While as Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) initiated the restructuringof world order, the Caliphs, Hazrat Abu Bakr Sidiq (RA) and Hazrat Omar Farooq(RA) planned it deftly at the seat of Caliphate in Medina-ul-Nabi [the city ofProphet (PBUH). In the Syrian campaign, the initial forays of Hazrat Osama ibnZaid [RA] were meant to forestall any offensive by Roman Empire. The forceshardly had the numerical strength of a major campaign. The forays did have adeterrent effect, as well as a surprise element for border Arab tribes livingas tributaries of Roman Empire. Many of these Arabs were Christians. They hadhowever cross border tribal links, just like Pakhtoons have on Pak-Afghanborder. Tributaries of Romans no doubt, however the ethnic link was providingsome food for thoughts. Arabs of Hejaz in Islamic fold were getting to be fardifferent, in fact the opposite of what they were in pre-Islamic era. Theirlife seemed to be assuming a purpose hitherto unknown. This set the Arabs onSyrian side of the border thinking. And it worked in favour of Islamiccampaign, though initially there were some hiccups.
Hazrat Osama ibn Zaid [RA]’s forays did witness somereverses, fallbacks, regroupings and in 634 A.D/13 A.H, a major change in theplan. Before the restive Byzantines had a chance to recoup, the Caliph, HazratAbu Bakr (RA) devised four division level military formations making provisionfor the topography and logistics of theater of war. The country called Syria bythe Romans is called Barr-ush-Sham by the Arabs, meaning land to the left ofSham in simple terms. The theatre of war was however was not restricted toSyria, as we know and understand the country in modern times. It includedPalestine and Jordan also. Hazrat Abu-Obaidah (RA) was assigned the corps at Hems(Emessa) a city in Syria and this formation included large number of Medinitesand Suhaba-e- Karam [companions of Prophet (PBUH). The commander was one of the most eminent ofSuhaba, who had fought heroically in the battle of Ohod to defend Prophet (PBUH)from a vigorous assault. He was kind and gentle in disposition, with the knackof getting into administrative details of the campaign and wellbeing of histroops.
Amr ibn Aas (RA) commanded the Palestinian division. He isrecorded in Islamic history as a deft politician, who would count his stakesbefore making a move. He is better known as the conqueror of Egypt. And it isrecorded in Arab chronicles that he knew the terrain of Egypt like the palm ofhis hand. He had traded in those parts in pre-Islamic days. Yezid ibnAbu-Sufian [RA] commanded the Damascus division. He should not be confused withhis half nephew Yezid ibn Amir Muwaiyah. He had Meccans and Arabs of Tehama inhis command. Many of these Meccan notables had fought against the Islamic forcesin Badr and Ohod. However, following the conquest of Mecca, in the mostbenevolent act of forgiveness, fortitude and forbearance of the conquerortowards the conquered, Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) not only let them off butallowed them to attain position of honour and prestige in the Islamic fold.Shorabhil ibn Hasnah (RA) led the fourth army division in Ardan. The fourgenerals advanced in assigned directions. Shams-ul-Ulama Shubli Nomani says inhis book ‘Al-Farooq’ that the troops totaled 24,000, while as Ameer Ali in hisfamous book ‘History of Saracens” quotes a figure of 35,000. 24,000 or 35,000,the forces were no match for what Heracles could marshal in his Asian andEurasian territories, while Muslims could bank only on a small reserve forceunder command of Amir Muwaiyah.
Heracles alarmed at the audacity of Arabs, considered to beragtag desert beings, incapable of an organized campaign collected a largeforce at Ajnadin. The commanders of Islamic formations by mutual consentresolved to close ranks and fight jointly. The Caliph was informed andre-enforcement was sought. The Caliph asked Saifulah Khalid (RA) engaged in theIran theatre of war to move camp to the Syrian theatre. This lead to the famousdesert march through the shortest but the most dense and dangerous route, whichjust had one water source known to just one person in famous warrior’s army.The water source however got obliterated; with the person in know, unable tolocate it. With half the way still uncovered, and the throats parched withthirst, the army faced mass dehydration. Fortunately, after an intense search,the obliterated source was detected. Thirst quenched, water stocks replenished,the march continued. The short but potentially dangerous desert route showedreadiness of Saifulah Khalid (RA) to accept grave risk in pursuit of anobjective. The enemy informed of hismarch expected him to take the safer longer route. He got on their head muchearlier than accepted.
Speed in movement combined with surprise as elemental in hiswar strategy made Saifulah Khalid (RA) one of the most daring generals in theannals of warfare. As he reached Syria from Iranian front, he assumed overallcommand. Ajnadin was the first stiff test. Shubli Nomani’s account notes 3000 Muslim causalities; however thebattle was won on 28th Of Jamad-ul-Awal in the 13th Year of Hijra,corresponding to 634-35 A.D, as noted by Ibn Ishaq, the famous compiler ofIslamic history. Following this the commander of joint forces– Saifulah Khalid(RA) laid siege to Damascus, the four gates of the city guarded by HazratAbu-Obaidah (RA) at Jabiah gate, Hazrat Amr ibn Aas (RA) at Tuma gate, HazratShorabhil ibn Hasnah (RA) at Faradis gate, while Saifulah Khalid (RA) postedhimself at the Eastern gate.We are just in the middle of fascinating Syriancampaign, as Islamic forces are seen knocking at the heart of Roman Empire,their financial nerve center, the city of Damascus.
Next week, God willing, we shall take-up the ‘Battle ofDamascus’ as the world order was getting restructured in 7th century.
Yaar Zinda, Sohbat Baqi [Reunion is subordinate to survival]