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The Battle of Al-Buwayb (13 AH)
This
battle - in Iraq - is considered to be an equivalent of Al-Yarmuk
in the Levant; the Persian princes mobilized the troops under
leadership of Mahran to meet the Muslims who were led by
Al-Muthanna Ibn Harithah.
Both
armies gathered in a place called Al-Buwayb –near today Koufa-
where Euphrates River laid between the two groups. They suggested
that one of the two groups should cross the river and the Muslims
said that the Persians were to do that; and so did they meet (after
meeting, did the fighting ensue or not?) one another in Ramadan.
Al-Muthanna
pushed the Muslims not to fast, in order to find enough power to
face their enemies and then he mobilized his army and went to each
and every brigade –amongst which was Abdullah Al-Bajaly leading
Bajila and a number of Muslim leaders. Muthanna advised and
encouraged them to strive, be patient and stick to silence.
He
also told them that he’d give four loud Takbir (chanting Allah
Akbar) and that they should get set during the first three ones and
launch their attack at hearing the fourth, which was received by
all of them with complete obedience.
However,
when Al-Muthanna started the first Takbir, the Persians quickly
launched an attack and the Muslims strongly faced them until they
besieged them, and they had a furious fight, during which both
sides exerted desperate effort.
Al-Muthanna
then found a fissure in a side of his troops, so he sent a man to
them telling them to do their best not to cause ruin for the Arabs
so they quickly fixed their lines! Watching them Al-Muthanna was
impressed with what he saw, so he laughed and sent them another
message telling them to fight for the sake of Allah in order to
gain His support.
Al-Muthanna
and the Muslims then prayed a lot to Allah asking him to grant them
victory, but when the fight went longer and longer without any sign
of change Al-Muthanna gathered a number of his best fellows to
cover him and he launched a strong attack on Mahran himself and
finally pushed him off his place, until he reached the right wing
of the Persian army.
Muhammed
Ibn Is-haq, describing this, said that Al-Mundhir Ibn Hassaan Ibn
Dirar Ad-Dabbi then attacked the Persian leader and stabbed him
while Jarir Ibn `Abdullah Al-Bajaly cut off his head.
Seeing
this, the Persians started to escape and the Muslims followed them;
cutting off their heads. Al-Muthanna also went quickly to the
bridge to prevent the Persians from crossing back, to enable
Muslims to get them. Muslims chased them for the rest of the day
and even after dark had fallen.
It
was said that that around 100, 000 were killed, and – thanks to
Allah Almighty – Muslims captured much food and money that day
and sent to `Umar Ibn Al-Khattab breaking the good news to him and
presenting him the one-fifth of the booty.
And
although a large number of Muslims leaders were also killed, this
battle forced the Persians to surrender to Muslims, enabling the
Companions –may Allah be pleased with them all- to launch other
attacks between the two rivers; Tigris and Euphrates gaining a
tremendous fortune.
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