The
Conquest of Jalula
When Madâ'in fell to the Muslims,
Yezdgird fled to Hulwân. Kharzâd bin Farkhzâd, brother of Rustam Farkhzâd, who
was the commander-in-chief, displayed great skill in gathering a large army. He
had a moat built around the city and the fort. Gokhru (the many-pointed thorns
of murex) were scattered along the roadsides and pathways. These military
preparations were so massive that the Muslim camp easily became aware of it. Saad
(رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) on receiving the
news, wrote to Umar (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ)
who replied that Hâshim bin Utbah should be sent on this expedition at the head
of twelve thousand troops. The command of the vanguard, the right wing, the
left wing, and the rearguard should be entrusted to Qa'qâ', Ma'shar bin Mâlik,
Amr bin Mâlik and Amr bin Murrah respectively.
Hâshim, marching from Madâ'in,
reached Jalula on the fourth day and laid siege of the city. The siege
continued for several months. Occasionally the Persians would make a sudden
attack on the besiegers. In this manner many engagements were contested in
which the Persians invariably met with reverses. However, the city was stocked
with supplies and provisions of all sorts and their forces numbered hundreds of
thousands, they did not lose heart. One day they rushed out recklessly but
their forces were smashed leaving about one hundred thousand troops dead and
spoils worth thirty million.
When Yezdgird learned the news of
the disaster of Jalula, he left Hulwân for Rey, placing Khusru Shanum, an
officer of renown, in charge of Hulwân with a few squadrons of cavalry. Qa'qâ' (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) was dispatched to
Hulwân at the head of some troops. A short but fierce struggle ensued in which
Khusru Shanum was routed.
While communicating the joyful
tidings of the victory, Saad (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ)
dispatched a fifth portion of the booty to Al-Madinah. Ziyâd (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ), the messenger, described the battle with
an eloquence which did him immense credit. Umar (رَضِيَ
ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) asked him to recount the events in the same eloquent style
before a public assembly. A public assembly was accordingly convened and Ziyâd (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) narrated the
incidents of the battle with a command of language and an eloquence that
portrayed the fray in its minutest detail. Afterwards Ziyâd (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) brought forth the spoils, which were
stored in the courtyard of the mosque.
In the morning the mantle, which
covered the goods was drawn aside, heaps of precious stones were revealed.
Tears ran down the face of Umar (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ
عَنْهُ) as the sight met his gaze. Abdur-Rahmân bin Auf (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) said to him,
"Why do you weep instead of giving thanks?" Umar Fâruq (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) replied, "Where
riches appear, envy and jealousy are bound to follow in their wake."
In response to Saad's seeking the
Caliph's permission to march towards Persia, he ordered him to take a rest for
some days as the Muslim soldiers were exhausted and needed it.
Syrian
Engagements |The Fall of Hims
Abu Ubaidah bin Al-Jarrâh (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) marched to Hims and
halted at Dhul-Kala'. Hims is one of the important districts of Syria. In
ancient times it was greatly noted because of a temple dedicated to the sun.
People would come from distant places on pilgrimage to this temple, and its
devotees prided themselves on this fact. After the fall of Damascus and Jordan,
three important cities remained to be conquered, which would mean the
subjugation of the whole of Syria. They were Hims, Antâkiyah (Antioch) and
Jerusalem. When the Muslim army camped at Dhul-Kala', Heraclius sent General
Taudhar to engage them in the battle. Another General Shams was also ordered to
join the attack. However, both of them were completely routed and Abu Ubaidah (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) killed Shams.
When the fleeing soldiers reached
Hims, Heraclius left for Ar-Ruha. Abu Ubaidah (رَضِيَ
ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) marched on and besieged Hims. And, in spite of the best
efforts of Heraclius, the people of Hims remained without any outside help. At
last they yielded followed by Hamah, Al-Lâdhiqiyah and Salamyah.
Fall
of Qinnasrin
Following the conquest of Salamyah,
Khâlid bin Walid (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ),
with the permission of Abu Ubaidah (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ
عَنْهُ), marched to Qinnasrin where Minâs, only second to Heraclius in
position, faced Khâlid (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ)
but tasted defeat after a fierce encounter. He took refuge in a citadel but
Khâlid (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) captured it after
laying siege to it. Umar Fâruq (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ)
grew happy and added to his power and authority.
Conquest
of Halab and Antâkiyah
After finishing his task in
Qinnasrin, Abu Ubaidah (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ)
marched to Halab (Aleppo) where he came to know that the people of Qinnasrin
had risen in revolt. He at once dispatched a squadron to the spot of the
disturbance. When they were brought under siege, they expressed their loyalty
once again and saved themselves by paying a heavy penalty. Abu Ubaidah (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) halted near Halab
and sent in advance Iyâd bin Ghanam, the commanding officer of the vanguard. He
marched to Halab and laid a siege around the city, which surrendered to the
Muslims.
After Halab, Abu Ubaidah's next
target was Antâkiyah (Antioch), which was the Asian capital of Heraclius. It
was a fortified city with a number of royal palaces. Thus the fleeing and
fugitive Christians took refuge in this city. When the Muslim troops arrived at
Antâkiyah, the Christians came out to face the Muslims and were completely
routed and fled back to the city. When they came under siege, they earned peace
in return for paying the Jizyah.
News then came to the Muslim camp
that Christian troops were gathering in Mu'arrah Masrin, a place near Halab.
Abu Ubaidah (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ)
marched to punish the antagonists and the result was a bloody fight between the
two forces which resulted in their earning peace like the people of Halab.
Antâkiyah was reported to have again risen in revolt but Iyâd bin Ghanam and
Habib bin Maslamah were already there to crush it by force.
The repeated uprisings of the
Christians in different regions were putting the Muslim troops to great
hardships. Abu Ubaidah (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ)
brought the situation to the knowledge of Umar Fâruq (رَضِيَ
ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ). He ordered Muslim squadrons to be deputed to all the trouble
spots at the cost of Bait-ul-Mâl (public exchequer). After the fall of
Antâkiyah, dozens of surrounding villages and towns came on their own to the
fold of the Muslim forces.
Fall
of Baghrâs, Mar'ash and Hadath
After winning decisive victories
throughout Syria and deputing Muslim commanding officers and administrators to
all the cities under Muslims possession, Abu Ubaidah (رَضِيَ
ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) turned towards Palestine. A Muslim detachment under the
command of Maisarah bin Masruq was dispatched to Baghrâs, a town in the
neighborhood of Antâkiyah bordering on the frontier of Asia Minor. Many of the
Arab Christians such as the Ghassâns, the Tanukh and the Iyyâds were preparing
at this place to accompany the Romans to the Emperor Heraclius. Maisarah bin
Masruq attacked them and a fierce conflict took place. Abu Ubaidah (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) dispatched
reinforcements under Mâlik bin Ashtar Nakh'î. With the arrival of fresh troops,
the Christians fled in terror. Khâlid bin Walid (رَضِيَ
ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) led a column against Mar'ash which capitulated on the
condition that the Christians should evacuate the city. In the same way Habib
bin Maslamah marched to Hadath (old name of Ararat Mountain) and conquered it.
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