Part 37

“My name is Bahman Jathwiyah, and the whole world knows me and stands in awe of me. Look at my pomp and authority and experience at first hand my magnificence and grandeur. I have come today as your nemesis and a calamity. Who can face my sharp sword? You will face me? Ha Ha Ha! Go young lad

and send someone else. You will not be able to withstand even one of the stabs I will make. This war is for men, and not for youths. Go, lad, and enjoy the pleasures of life to the full and some experienced person forward to fight against me.”

When the sun set the next evening and the darkness of night had spread over four corner of the earth, the fighting stopped. The armies went to their encampments to rest. The Mujahideen went to sleep to regain their energies for the following day. But the one person who could not rest was Qa’qa’ 4%, who was using his quick and fertile mind to plan a comprehensive strategy for the third day. Sa‘d bin Abu

“O believers of the Allah, if you wish to bathe the bodies of the martyrs do so, or if you wish to bury them covered with their bleeding wounds you are free to do so. Because the Prophet 38 has said, ‘the martyr will be raised on the Day of Judgement with his bleeding wounds smelling like saffron.”

The martyrs were buried with full military honours and the wounds of the injured were treated.

When the sun rose on the morning of the third day, both the armies came out on the battlefield. Again the mammoth elephants were seen with the Iranian army in the battlefield. Sa‘d bin Abu Wags -% sent for those Iranian soldiers who had accepted Islam, in order to consult with them. He asked them what was the most effective way to make these giant elephants retreat. They told him to aimat the eyes and trunks of the elephants; the result would be that they would race backwards out of the battlefield, screeching and screaming and destroying their own army. Sa’d bin Abu Waqas -# then sent for Qa’ qa’ and his brother, ‘Asim bin ‘Amr - and revealing this secret, told them to try it out that day. So the two brothers targeted the white elephant’s eyes. Simultaneously, Qa’qa’ bin ‘Amr displaying great courage and valour attacked the trunk of the elephant with his sword; it fell far away on the ground as he cut it off. The elephant, in a mad rage, ran screaming; its rider fell on the ground and many Iranian soldiers were trampled under it. Similarly another Mujahid attacked another elephant and targeted its eyes and trunk. The animal was blinded and started to scamper around the battlefield causing confusion. The fierce battle continued till darkness began to spread; the whole atmosphere was polluted with dirt and dust, and as a consequence one could not see clearly who was attacking whom, and whose sword was slitting whose throat. Yet the battle continued the whole night until it was almost dawn. Qa’qa’ bin ‘Amr At-Tameemi + was going around the battlefield and mowing down anyone who came in front of him. Sa’d bin Abu Wags - was sitting on the foremost part of the ramparts and offering supplications to Allah for him.

Fighting his way through the ranks of the enemy, Hilal bin Alqama finally succeeded in reaching the place where the Iranian General, Rustum had entrenched himself. When he saw that his safety was endangered, he fled. In front of him was a stream; in order to save his life he jumped in. Hilal bin Alqama also jumped in, in pursuit of him. They both started wrestling in the middle of the stream, but Rustum was no match for Hilal bin Alqama. At last the latter inflicted a fatal wound on Rustum, and he collapsed in the water. Catching him by his

feet Hilal bin Alqama, dragged him out of the water, and chopped off his head with his sword. Then he announced loudly:

“By the Lord of the Ka’bah I have slain the Iranian General, Rustum, Look! The body of the enemy of Allah has become a sign of warning and an admonition for all men.”

The Iranian army was demoralised on seeing their General’s dead body, and was forced to surrender in the battlefield of Qadissiyah. This day is remembered in history as Youm-e-'Ammas.

“The most vital role at Qadissiyah was played by Qa’qa’ bin ‘Amr At-Tameemi 4. I was astounded to see him so passionately moved by the spirit of Jihad that using his physical strength he assaulted the enemy thirty times. In every attack he killed an Iranian General. There is no doubt that his exploits in Qadissiyah deserve a golden chapter in the military history of Islam.”

The great General Sa’d bin Abu Waqas #% decided to attack Madyan, but there was a river which needed to be crossed. The Iranians had destroyed all the bridges to prevent the Muslim army from entering the city by crossing them. After a great deal of consideration it was decided to set off on the journey invoking the Name of Allah and cross the stream on horseback. Meanwhile the Iranian forces were waiting on the opposite riverbank.

“These are Monsters, Giants and Jinn who are coming to swallow us!”

The Muslim army reached the opposite bank safely and entered the city of Madyan under their Commander, Sa’d bin Abu Waqas #. The people of the city had also run away to save their lives, leaving their homes empty; the city was completely deserted. The scene was certainly a warning for the discerning mind and sensitive soul. Madyan was taken peacefully, without any resistance. The Muslim army continued on its onward march towards its objective. The famous Arab heroes continued their mission and fighting, sometimes as generals and commanders and at times even as ordinary soldiers. In spite of winning numerous victories they did not amass wealth nor did they hunger for power and sovereignty over conquered lands, only one image dominated their minds - ‘The pre-eminence of Islam and honourable crown of martyrdom.’

Jalula’ is the name of an important centrally located city on the road to Khurasan. It is about forty miles from Madyan. Many roads lead from here to various other towns in Iran. A long river flows by the side of the city and many large and small ships ply on it. The people of Madyan had fled from their city and found refuge here. They wanted to make this city a centre from which they could organise a movement to resist the Arabs; they felt that if they did not unite against the Arabs, the Iranian people would be destroyed forever. There would be no safe-haven for them anywhere in the world, Their leader Yazdagar had fled from Madyan and taken refuge. From here he sent a huge Iranian army under the Iranian General, Mehran Razi to Jalula’ to give a befitting reply to the Arab Mujahideen. Iranian army dug a huge trench around the city, so that it could provide a defence for the city.

Qa’qa’ bin ‘Amr besieged the city of Jalula’ and the Iranians shut themselves up in the fort. In order to arouse the passion for Jihad among the soldiers, the Commander-in-Chief, Hisham bin Utbah 4 gave an emotionally charged speech. He said:

“For the sake of Allah! Conduct your life in these times of trial in a disciplined manner. He will grant you a reward in the Hereafter and also you will get a lot of booty here. And all you do, should be to gain the reward from Allah.”

After listening to the stirring speech of his leader, Qa‘qa’ bin ‘Amr > launched a vigorous attack. Coming down to the entrance of the trenches, he shouted:

“Muslims your Commander-in-Chief has got down into the trenches; follow him quickly. Now we have to cross it and enter the city - this is vital. There is no other way to succeed; see that no person stays back.”