On the third and the final day of battle of Qadisiyyahcalled Youm-ul-Amas in Arabic, the opposing forces could not disengage, thebattle continued into the night, making it the night of freedom:Lailat-ul-Hurair. On the night before Youm-ul-Amas, it was decided by commandand control of Islamic forces to create a feeling of parity by feeding thebattle ground with reinforcements in stages, given that Iranian forces held theedge in numbers. Apart from the reinforcing squads led by Hazrat Q’aqa (RA)seven hundred horsemen, commanded by Hazrat Hisham (RA) were dashing in fromSyrian front. Iranians were also replenishing their forces by reinforcements,supervised by Persian monarch–Khosrow Yazdegerd III. The paucity of resourcescompared to the accumulated armour of a millennium of warfare by Persians wasovercome by the steel that Islam had put in the nerve and verve of Muslims. Themillennium old battle experience of enemy was met by an ever elevating learninggraph by Amir-al-Momineen, the spiritual and the temporal head of Muslims, aswell as his generals. Nothing was left to chance, enemy’s combat tactics wereminutely studied and counter measures worked out in group discussions. Allah’shelp was constantly sought, no doubt; however the cardinal principle ofdivinity was kept in mind–God helps only those, who help themselves.
The third day started with the battle cry–Allah-o-Akbar(God is great). The first contingent of one hundred horses dashed down from theback of Muslim lines towards Syria, as Hazrat Q’aqa (RA) had directed. It sohappened, that re-enforced troops with seven hundred horsemen commanded byHazrat Hisham (RA) arrived at the samemoment, conveying the glad tidings that Syria with Allah’s grace standsconquered and Persia would follow suit. The day as usual started with singlecombats of known and famous warriors on either side, the Muslims were known topocket an early advantage in these one to one combats. As usual there wereQuranic recitations and heart warming rhetoric followed. The single combatsgave way to general charges. While the battle was raging, the Persian elephantscontinued to be a menace, even though several ingenious methods were devised tocounter the trump card of Persian Cavalry. Two massive masses of flesh on move,two elephants, the pride possession of the Persian army, named Abyad and Arjabwere causing havoc, wherever they moved into Muslim ranks.
The commander of Islamic forces–Hazrat Saad (RA) thought ofconsulting the two recent Persian coverts, Salam and Dakham on the mosteffective way to counter the threat of the menace in the enemy ranks. Theyproposed targeting the eyes of elephants, blinding them and then knocking offtheir trunks in surgical strikes. Hazrat Saad (RA) sent for Hazrat Q’aqa (RA)Hazrat Asim [RA] Hazrat Hamal [RA] and Hazrat Rabil [RA] four of the mosttrusted fighters in his ranks and explained the tough undertaking. Hazrat Q’aqa[RA] initially sent the horsemen and the foot soldiers to cordon off theelephants. He then advanced with Hazrat Asim [RA] and attacked Abyad, whileHazrat Hamal [RA] and Rabil [RA] attacked Arjab. Piercing their eyes withaccurate throw of spears, they then knocked off their trunks with neat strikesof the sword. The act of valour had the elephants turning on their own troopsin excruciating pain.
As the day wore off and night shadows started descending,the troops meaning to disengage waited for one another to make the first move.As the two sides were reluctant to leave the field and concede the advantage ofa surprise attack to the enemy, the forces stayed put, glued to theirformations. The misunderstanding of each others motives led to resumed battlewith renewed formations. This set-off Lailat-ul-Hurair (Night of RumblingNoises) the legendary night long battle, when the sword met the sword, the hardstrikes causing flashes of lightening and rumbling noises, as steel met steel.Unable to shake the Persians, with their heavy armour and deep formations,Hazrat Q’aqa (RA) finally decided to go for the jugular. Descending from thehorses, Muslim warriors moved swifter and faster on their feet, penetrating theenemy defenses, until they reached the commander’s camp, where Rustam—theIranian commander was sitting on a throne directing troops. As he saw theunexpected movement of Muslims on foot making a dash towards him, he joined thebattle. He fought for some time, but seeing the siege around him, he ran away.Coming to a brook, he plunged into a swim. A pursuing Muslim warrior, HazratHilal (RA) got hold of him, pulled him out and dealt the death blow to thePersian commander and exclaimed in a loud voice ‘I have killed Rustam’.
Following the decisive blow, there was some tokenresistance; however it soon melted. Qadisiyyah, the battle that raged for threedays and the night of rumbling noises was won and with it the fate of Persiawas sealed, though a few more battles remained ahead. The news of victory wasconveyed to Hazrat Omar Farooq (RA) who was waiting in feverish anticipation,in the outskirts of Medina, as the messenger arrived. The messenger did notrecognize him, so his pleading to let him know the result of the battle fell ondeaf ear. The messenger was making a dash to the quarters of Amir-ul-Momineen,hardly knowing that one of the greatest rulers history has ever known was onhis trail. As they entered the city and the reality of one trailing him becameevident, the messenger got eager to dismount the galloping horse. The reveredCaliph asked him to stay on and say, whatever he has to convey. As Caliph heardthe news of victory and it spread, there were jubilations, as people startedcollecting in Masjid-i-Nabavi, to hear the sermon of the Caliph.
Yaar Zinda, Sohbat Baqi [Reunion is subordinate to survival]