it is defeated, it will not be your defeat; but if you are killed  or defeated, it would be a humiliation and a terrible blow to Muslim prestige." 

After discussion, and the weighing of the pros and cons the consensus emerged in favor of the view  advocated by Abdur Rahman bin Auf. 

The Caliph next sought advice to the person who should be appointed as the Commander-in-Chief of the  Muslim forces in Iraq Abdur Rahman bin Auf proposed the name of Saad bin Abi Waqas. 

Saad bin Abi Waqas was at that time the Governor of Nejd. He was one of the earliest converts to Islam.  He was among the 'Ashra Mubashara', the Ten Companions who had been given the news of Paradise in  their life time. He was the only man to whom the Holy Prophet had said, "I sacrifice my father and mother  to you." He was the maternal uncle of the Holy Prophet. 

Umar said, "I know that Sand is a brave man He fought at Badr and Uhud. My only anxiety is that he does  not have sufficient knowledge about the strategy of war." 

Othman said, Saad should be appointed to the command, and he should be instructed to seek counsel  from men of experience and knowledge of war, and not act without their advice." This view was endorsed  by all and ultimately agreed to. 

The following day Umar ordered a congregation of the army at Sirar, and addressed them as follows: 

"Lo! Allah Most High and Mighty has gathered his people to Islam and his joined their hearts and made  them brothers one to another. The Muslims are like one body of which the entire body suffers, if any part  suffers. It is incumbent upon the Muslims to decide their affairs in a council of men of judgment. The  troops must follow the one appointed to command by mutual agreement and consent; and the one  appointed to command must accept the decision of men of judgment in the strategy of war. O people, I  am just one of you, but men of judgment have dissuaded me from going with you. I have decided to  remain here, and send another person in command; and I have consulted all in this matter." 

Saad was called from Nejd, and as he appeared before Umar, the Caliph said: 

"I have appointed you Commander of the war in Iraq. Remember my words for you are proceeding on a  difficult and fearful mission in which right can only prevail." 

In May 636 A.D., Saad bin Abi Waqas marched from the Sirar camp with an army of 4,000 men. At the time  of departure Umar prayed for the success of the mission they had undertaken. His parting instruction to  Saad was: 

"Stop when you get to Zarud and disperse in the region. Urge the people there to join you ami take all  who have courage, intelligence, strength and weapons." 

Umar promised that he would send more and more of help. He said that he would hurl every chief, every  noble, and every warrior in Arabia against the Persians. 

As the army under the command of Saad marched past Umar, the Caliph raised his hands in prayers and  said: 

"O Mighty Allah! These people are going to fight in your way. Bless them with victory."

Campus At Zarud And Sharaf

Saad arrived with his force of 4,000 at Zarud and went into camp. The troops were spread in the region,  and couriers were sent to all the tribes in Northern Arabia calling the tribesmen to war in the name of  Allah. As a result of these efforts about 7,000 warriors were recruited from the tribes particularly the Bani  Asad and Bani Tameem. Among those who joined the Muslim forces was Taleaha who had during the  apostasy campaigns of the time of Abu Bakr claimed to be a prophet and had fought against the Muslims.  He had escaped to Syria where he was converted to Islam. Those who had once apostated were not  allowed by Abu Bakr to be recruited to the Muslim forces. Hazrat Umar, because of the large scale  campaigns to be undertaken lifted the ban. Availing of this concession Taleaha and his tribesmen joined  the Muslim forces in Iraq in large numbers. 

Umar sent another force of 4,000 men to join the main army at Zarud. The strength of the army at Zarud  now rose to 15,000. Muthanna with 3,000 men was stationed at Sharaf some sixty miles from Zarud on  the main route to Iraq. 

From Zarud the main Muslim army marched to Sharaf, and they arrived there in July 636 A.D. Before Saad  arrived, Muthanna was dead. In his will Musanna had desired that Saad bin Abi Waqas should marry his  widow Salma bint Khasfa. He also left a message for Saad which ran as follows: 

"The Muslims should not fight the Persians when they are concentrated in their homeland, but should  fight them on the boundary near the desert. Thus if Allah should give the Muslims victory, they will have  whatever lies behind the Persians, and if the result is otherwise, they can withdraw into a region the  routes whereof they know best and of which they are masters-until Allah decides that they should return  to battle." 

Saad prayed for the soul of Muthanna. He paid rich tributes to his bravery. In fulfillment of the will of  Muthanna, Saad married his widow Salma. He was impressed with the parting advice of Muthanna, and  decided to follow it. He reported this advice to Umar who approved of it. 

Umar instructed Saad as follows: 

"Organize the army into tens and let the men know their units. 
Appoint the commanders of the corps and let them see and know their men. 
Give the contingents Qadisiyya as the meeting point. 
Get Mugheera bin Shu'ba to join you with his cavalry. 
Comply with these instructions and then write to me." 

Saad organized the army in accordance with the instructions of Umar. From the Uballa sector Mugheera  bin Shu'ba joined Sad with his cavalry of 800 horse. 

Umar next instructed Saad as follows: 

"March with the Muslims from Sharaf towards the Persians. 

Place your faith in Allah and seek His help, and know that you are advancing against a people whose  numbers are vast, whose equipment is superb, whose strength is great and whose land is difficult. Even  its plains consist of rivers and heavily-watered land. When you meet them or any of them, attack them  fiercely, but beware of facing them if they are all together. Let them not trick you, for they are wily  plotters and their ways are not your ways. 

When you get to Qadisiyya, remain there and leave not your place. They will find your continued stay  intolerable and will come out against you with all their strength of horse and foot. And if you stand fast  against them, you shall overcome them, and should they ever assemble again in great numbers, they  shall do so without hearts. 

And should the result be otherwise, you will have the desert behind you and can withdraw into a region  which you know and control and of which they are ignorant and afraid. And there you should stay until  Allah decides victory for you and you return to battle."

To Qadisiyya

In July 6.36 A.D. the main Muslim army marched from Sharaf to Qadisiyya. Qadisiyya was on the west  bank of the Ateeq, a branch of the Euphrates. It was the last staging camp in Arabia on the route to Iraq.  Hira lay about thirty miles ahead. 

After establishing the camp, organizing the defenses, and securing the river heads, Saad sent parties  inside the Suwad to conduct raids. In one of these raids the Muslims captured the bridal procession of the  daughter of Azazbeh the Persian Governor of Hira. A large booty was captured including the bride and  other Persian damsels. 

From Qadisiyya, Saad wrote to Umar: 

"The enemy has sent no one against us and has not appointed, so far we know, anyone to command the  campaign. When we get the information, we will report to you and seek Allah's help." 

To this Umar replied in the following terms: 

"Strengthen your heart and your army with sermons and right intentions and worthiness; and as for  those who forget, remind them. Steadfastness and again steadfastness! For help comes from Allah  according to one's intentions and His reward according to one's deserts. Caution and again caution! For  grave is the matter upon which you are embarked. And pray to Allah for his blessings. 

Write to me when you know of the concentration of their army and who commands it, for in the absence  of knowledge about their army and its commander I am not able to give you much guidance. 

Describe the place where you are and the land between you and Medina. Describe it so clearly that I may  see it with my own eyes, and become one of you. 

Fear Allah and in Him rest your hopes." 

Saad sent the required topographical information. The intelligence reports of the spies were also  forwarded to Umar. Saad stated that all the people of the Suwad who had entered into pacts with the  Muslims had gone back on their pledges. They were collaborating with the Persians and were preparing  for war against the Muslims. 

Saad wrote: 

"The Commander of the Persian army is Rustam, and he has some other top-ranking Generals. 

They seek to weaken us and pounce upon us and we seek to weaken them and attack them. The  command of Allah is as good as bone and His decision will be according to whatever He wishes for us or  against us. We beseech Allah for the best of decisions and the best of judgments." In reply, Umar  instructed: 

"Remain where you are until Allah fixes your enemy for you. 

And if Allah should give you victory, pursue them until you fall upon Madain, which Allah willing will be  destroyed." 

A week later, Umar further instructed: 

"My heart tells me that when you meet the enemy you will God willing defeat him. So dispel all doubt from  your mind, and if any of you gives a promise of peace to a Persian, with sign or speech, even if he does  not understand it, let him fulfill the promise. 

Beware of jesting, faithfulness and again faithfulness. Errors committed in good faith are acceptable but  deliberate unfaithfulness leads to destruction. In it will lie your weakness and your enemy's strength, the  depression of your courage and the elevation of the courage of your enemy. 

I caution you not to bring dishonor to the Muslims, nor be a cause of their disgrace." 

Saad reported about the large strength of the forces of the Persians. To this Umar replied as follows: 

"Let not the information which you get about the enemy distress you. Seek Allah's help, and in Him place  your trust." 

Umar also desired that a delegation of some intelligent persons should be sent to the emperor of Persia  to call him to Islam. 

After the battle of Yermuk some forces were released from the Syrian front and sent to Iraq under the  command of Ath'ath bin Qais. The strength of Saad's army at Qadisiyya now rose to 29,000. 

The Muslim forces intensified their raiding activities. The entire Suwad now became a hunting ground for  the Muslim raiders. These raids were undertaken partly to gather supplies for the Muslim army, and partly  to demoralize the Persians. 

The inhabitants of the Suwad appealed to the Persian emperor to do something urgently to save them  from the raids of the Muslims. The emperor Yazdjurd assured them that he was sending a large force  under Rustam against the Muslims, and he would crush the Arabs.

Adventures Of Taleaha

Taleaha bin Khuwalid was an adventurer. He was the chief of the Bani Asad. He was a poet and a  soothsayer, and commanded respect in Arabia during the days of ignorance. 

When the Holy Prophet declared his mission, Taleaha became a vicious enemy of Islam. In the Battle of  the Ditch Taleaha sided with the Quraish, and commanded a contingent of the Bani Asad in the coalition of  the infidels who fought against the Muslims. 

In the battle of Khyber he sided with the Jews but was worsted. In 631 A D. when all other Arabian tribes  accepted Islam, he also became a convert to Islam. In 633 A.D. he renounced his allegiance to Islam, and  declared himself to be a prophet. He introduced a new way of prayer in which there were no prostrations.  Many clans of Central Arabia joined him, and soon he became a powerful enemy of Islam. 

In the apostasy campaigns, Taleaha was defeated by Khalid bin Walid in the battle of Buzakha. From  Buzakha Taleaha fled to Syria. When Syria was conquered by the Muslims, Taleaha once again became a  convert to Islam. 

Later he returned to Arabia, and joined the war against the Persians. In the camp at Qadisiyya, Saad bin  Abi Waqas deputed Taleaha to go to the Persian camp and gather some intelligence. 

Taleaha crossed the Ateeq and proceeded in the direction of Najaf. He had hardly gone four or five miles  when he came upon the Persian camp at Kharara. 

The men with Taleaha decided to return, but Taleaha moved on and went into the Persian camp. He soon  came upon a beautiful white rent, outside which a beautiful horse stood together. Taleaha took the  horse. He cut the ropes of the tent, which collapsed upon the sleeping inmate. A little further he came  across another good horse and a fine tent. He took that horse as well. Here again he cut the ropes of the  tent which fell on the man who slept inside. 

A little further there was another horse and a tent. This time again he took the horse, and by cutting the  ropes made the tent collapse. It transpired that these tents lodged gladiators, called 'Hazer Mard', each  gladiator being deemed equal in strength to a thousand men. 

Taleaha now outside the Persian camp mounted his own horse and began his return journey leading the  three captured horses. He had not gone far when the three gladiators caught up with him. 

Undaunted, Taleaha turned to his pursuers. One of the gladiators challenged him to personal duel, and  Taleaha agreed. The gladiator charged at Taleaha with his lance, but Taleaha side stepped and avoided  the charge. As the Persian hurled past him, Taleaha swung round in his saddle, and plunged his spear in  the back of his adversary who fell down dead. 

Next the second Persian champion grappled with Taleaha. He attacked and Taleaha side stepped. Then  Taleaha charged and the Persian champion fell dead. 

Then the third champion came forward, and overpowering him, Taleaha rode with him as a captive to the  Muslim camp. Before dawn Taleaha was back in the Muslim camp with three Persian horses and a 'Hazer  Mard' as a captive. 

The Persian captive was presented to Saad bin Abi Waqas, and he gave much useful information about  the Persian moves. The Persian champion said on oath that he had seen war ever since he was a boy  and had defeated and killed many champions in his lifetime but he had never seen such a fighter as  Taleaha. 

Taleaha offered the Persian champion Islam, and he accepted the faith of Islam. In the war that followed  the Persian 'Hazar Mard' fought valiantly by the side of Taleaha.

The Muslims Carried The Earth Of Persia

In compliance with the instructions of Umar, Saad bin Abi Waqas sent a delegation of twelve Muslims to  offer Islam to Yazdjurd the emperor of Persia. The Muslim delegation included Noman b. Muqrin, Muthanna  bin Haritha, Asim b. Amr, and Mugheera bin Zurara. 

The Muslim delegation rode to Ctesiphon or al-Madsen the capital of Persia. The Muslims dismounted  outside the palace of the emperor. A large crowd of the Persians gathered to stare at the shaggy horses  and stern faced hard sons of the desert. 

The delegation was ushered into the presence of the emperor Yazdjurd surrounded by interpreters and  couriers. The Persians used to prognosticate events by omen. In a playful mood Yazdjurd asked the  Muslim envoys what a mantle was called in Arabic. They said that it as called "burd". "Burd" in Persian  meant to carry away, and the emperor felt; that the Arabs were to carry away Persia. 

Then he asked what was the Arabic name for a whip and they said that it was 'Saut'. He construed it as  'Sokht', which in Persian meant "burned". The emperor felt in his heart that the Muslims were going to  burn Persia. 

Yezdjurd next asked, 'What compels you to invade our land. Is it because we have left you in peace that  you have grown so bold?" 

Noman b. Muqrin speaking on behalf of the delegation said that. Allah had been kind to them. God had  sent a prophet to them who bad shown them the right way. Under the leadership of the Prophet they  had been transformed. They were the chosen people of God, and God had entrusted to them a mission,  the mission of spreading the true faith. 

Noman added: 

"In pursuance of our mission, we call you to our faith. If you accept our faith we will leave you with the  Book of God, and leave you to your land. If you are not agreeable to join our faith you should accept our  overlordship and pay us 'Jizya'. If this alternative is also not acceptable to you, then the sword will decide  the issue between us." 

Yazdjurd retorted: 

"Don't you recollect that you were the most wretched and most miserable people that the world ever  saw. Whenever you showed signs of recalcitrance we had only to issue orders to the commanders of our  frontier outposts and they crushed your mutinous spirit." 

Thereupon Mugheera bin Zurara said that what the emperor said about the Arabs was true in the days of  Ignorance; after the advent of the Prophet things had changed and they were no longer wretched or  miserable. It was not hunger or misery that had brought them to Persia. They had come carrying the  message of the new faith for them. If the message was accepted they would be happy and treat them as  brothers. If they were not inclined to accept the new faith or pay Jizya, then there was no option but  fight. 

The emperor was enraged at these bold words of the Muslims. He shouted, "But for the fact that envoys  are not killed, I would surely have killed you. Know that we are a great people whose history extends  over ages and such people are proud of their faith which they would not change. And as regards Jizya, I  would put dust in your mouth. And as regards the fight know that we are not afraid of you. Tell your  Commander that I am sending Rustam against him with a large force, who will teach you a bitter lesson." 

Then Yazdjurd asked a court attendant to fetch a basket of earth. When the basket was brought,  addressing the Muslim envoys he said, 'Here is the Jizya for you; carry it". 

Asim b. Amr stepped forward, and carried the basket on his head. Turning to the emperor he said, "You  have of your own accord handed over your land to the Muslims. We accept your gift." 

Thereafter the Muslim envoys rode back at great speed to the Muslim camp carrying the basket of the  earth of Persia. 

Immediately thereafter Rustam saw Yazdjurd, and the emperor told him that he had given the Muslim  envoys dust to carry. Rustam said that was a bad omen for it signified that the Muslims had carried away  Persia. 

Rustam sent off a group of horsemen to pursue the Muslim envoys and get the fateful basket containing  the dust of Persia back from them. To these horsemen Rustam said, "Proceed with the speed of lightning  and snatch your mother-earth from the Muslims. lf you recover the basket our land will be safe; if you fail  then we are doomed." 

The Persian party set off at a brisk pace in pursuit of the Muslim envoys, but they could not catch the  Muslims. The Muslims crossed the Ateeq bridge to safety long before the Persians could arrive at the  bridge head. The Persians returned crest fallen to report to Rustam the failure of their mission. 

In the Muslim camp, there was rejoicing. Presenting the basket containing the dust of Persia to Saad b.  Abi Waqas Asim b. Amr said: 

"Commander Allah has given us the keys of their kingdom. Rejoice for this is a sign that we are going to  conquer their land." 

In the Persian camp, Rustam sulked and muttered to himself: 

"The enemy has snatched away the keys of our kingdom."

Rustam And Muslim Emissaries

At the head of the Persian army Rustam marched against Qadisiyya and encamped on the east bank of  the Ateeq. The Muslim forces lay entrenched at Qadisiyya on the west bank of the Ateeq. 

Rustam the Commander-in-Chief of the Persian forces sent a message to the Muslim Commander Saad  asking him to send on emissary for talks. Saad deputed Rabi bin Amir as the envoy. Rabi crossed the  bridge and made for the camp of Rustam. Rabi appeared before Rustam wearing a coat of shining mail  over which was wrapped a coarse woolen cloak. Around his head was a veil held by thongs of a camel's  girth. His sword hung at his side in a sheath of coarse cloth. In his right hand he carried his spear. Rabi  mounted on a shaggy horse arrived at the edge of the carpet at which Rustam and his couriers were  seated. 

The Persians wanted Rabi to lay aside his arms. Rabi said, "I have not come to you to lay down my  weapons. You invited me, and I have come, if you do not wish me to come the way I like, I shall return." 

Rustam asked his men to let the Muslim come in the way he wished. 

Rustam asked Rabi as to what was their mission. Rabi said that their mission was to spread Islam. He  said, "If you accept Islam we are brothers and there is peace between us; if you refuse we fight you and  leave things to God." 

"What do you expect in return", asked Rustam. 

Rabi said, "Victory if we survive, and Paradise if we die fighting in the way of Allah". 

Rustam said that he should be allowed some time to think over the matter further. 

Rabi said that according to a tradition of the Holy Prophet he could give him a time of three days. 

"Are you their chief", asked Rustam. 

Rabi said, "No, but the Muslims are like one body, and the lowest is equal to the highest." 

The next day Rustam asked again for an emissary. This time Saad deputed Hudhaifa bin Mihsan. He rode  over the carpet to Rustam's throne, and remained seated on his horse throughout the talks. 

Rustam wanted to know why the envoy of the previous day had not come. Hudhaifa said, 'Our  Commander treats us equally in on joying favors and bearing hardships. This time it is my turn." 

"What do you expect of us", asked Rustam. 

Hudhaifa said, "We would expect you to become Muslims or pay Jizya." 

Rustam said, "What if we do not agree to both these alternatives." 

Hudhaifa said that in that case the arbitration would rest with the sword. Saying that Hudhaifa rode back  from the Persian camp. 

For the third time Rustam asked for another envoy. This time Muheera bin Zurara was chosen as the  Muslim emissary. Mugheera rode forward and sat on the throne beside Rustam. The Persians wanted to  unseat him, but he held fast, and Rustam said, "Let him remain seated." 

Looking at the short light arrows which protruded from the quiver of Mugheera, Rustam said, "O Arab  what do you do with these spindles?" 

Mugheera said, "We shoot them." 

"And why is your sword wrapped in rags", asked Rustam. 

Mugheera said, "It is clothed in rags but it strikes like steel". 

Rustam said that it was perhaps their hardship that had I brought the Arabs to Iraq. He said: 

"It shall give your commander a set of clothes, a mule and 1,000 dirhams, and to every man among you  two garments and a bag of dates. And you shall go away from us for I have no desire to kill you or take  you in captivity." 

Mugheera said that times had changed, and because of Islam the Arabs were no longer fighting because  they were poor or were subject to any hardship. They were fighting in the way of Allah, and they did not  stand in need of any gifts from the Persians. 

Rustam thereupon said, "This means that there can be no peace between us. When we go to the battle,  we will slay the whole lot of you." 

Thereupon Mugheera walked away from the Persian camp. 

The following day a delegation consisting of four Muslims namely Busr b. Abi Ruhm; Arfaja b. Harsama,  Qirfa b. Zahir and Mazur b. Adi went to see Rustam. 

This time Rustam talked in parables. He said: 

"We are like the man who had a vineyard and saw a fox in it one day. He said one fox did not matter. But  the fox called other foxes to the vineyard. When they had all gathered in it, the owner closed the hole in  the wall of the vineyard through which they had entered, and then killed all the foxes. 

And you are like the rat who found a jar of grain with a hole in it and went through the hole. His friends  called to him to come out but he refused and went on eating the grain until he became fat. Then he felt a  desire to show his friends how beautiful he looked, but found that because of his bulk he could no longer  get through the hole. So he complained to his friends of his trouble and asked for their assistance. They  asked him to starve himself so that he might become as thin as before. The rat starved itself but in the  meantime the owner of the jar came to know of it and killed it." 

Rustam further said: 

"And you are like the fly that saw a bowl of honey and said to his friends, 'Whoever gets me to that  honey shall have two dirhams'. The other flies tried to stop him, but he went on to the honey and then  into it. As he began to drown in the honey he cried out 'whoever gets me out of the honey shall have 4  dirhams." 

Rustam narrated another parable. He said: 

"You are like the fox who came into a vineyard, thin and starving and began eating as God wished. The  owner of the vineyard saw him and pitying his condition, let him stay. But when the fox had been there  for some time and grown big and fat, he turned wicked and started to destroy more grapes than he  consumed. This angered the owner, who along with his servants, took a big stick and came after him. The  fox dodged them and ran to the hole in the vineyard wall through which he had come, but that hole was  big enough for him only when he was thin, and now he was too fat to get through it. So the owner and  his servants caught up with him and beat him with sticks until he was dead. 

O Arabs you came when you were thin, and now you are fat. See how you get out." 

The Arabs said that these parables were idle narrations which carried nowhere. They reiterated their  usual demands, Islam, Jizya or sword. 

Exasperated Rustam said, "If that is that, let the sword decide." 

He asked, "Will you cross the river to our side, or shall we cross to your side." 

The Muslims said, "You cross to our side." 

When the Muslim envoys returned they apprised Saad of the proceedings. Thereupon the Muslim  Commander-in-Chief sent word in the Muslim camp that they should get ready for war.

The Battle of Qadisiyya

The Persians crossed the Ateeq on the 16th November, 636 A.D. The previous night Rustam had a dream  in which he had seen Umar seal the arms of the Persians. As Rustam woke he said to himself: "This Umar  has eaten my heart. May God burn him." 

As Rustam saw his warriors cross the river and take up their positions for battle, he felt over-confident.  He remarked to an Officer, "With this army we will shatter the Arabs into pieces." The Officer added the  words, "If God wills it." Rustam was in a defiant mood and he retorted, "Even if He does not will it." 

The Persian army was deployed with five corps holding the front and one corps in reserve, each corps  having a depth of 13 ranks. The center was commanded by Rustam himself. The other Commanders were:  Left Center: Beerzan; Right Center: Jalinus; Left Wing: Mihran; and Right Wing: Hormuzan. The reserve  was commanded by Bahman. 

The Persian army had a strength of 60,000 men. There were 33 war elephants in the Persian army each  mounted by several men armed with javelins and bows. 

At an elevated seat shaded by a canopy near the west bank of the river sat Rustam wearing his Armour.  By his side waved the Dirafashe-Kavian the standard of the Persians. 

The Muslim Commander-in-Chief Saad b. Abi Waqas was suffering from sciatica, and there were boils all  over his body. In Qadisiyya there was an old royal palace which stood at the extremity of the battle-field.  Saad took a seat in the upper storey of the palace where he lay propped up by pillows. From this seat he  directed the war operations. He appointed Khalid b. Arfatah as his Deputy, who maintained liaison with  the army, and carried out whatever instructions were issued by Saad from time to time. 

In the center of the Muslim army the infantry was commanded by Hammal b. Malik. The other Commanders  were: Left Center: Asim bin Amr; Right Center: Zuhra b. Al-Hawiyya; Left Wing: Shurahbeel b. As-Samt;  Right Wing: Abdullah b. Al-Mut'im. The reserve was commanded by Salman bin Rabee'a. 

When the Muslim forces were arrayed in the order of battle, poets and orators addressed them, and with  their stirring declamations inspired the warriors to action. 

One of the orators said; 

"O warriors, turn your swords into an impenetrable wall of steel; rush upon your antagonists like so many  roaring lions; don the panoply of dust and turn your eyes downwards. When you have done with swords  then let the arrows fly, for the swords cannot reach where arrows find their way." 

Readers of the Quran recited verses from the Holy Quran on the subject of 'Jihad' with forceful cadence  which stirred the hearts of the warriors. 

The battle began with personal duels. The first duel was between Ghalib b. Abdullah of the Bani Asad and  the Persian General Hormuz. Hormuz was overpowered and brought to the Muslim camp where he was  locked as a prisoner of war. From the Persian ranks a Persian officer stepped forward and gave a  challenge. This was accepted from the Muslim ranks by Amr b. Mndi Karib. They wrestled for some time  when Amr threw his adversary and cut off his head Amr then turned to his men and shouted: " When a  Persian has dropped his javelin he is useless". Then another Persian stepped forward. Amr closed up and  lifted the Persian off his horse, and then cut his throat. Then he shouted, "When a Persian has lost his  bow, he is useless". The Arab champion returned to his ranks, and turning to his companions shouted, "I  am Abu Thaur. Do as I do." To this his admiring companions replied: "O Father of the Bull, who can do as  you do." 

There was another combat between Asim b Amr and a Persian Officer. When the Persian got near Asim,  he lost nerves, and galloped back to the Persian army. Asim followed him to the Persian line, but no  Persian stepped forward to meet the challenge of Asim. Asim found a mule loaded with two saddle bags.  Asim took the reins of the mule and led it to the Muslim camp. The saddle bags were found full of date  cakes and honey. Saad gifted this trophy to the men belonging to the contingent of Asim. 

After the duels were over, Rustam struck at the Muslims with his elephants and his wings. The Persians  attack began with heavy showers of arrows. The Muslim archers shot their arrows in return, but these  were light, and the Persians derisively said that the Muslim arrows were mere spindles. 

After the Persian archers had gained the upper hand, Rustam ordered an attack on the Muslim right. The  elephants led the attack and advanced upon the contingent led by Jareer b. Abdullah. As the elephants  advanced, the Muslim horses broke out of control and fled from their position thereby leaving the infantry  unsupported. As the elephants advanced the Muslim infantry was thrown into confusion, and began to fall  back. 

Saad seated upstairs in the Qadisiyya palace saw this confusion. He was writhing in an agony of pain,  and was impatiently tossing from side to side. His wife Salma the widow of Muthanna was seated close to  him. Seeing the confusion in the Muslim ranks Salma exclaimed, "What a pity, Muthanna is not here  to-day." Cut to the quick, Saad slapped her on the face saying, 'What could have Muthanna done even if  he were present?" Salma retorted "I wonder the cowards have also a sense of honor". Then she walked  away inside the house. 

Saad sent orders to Ath'ath b. Qais who commanded the Kinda in the right center, and to Hammal b. Malik  who commanded the infantry of the center to attack the Persian corps which were pursuing the Bajeela  contingent. Using javelin and sword the Muslims arrested the Persian advance. Then the advancing  Persians were attacked from the front as well as the flank. That made the Persians withdraw. 

Rustam now ordered his right wing under Jalinus to advance against the Muslims on their front. The  elephants of the Persian right and right center moved forward. The Persian archers came into action and  let loose a rain of arrows. The Muslim horses on the left and center became unmanageable and fled from  their positions. Saad sent word to Asim b. Amr who commanded the Bani Tamim to do something about  the elephants. 

Asim ordered his men to pick off the Persians on the elephants backs with arrows, to get behind the  elephants and then slip in and cut the girths of the howdahs. Bani Tamim rushed forward to their task,  and soon the girths of all the howdahs had been cut. Many Persian elephant-riders were killed as they  fell, and the rest beat a hasty retreat making the elephants retire to the position behind the front line. 

By afternoon the Persian attacks on the Muslim wings were beaten back. Now Saad ordered a counter  attack. The Muslim front at once moved forward. The Muslim cavalry charged with full force. That made the  Persians reel back. The Muslim infantry then advanced. The javelin-men hurled their javelins, and the  swordsmen rushed forward brandishing their swords. About sunset the Muslims were able to create  several gaps in the Persian front. Through one of such gaps the Muslim warriors charged and got very  near Rustam the Persian Commander-in-Chief. Rustam plunged into the foray personally and repulsed the  Muslim attack though he received several wounds on his person. 

The fighting ended at dusk. The battle was inconclusive. There was considerable confusion and loss on  both the sides. In the Muslim chronicles the first day of the battle of Qadisiyya came to be known as "The  Day of Disorder."

Battle Of Qadisiyya The Second Day

As soon as it was day, Saad had all the dead bodies of the Muslims evacuated from the battle-field, and  carried on camels to Uzeib where these were buried in a small valley. 

The Persians had suffered heavy casualties the previous day. All their elephants were wounded, and on  the second day there were no elephants in the Persian fighting force. 

The battle began with the usual duels. Jalinus the Persian General threw a challenge for single combat  which was accepted by Taleaha from the Muslim side. The two champions grappled with one another.  After some time Taleaha struck his sword on the head of the Persian General. The sword hardly cut the  helmet of the Persian's General but did him no physical harm. Unnerved Jalinus beat a hasty retreat. 

There was a duel between Ilba b Jahash and a Persian Officer. The Persian was killed. Ilba also received  some fatal wounds, and his intestines came out of his belly. He put the intestines into his belly and began  to crawl to the Persian front. With his last breath he said: 

"I look for merit with our Lord 
I was of those who fought the best." 

Thereafter he fell dead just in front of the Persian front. 

There was another duel between A'war b. Qutba and the Persian noble Shahryar. In this duel both the  Muslim and his Persian adversary were killed. 

At noon a small cloud of dust rose in the horizon on the way leading to Syria. Out of the cloud emerged a  contingent led by Qaqa b. Amr. Umar had written to Abu Ubaida the Commander of the Muslim forces in  Syria that whatever forces he could spare from the Syrian front should be sent to Iraq. After the fall of  Yermuk Abu Ubaida sent a force of 1,000 men to Iraq under the Command of Hashim b. Utba who was a  nephew of Saad b Abi Waqas. When Hashim neared Qadisiyya he sent an advance guard under Qaqa. As  Qaqa arrived at the battle-field he gave the cry of 'Allah-o-Akbar', and this cry was taken up by the other  Muslims who were thrilled at his arrival. Qaqa was a brother of Asim b. Amr. 

Qaqa rushed into the battle-field and gave the challenge for a duel. The challenge was accepted by the  Persian General Rahman the man who had commanded the Persians at the battle of the Bridge. In a few  rounds Qaqa killed Bahman. Qaqa threw another challenge. This was accepted by the Persian General  Beerzan. 

In the duel that followed Beerzan was killed by Qaqa. Thereafter Qaqa returned to the Muslim lines.  Addressing his men he said: 

"O Muslims greet the enemy with the sword. Only with sword do men kill. Do as I do." 

Then Saad ordered a general attack. The Muslim forces swept forward, but the Persians stood firm and  repulsed every attack. Ultimately the Muslims pulled back to their original position. Qaqa now resorted to  an ingenious device. The camels were camouflaged to look like weird monsters. These monsters moved to  the Persian front and seeing them the Persian horses turned and bolted. With the disorganization of the  Persian cavalry, the Persians became vulnerable. Saad ordered the Muslims to intensify the attack. Some  of the Persian units reeled under the Muslim attack and fell back to the river bank. Through the gaps in  the Persian army, the Muslims penetrated deep towards the rear of the Persian army. Qaqa led a group  of men through the Persian center towards Rustam's headquarters Rustam drew his sword and  personally led a counter attack against the Muslims. 

Fighting was hard and fierce. It continued till night had set in. Then the two armies pulled back to their  camps. The battle of Qadisiyya was not over, but the Muslims had certainly established their supremacy  over the Persian forces.

Exploits Of Abu Mihjan

Abu Mihjan belonged to the Saqeef clan. He was a cousin of Abu Ubaid who had commanded the Muslim  forces in Iraq and was martyred at the battle of the Bridge. 

The home town of Abu Mihjan was Taif. When the Muslims under the Holy Prophet besieged Taif after the  fall of Mecca, Abu Mihjan fought against the Muslims. His arrow mortally wounded Abdullah son of Hazrat  Abu Bakr. 

Later when the Saqeef submitted to the Holy Prophet and accepted Islam, Abu Mihjan also became a  Muslim. He was staunch in his faith in Islam, but he had weakness for liquor, and sometimes secretly  drank wine. 

At the battle of the Bridge, Abu Mihjan was the commander of the cavalry. He drove back the elephant  which had crushed Abu Ubaid to death. After the disaster of the battle of the bridge, Abu Mihjan stayed  on with Muthanna at Ulleis for some time. Then he returned to Madina. 

At Madina, Umar caught him drinking and as a punishment he was exiled to Yemen. Later he was forgiven  and was allowed to join the Muslim forces in Iraq under Saad. In camp, Abu Mihjan drank again, and on  discovering his offence Saad had him whipped and thrown into a cellar in fetters. His cell was in the  palace at Qadisiyya where Saad was lodged and from where he commanded the war operations. 

From his cellar, Abu Mihjan saw the battle waging in great fury. Abu Mihjan was a born soldier, and when  the other Muslims were locked up in life and death struggle, he pined to be free to wield the sword  against the enemy. He approached Saad, and asked for permission to fight. Saad rebuked him and  ordered him back to his cellar. 

While returning to his cellar, Abu Mihjan met Salma the new wife of Saad. He wanted her to help him, but  Salma was not inclined to interfere. 

Back in his cellar, Abu Mihjan burst into pathetic verses: 

"It is sufficient sorrow when you see a cavalier, 
Deprived, abandoned and bound in shackles,
While I stand these fetters detain me, 
While others are fighting. 

I was once a man with wealth and kinsmen, 
But I am now left entirely alone. 

By Allah, I give the pledge, 
If freed, I will never drink again." 

Salma heard the song and was moved. She wanted to know what she could do for him. He said: 

"Release me so that I may go and fight. I promise that if I am not killed I will return to the cellar at night.  Lend me a horse so that I may ride to the battle-field." 

Salma released him. She also got for him the horse of Saad. Fully armed Abu Mihjan rode to the  battle-field. He rode through the Muslim ranks and then with the cry of "Allah-o-Akbar" hurled himself at  the Persian front killing a man. He galloped back to the Muslim ranks and after a while again lashed at the  Persian front killing another man. He thus went to and fro and killed about a dozen Persians. 

The Muslims marveled at the sight of Abu Mihjan. "Who this warrior" they asked. Saad saw him from the  top storey his palace. He thought that the man was Abu Mihjan but then he knew that Abu Mihjan was in  the cellar. He felt that the horse that the unknown warrior rode appeared to be his own horse, but he  dismissed the thought as he knew that his horse was in the stable. 

At night after his triumph at the battle field, Abu Mihjan turned to his cellar and his fetters. Back in the  cellar, Abu Mihjan burst into song: 

"Have you ever known the Saqeef without honor? 
I am the finest of them with the sword 
And the most steadfast of them. 
On the night of Qadisiyya they did pot know me 
Or of my escape from the prison to the battle-field." 

When the battle of Qadisiyya was over and Salma and Saad were reconciled Salma told Saad how she  had released Abu Mihjan and how Abu Mihjan after performing daring exploits at the battle-field had in  keeping with his promise returned to the cellar. Now Saad recalled that the unknown warrior whom he  had seen performing wondrous exploits and riding Saad's horse was indeed Abu Mihjan. 

Saad was in a mood of appreciation. He released Abu Mihjan and said, "By Allah, after seeing what you  did at the battlefield I will not whip you again." 

And Abu Mihjan said, "I shall never drink again."

Battle Of Qadisiyya The Third Day

On the third day of the battle of Qadisiyya, the elephants were once again in the front of the Persian  army. That altered the situation to the advantage of the Persians, and Rustam pressed this advantage  into service. He ordered an attack, and the Muslims had to remain on the defensive. 

The Persians let loose a rain of arrows against the Muslims, and that led to considerable damage to the  Muslims. The Muslim archers shot their arrows in reply, but these ere not very effective. 

The Persian elephants moved forward supported by their infantry and cavalry. At the approach of the  Persian elephants, the Muslim horse got panicky and that led to confusion in the ranks of the Muslim  cavalry. The Persians pressed the attack, and the Muslims fell back. 

Through the gaps that had appeared in the Muslim ranks as a result of the Persian advance, some  Persian cavalry pressed forward to capture the old palace where Saad the Commander-in-Chief of the  Muslim forces was stationed. The strategy of the Persians was that the Muslim Commander-in-Chief  should be killed or taken captive with a view to demoralizing the Muslims. 

The Muslims realized the danger that beset their Commander-in-Chief. A strong cavalry contingent of the  Muslims rushed to the spot, and drove away the Persians. 

Saad now directed that the elephants should be overpowered by blinding them and severing their trunks.  Qaqa and his brother Asim took with them a strong group of the Bani Tameem, and moved towards the  elephant which was causing the greatest havoc among the Muslim ranks. The Bani Tameem charged with  cries of Allah-o-Akbar, struck at the Persians who surrounded the elephant, and moved forward through  the gap created by their attack. Thereupon the Persians rushed to the flanks and rear of the elephant.  There being no Persian in front of the elephant, Qaqa and Asim stole to the front and threw their javelins  at the elephant. The javelins pierced the eyes of the elephant. The beast writhed with pain, and the  Howdah that it carried came tumbling down. Qaqa and Asim fell on the Persians who had fallen with the  Howdah and killed all of them. Then they severed the trunk of the elephant with strokes of their swords.  In an agony of pain, the elephant turned and bolted away trampling the Persians under its feet. 

Hammal b. Malik and Ribbel b. Amr of the Bani Asad led a similar attack against another elephant. That  elephant also lost its eyes and trunk, and retired from the battle-field writhing with pain. 

Amr b. Madi Karib with his men rushed at another elephant and the elephant blinded and mutilated  galloped away from the battle-field. Other groups of Muslim warriors also rushed at the elephants  adopting similar tactics and succeeded in mutilating the monsters. The mutilated beasts rushed through  the Persian ranks and made for the river. The other elephants seeing their leaders leave the field, also  turned tail and fled to the river. By noon no elephant was left on the battle-field. The flight of the  elephants caused considerable confusion in the Persian ranks. 

At this stage, Saad ordered an assault. The Muslims moved forward and the two armies clashed. In spite  of the Muslim pressure, the Persians held the ground. After some fierce fighting the Muslims pulled back. 

After a little break the battle was resumed in the afternoon. In the absence of Persian elephants, the  Muslims once again brought camels camouflaged as monsters. The trick did not work and the Persian  horse stood their ground. 

The Muslims charged again, but though the Persians suffered heavy casualties, they held the ground and  refused to yield. When the dusk set in both the armies were locked in life and death struggle. 

The third day of the battle of Qadisiyya proved to be the hardest day of the war. There were heavy  casualties on both sides, and the battle-field came to be strewn with dead bodies of fallen warriors, both  Muslims and non-Muslims. When the battle began and the elephants were brought to the front all  advantages lay with the Persians, and Rustam felt that the collapse of the Muslim army was imminent. At  one stage the Muslim Commander-in-Chief ran the risk of being killed or captured alive. 

Later the Muslims succeeded in driving away the elephants. The Muslims then launched the assault. In  spite of the violence of the Muslim attack, the Persians held the ground and refused to yield. Thus at the  end of the third day the battle of Qadisiyya was still inconclusive.

Battle Of Qadisiyya The Last Day

On the third day of the battle even at night there was no break in fighting. It was a moon-lit night, and in  spite of fatigue after three days' strenuous battle, the armies continued to fight. 

It was now a war of stamina. Both sides were on the verge of human endurance, and whosoever could  be steadfast for some time more was likely to win. Both the sides hoped that they were likely to win. 

In the matter of stamina the refined Persians could be no match for the hardy Arabs. The strategy of  Sa'ad was to wear down the Persians, and snatch away the victory from them. 

The battle waged all the night long. About midnight, Qaqa shouted: 

"We have strangled the enemy, 
The enemy is now on the verge of collapse." 

There were heavy casualties among the Persians, but they stood firm. 

At sunrise the fighting ceased, but still the result was inconclusive. That was now the fourth day of the  battle, and it was felt that it might be the last day of the battle. Qaqa addressed his men: 

"If we fight for an hour or so more, the enemy will be defeated. 
So, warriors of the Bani Tameem make one more attempt and victory will be yours." 

Other Chiefs spoke in similar terms to their contingents. The Muslim warriors shouted "If you attack we  are with you." 

Qaqa hurled his contingent against the Persians with great violence. Seeing the Bani Tameem launch the  attack, other Muslim contingents followed suit. The Persians too exhausted after continuous war for  twenty-four hours were taken unawares at the resumption of battle. They stood up in battle formation to  resist the Muslim charge, but now there were signs of weakness among the Persian ranks. The right wing  of the Persians under Harmuzan was pushed back. After withdrawal they reformed and again stood their  ground. By noon Qaqa and his men were able to pierce through the Persian center. They dashed towards  the Persian Headquarters to get hold of Rustam, the Commander-in-Chief of the Persian forces. 

At this time a strong dust storm lashed the battle-field. The storm blew in the faces of the Persians, and  aided the onward advance of the Muslims. The canopy and the throne of Rustam were blown away by the  dust storm and thrown in the Ateeq. Rustam was alone. He moved back and sought shelter behind a mule  which carried in saddle boxes his personal belongings. A Muslim warrior Hilal b. Ullafa saw the mule and  struck at the saddle boxes with his sword. Owing to poor visibility, Hilal could not notice Rustam, nor was  Rustam able to see Hilal. The saddle box fell on Rustam. He cleared the box and ran towards the river.  Hilal now saw Rustam, and ran after him. Rustam plunged in the river. Hilal jumped in the river after him.  He dragged him to the bank, where drawing his sword he struck several blows at Rustam and killed him.  Then he dragged the corpse of Rustam and threw it under the feet of the mule. Hilal exultant at having  killed the Commander-in-Chief of the Persian forces shouted: 

"By the Lord of the Kaaba, 
I have killed Rustam, 
I am Hilal bin Ullafa." 

The Persians were not aware of the death of Rustam, and they went on fighting doggedly. 

When Sa'ad came to know that Rustam had been killed, he ordered the Muslims to make one more attack  and drive away the Persians. In the afternoon the Muslims mounted another attack. By this time even the  Persians knew that their Commander-in-Chief had been killed. That demoralized the Persians and after  putting up a last heroic resistance, the Persian front collapsed. With the collapse, the Persian warriors  fled in panic to the river. 

The chained Persians arrived at the bank of the Ateeq anxious to fly to safety. The victorious Muslims  followed at their heel. Some Persians were picked up by the Muslims with their long spears. Those who  plunged in the river, because of the heavy weight of their amours and chains were unable to cross to the  other bank and were drowned. 

At this stage Jalinus took command of what was left of the Persian army. He got control of the bridge  head, and succeeded in getting a section of the Persian army cross the bridge safely. 

The battle of Qadisiyya was now over. Out of 60,000 Persians who had taken the field, only 20,000  survived to tell the story of the disaster that they had met at the battle-field of Qadisiyya. 40,000  Persians were killed or drowned. The Muslim casualties numbered 6,000 out of a total force of 30,000. In  the case of the Persians, out of every three persons only one survived: in the case of Muslims out of  every five Muslims four survived to rejoice at the victory. 

Sad sent parties to pursue the fleeing Persians. The main Persian force commanded by Jalinus proceeded  to Najaf. The pursuing Muslim party led by Zuhra caught up the Persians half way between Kharara and  Seilahun. Brought to bay Jalinus choose to fight. He threw a challenge for a personal duel. The challenge  was accepted by Zuhra. In the duel Jalinus was killed. Thereupon the Persians fled. They were pursued  upto Najaf and the stragglers that the Muslims met in the way were put to sword. When it was night,  Zuhra and his party returned to Qadisiyya. 

Other parties sent in various directions also caught up flying Persians. Most of them were killed or taken  captives. 

The booty that the Muslims captured was vast. After setting aside the State share of one fifth, the rest  was distributed among the men who had participated in the battle of Qadisiyya. Each infantry man  received 7,000 dirhams, and each cavalryman 14,000 dirhams as his share.

News Of The Muslim Victory Carried To Umar

As soon as the battle of Qadisiyya was over, Sa'ad sent a report of the victory of the Muslims to Umar. In  the report, Sa'ad observed: 

"Allah the Mighty has given us victory over the enemy after prolonged and fierce battle. The enemy was in  great number and strength, but Allah in His Mercy has granted victory to the Muslims. For this Allah and  His l' Prophet be praised." 

The report was accompanied by a list of casualties as well as the immediate spoils that had fallen in the  hands of the Muslims. 

The report was sent through a special messenger. The courier selected for the mission was Sa'ad b.  Umeila of the Bani Fazara, a clan that lived to the north of Madina. 

The courier was provided a fast camel. He was also given provisions for the journey. He was  commissioned to ride post haste to Madina, and tell the Caliph and the Muslims the happy news of the  victory of the Muslims at the historic battle of Qadisiyya. 

From Qadisiyya, Madina was about a thousand miles. Riding day and night, with very short spells of rest,  Saad b. Umeila covered the distance in a fortnight. The sun had just risen when the courier reached the  outskirts of Madina. 

When about two miles from Madina, the courier came upon a man sitting by the roadside who stood up at  the approach of the camel rider and asked him from where did he come. Sa'ad b. Umeila said that he was  coming from Iraq. 

The man who accosted the camel driver was Umar. So keen was Umar about getting the news of the  result of the battle of Qadisiyya that Umar would every day in the morning walk for a few miles from  Madina on the way to Iraq hoping that some courier would come carrying the news. For the last one week  this was the usual practice with Umar. When the sun rose high, and no traveler from Iraq appeared the  Caliph would return to Madina. At Madina day and night the faithful prayed for the victory of the Muslims in  the battle of Qadisiyya. 

When Sa'ad b. Umeila said that he was coming from Iraq, Umar did not reveal his identity to him. Excitedly  he asked, "What news do you carry about the battle of Qadisiyya." Sa'ad said exultantly, "God has given  the Muslims victory. " 

Umar's face lit up with joy as he heard the news of the victory of the Muslims. He did not tell the courier  that he was the Caliph and that the report that he carried was meant for him. 

The courier quickened the pace of the camel so that he might reach Madina as early as possible. Umar  started running alongside the camel, and kept on asking the camel rider the details about the Muslim  victory, Sa'ad furnished the necessary details. When Saad had related all that he could tell, Umar  exclaimed "Glory be to Allah", and Sa'ad also said, "God be praised." 

By this time they had reached Madina, and seeing Umar, the Madinites gathered round him and greeted  him as "Amir-ul-Mominin." Thereupon the courier felt embarrassed and turning to Umar said, "O  Commander of the Faithful, why did you not reveal your identity to me?" 

Umar said, "Brother, be at rest. No blame rests on you." 

Sa'ad then handed over the report of Sa'ad b. Abi Waqqas. As Umar read the report, tears of joy trickled  from his eyes. All the Muslims of Madina gathered in the Prophet's Mosque. There Umar read the report of  Saad b. Abi Waqqas to the congregation. Then the Muslims led by Umar offered a special prayer of  thanksgiving to God for the victory of the Muslims at the battle of Qadisiyya.

Al-Khansa

Al-Khansa was the daughter of the great poet Zuheir. She was the distinguished poetess of Arabia during  the early Islamic period. Even the Holy Prophet of Islam admired her verses. She accepted Islam along  with the other members of her tribe. 

The elegy that she wrote on the death of her brother is regarded as one of the best elegies in Arabic. She  said: 

"The herald of the dead announced the loss 
Of the most generous man, Sakhr; 
And he cried it so loud 
That far and wide he was heard. 

It wounded me so painfully 
That in my misery I looked like a drunken person. 

Every morning when I awaken, 
The first rays of the sun remind me of him 
And every evening when the sun sets 
I mourn for him." 

She was not only a poetess; she was very brave and valiant as well. When the Muslims fought against  the Persians in the battle of Qadisiyya she was present at the front with her four sons. On the eve of the  battle by a fiery and inspiring speech she exhorted her sons to fight for the glory of Islam. She said: 

"My sons, I have borne you with pain and brought you up with great care. I have brought no dishonor to  your family and no slur to your tribe. I have wrought no indignity to your father's prestige, and there can  be no doubt about the sanctity of the character of your mother. Now, therefore, listen to me. Remember  the great merit of fighting for defending your faith; remember the Quranic injunction of adopting patience  in the midst of distress. Tomorrow morning, rise from your bed hale and hearty and join the battle with  fearless courage. Go into the midst of the thickest of the battle, encounter the boldest enemy and if  necessary embrace martyrdom." 

The four sons of al-Khansa joined the battle with fearless courage. The words of their mother kept ringing  in their ears and they plunged themselves heroically ill. The thick of the battle, and encountered the  boldest enemies. They put many Persians to sword and were rewarded with the crown of martyrdom. 

The Muslims won the battle of Qadisiyya, but Khansa lost all her sons. When the news of the death of her  sons was brought to her, she wanted to know what was the result of the battle. When she was told that  the Muslims had won, she thanked God for the martyrdom of her sons, and said, "Who dies, if Islam  lives." 

When she saw the dead bodies of her sons, she did not weep. She burst into an elegy: 

"My sons I bore you with pain 
And brought you up for care; 
You have fallen today in the cause of Islam, 
Who says you are dead; 
You are very much alive, and alive with honor. 

I feel proud to be the mother of martyrs." 

When Khansa returned to Madina, Umar went to her house to condole with her over the death of her  sons. Khansa merely said: 

"Congratulate me, Amirul Mominin, 
For verily I am the mother of martyrs." 

Umar loaded her with gifts, and as long as she lived, she got the allowances due to her sons. The shares  of her sons in the spoils of war arising out of the battle of Qadisiyya were also paid to her.

Battle Of Burs

With the victory at Qadisiyya, the road to Ctesiphon (called Al-Madain by the Muslims) the capital of Persia  lay open to the Muslims. Ctesiphon was on the Tigris, a few miles downstream of the present day  Baghdad. 

The battle of Qadisiyya shook the Persian rule in Iraq to its foundations, but that was not the end of the  Persian rude in Iraq. As long as the Persians held their capital Ctesiphon, there was always the danger  that at some suitable moment they would make an attempt to recover what they had lost, and drive  away the Arabs from Iraq. 

Umar accordingly sent instructions to Sa'ad that as a sequel to the battle of Qadisiyya, the Muslims should  push forward to Ctesiphon and wrest it from the Persians. 

Some time towards the end of November 636, Sa'ad bin Abi Waqqas issued orders to the Muslim forces  under his command to march to Ctesiphon. Sa'ad reorganized his army into five corps, and each corps  was placed under the command of a veteran General. The commanders were: 

1. Zuhra bin Al-Hawiyya; 
2. Abdullah bin Muta'm; 
3. Shurahbeel bin Al-Samt; 
4. Hashim b. Utba; and 
5. Khalid bin Urfula. 

The entire army consisted of cavalry. 

From Qadisiyya, the main stages on the route to Ctesiphon were Najaf; Burs; Babylon; Sura; Deir Kab;  Kusa; Sabat; and Ctesiphon. 

The corps of Zuhra b. Al-Hawiyya set off as the advance guard. It occupied Najaf and stayed there till the  other corps reached Najaf. Then Zuhra with his corps crossed the Euphrates and proceeded on the road  to Ctesiphon. He reacted Burs on the western bank of the Hilla branch of the Euphrates. 

At Burs the advance of Zuhra was resisted by a Persian force under the command of Busbuhra the Mayor  of Burs. The troops on both sides were deployed for action. Busbuhra stepped forward and gave the  challenge for a personal duel. Zuhra accepted the challenge. Zuhra inflicted heavy wounds on Busbuhra.  Profusely bleeding he retired. There was some fighting but the Persians were no match for the Muslims.  The Persian army withdrew and crossing the Hilla branch proceeded to join the main Persian army at  Babylon. At Babylon, Busbuhra died of the wounds. 

After the withdrawal of the Persian force, the people of Burs approached Zuhra with the offer of peace,  which was accepted. Zuhra stayed at Burs for some time to attend to administrative matters. In the  meantime other Muslim corps also arrived at Burs.

Battle Of Babylon

Babylon was across the other bank of the Euphrates. It was a place of historic importance having been at  one time the capital of Iraq. It was also a place of strategic importance and was the gateway of the  Suwad, the land between the Euphrates and the Tigris. 

About two years earlier the Muslims had fought a battle at Babylon under Muthanna when they had  occupied Babylon. Later on the eve of the battle of Qadisiyya when the Muslims withdrew from all  advance posts in Iraq, they abandoned Babylon Having won the battle of Qadisiyya, the Muslims now  advanced to re-conquer Babylon. 

Some time in the middle of December 636, the Muslims crossed the Euphrates and camped outside  Babylon. There was a big concentration of the Persian forces at Babylon commanded by the veteran  Generals, Feerzan, Hormuzan, Mihran and Nakheerzan. 

There was a battle at Babylon. The details of the battle have not been recorded in any history. It appears  that there was disunity among the Persians, and they could not put up a stiff resistance against the  Muslim charge. Hormuzan with his forces withdrew to his home province Ahwaz. On his withdrawal, the  other Generals also pulled back their forces and withdrew northward. 

After the Persian forces had left, the citizens of Babylon formally surrendered. They were afforded  protection under the usual terms. They volunteered to cooperate with the Muslims in their fight against  the Persians. They furnished a good deal of useful information about the disposition of the Persian forces.  Some Babylonians were employed in the construction of roads and bridges.

Battle Of Sura And Deirkab

While the main Muslim army remained at Babylon, Zuhra was commanded by Sa'ad to pursue the Persians  who had retreated from Babylon. The Muslim advance guard under Zuhra followed the Persians, and  caught the Persian rear-guard at Sura. The Persian rear-guard deployed themselves for action and after a  short clash their resistance broke down and they with drew to Deir Kab. 

Zuhra next marched to Deir Kab. There was large concentration of Persian forces at Deir Kab commanded  by the General Nakheerzan. The two sides deployed their forces for combat. Then the Persian commander  Nakheerzan stepped forward to throw a challenge for a personal duel. 

From the Muslim side Zubair bin Salim a lieutenant of Zuhra stepped forward to accept the duel. In an  exciting duel, Nakheerzan was overthrown and killed. Then the battle began. For some time the Persians  put up a stiff resistance, and all Muslim attacks were repulsed. Then by a flanking movement Jareer bin  Abdullah was able to capture the bridge at the rear of the Persians. From there he raised the shout of  "Allah-o-Akbar'. At this the Persians lost heart, and they withdrew in great disorder after suffering heavy  losses. Deir Kab was occupied by the Muslims, and the people were afforded protection under the usual  terms.

Battle Of Kusa

Early in January 637, the Muslim advance guard under Zuhra reached Kusa. It was only ten miles from  Ctesiphon. There was a sizable detachment of the Persian forces here commanded by Shahryar. He was a  huge camel-like man, very haughty and arrogant. 

As the two forces were deployed for action, Shahryar stepped out of the Persian ranks, and gave the  challenge for a personal duel in very arrogant terms. He said: 

"Who can dare come forward to measure strength with me. Verily, whoever comes to fight with me,  comes to meet his death." 

Zuhra the Commander of the Muslim forces said: 

"I would have come to fight with you personally, but in view of your arrogance I am deputing a slave to  fight you. " 

Under the orders of Zuhra, Nail bin Ju'shan emerged from the Muslim ranks and proceeded to have a duel  with Shahryar. As the two antagonists faced each other mounted on horseback, Shahryar saw that Nail  was a lean thin man whom he could overthrow in no time. 

The duel began. They first fought with lances, then with swords. Thereafter the two champions  dismounted from the horses and a hand to hand fighting ensued. In such a fight, Shahryar in view of his  bulk appeared to have an upper hand. Shahryar overthrew Nail, and was about to draw his dagger to kill  Nail, when the Arab with his strong teeth crushed the thumb of Shahryar. That made Shahryar lose his  balance. Nail rose immediately, and thrust his dagger in the body of Shahryar. The camel-like man fell on  the ground dead. 

Seeing their commander fall, the Persians lost nerve, and choosing discretion as the better part of valour,  they withdrew to Ctesiphon. Thereafter the Muslims occupied Kusa. A deputation of the citizens waited on  Zuhra, when the usual terms were offered to them, and they accepted them without argument. 

After the victory, Zuhra stayed at Kusa for some time. In the meantime all the Muslim forces reached Kusa.  Kusa was a place of historic importance. It was the place where Nimrod imprisoned the Prophet Abraham,  and where he was thrown in burning fire, out of which he had emerged unharmed. The Muslims visited all  these sites and offered prayers for the soul of Abraham Sa'ad wrote of the Muslim victories to Umar, and  also about the sanctity of Kusa. 

In reply Umar wrote: 

"Just as the Prophet Abraham emerged out of the ordeal of fire unharmed, thus I have the faith that in  the battle of truth that you are waging against the Persians, you will, with the grace of God, triumph. Now  Al-Madain awaits you. Go ahead, and let the Muslim flag flutter over the palace of the Chosroes. May God  bless you. Have faith in God, for such faith would give you the courage to fight against heavy odds."

Battle Of Bahrseer

In the second week of January 637, Zuhra advanced with his corps and reached Sabat four miles from  Ctesiphon. It was a Persian cantonment, but there was no garrison there. The Mayor of Sabat, Sheerzad  waited on Zuhra and offered allegiance to the Muslims. The residents were given protection on the usual  terms. Now the entire land upto the very gates of Ctesiphon belonged to the Muslims. 

Ctesiphon the capital of Persia was not one city; it was a conglomeration of several cities. Indeed the  Arabs called Ctesiphon 'Al-Madain', meaning the cities. The main city I lay on the eastern bank of the  Tigris. One of the cities forming part of 'Al-Madain' lay on the western bank of the Tigris and was known as  Bahrseer. 

Bahrseer had been prepared for defense, and a deep ditch had been dug round the perimeter of the  suburb. As the Muslim advance guard approached Bahrseer, the Persian garrison within the fortified city  hurled stones at the Muslims through ballistas and catapults. The Muslims pulled back beyond the range  of the stones and decided to lay siege to the city. 

The siege began in January 637, and dragged on for two months. The supplies from the countryside on  which Bahrseer depended were entirely cut off, and the citizens were reduced to eating cats and dogs.  Things for the Persian force became still worse, when some of the Persians who had accepted the Muslim  rule, built for the Muslims engines which could throw stones. Equipped with these engines, the Muslims  were able to answer the Persian military fire, stone for stone. That caused considerable havoc among the  besieged citizens. 

One day in March 637, cut to sore straits, the Persian garrison called forth from the city in the determined  effort to break through the Muslim ranks. The Persian forces were led by a fierce lion which had been  specially trained for war. The lion rushed at the Muslim front, and the Muslim horses bolted causing  considerable harms. Hashim who was commanding the vanguard of the Muslim forces rushed at the lion  with his sword and dealt it such a well directed blow that it fell dead. Saad the Commander-in-Chief of the  Muslim forces stepped forward to kiss Hashim bin Utba on the forehead as a mark of admiration for his act  of unparalleled heroism. 

The Commander of the Persian force gave a challenge for a personal duel. The challenge vies accepted by  Zuhra bin Al-Hawiyya. In the exciting duel that followed, Zuhra killed the Persian Commander. Then the  two armies clashed, and the fight continued till the night set. In the battle an arrow struck Zuhra, the  hero of the march to Ctesiphon, and the great hero died. He was buried with full military honors. 

After the break in fighting, a Persian emissary came to the Muslim camp to convey a message from the  Persian emperor. The Persian emissary said: 

"Our emperor asks if you would be agreeable to peace on the condition that the Tigris should be the  boundary between you and us, so that whatever is with us on the eastern side of the Tigris remains ours  and whatever you have gained on the western side is yours. And if this does not satisfy your land  hunger, then nothing would satisfy you." 

Saad the Muslim Commander-in-Chief told the emissary that the Muslims were not hungry for land; and  that they were fighting in the name of Allah. He added that if the Persian emperor wanted peace it was  open to him to accept Islam, or to pay Jizya. If both the alternatives were not acceptable then peace was  out of question, and only the sword could decide the issue between them. 

When the day dawned, it was found that the Persians had evacuated Bahrseer. In withdrawing the  Persian garrison had destroyed all bridges on the Tigris. They had also taken away all the boats from the  western bank of the Tigris, and anchored them on the eastern bank. 

The Muslim forces occupied Bahrseer, The town was empty. All the residents had during the night  managed to cross over to Ctesiphon on the other bank of the Tigris.

Capture Of Al-Madain

After the occupation of Bahrseer, only the Tigris half a mile wide lay between the Muslims and Ctesiphon.  The river was in flood and there were no means with the Muslims to cross it. In their withdrawal from  Bahrseer the Persians had taken away all the boats. The approaches to Ctesiphon were heavily guarded  by the Persians. It was reported that there was considerable Persian force in Ctesiphon under the  command of Generals Mihran and Khurrazad. Khurrazad was a brother of the General Rustam who had  been killed in the battle of Qadisiyya. 

Some Persians who had accepted the Muslim rule volunteered to show Sa'ad a site downstream where  the river could be forded. Sa'ad saw the site, but was not sure whether it was fit for crossing. The Arabs  were land warriors and they hesitated to negotiate water. That night Saad had a dream in which another  site was indicated to him which the Muslims could cross. 

The next morning Sa'ad asked for volunteers who could cross the river on horseback. Asim was the first to  volunteer. Then others offered themselves. Sa'ad went to the site which he had seen in the dream, and  after invoking the blessings of God asked the six hundred warriors led by Asim to plunge into the river  and cross over to the other bank. 

The Muslim horses plunged in the river and slowly proceeded to the other bank. When the Persians saw  that the Muslims were coming, the Persian horses also plunged in the river to hold back the Muslims from  crossing the river. When the Muslims were hardly half way in the river they faced the Persians. A river  battle ensued. In the hand to hand fight that followed the Muslims were able to kill many Persians and  the rest fled away. As the Muslims landed on the eastern bank of the Tigris, a cry went around the  Persian camp, "The Muslims have come: they are not men, they are devils and jinns. Who can fight them?" 

After the first band of six hundred volunteers under Asim, other contingents crossed the river, and this  process went on till all the Muslim forces had crossed over to the other side of the Tigris. When the  Persian Generals came to know that the entire Muslim force had crossed over to Ctesiphon in spite of the  flood in the river, they decided that they should evacuate Ctesiphon as further resistance was futile. The  Persian army evacuated the city. The Persian emperor Yazdjurd retreated to Hulwan. While withdrawing  the Persian emperor carried away as much of the imperial treasure and other valuable possessions as he  could carry. 

From the river bank the Muslim forces marched to the city of Ctesiphon. The march was led by the column  of Asim. Me was immediately followed by the column of Qaqa. Then other columns marched in military  order. At one place a few Persian soldiers offered resistance but they were soon cut off. The Muslim  columns marched through the heart of Ctesiphon. All business premises were closed. No Persians were  seen, and the Muslims met no resistance. The Muslims got to the White Palace the seat of the Persian  Government. A small Persian regiment stationed there offered some resistance. Salman the Persian who  was with the Muslim troops advised the Persian regiment to submit in its own interest as they could no  longer face the Muslims. The garrison surrendered, and the White Palace was occupied by the Muslims. 

After occupying the city, Sa'ad announced amnesty to all Persians who were in the city. A delegation of  the representatives of the people waited on Saad. They sought terms, and the usual terms being offered  they agreed to the imposition of Jizya. A regular peace pact was drawn up, and the citizens were called  upon to follow their normal avocations. Without any large scale fighting the Muslims had conquered  Ctesiphon, the capital of the once mighty Persian empire. 

Sa'ad moved into the White Palace and established his headquarters there. The great courtyard of the  palace was converted into a mosque where Sa'ad led a mass victory prayer. 

Sa'ad next sent out columns in several directions to deal with the Persian stragglers. One column took the  route to Hulwan. They caught up some Persians at Nahrawan and recovered the valuable goods that they  were carrying. These included the fabulous crown of Persia, the imperial regalia and several ornaments.  The booty comprised enough gold and precious stones to purchase a kingdom. Another column operating  in another sector recovered some swords and other valuable armour. Another Muslim column captured  some chests which contained a horse of gold studded with sapphires and emeralds. 

Within Cteiiphon the Muslims found a pavilion containing a large number of sealed baskets. These baskets  contained utensils of gold and silver. From the imperial treasury the Muslims got cash of over a billion  dirhams. 

When the booty was distributed among the soldiers the share of each man came to 12,000 dirhams.  Among the booty was a grogeous carpet found from the White Palace. It was a huge bulky affair 900  meters square. It was worked with gold and gems. It represented a garden with glades, trees and  flowers. The branches of the tree were that of gold, the leaves were of silver, and the fruit were of gems.  It was one of the wonders of the world. As it could not be distributed among the soldiers, Sa'ad sent it to  Madina along with the usual onefifth State share.

Heirlooms Of Persia

After the occupation of Ctesiphon, one-fifth of the booty gathered from Al-Madain was sent to Umar at  Madina. These included vast riches comprising rare and priceless heirlooms. These comprised besides  cash, the gorgeous carpet; the gem studded crown and royal robes; bangles of the Persian kings, and  other curios. 

On receiving the news of the subjugation of the capital of the Persian empire, Umar led a thanksgiving  prayer. The Holy Prophet had prophesied that the Muslims would one day overpower the mighty empire of  Persia and this prophecy had been fulfilled only within six years of the death of the Holy Prophet. 

As Umar surveyed the vast riches that had been brought to Madina, he wept. These were tears partly  indicative of his joy and partly of his fear lest such wealth might turn the head of the Muslims. 

Umar sought the advice of the Companions as to what should be done with the carpet. The general view  was that it might be retained by the Caliph. Umar asked for the opinion of Ali. Ali said, "What they say is  right, but if you set this precedent to-day, tomorrow there will be those who will claim such trophies  without deserving them." Umar said, 'Are you all right; verily, you have given sound advice " The carpet  was cut into small pieces and distributed among the people. Ali got one average piece, and he was able  to sell it for 20,000 dirhams. 

In Madina there was a man Muhallam by name who was cast in royal mould, and was known for his  dignity, grace, and symmetry of body. On seeing him the Holy Prophet had said that he would one day  wear the robes of the kings of Persia. When in the spoils the robes of the Persian kings came to Madina,  Umar called Muhallam and had him dressed in the robes of the kings of Persia. All the people of Madina  came to see him thus dressed. In this way the prophecy of the Holy Prophet was fulfilled. 

There was another man in Madina Saraqa by name about whom the Holy Prophet had said that one clay  he would wear the bangles of Chosroes. There was an interesting background to the story of Saraqa.  When