Part 16

On the second day as well the Mujahideen triumphed over the enemy though it was nota decisive victory. The third day too it seemed as if the war was not going to end. The Iranian Empire continued to send

in fresh troop everyday. The experienced general Qa‘q@’ bin ‘Amr adopted a new strategy on the third day. He told a large number of his warriors to move towards Syria and stop there at a suitable spot. With the first rays of dawn divisions consisting of a hundred horsemen each should race their horses fast and reach the battlefield one by one. When these brigades, shouting ‘Allaého-Akbar’ reached, one after another, raising a lot of dust, the Iranian army got terrified. They thought fresh reinforcements were coming in from Syria. But the Iranian Empire and his famous General, Rustam, were not prepared to admit defeat. They stuck stubbornly in the battlefield. The army had been positioned on the left and right of the elephants to protect them. But ‘Amr bin Ma’d Yakrab after informing his companions, dared to attack the elephants. He did get injured in the process, but succeeded in cutting off the trunk of an elephant. All the other elephants stampeded, fleeing backwards. And as a result, they trampled down their own soldiers. In spite of this it did not seem that the Muslim army could defeat the Iranians, who still had a very large number of soldiers.

Qa’‘qa’ bin ‘Amr 4 formed a special division of ace riders and leading them himself, he advanced towards the Iranian General, Rustam. He was seated on his throne directing his men to fight. With one intense attack, he succeeded in reaching the throne of the Iranian General. He jumped down from his throne and tried to fight against them for somé time, but when he saw it was futile, he fled. When he saw a stream in front of him, he jumped into it to save himself; one of the Mujahideen, Hilal, who was chasing him jumped in after him and got stranglehold on him. He pulled him out of the stream by his legs, and chopped off his head with his sword. It was then announced that the Iranian General had been killed. When the Iranian soldiers heard this they lost hope, and started to scamper from the field of battle. The Mujahideen chased them for a long distance and the battlefield was left empty. Thus, the Muslim army won.

Though Sa’d bin Abi Wagas . did not take an active part in the battle because of his illness, he was continuously issuing orders, and for all practical purposes, commanding the forces. He was sitting on one of the balconies of the fort and could view the whole battlefield, the positions of the various divisions and the movements of the two armies.

In this war, besides the faith and fervour of the Mujahideen what could be seen was the excellent planning of the Commander. Hence the credit for the victory in the War of Qadisiyah went to the great General, Sa‘d bin Abi Waqas >.

It has been the practice in wars that the General is always held responsible for the success or defeat of the army, whether he plays an active personal role in the battle or not. In spite of his serious illness, Sa‘d bin Abi Waqds sat on the balcony and kept giving orders which helped the Mujahideen immensely. He kept calling out:

“Mujahideen, advance towards the left! Now advance towards the right! Mughaira you move forward now. Jareer you retreat a little now.

No’man attack with your sword. Ash‘ath move forward and attack now! And O Qa’qa’, move forward fast now!

O lovers of Islam and loyal followers of the Prophet 3%, well done! See that you do not give up and stop! The world’s eyes are on you, envying you and watching your exploits of bravery, daring, fervour and desire for martyrdom!

O Mujahideen! Victory is just a couple of steps away and waiting for you.”

The Muslims got a resounding victory in the War of Qadisiyah, but their victorious march was far from over.

Next the Muslim army faced the Iranians in Madyan. In this battle too the Iranians came very well equipped and armed to the teeth. One major problem for the Muslim forces here was that the river Dajlah lay between them and the Iranian army. The Iranians had deployed their army along the banks of the river and adopted a defensive position. Further, in order to protect themselves, they had destroyed all the

bridges on the river. In order to have a decisive encounter it was necessary that the Muslim army make the first move and advance. General Sa‘d bin Abi Waqas 4 was in a dilemma. How should he cross the river? Even if they did succeed in crossing the river, it was very possible the enemy would launch an attack even before they reached the other bank of the river. In that case the enemy would be at an advantage, because the Muslim army would still be in the river. After a lot of thought and planning he decided to form two armies. He ordered one segment to cross the river under the command of ‘Aasim bin ‘Amr 4. He ordered the other segment of the army to cross the river some distance away; this second section he placed under the Command of Qa’qa’ bin ‘Amr #.

The purpose of his strategy was to keep the enemy busy and involved with the first section of the army reaching the bank. The other section of the army would start crossing after some time had elapsed, and make a deadly attack on the enemy as soon as it reached the shores. This strategy was so successful that it stunned people and aroused their admiration with its ingenuity. Sa’d bin Abi Waqas 4 had created military history with this novel tactical move.

With full faith in Allah Almighty he had asked his men to step into the river. Their lips were busy with the incantation of the Name of Allah 3B. They were reciting the Ayah:

“Allah’s Help and Support is enough for me.”

The Mujaliideen had stepped into the deep waters of the river Dajlah fearlessly. The world saw that they were chatting with each other as if they were casually strolling on dry land. Salaman Al-Farsi was also a soldier in this army. He expressed beautiful inspiring thoughts on this occasion, which deserve to be written in letters of gold in the annals of history. He said:

“Islam is a religion which is perfect and descended from the heavens. | swear by the Almighty Allah, for the believers of Islam, the river is as negligible as the desert. I swear by the Being in Whose Power lies my life that as many Mujahideen will step out safely from the river as those who stepped into the river. The deep waters of the river can harm them in no way.”

History is witness to the fact that not even a rope was lost by the Mujahideen when they crossed the river. A cup fell from the hand of one Mujahid. He asked his companions to help him find it; and what should they see but that the cup came floating towards them ona wave. All Praise is for Allah! Alftah is Great!

Seeing this fearful awe-inspiring sight, the Iranians started screaming, that giants had come to swallow them up and fled in panic. Their General, however, remained resolute. A few scattered men stood by him, but the Iranians faced a total rout. They were decimated the very first day and the important city of Madyan with its royal palaces was occupied. The Iranian Empire had already fled to Yazdagar. All the goods and treasures taken from Madyan were sent to A]-Madinah.

When Sa‘d bin Abi Waqas + entered the city of Madyan at the head of his army, he found the city totally deserted in deadly silence. He was so deeply moved that he recited the following Verses:

“How many of gardens and springs that they left behind. And green crops (fields) and goodly places. And comforts of life wherein they used to take delight. Thus (it was)! And We made other people inherit them (i.e. We made the Children of Israel to inherit the kingdom of Egypt).” (44:25-28)

As soon as Madyan was captured the whole of Iraq came under the sway of the Muslims. The Islamic government declared a general amnesty, and people who had fled their houses out of fear were asked to return and settle in their homes. As soon as people heard this announcement they came back and their homes, their wealth and their honour were protected.

After Iraq came under the complete control of the government, Sa’d bin Abi Waqas 4% was appointed governor of the country. It is as difficult to organise a government and run the country as it is to conquer it. Sa’d bin Abi Waqas % had impressed people with his military skill and courage; now as Governor and administrator, with his excellent planning and organisational skills, he made Iraq an ideal and exemplary state in a short time.

The sense of justice and fair play, the magnanimity and good treatment of all people made the people happy and contented. But some of the Koofis who were stubborn trouble mongers complained to the government at the centre that their governor did not conduct prayers in a proper manner and displays laxity in devotions.