al-Muthanna ibn Haritha

Al-Muthanna ibn Haritha al-Shaybani (died 14 AH / 635 M) adalah Arab panglima dari tribes dari lower Irak yang played decisive role di opening phase dari Islamic conquest dari Persia. Before main Muslim armies arrived, al-Muthanna ibn Haritha telah menjadi leading raids ke dalam Sassanid-controlled borderlands dengan tribes under his command, motivated both oleh plunder dan oleh strategic vacuum left oleh exhausted Persian empire.

Ia melakukan perjalanan ke Madinah dan presented himself ke Abu Bakr al-Siddiq setelah Nabi ﷺ's death, requesting authorization dan support untuk formal raids ke dalam Persia. Abu Bakr granted his request dan assigned him Khalid ibn al-Walid as overall panglima. Together they fought early battles dari Irak campaign, dengan al-Muthanna providing crucial local ilmu pengetahuan, tribal support, dan manpower.

After Khalid adalah transferred ke Suriah, al-Muthanna became main Muslim panglima di Irak. He suffered serious defeat di Battle dari Bridge (Jisr) di 13 AH against Sassanid forces, losing significant portion dari his army. He rallied, requested reinforcements, dan continued fighting. His persistent pressure pada Persians helped maintain Muslim foothold di lower Irak hingga Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas arrived dengan main army.

Al-Muthanna adalah wounded di Battle dari Buwayb dan died dari his wounds sekitar 14 AH sebelum decisive Battle dari al-Qadhisiyyah, yang fulfilled strategic goals he memiliki worked toward. Ia meninggalkan behind request yang Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas marry his widow Salma, yang Sa'd did — symbolizing continuity dari conquest he memiliki begun.