Tarikh (al-Tabari) 1875
The caliphate of ʿUmar b. al-Khaṭṭāb
يَوْمِ أَغْوَاثٍ ثُمَّ أَصْبَحَ الْقَوْمُ مِنَ الْغَدِ عَلَى تَعْبِيَةٍ وَقَدْ وَكَّلَ سَعْدٌ بِالْقَتْلَى وَالْجَرْحَى مَنْ يَنْقُلُهُمْ، فَسُلِّمَ الْجَرْحَى إِلَى النِّسَاءِ لِيَقُمْنَ عَلَيْهِمْ، وَأَمَّا الْقَتْلَى فَدُفِنُوا هُنَالِكَ عَلَى مُشَرِّقٍ، وَهُوَ وَادٍ بَيْنَ الْعُذَيْبِ وَعَيْنِ الشَّمْسِ. فَلَمَّا نَقَلَ سَعْدٌ الْقَتْلَى وَالْجَرْحَى طَلَعَتْ نَوَاصِي الْخَيْلِ مِنَ الشَّامِ، وَكَانَ فَتْحُ دِمَشْقَ قَبْلَ الْقَادِسِيَّةِ، فَلَمَّا قَدِمَ كِتَابُ عُمَرَ عَلَى أَبِي عُبَيْدَةَ بْنِ الْجَرَّاحِ بِإِرْسَالِ أَهْلِ الْعِرَاقِ، سَيَّرَهُمْ وَعَلَيْهِمْ هَاشِمُ بْنُ عُتْبَةَ بْنِ أَبِي وَقَّاصٍ، وَعَلَى مُقَدَّمَتِهِ الْقَعْقَاعُ بْنُ عَمْرٍو التَّمِيمِيُّ، فَتَعَجَّلَ الْقَعْقَاعُ، فَقَدِمَ عَلَى النَّاسِ صَبِيحَةَ هَذَا الْيَوْمِ، وَهُوَ يَوْمُ أَغْوَاثٍ، وَقَدْ عَهِدَ إِلَى أَصْحَابِهِ أَنْ يَتَقَطَّعُوا أَعْشَارًا، وَهُمْ أَلْفٌ، كُلَّمَا بَلَغَ عَشَرَةٌ مَدَى الْبَصَرِ سَرَّحُوا عَشَرَةً، فَقَدِمَ أَصْحَابُهُ فِي عَشَرَةٍ، فَأَتَى النَّاسَ فَسَلَّمَ عَلَيْهِمْ وَبَشَّرَهُمْ بِالْجُنُودِ، وَحَرَّضَهُمْ عَلَى الْقِتَالِ وَقَالَ: اصْنَعُوا كَمَا أَصْنَعُ، وَطَلَبَ الْبِرَازَ، فَقَالُوا فِيهِ بِقَوْلِ أَبِي بَكْرٍ: لَا يُهْزَمُ جَيْشٌ فِيهِمْ مِثْلُ هَذَا. فَخَرَجَ إِلَيْهِ ذُو الْحَاجِبِ، فَعَرَفَهُ الْقَعْقَاعُ فَنَادَى: يَا لِثَارَاتِ أَبِي عُبَيْدٍ، وَسَلِيطٍ، وَأَصْحَابِ الْجِسْرِ ! وَتَضَارَبَا، فَقَتَلَهُ الْقَعْقَاعُ، وَجَعَلَتْ خَيْلُهُ تَرِدُ إِلَى اللَّيْلِ وَتُنَشِّطُ النَّاسَ، وَكَأَنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ بِالْأَمْسِ مُصِيبَةٌ، وَفَرِحُوا بِقَتْلِ ذِي الْحَاجِبِ، وَانْكَسَرَتِ الْأَعَاجِمُ بِذَلِكَ. وَطَلَبَ الْقَعْقَاعُ الْبِرَازَ فَخَرَجَ إِلَيْهِ الْفَيْرُزَانُ وَالْبَنْذَوَانُ، فَانْضَمَّ إِلَى الْقَعْقَاعِ الْحَارِثُ بْنُ ظَبْيَانِ بْنِ الْحَارِثِ - أَحَدُ بَنِي تَيْمِ اللَّاتِ - فَتَبَارَزُوا، فَقَتَلَ الْقَعْقَاعُ الْفَيْرُزَانَ، وَقَتَلَ الْحَارِثُ الْبِنْذَوَانَ، وَنَادَى الْقَعْقَاعُ: يَا مَعْشَرَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ، بَاشِرُوهُمْ بِالسُّيُوفِ، فَإِنَّمَا يُحْصَدُ النَّاسُ بِهَا ! فَاقْتَتَلُوا حَتَّى الْمَسَاءِ، فَلَمْ يَرَ أَهْلُ فَارِسَ فِي هَذَا الْيَوْمِ ( شَيْئًا ) مِمَّا يُعْجِبُهُمْ، وَأَكْثَرَ الْمُسْلِمُونَ فِيهِمُ الْقَتْلَ، وَلَمْ يُقَاتِلُوا فِي هَذَا الْيَوْمِ عَلَى فِيَلٍ، كَانَتْ تَوَابِيتُهَا تَكَسَّرَتْ بِالْأَمْسِ، فَاسْتَأْنَفُوا عَمَلَهَا فَلَمْ يَفْرَغُوا مِنْهَا حَتَّى كَانَ الْغَدُ. وَجَعَلَ الْقَعْقَاعُ كُلَّمَا طَلَعَتْ قِطْعَةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِهِ كَبَّرَ وَكَبَّرَ الْمُسْلِمُونَ، وَيَحْمِلُ وَيَحْمِلُونَ، وَحَمَلَ بَنُو عَمٍّ لِلْقَعْقَاعِ عَشَرَةً عَشَرَةً عَلَى إِبِلٍ قَدْ أَلْبَسُوهَا وَهِيَ مُجَلَّلَةٌ مُبَرْقَعَةٌ، وَأَطَافَتْ بِهِمْ خُيُولُهُمْ تَحْمِيهِمْ، وَأَمَرَهُمُ الْقَعْقَاعُ أَنْ يَحْمِلُوهَا عَلَى خَيْلِ الْفُرْسِ يَتَشَبَّهُونَ بِالْفِيَلَةِ، فَفَعَلُوا بِهِمْ هَذَا الْيَوْمَ، وَهُوَ يَوْمُ أَغْوَاثٍ، كَمَا فَعَلَتْ فَارِسُ يَوْمَ أَرْمَاثَ، فَجَعَلَتْ خَيْلُ الْفُرْسِ تَفِرُّ مِنْهَا، وَرَكِبَتْهَا خُيُولُ الْمُسْلِمِينَ. فَلَمَّا رَأَى النَّاسُ ذَلِكَ اسْتَنُّوا بِهِمْ، فَلَقِيَ الْفُرْسُ مِنَ الْإِبِلِ أَعْظَمَ مِمَّا لَقِيَ الْمُسْلِمُونَ مِنَ الْفِيَلَةِ. وَحَمَلَ رَجُلٌ مِنْ تَمِيمٍ عَلَى رُسْتُمَ يُرِيدُ قَتْلَهُ، فَقُتِلَ دُونَهُ. وَخَرَجَ رَجُلٌ مِنْ فَارِسَ يُبَارِزُ، فَبَرَزَ إِلَيْهِ الْأَعْرَفُ بْنُ الْأَعْلَمِ الْعَقِيلِيُّ فَقَتَلَهُ، ثُمَّ بَرَزَ إِلَيْهِ آخَرُ فَقَتَلَهُ، وَأَحَاطَتْ بِهِ فَوَارِسُ مِنْهُمْ فَصَرَعُوهُ وَأَخَذُوا سِلَاحَهُ، فَغَبَّرَ فِي وُجُوهِهِمُ التُّرَابَ حَتَّى رَجَعَ إِلَى أَصْحَابِهِ. وَحَمَلَ الْقَعْقَاعُ بْنُ عَمْرٍو يَوْمَئِذٍ ثَلَاثِينَ حَمْلَةً، كُلَّمَا طَلَعَتْ قِطْعَةٌ حَمَلَ حَمْلَةً وَأَصَابَ فِيهَا وَقَتَلَ، كَانَ آخِرُهُمْ بُزُرْجُمِهْرَ الْهَمَذَانِيَّ. وَبَارَزَ الْأَعْوَرُ بْنُ قُطْبَةَ شَهْرَيَارَ سِجِسْتَانَ فَقَتَلَ كُلُّ وَاحِدٍ مِنْهُمَا صَاحِبَهُ، وَقَاتَلَتِ الْفُرْسَانُ إِلَى انْتِصَافِ النَّهَارِ. فَلَمَّا اعْتَدَلَ النَّهَارُ تَزَاحَفَ النَّاسُ، فاَقْتَتَلُوا حَتَّى انْتَصَفَ اللَّيْلُ، فَكَانَتْ لَيْلَةُ أَرْمَاثَ تُدْعَى الْهَدْأَةَ، وَلَيْلَةُ أَغَوَاثٍ تُدْعَى السَّوَادَ، وَلَمْ يَزَلِ الْمُسْلِمُونَ يَرَوْنَ ( فِي ) يَوْمِ أَغْوَاثٍ الظَّفَرَ، وَقَتَلُوا فِيهِ عَامَّةَ أَعْلَامِهِمْ، وَحَالَتْ فِيهِ خَيْلُ الْقَلْبِ وَثَبَتَ رَجْلُهُمْ، فَلَوْلَا أَنَّ خَيْلَهُمْ عَادَتْ أُخِذَ رُسْتُمُ أَخْذًا. وَبَاتَ النَّاسُ عَلَى مَا بَاتَ عَلَيْهِ الْقَوْمُ لَيْلَةَ أَرْمَاثَ، وَلَمْ يَزَلِ الْمُسْلِمُونَ يَنْتَمُونَ. فَلَمَّا سَمِعَ سَعْدٌ ذَلِكَ قَالَ لِبَعْضِ مَنْ عِنْدَهُ: إِنْ تَمَّ النَّاسُ عَلَى الِانْتِمَاءِ فَلَا تُوقِظْنِي فَإِنَّهُمْ أَقْوِيَاءُ، وَإِنْ سَكَتُوا وَلَمْ يَنْتَمِ الْآخَرُونَ فَلَا تُوقِظْنِي، فَإِنَّهُمْ عَلَى السَّوَاءِ، فَإِنْ سَمِعْتَهُمْ يَنْتَمُونَ فَأَيْقِظْنِي فَإِنَّ انْتِمَائَهُمْ عَنِ السَّوْءِ. وَلَمَّا اشْتَدَّ الْقِتَالُ، وَكَانَ أَبُو مِحْجَنٍ قَدْ حُبِسَ وَقُيِّدَ فَهُوَ فِي الْقَصْرِ، قَالَ لِسَلْمَى زَوْجِ سَعْدٍ: هَلْ لَكِ أَنْ تُخَلِّي عَنِّي وَتُعِيرِينِي الْبَلْقَاءَ ؟ فَلِلَّهِ عَلَيَّ إِنْ سَلَّمَنِي اللَّهُ أَنْ أَرْجِعَ إِلَيْكِ حَتَّى أَضَعَ رِجْلِي فِي قَيْدِي. فَأَبَتْ، فَقَالَ: كَفَى حَزَنًا أَنْ تَرْدَى الْخَيْلُ بِالْقَنَا وَأُتْرَكَ مَشْدُودًا عَلَيَّ وَثَاقِيَا إِذَا قُمْتُ عَنَّانِي الْحَدِيدُ وَأُغْلِقَتْ مَصَارِيعُ دُونِي قَدْ تُصِمُّ الْمُنَادِيَا وَقَدْ كُنْتُ ذَا مَالٍ كَثِيرٍ وَإِخْوَةٍ فَقَدْ تَرَكُونِي وَاحِدًا لَا أَخَا لِيَا وَلِلَّهِ عَهْدٌ لَا أَخِيسُ بِعَهْدِهِ لَئِنْ فُرِّجَتْ أَنْ لَا أَزُورَ الْحَوَانِيَا فَرَقَّتْ لَهُ سَلْمَى وَأَطْلَقَتْهُ، وَأَعْطَتْهُ الْبَلْقَاءَ فَرَسَ سَعْدٍ، فَرَكِبَهَا حَتَّى إِذَا كَانَ بِحِيَالِ الْمَيْمَنَةِ كَبَّرَ، ثُمَّ حَمَلَ عَلَى مَيْسَرَةِ الْفُرْسِ، ثُمَّ رَجَعَ خَلْفَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ، وَحَمَلَ عَلَى مَيْمَنَتِهِمْ، وَكَانَ يَقْصِفُ النَّاسَ قَصْفًا مُنْكَرًا، وَتَعَجَّبَ النَّاسُ مِنْهُ وَهُمْ لَا يَعْرِفُونَهُ، فَقَالَ بَعْضُهُمْ: هُوَ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ هَاشِمٍ أَوْ هَاشِمٌ نَفْسُهُ، وَكَانَ سَعْدٌ يَقُولُ: لَوْلَا مَحْبَسُ أَبِي مِحْجَنٍ لَقُلْتُ هَذَا أَبُو مِحْجَنٍ وَهَذِهِ الْبَلْقَاءُ. وَقَالَ بَعْضُ النَّاسِ: هَذَا الْخَضِرُ. وَقَالَ بَعْضُهُمْ: لَوْلَا أَنَّ الْمَلَائِكَةَ لَا تُبَاشِرُ الْحَرْبَ لَقُلْنَا إِنَّهُ مَلَكٌ. فَلَمَّا انْتَصَفَ اللَّيْلُ وَتَرَاجَعَ الْمُسْلِمُونَ وَالْفُرْسُ عَنِ الْقِتَالِ أَقْبَلَ أَبُو مِحْجَنٍ فَدَخَلَ الْقَصْرَ وَأَعَادَ رِجْلَيْهِ فِي الْقَيْدِ وَقَالَ: لَقَدْ عَلِمَتْ ثَقِيفٌ غَيْرَ فَخْرٍ بِأَنَّا نَحْنُ أَكْرَمُهُمْ سُيُوفَا وَأَكْثَرُهُمْ دُرُوعًا سَابِغَاتٍ وَأَصْبَرُهُمْ إِذَا كَرِهُوا الْوُقُوفَا وَأَنَا وَفْدُهُمْ فِي كُلِّ يَوْمٍ فَإِنْ عُمُّوا فَسَلْ بِهِمْ عَرِيفَا وَلَيْلَةَ قَادِسٍ لَمْ يَشْعُرُوا بِي وَلَمْ أُشْعِرْ بِمَخْرَجِي الزُّحُوفَا فَإِنْ أُحْبَسْ فَذَلِكُمْ بَلَائِي وَإِنْ أُتْرَكْ أُذِيقُهُمُ الْحُتُوفَا فَقَالَتْ لَهُ سَلْمَى: فِي أَيِّ شَيْءٍ حَبَسَكَ ؟ فَقَالَ: وَاللَّهِ مَا حَبَسَنِي بِحَرَامٍ أَكَلْتُهُ وَلَا شَرِبْتُهُ، وَلَكِنَّنِي كُنْتُ صَاحِبَ شَرَابٍ فِي الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ، وَأَنَا امْرُؤٌ شَاعِرٌ يَدِبُّ الشِّعْرُ عَلَى لِسَانِي، فَقُلْتُ: إِذَا مِتُّ فَادْفِنِّي إِلَى أَصْلِ كَرْمَةٍ تُرّوِّي عِظَامِي بَعْدَ مَوْتِي عُرُوقُهَا وَلَا تَدْفِنَنِّي بِالْفَلَاةِ فَإِنَّنِي أَخَافُ إِذَا مَا مِتُّ أَنْ لَا أَذُوقَهَا فَلِذَلِكَ حَبَسَنِي. فَلَمَّا أَصْبَحَتْ أَتَتْ سَعْدًا فَصَالَحَتْهُ، وَكَانَتْ مُغَاضِبَةً لَهُ، وَأَخْبَرَتْهُ بِخَبَرِ أَبِي مِحْجَنٍ، فَأَطْلَقَهُ فَقَالَ: اذْهَبْ فَمَا أَنَا مُؤَاخِذُكَ بِشَيْءٍ تَقُولُهُ حَتَّى تَفْعَلَهُ. قَالَ: لَا جَرَمَ، [ وَاللَّهِ ] لَا أُجِيبُ لِسَانِي إِلَى [ صِفَةِ ] قَبِيحٍ أَبَدًا !وعَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ مَغْرَاءَ الدَّوْسِيِّ ]، عَنْ رَجُلٍ مِنْ خُزَاعَةَ، قَالَ: لَمَّا اجْتَمَعَ النَّاسُ بِالْقَادِسِيَّةِ دَعَتْ خَنْسَاءُ بِنْتُ عَمْرٍو النَّخَعِيَّةُ بَنِيهَا الْأَرْبَعَةَ، فَقَالَتْ: يَا بَنِيَّ، إِنَّكُمْ أَسْلَمْتُمْ طَائِعِينَ، وَهَاجَرْتُمْ، وَاللَّهِ مَا نَبَتَ بِكُمُ الدَّارُ وَلَا أَقْحَمَتْكُمُ السَّنَةُ، وَلَا أَرْدَاكُمُ الطَّمَعُ، وَاللَّهِ الَّذِي لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا هُوَ إِنَّكُمْ لَبَنُو رَجُلٍ وَاحِدٍ، كَمَا أَنَّكُمْ بَنُو امْرَأَةٍ وَاحِدَةٍ، مَا خُنْتُ أَبَاكُمْ وَلَا فَضَحْتُ خَالَكُمْ، وَلَا عَمَوْتُ نَسَبَكُمْ، وَلَا أَوْطَأْتُ حَرِيمَكُمْ، وَلَا أَبَحْتُ حِمَاكُمْ، فَإِذَا كَانَ غَدًا إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ، فَاغْدُوَا لِقِتَالِ عَدُوِّكُمْ مُسْتَنْصِرِينَ اللَّهَ مُسْتَبْصِرِينَ، فَإِذَا رَأَيْتُمُ الْحَرْبَ قَدْ أَبْدَتْ سَاقَهَا، وَقَدْ ضَرَبَتْ رِوَاقَهَا فَتَيَمَّمُوا وَطِيسَهَا، وَجَالِدُوا خَمِيسَهَا، تَظْفَرُوا بِالْمَغْنَمِ وَالسَّلَامَةِ وَالْفَوْزِ وَالْكَرَامَةِ فِي دَارِ الْخُلْدِ وَالْمَقَامَةِ. فَانْصَرَفَ الْفِتْيَةُ مِنْ عِنْدِهَا وَهُمْ لِأَمْرِهَا طَائِعُونَ، وَبِنُصْحِهَا عَارِفُونَ، فَلَمَّا لَقُوا الْعَدُوَّ شَدَّ أَوَّلُهُمْ، وَهُوَ يَرْتَجِزُ يَقُولُ: يَا إِخْوَتَا إِنَّ الْعَجُوزَ النَّاصِحِهْ قَدْ أَشْرَبَتْنَا إِذْ دَعَتْنَا الْبَارِحَهْ نَصِيحَةَ ذَاتِ بَيَانٍ وَاضِحَهْ فَبَاكِرُوا الْحَرْبَ الضَّرُوسَ الْكَالِحَهْ فَإِنَّمَا تَلْقَوْنَ عِنْدَ الصَّائِحَةْ [مِنْ آلِ سَاسَانَ كِلَابًا نَابِحَةْ] قَدْ أَيْقَنُوا مِنْكُمْ بِوَقْعِ الْجَائِحَةْ فَأَنْتُمْ بَيْنُ حَيَاةٍ صَالِحَةْ أَوْ مُنْيَةٍ تُورِثُ غُنْمًا رَابِحًا ثُمَّ شَدَّ الَّذِي يَلِيهِ وَهُوَ يَقُولُ: وَاللَّهِ لَا نَعْصِي الْعَجُوزَ حَرْفَا قَدْ أَمَرَتْنَا حَدْبًا وَعَطْفَا مِنْهَا وَبِرًّا صَادِقًا وَلُطْفَا فَبَاكِرُوا الْحَرْبَ الضَّرُوسَ زَحْفَا حَتَّى تَلُفُّوا آلَ كِسْرَى لَفَّا وَتَكْشِفُوهُمْ عَنْ حِمَاكُمْ كَشْفَا إِنَّا نَرَى التَّقْصِيرَ عَنْهُمْ ضَعْفَا وَالْقَتْلَ فِيهِمْ نَجْدَةً وَعُرْفَا ثُمَّ شَدَّ الَّذِي يَلِيهِ وَهُوَ يَقُولُ: لِسْتُ لِخَنْسَاءَ وَلَا لِلْأَخْرَمِ وَلَا لِعَمْرٍو ذِي السَّنَاءِ الْأَقْدَمِ إِنْ لَمْ نَذَرْ فِي آلِ جَمْعِ الْأَعْجَمِ جَمْعِ أَبِي سَاسَانَ جَمْعِ رُسْتُمِ بِكُلِّ مَحْمُودِ اللِّقَاءِ ضَيْغَمٍ مَاضٍ عَلَى الْهَوْلِ خَصِيمٍ خَضْرَمِ إِمَّا لِقَهْرٍ عَاجِلٍ أَوْ مَغْنَمٍ أَوْ لِحَيَاةٍ فِي السَّبِيلِ الْأَكْرَمِ نَفُوزُ فِيهَا بِالنَّصِيبِ الْأَعْظَمِ ثُمَّ شَدَّ الَّذِي يَلِيهِ وَهُوَ يَقُولُ: إِنَّ الْعَجُوزَ ذَاتَ حَزْمٍ وَجَلَدْ وَالنَّظَرِ الْأَوْفَقِ وَالرَّأْيِ السَّدَدْ قَدْ أَمَرَتْنَا بِالصَّوَابِ وَالرَّشَدْ نَصِيحَةً مِنْهَا وَبِرًّا بِالْوَلَدْ فَبَاكِرُوا الْحَرْبَ نَمَاءً فِي الْعَدَدْ إِمَّا لِقَهْرٍ وَاخْتِيَارٍ لِلْبَلَدْ أَوْ مُنْيَةٍ تُورِثُ خُلْدًا لِلْأَبَدْ فِي جَنَّةِ الْفِرْدَوْسِ فِي عَيْشٍ رَغِدْ فَقَاتَلُوا جَمِيعًا حَتَّى فَتَحَ اللَّهُ لِلْمُسْلِمِينَ، وَكَانُوا يَأْخُذُونَ أُعْطِيَّتَهُمْ أَلْفَيْنِ أَلْفَيْنِ، فَيَجِيئُونَ بِهَا فَيَصُبُّونَ فِي حِجْرِهَا، فَتَقْسِمُ ذَلِكَ بَيْنَهُمْ حَفْنَةً بِحَفْنَةٍ، فَمَا يُغَادِرُ وَاحِدٌ عَنْ عَطَائِهِ دِرْهَمًا. وَرَوَى مُجَالِدٌ، عَنِ الشَّعْبِيِّ هذه الحكاية باختصار.
Translation
✧ The Day of Aghwāth Then the people arose the next day in battle order, and Saʿd had assigned someone to remove the slain and the wounded. The wounded were handed over to the women to care for them, while the slain were buried there at Musharriq, a wadi between al-ʿUdhayb and ʿAyn al-Shams. When Saʿd had removed the slain and the wounded, the forelocks of the cavalry appeared from Syria, for the conquest of Damascus had taken place before al-Qādisiyya. When ʿUmar's letter reached Abū ʿUbayda b. al-Jarrāḥ ordering him to send the people of Iraq, he dispatched them under Hāshim b. ʿUtba b. Abī Waqqāṣ, with al-Qaʿqāʿ b. ʿAmr al-Tamīmī leading his vanguard. Al-Qaʿqāʿ hurried ahead and arrived among the people on the morning of this day, which was the Day of Aghwāth. He had instructed his companions to divide into groups of ten—they were a thousand—so that whenever ten reached the limit of sight, they would send on another ten. His companions arrived in a group of ten, and he came to the people, greeted them, gave them glad tidings of the troops, urged them to fight, and said: “Do as I do.” He sought single combat, and they said of him what Abū Bakr had said: “An army containing the like of this man will not be defeated.” Dhū al-Ḥājib came out against him, and al-Qaʿqāʿ recognized him and called out: “O, for the blood of Abū ʿUbayd and Sulayṭ and the companions of the Bridge!” They exchanged blows, and al-Qaʿqāʿ killed him. His cavalry kept arriving until nightfall, invigorating the people, and it was as if there had been no disaster the day before. They rejoiced at the killing of Dhū al-Ḥājib, and the Persians were broken by that. Al-Qaʿqāʿ sought single combat, and al-Fayruzān and al-Bandhawān came out against him. Al-Ḥārith b. Ẓabyān b. al-Ḥārith—one of the Banū Taym al-Lāt—joined al-Qaʿqāʿ, and they duelled. Al-Qaʿqāʿ killed al-Fayruzān, and al-Ḥārith killed al-Bindhawān. Al-Qaʿqāʿ called out: “O company of Muslims, engage them with the swords, for people are only reaped with them!” They fought until evening. On this day the Persians saw nothing that pleased them, and the Muslims inflicted great slaughter among them. On this day they did not fight with elephants, for their howdahs had been broken the day before, and they had begun rebuilding them but had not finished until the next day. Whenever a contingent of his companions appeared, al-Qaʿqāʿ would say “Allāhu akbar,” and the Muslims would say “Allāhu akbar,” and he would charge and they would charge. The paternal cousins of al-Qaʿqāʿ charged in groups of ten on camels that they had equipped and covered with caparisons and face-veils, while their horses circled around them to protect them. Al-Qaʿqāʿ ordered them to drive them at the Persian cavalry, imitating the elephants. They did this on that day, the Day of Aghwāth, just as the Persians had done on the Day of Armāth. The Persian horses began to flee from them, and the Muslim horses rode them down. When the people saw that, they followed their example, and the Persians suffered from the camels worse than the Muslims had suffered from the elephants. A man of Tamīm charged at Rustum intending to kill him, but he was killed before reaching him. A man of Persia came out to duel, and al-Aʿraf b. al-Aʿlam al-ʿAqīlī went out against him and killed him. Then another came out to him, and he killed him. Horsemen among them surrounded him, brought him down, and took his weapons, but he threw dust in their faces until he returned to his companions. Al-Qaʿqāʿ b. ʿAmr made thirty charges that day; each time a contingent appeared he made a charge, striking and killing in it, the last of them being Buzurjmihr al-Hamadhānī. Al-Aʿwar b. Quṭba duelled Shahriyār of Sijistān, and each of them killed his opponent. The horsemen fought until midday. When the day was at its midpoint, the armies advanced against each other and fought until midnight. The night of Armāth was called al-Hadʾa (the Quiet), and the night of Aghwāth was called al-Sawād (the Blackness). The Muslims kept seeing victory on the Day of Aghwāth, and they killed most of their champions. Their center's cavalry was diverted and their infantry stood firm, so that had it not been for their cavalry returning, Rustum would have been taken captive. The people spent the night as the people had spent the night of Armāth, and the Muslims kept calling out their lineages. When Saʿd heard that, he said to one of those with him: “If the people persist in calling out their lineages, do not wake me, for they are strong; and if they fall silent and the others do not call out, do not wake me, for they are on equal footing. But if you hear them calling out, wake me, for their calling out indicates distress.” When the fighting intensified, Abū Miḥjan, who had been imprisoned and put in chains, was in the palace. He said to Salmā, the wife of Saʿd: “Will you release me and lend me al-Balqāʾ? I swear by God that if God preserves me, I will return to you and put my leg back in my chain.” She refused, and he said: It is enough sorrow that the horses are struck down by lances, while I am left bound with my shackles upon me. When I arise, the iron confines me, and doors are locked before me, that may deafen the one who calls. I had much wealth and brothers, but they have left me alone, with no brother to aid me. By God, a covenant I will not break: if I am released, I will not visit the taverns. Salmā felt compassion for him, released him, and gave him al-Balqāʾ, Saʿd's horse. He rode it until he was opposite the right wing, then said “Allāhu akbar,” charged against the Persian left wing, then returned behind the Muslims and charged against their right wing. He was striking the people with an extraordinary, terrible striking, and the people were amazed at him while not recognizing him. Some said: “He is one of Hāshim's companions, or Hāshim himself.” Saʿd was saying: “Were it not for Abū Miḥjan's imprisonment, I would say this is Abū Miḥjan and this is al-Balqāʾ.” Some people said: “This is al-Khiḍr.” Others said: “Were it not that angels do not engage directly in war, we would say he is an angel.” When midnight came and the Muslims and Persians withdrew from fighting, Abū Miḥjan came back, entered the palace, and put his legs back in the chain, saying: Thaqīf have known, without boasting, that we are the noblest of them in swords, and the most numerous in ample coats of mail, and the most steadfast when they dislike standing firm. I am their delegate every day; if they are asked, ask about me from a chieftain. On the night of Qādis, they did not perceive me, and I did not perceive the armies from my place of exit. If I am imprisoned, that is my trial; if I am left free, I will make them taste death. Salmā said to him: “For what did he imprison you?” He said: “By God, he did not imprison me for any forbidden food or drink I consumed, but I was a drinker in the Age of Ignorance, and I am a poet whose tongue runs with poetry. I said: When I die, bury me at the root of a vine whose roots will moisten my bones after my death. Do not bury me in the wilderness, for I fear that when I die I will not taste it. That is why he imprisoned me.” When morning came, she went to Saʿd and reconciled with him, for she had been angry with him, and she told him the story of Abū Miḥjan. He released him and said: “Go, for I will not hold you accountable for anything you say until you do it.” He said: “No doubt, by God, I will never let my tongue utter a foul description again!” From ʿAbd al-Raḥmān b. Maghrāʾ al-Dawsī, from a man of Khuzāʿa, who said: When the people assembled at al-Qādisiyya, Khansāʾ bt. ʿAmr al-Nakhaʿiyya summoned her four sons and said: “O my sons, you embraced Islam willingly and emigrated. By God, it was not the land that raised you, nor the year that forced you, nor greed that flung you down. By God, besides whom there is no god, you are sons of one man just as you are sons of one woman. I have not betrayed your father, nor disgraced your maternal uncle, nor obscured your lineage, nor brought low your women, nor exposed your sanctuary. So tomorrow, if God wills, go forth to fight your enemy, seeking God's help with insight. When you see that war has bared its leg and struck its tent, head for its furnace, and smite its host, and you will attain booty, safety, triumph, and honor in the Abode of Eternity and Standing.” The youths departed from her, obedient to her command and knowing her sincerity. When they met the enemy, the first of them charged while chanting: O my brothers, the sincere old woman has given us to drink, when she called us last night, a counsel clear and evident. So go early to the fierce, grim war, for at the battle cry you will meet from the house of Sāsān barking dogs. They have become certain of ruin from you, so you are between a righteous life or a death that bequeaths profitable gain. Then the next one charged while saying: By God, we will not disobey the old woman in a single letter. She commanded us out of tenderness and affection, and sincere, gentle kindness. So go early to the fierce war in rank, until you wrap the family of Kisrā in a winding, and strip them from your sanctuary with a stripping. We consider shortcoming before them a weakness, and killing among them a virtue and a good deed. Then the next one charged while saying: I am not of Khansāʾ nor of al-Akhram, nor of ʿAmr of ancient glory, if we do not leave in the family of the gathering of the Persians, the gathering of Abū Sāsān, the gathering of Rustum, with every praiseworthy meeting like a lion, passing through terror, a contentious veteran, either swift subjugation or booty, or a life in the noblest path, in which we win the greatest share. Then the next one charged while saying: The old woman of firmness and endurance, and sound judgment and right opinion, has commanded us to rightness and guidance, out of counsel from her and kindness to her children. So go early to the war, multiplying in number, either for subjugation and taking the land, or a death that bequeaths everlasting eternity in the Garden of Paradise in a life of ease. They all fought until God granted victory to the Muslims. They used to receive their stipends of two thousand, two thousand, and bring them and pour them into her lap. She would divide them among them handful by handful, and not one of them would leave a dirham of his stipend. Mujālid related this story from al-Shaʿbī in abbreviated form.
Grades by grader
No grade is recorded for this wording.