The Battles of Bâqshia, the Bridge and Buwaib: Muslim Struggles Against the Persian Empire

The Battle of Bâqshia

Narsi was defeated before Jâlinus could join the Persian army. The news of the smashing defeat led him to stop his movement at Bâqshia. Abu Ubaid (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) marched en route to Saqâtiyah and Kaskar and attacked Jâlinus at Bâqshia who fled the area and stopped only in Madâ'in.

The Last Deed of Abu Ubaid bin Mas'ud (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ)

When Jâlinus reached Madâ'in as a retreating leader, the seat of power stirred from within. Rustam, the prime minister of the Persian Empire, gave a call in the court packed with renowned generals and valiant soldiers, "Who can stop the marching steps of the Arabian army and avenge the successive defeats of the Persians?" "None other than Bihman Jâdhwaih can perform this feat," they all cried with one voice. Rustam agreed and entrusted Bihman Jâdhwaih with a well-equipped huge army along with three hundred combat elephants and a large quantity of provisions. He was also handed the Kavyâni Banner, which the Persians believed made any army carrying it invincible. Also, Jâlinus was chosen to lead the reinforcements with the warning that if he fled again, his head would be struck off. Bihman Jâdhwaih marched on with added confidence and determination and he increased his already strong army with men and materials from the tribes they came across on the way to their destination. He pitched his camp at Quss-un-Nâtif near the bank of the Euphrates.

Informed of this massive Persian military movement, Abu Ubaid bin Mas'ud (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) also proceeded from Kaskar and camped at Marwahah on the other bank of the Euphrates. The deep running water of the river kept the two armies apart and silent for a couple of days. At last, a bridge was constructed over the Euphrates with the common consent of the rivals. On completion of the bridge, Bihman Jâdhwaih sent words to his counterpart to choose between fighting from this side of the river or that. Although some Muslim officers were against the Muslim army crossing the bridge, Abu Ubaid (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) led his army across the bridge to the Persian side and drew the battle line. Bihman Jâdhwaih put the elephants ahead of his army with archers sitting on them. Horses on the Muslim side had never seen elephants before and they began to flee in terror at the sight of the huge animals. With this scenario of the battle, Abu Ubaid (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) asked his men to fight on foot. When the elephants began to trample the Islamic ranks under their feet, Abu Ubaid (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) called out to strike their swords at the trunks and he was himself the first to do this. He cut off the trunks of several elephants and inflicted deep injuries on their feet with the result the riders fell down and were killed.

Enthused with the matchless bravery of their commanders and commanding officers, the Muslim soldiers made heroic assaults on the elephants. During these fateful moments, Abu Ubaid bin Mas'ud (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) came under the attack of a combat elephant. He fell upon the elephant and struck its trunk off with one stroke of his sword. Despite this the belligerent animal knocked him down and put his foot on him crushing his chest. Following his martyrdom, his brother Hakam stepped forward and held the standard of Islam. An elephant too, killed him. Thus, six more men from Banu Thaqif who held the flag one by one fell down martyred. The eighth one to hold the standard was Muthanna bin Hârithah (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ). He took the standard in his hand and encouraged his men with firmness but they appeared disheartened at the loss of seven precious lives to the elephant attacks. Abdullah bin Marthad Thaqafi rushed ahead and broke some planks of the bridge to stop the Muslim soldiers from running away. He then called out his men to fight and be honored with martyrdom like their brethren. Muthanna (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) collected his scattered men and stood firmly against the enemy. Abu Mihjan Thaqafi and some other officers stood by him. The bridge was repaired and the Muslim soldiers were crossed the bridge to safety while Muthanna (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) and the others stopped the enemy from moving ahead. This battle took a toll of six thousand Muslim combatants including valiant fighters like Sulait bin Qais, Uqbah and Abdullah—sons of Qibti bin Qais, Abbâd bin Qais, Qais bin As-Sakan, and Abu Umayyah Fazâri (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ). The Persians also lost about the same number of men. The runaway Muslim soldiers remained ashamed and repentant for a long time. This battle took place in Sha'bân 13 AH.

The Battle of Buwaib

When Umar Faruq (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) came to know of the martyrdom of Abu Ubaid (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) and the heavy losses incurred by the Muslims, he grew exasperated and with all his energy and resources he commenced preparations for a fresh campaign against the Persians. He dispatched heralds and emissaries to all the tribes and roused them to fight for Islam. Several tribes poured in Al-Madinah and were dispatched to Iraq to lend their help to Muthanna (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) who had already launched a recruiting drive, which resulted in a large army.

When the Persians were informed of these preparations, Rustam sent a huge army under the command of Mehrân Hamadâni. The reason for Mehrân's nomination to the command was that he was brought up in Arabia and could, therefore, realize the power and strength of the Arabs and appreciate the magnitude of the task before him. Informed of the Persian movements, Muthanna bin Hârithah (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) marched with his army and encamped at Buwaib, along the Euphrates. Mehrân, marching from the capital, advanced straight upon Buwaib and pitched his camp on the other side of the Euphrates. He then sent word to Muthanna (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) to either come to his side or let him come to his (Muthanna's) own side. In the light of the bitter experience of the past, Muthanna (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) invited him to his side. Mehrân crossed the river with his entire army and combat elephants. He then arranged his forces in the manner that he put his infantry in the front followed by the elephants with archers sitting on them and both right and left flanks were occupied by cavalry divisions.

The Islamic army was also ready to fight. The Persians initiated the attack, which was answered by the Muslims. The battle grew intense and both sides displayed bravery. However, the Muslims were crowned with victory. When Muthanna bin Hârithah (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) noticed the Persians running away, he rushed forward and broke the bridge, with the result that a large number of the enemy soldiers were either killed or drowned. Mehrân Hamadâni was also killed on the battlefield. As per Ibn Khaldun's account, about one hundred thousand Persian fighters succumbed to death, while only one hundred from the Muslim side were honored with martyrdom. The Persian fugitives were given chase up to Sâbât. Now the entire territory from Sawâd to Tigris came under the Muslim forces. The battle took place in Ramadân 13 AH.