Part 9

“O Harmaz! Accept Islam, or accept the government of Islam and start paying tax. Otherwise you will be forced to facea people who love death just as much as you love life.”

The only effect it had on Harmaz was that he asked the Empire of Iran for a huge army to assist him; the Empire’s army immediately set out to help him. The Muslim Mujahideen under the command of Khalid bin Waleed 8 numbered eighteen thousand. When the two armies came out into the battlefield to face each other, Harmaz arrogantly stepped out, clapping his breast proudly. But with the first stroke of his sword Khalid bin Waleed 4 finished him. His army panicked and was uprooted when they saw their Commander killed even before the battle had got under way. The Mujahideen won and gained huge spoils of war. They also got the heavily embroidered and bejeweled cap of Harmaz. The Caliph, Abu Bakr Siddiq -4, gave the cap, which was valued at a hundred thousand dirhams, to Khalid bin Waleed -2. Wherever this great hero turned in Iraq, he was blessed with victory.

In all the battles - the Battle of Dhat-us-Salasal, the Battle of Walja, the

Battle of Alees, the Battle of Amgheeshiya, the Battle of Haira, the Battle of Anbar, the Battle of ‘Ain-ul-Tamar, the Battle of Haseer, the Battle of Khanafas, the Battle of Maseekh, the Battle of Zameel and finally, in the Battle of Faraz - in all of the battles fought within the borders of Iraq, the Muslim army gained victories. Khalid bin Waleed +> spent altogether two years in Iraq, and fought fifteen wars. In spite of the fact that the Muslim army was smaller and had less arms and equipment compared to the enemy, they triumphed in all the encounters. In a short period of time they won victories which the greatest of Generals have not been able to win to this day. Some useful information is provided herewith on the battles mentioned above.

EIR The Battle of Dhat-us-Salasal

This was the first battle fought by Khalid bin Waleed <¢ in Iraq. It is also known as the Battle of Hafeer. Hafeer is located in the Gulf of Persia. It is located on the road, from Al-Madinah towards Basra. The ruler was Harmaz, who was very much under the influence of the government of Iran. He was the arrogant man who had worn the cap embroidered with diamonds and other precious stones and estimated to cost one hundred thousand dirhams. Among the spoils of war was an elephant, which was sent by Khalid bin Waleed # to Al-Madinah. The people of this city had never seen such an animal before and all the people, young and old - men, women and children - turned out to see this strangest of Allah Almighty’s creations.

Saldsal means chains, and that is why this battle got its name.

The Battle of Alees

Alees is the name of an area located between Haira and Ablah on the banks of the River Euphrates. The Arab tribes settled in Iraq had planned with the Iranians to fight the Muslims. They were inflamed against the Muslims after having been defeated by them time and again. As soon as Khalid bin Waleed +4 reached Alees he attacked them. With his very first blow he slew the famous heroic rider, Malik bin Qais. Seeing this the enemy forces terrified. Food had been prepared for the enemy, but they did not get a chance to eat it. Filled with fear, and worried for their safety and their lives, they left everything in the battlefield and fled. There was white handmade bread called ‘Chapati,"'’ with which the Arabs were not familiar. They had seen it for the first time. In this battle almost seventy thousand enemy soldiers were slain.

' Chapathis are made of wheat dough; they are rolled out into a round shape with a rolling pin and roasted lightly on a griddle.

The Battle of Hairah

@ The people of Hairah would pay annually a tax of one hundred and ninety thousand dirhams.

They would spy on Iran for the Mujahideen.

The Mujahideen, on the other hand, would not raze or destroy their places of worship, nor would they harm anyone.

Khalid bin Waleed .# decided that this would be an appropriate time, opportunity and place to rest, and stayed on in Hairah for a year. In order to organize the very huge surrounding areas, he spread out troops in all directions under experienced generals like Dharar bin Azwar, Qa’ga’a bin ‘Amr and Mathna bin Harithah p+ 4,2). Thus, the standard of Islam was to be found flying everywhere in the area.

Abu Bakr Siddiq 4 sent some of his greatest generals such as, Abu ‘Ubaidah bin Al-Jarrah, Yazid bin Abu Sufyan, Amir Muawiyya bin Abu Sufyan and ‘Amr bin Al-Aas_ ,< 4,2, with military troops to capture the land of the Romans. They had won battles in four different

territories of Syria. But, taking into consideration the difficult situation, they had all gathered on the shores of the river Yarmook. When Caesar, the Emperor of Rome had heard about the coming of the Muslim army, he had advised his council of ministers and generals to avoid war. But all of them had said unanimously that they would fight firmly against the Muslims and teach them a lesson, which would not be forgotten by even their future generations. So the Romans entered the battlefield with two hundred and forty thousand men; the Muslim army had only forty-six thousand Mujahideen who were all split into different divisions. Each of these, under different Generals camped in scattered areas of the arena.

When Khilid bin Waleed . reached Yarmook and saw the situation, he called a meeting of all the different leaders, and presented a strategy to them. He suggested that on each day a different leader would lead all the combined forces; thus each of these generals would get the privilege of command. The enemy would be overawed and impressed when they saw the unity and cooperation of the Muslims, and would not dare to oppose the Muslims. Everyone approved of the plan, and for the first day of battle all of them accepted Khalid bin Waleed # as the Commander of the united army. As soon as he gained command of the army he gave a stirring speech to the men, which aroused their passions for jihad. It was as if he had instantaneously injected and transferred his own fervour into the hearts of the men.

He addressed them thus:

“O Mujahideen! This isa memorable day. It is the day on which our faith will be tested and tried. Today we should avoid every kind of arrogance, pride and not contend for individual glory or egoistic bragging.

O Mujahid of Islam! Fight only to gain the Goodwill of Allah Almighty. In the Muslim army today there are many great generals; each of them is worthy and can be entrusted with the permanent command of this army. Today you have assigned to me this honour of commanding the Muslim army. So I hope that for the honour and victory of Islam, today we will enter the battlefield of Jihdd as one. Allah will be our Supporter and Defender.”

“It looks as if poverty, nakedness and starvation has compelled you to come here. If you wish I am willing to give each of you ten dinars, expensive clothes and good food. You can take these things and leave. Next year too | can send you these things; you do not have to take the trouble to come here.”

Khalid bin Waleed was enraged on hearing these scornful and arrogant words, and answered.

“Mahan listen to me very carefully! You are mistaken about the reason why we are here. We are people who drink the blood of our opponents. We have heard that Roman blood is very delicious, and we have come here to enjoy it.”