Part 20

The Conquest of Doomat Al-Jandal:

Doomat Al-Jandal is a strategically important place which lies about 300 miles to the south of * Ayn At-Tamr. It forms a juncture between Arabia, Iraq and Syria.

After the death of the Prophet , Abu Bakr sent a column under *Iyaad Ibn Ghanam to conquer Daumatul Jandal. * lyaad lay siege to Daumatul Jandal, but failed to capture it. The siege lasted over a year, but still the resistance of the defenders was not broken. Many Christian Arabs driven from Iraq as a result of the operations of Khalid found refuge at Daumatul Jandal, and that created further difficulties for ~lyaad.

At this critical juncture, *lyaad wrote to Khalid to rush to his aid. Also, Abu Bakr asked Khalid to go to the help of “Iyaad. Khalid received the call for help when he was at ~ Ayn At-Tamr. Khalid decided to assist “yaad forthwith. Leaving a garrison at 'Ayn-at-Tamr, Khalid marched on with his main force to the relief of Daumatul Jandal.

The Christian Arab forces at Daumatul Jandal differed in fighting the Muslim army. One of their leaders advised them to negotiate peace with Khalid, but his people rejected his advice and they decided to fight.

The battle arose between Khalid and the people of Doomat Al-Jandal. Khalid pressed the siege of Daumatul Jandal until he ultimately took hold of it. Over 2000 Christian Arabs were killed in the battle. The people of Daumatul Jandal were offered amnesty in agreement to pay Jizyah. Immense booty fell to the Muslims,

When the news of the fall of Daumatul Jandal was communicated to Abu Bakr at Madina, he felt happy and proud 113

of the exploits of Khalid who had succeeded where others had failed.

The Battle of Firaad:

Although the Arab tribes were defeated many times, they did not stop plotting against Khalid. This forced him to march northwards to deal with their incessant plots and intrigues.

In the face of the Muslims, the Byzantine garrison decided to come to the aid of the Persian garrison. The united forces of the Persians, the Byzantines and the Christian Arab auxiliary numbered the Muslim force tenfold. Impressed by the imposing array of the coalition, the Byzantine General sent a haughty message to Khalid demanding an unconditional surrender. Khalid responded that he would reply on the battlefield.

Khalid gave the enemy the option to cross the Euphrates. As soon as the enemy had crossed the Euphrates, Khalid commanded the Muslim force to go into action. The united forces of the Persians and the Byzantines had the river at their back. As the front ranks of both the forces committed themselves in the fighting, Khalid fixed his enemy on either flank with the help of the rear wings. Moving swiftly, the Muslims dashed for the bridge on the river, and succeeded in occupying it. The enemy was thus held in a pincer movement. The Muslims intensified the attack and tightened the noose around the neck of the enemy. In the mortal conflict that ensued, the enemy soon lost the ground. The withdrawing . forces of the Persians and the Byzantines either jumped into the river in a state of horror or confusion or allowed themselves to be squeezed to death. It was a bloody battle, and over 100,000 enemy soldiers fell on the battleground. The battle was soon over and Firaad, the last stronghold of the Persians, fell to the

Muslims, The battle of Firaad added further luster to the Muslim arms.

After the battle of Firaad, Khalid felt a great desire to perform Hajj to show gratitude to Allah. Yet he was afraid that during his absence from “Iraq, the malicious tribes would seize the opportunity and rise against his deputies. So, he let the army march slowly back to Al-Heerah and, pretending all the time that he was in the rear, departed secretly to Makkah accompanied by a few of his attendants. Khalid managed to perform the pilgrimage and go back to Iraq and enter Al-Heerah with the returning army without being noticed by anyone. When the news of Khalid's Hajj reached Abu Bakr, he became furious and sent him a letter asking him not to indulge in such adventure again and to march to Ash-Shaam.

_ The Conquest of Ash-Shaam:

By the beginning of the 13" year of Hijra, Abu Bakr AsSideeq, may Allah be pleased with him, had already decided to muster an army and dispatch it to Ash-Shaam (the Levant) after his return from Hajj. This was in compliance with the example of Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, and Allah's words:

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"O ye who believe fight the Unbelievers who gird you about, and let them find firmness in you: and know that Allah is with those who fear him." (At-Tawbah: 123)

"Now, if they turn away (O Muhammad) say: Allah sufficeth me. There is no God save Him. In Him have I put my trust, and He is Lord of the Tremendous Throne. "(At-Tawbah: 129)

He led the army to Ash-Shaam, and reached it in very hot weather, but only after passing through a great deal of hardship. The Prophet , peace and blessings be upon him, a year before his death, dispatched Usamah Ibn Zayd as commander of an army to set off on a campaign to the areas surrounding the Levant. After Abu Bakr had controlled the whole Arabian Peninsula, he dispatched an army under the command of Khalid Ibn Al-Waleed, may Allah be pleased with him, under expedition to Iraq, with the intention of approaching the Levant as well. So he sent a letter to “Amr Ibn Al-* Aas, whom he_ had assigned to levy the alms of Quda* ah along with Al-Waleed [bn *Uqbah, urging him to join the army that was to be sent to the Levant.

When Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him, mobilized the army, he gave an eloquent speech to the soldiers. He first praised Allah and then began to urge the people to perform Jihad in the Cause of Almighty Allah. Afterwards, Abu Bakr started to divide the army into brigades and to assign the leader of each brigade.

The Battle of Yarmook:

The Battle of Yarmook took place in 15 AH after the campaign of Damascus. When the Byzantines knew that the

Muslim army was advancing towards the Levant, they grew terrified to the extent that they sent a message to Hercules, who was said to be in Jerusalem at that time - some said that he was at Himsinforming him of the situation. When Hercules knew that the Muslim army was to approach the Levant, he said to his people: "The Muslims are people of a new religion and no one is capable of facing them. Obey me and make peace with the Muslims on the condition that they take half the taxes of AshSham and that the Byzantine Mountains be left under the control of the Byzantines. If you refuse to do what I tell you, the Muslims will conquer you and take Ash-Sham and trap you in the Byzantine Mountains."

Hercules then went to Hims and mobilized an army to face the Muslims. He sent his brother Tudhraaq to lead 90,000 men to stand against ~ Amr Ibn Al-* Aas, may Allah be pleased with him. Jirjah Ibn Budhayha was placed at the head of 60,000 men to face Yazeed Ibn Abi Sufyaan and his brigade. He also sent Ad-Daraqaas to Sharhabeel Ibn Hasnah and Al-Qayqulaan to lead 60,000 soldiers to confront Abu ~ Ubaydah and his men.

By mobilizing such a large army, the Byzantine army pledged to deter the Muslim one. The commanders of the Muslim army sent a message to Abu Bakr As-Sideeq, may Allah be pleased with him, informing him about the large army that the Byzantines had drummed up to confront them. Abu Bakr _ replied: "Unite and struggle in the Cause of Allah and He will grant you victory. You are Allah's helpers, and Allah helps those who help in His Cause, and He turns down those who disbelieve in Him. You will not be defeated because of your small number, but you may be defeated because of sins. So watch out for that. Each leader should pray in congregation with men under his command and you should all be united."

Abu Bakr then decided that Khalid Ibn Al-Waleed should lead the Muslim army because he was the best man to carry out that mission.

Muhammad Ibn *Aa'id narrates on the authority of *Abdel-'A*la who says that Sa*eed Ibn ~ Abdel-* Azeez said: "The Muslim troops were only 24,000 men while the Byzantine troops were 120,000." One thousand of the army were Companions of the Prophet , peace and blessings be upon him, and 100 of them had taken part in the great Battle of Badr.

Al-Waleed narrates on the authority of Safwaan that *Abdur-Rahmaan Ibn Jubayr said: "The Byzantines camped between the Monastery of Ayyoob and Al-Yarmook while the Muslims camped on the other side behind the river so as to receive supplies from Madeenah. It is said that Khalid joined them after the Companions had besieged the Byzantines for the whole month of Rabee~ Al-Awwal. When Rabee~ Al-Awwal was over and fighting became possible due to the scarcity of water, the Muslims asked Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him, for more men, so he sent them Khalid Ibn Al-Waleed as he considered him the most appropriate choice.

When Khalid arrived, he found that the Muslim army was scattered; Abu * Ubaydah's brigade was on one side, ~ Amr Ibn Al-* Aas' was on the other and Yazeed's were on a different side. He saw at once that he must organize the army properly in order to win the battle and it meant one single command instead of the four. So he spoke to the troops ordering them to unite, and gathered the other commanders and said, "We are fighting for the Sake of Allah. We must all forget ourselves. We cannot afford to be split under many commanders. That would be a help to the enemy. 1 suggest that we should take turns to command the army. If you agree to that, let me be the commander for the first day of the battle." They all agreed with

the plan, obeyed him and gathered to face the enemy in Jumadah Al-Aakherah. Khalid took the chief command.

After they had united, Khalid gave a speech to the army advising soldiers to avoid conceit and tyranny and to be faithful in their struggle in the Cause of Almighty Allah. He urged the Muslims to fight bravely and exert their utmost effort to force the Byzantine army to retreat otherwise they will never have victory over them.