Policy
of the Muslims
Abu Bakr Siddiq (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) was well aware of the designs of the Persians
when he approved the departure of Usamah's detachment. At a time when
Al-Madinah itself was under great pressure, he adopted a policy of buying time
before opening a war front against the major powers until the threat of
apostasy was put down. He, therefore, sent a small column to Iraq under
Muthanna bin Harithah (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ)
not to start a pitched battle but to function as a raiding party meant just to
terrorize the men in power so that the Persians dared not attack Arabia. He had
in mind the same purpose when he had dispatched Usamah (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) against the Romans.
When the situation in Najd and
Yamamah came under control, Siddiq (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ
عَنْهُ) addressed a letter to Iyad bin Ghanam (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) in Najd to take with him those Muslims
who were still beyond the reach of apostasy, and launch an attack on the upper
parts of Iraq. Following this, he wrote another letter to Khalid bin Walid (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) in Yamamah to turn
towards the lower parts of Iraq. Both the Muslim commanders met at Uballah
according to the instructions of the Caliph.
The
Battle of Dhat-us-Salasil
When Khalid bin Walid (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ)
took stock of his entire army at Uballah, he found that he had not more than
eighteen thousand fighters. His fresh target was Hafir, the Persian province of
Iraq, and Hurmuz was its governor who was well known throughout Arabia for his
valor and military skill. He was a terror for India also for he so often led
assaults on the Indian coast with his war fleet.
Khalid bin Walid (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) first addressed a letter inviting him to
Islam. But Hurmuz responded with leading a large and strong army against the
Muslim commander. With his instinctive military acumen, Khalid (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) divided his army
into three parts. He then handed over the command of one part to Adi bin Hatim
(رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ), another part he
entrusted to Qa'qa' bin Amr (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ)
and the third one he kept with himself. All the three wings marched ahead to
meet at Hafir with the difference of a one-day journey and pitched their camps
facing the Persian army.
First of all, Khalid bin Walid (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) himself came out and
threw a challenge to Hurmuz for a duel. He responded to the call and stepped
forward. Both the commanders got down from their horses. Khalid (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) was the first to
strike. Hurmuz made a hasty retreat and parried the stroke, then he struck
Khalid with agility. Khalid (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ)
got up quickly, rushed forward and snatched away his wrist by twisting his
wrist. Now Hurmuz clasped his body which led to wrestling between the two.
Khalid (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) lifted him high by
his waist with lightening speed and then threw him on the ground so forcefully
that he failed to move. Khalid (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ)
then got on his chest, cut his head off and threw it away.
When a squad of the Persian army
witnessed its commander being overpowered, it moved ahead to help him but
Qa'qa' bin Amr (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ
عَنْهُ) stood like a
rock. Following this, troops from both sides fell on one another and a fierce
battle broke out in no time. But the Persians could not withstand the heavy
Muslim onslaught and fled in panic and terror.
Hurmuz was such an exalted governor
and commander among his people that he wore a crown on his head. This costly
crown came to Khalid (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ
عَنْهُ) and it was
valued at one hundred thousand dinars. A section of the Persian army had
chained themselves with the determination of winning or dying. But they had to
break their chains and flee leaving thousands of men dead and injured. This
battle is known as Dhat-us-Salasil because of these chains.
Khalid (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ)
asked Muthanna bin Harithah (رَضِيَ
ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ)
to give chase to the fleeing Persian fighters. The Muslim forces laid siege
round the citadel of Hisn-ul-Marah and conquered it putting the ruler to death.
His wife accepted Islam and desired to be married to Muthanna (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ).
The
Battle of Qarin
In response to Hurmuz's call for
help, a large troop of reinforcements was immediately sent by the Persian
ruler. The frustrating news of Hurmuz's death and his fleeing soldiers greeted
it on the way. The fresh fighters of the reinforcements encouraged them to have
a fresh encounter with the Muslim troops. They encamped at a canal and the
Muslim fighters marched on to meet them. During the ferocious fight, all the
three generals, Qarin, Qibad and Anushjan, were killed leaving behind thirty
thousand fighters dead and a large number of the run-away soldiers drowned in
the canal.
As a follow-up action after the
conquest of the province, Khalid (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ)
made the inhabitants pay the Jizyah (tax) and appointed a Muslim governor to
run the administration according to Islamic law.
The
Battle of Walajah
After Qarin and the other generals
were killed, the Persian ruler sent a well-known horseman Andarzagar to lead
the Persian army which set out from Madain and arrived at Walajah. At the back
of Walajah was dispatched another general, Bahman Jadwaih from Madain, at the
head of another very strong army.
However, Khalid bin Walid (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ)
marched with his troops and launched an attack on the Persian army which was
routed after a fierce battle. Their general also died of thirst right on the
battlefield. However, Bahman Jadwaih reached Ullais and the Persian fugitives joined
his army. Many Christian Arabs also extended their unconditional support to
them.
The
Battle of Ullais
Informed of the presence of a large
army at Ullais, Khalid bin Walid (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ
عَنْهُ) himself marched ahead and launched his attack. Khalid (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) first called a man
for a duel. Malik bin Qais was sent from the Persian camp and Khalid (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ)
killed him. Now an all-out battle started, which resulted in seventy thousand
enemy fighters being killed at the hands of the Muslims.
Conquest
of Hirah
From Ullais, Khalid bin Walid (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ)
marched to Hirah and besieged it. When the siege drew long and the citizens
were tired of it, the chief of Hirah, Amr bin Abdul-Masih along with others
appeared before the Muslim commander. The Persian general and army had already
fled in panic with the news of the demise of Chosroes Ardsher. Abdul-Masih won
peace in return for two hundred thousand dirhams as tribute. After the
conquest, Khalid bin Walid (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ)
sent Dirar bin Al-Azwar, Dirar bin Al-Khattab, Qa'qa' bin Amr, Muthanna bin
Harithah and Uyainah bin Ash-Shamas (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ)
at the head of small columns to make the surrounding tribes and settlers accept
either the Jizyah (tax) or Islam. Thus the entire territory up to the Tigris
fell to Khalid bin Walid (رَضِيَ
ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ).
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