Dalil
العربية

Tarikh (al-Tabari) 2556

The Year 119 AH

ذِكْرُ قَتْلِ خَاقَانَ في سَنَةُ تِسْعَ عَشْرَةَ وَمِائَةٍ  وكَانَ سَبَبُ ذَلِكَ أَنَّ أَسَدَ بْنَ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ أَمِيرَ خُرَاسَانَ عَمِلَ نِيَابَةً عَنْ أَخِيهِ خَالِدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ عَلَى الْعِرَاقِ ثُمَّ سَارَ بِجُيُوشِهِ إِلَى مَدِينَةِ خُتَّلَ فَافْتَتَحَهَا، وَتَفَرَّقَتْ فِي أَرْضِهَا جُنُودُهُ يَقْتُلُونَ وَيَأْسِرُونَ وَيَغْنَمُونَ، فكَتَبَ ابْنُ السَايِجِيِّ إِلَى خَاقَانَ، وَهُوَ بِنَوَاكِثَ، يُعْلِمُهُ دُخُولَ أَسَدٍ الْخُتُّلَ، وَتَفَرُّقَ جُنُودِهِ فِيهَا، وَأَنَّهُ بِحَالٍ مُضَيَّعَةٍ، فَلَمَّا أَتَاهُ كِتَابُهُ أَمَرَ أَصْحَابَهُ بِالْجِهَازِ وَسَارَ، فَلَمَّا أَحَسَّ ابْنُ السَايِجِيِّ بِمَجِيءِ خَاقَانَ بَعَثَ إِلَى أَسَدٍ: اخْرُجْ عَنِ الْخُتُّلِ فَإِنَّ خَاقَانَ قَدْ أَظَلَّكَ. فَشَتَمَ الرَّسُولَ وَلَمْ يُصَدِّقْهُ. فَبَعَثَ ابْنُ السَّايِجِيِّ: إِنِّي لَمْ أُكَذِّبْكَ، وَأَنَا الَّذِي أَعْلَمْتُهُ دُخُولَكَ وَتَفَرُّقَ عَسْكَرِكَ، وَأَنَّهَا فُرْصَةٌ لَهُ، وَسَأَلْتُهُ الْمَدَدَ، فَإِنْ لَقِيَكَ عَلَى هَذِهِ الْحَالِ ظَفِرَ بِكَ، وَعَادَتْنِي الْعَرَبُ أَبَدًا مَا بَقِيتُ، وَاسْتَطَالَ عَلَيَّ خَاقَانُ وَاشْتَدَّتْ مَئُونَتُهُ، وَقَالَ: أَخْرَجْتُ الْعَرَبَ مِنْ بِلَادِكَ، وَرَدَدْتُ عَلَيْكَ مُلْكَكَ. فَعَرَفَ أَسَدٌ أَنَّهُ قَدْ صَدَقَهُ، فَأَمَرَ بِالْأَثْقَالِ أَنْ تُقَدَّمَ، وَجَعَلَ عَلَيْهَا إِبْرَاهِيمَ بْنَ عَاصِمٍ الْعُقَيْلِيَّ وَأَخْرَجَ مَعَهُ الْمَشْيَخَةَ، فَسَارَتِ الْأَثْقَالُ وَمَعَهَا أَهْلُ الصَّغَانِيَانِ وَصَغَانُ خُذَاهْ، وَأَقْبَلَ أَسَدٌ مِنَ الْخُتُّلِ نَحْوَ جَبَلِ الْمِلْحِ يُرِيدُ [ أَنْ ] يَخُوضَ نَهْرَ بَلْخٍ، وَقَدْ قَطَعَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ بْنُ عَاصِمٍ بِالسَّبْيِ وَمَا أَصَابُوا، وَأَشْرَفَ أَسَدٌ عَلَى النَّهْرِ فَأَقَامَ يَوْمَهُ، فَلَمَّا كَانَ الْغَدُ عَبَرَ النَّهْرَ فِي مَخَاضَةٍ، وَجَعَلَ النَّاسُ يَعْبُرُونَ، فَأَدْرَكَهُمْ خَاقَانُ فَقَتَلَ مَنْ لَمْ يَقْطَعِ النَّهْرَ، وَكَانَتِ الْمَسْلَحَةُ عَلَى الْأَزْدِ وَتَمِيمٍ، فَقَاتَلُوا خَاقَانَ وَانْكَشَفُوا. وَأَقْبَلَ خَاقَانُ وَظَنَّ الْمُسْلِمُونَ أَنَّهُ لَا يَعْبُرُ إِلَيْهِمُ النَّهْرَ، فَلَمَّا نَظَرَ خَاقَانُ إِلَى النَّهْرِ أَمَرَ التُّرْكَ بِعُبُورِهِ، فَعَبَرُوهُ، وَدَخَلَ الْمُسْلِمُونَ عَسْكَرَهُمْ وَأَخَذَ التُّرْكُ مَا رَأَوْهُ خَارِجًا، وَخَرَجَ الْغِلْمَانُ فَضَارَبُوهُمْ بِالْعُمُدِ فَعَادُوا، وَبَاتَ أَسَدٌ وَالْمُسْلِمُونَ وَعَبَّأَ أَصْحَابَهُ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ، فَلَمَّا أَصْبَحَ لَمْ يَرَ خَاقَانَ، فَاسْتَشَارَ أَصْحَابَهُ، فَقَالُوا لَهُ: اقْبَلِ الْعَافِيَةَ. قَالَ: مَا هَذِهِ عَافِيَةٌ ! هَذِهِ بَلِيَّةٌ ! إِنَّ خَاقَانَ أَصَابَ أَمْسِ مِنَ الْجُنْدِ وَالسِّلَاحِ وَمَا مَنَعَهُ الْيَوْمَ مِنَّا إِلَّا أَنَّهُ قَدْ أَخْبَرَهُ بَعْضُ مَنْ أَخْذَهُ مِنَ الْأَسْرَى بِمَوْضِعِ الْأَثْقَالِ أَمَامَنَا فَسَارَ طَمَعًا فِيهَا. فَارْتَحَلَ وَبَعَثَ الطَّلَائِعَ، فَلَمَّا أَمْسَى اسْتَشَارَ النَّاسَ فِي النُّزُولِ أَوِ الْمَسِيرِ، فَقَالَ النَّاسُ: اقْبَلِ الْعَافِيَةَ، وَمَا عَسَى أَنْ يَكُونَ ذَهَابُ الْأَمْوَالِ بِعَافِيَتِنَا وَعَافِيَةِ أَهْلِ خُرَاسَانَ ! وَنَصْرُ بْنُ سَيَّارٍ مُطْرِقٌ. فَقَالَ لَهُ أَسَدٌ: مَا لَكَ لَا تَتَكَلَّمُ ؟ قَالَ: أَيُّهَا الْأَمِيرُ خُلَّتَانِ كِلْتَاهُمَا لَكَ، إِنْ تَسِرْ تُغِثْ مَنْ مَعَ الْأَثْقَالِ وَتُخَلِّصْهُمْ، فَإِنِ انْتَهَيْتَ إِلَيْهِمْ وَقَدْ هَلَكُوا فَقَدْ قَطَعْتَ مَشَقَّةً لَا بُدَّ مِنْ قَطْعِهَا. فَقَبِلَ رَأْيَهُ وَسَارَ بَقِيَّةَ يَوْمِهِ، وَدَعَا أَسَدٌ سَعِيدًا الصَّغِيرَ مَوْلَى بَاهِلَةَ، وَكَانَ فَارِسًا بِأَرْضِ الْخُتُّلِ، وَكَتَبَ مَعَهُ كِتَابًا إِلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ يَأْمُرُهُ بِالِاسْتِعْدَادِ وَيُخْبِرُهُ بِمَسِيرِ خَاقَانَ إِلَيْهِ وَقَالَ لَهُ: لِتُجِدَّ السَّيْرَ. فَطَلَبَ مِنْهُ فَرَسَهُ الذَّبُوبَ، فَقَالَ أَسَدٌ: لَعَمْرِي لَئِنْ جُدْتَ بِنَفْسِكَ وَبَخِلْتُ عَلَيْكَ بِالْفَرَسِ إِنِّي إِذًا لَلَئِيمٌ. فَدَفَعَهُ إِلَيْهِ، فَأَخَذَ مَعَهُ جَنِيبًا وَسَارَ. فَلَمَّا حَاذَى التُّرْكَ وَقَدْ سَارُوا نَحْوَ الْأَثْقَالِ طَلَبَتْهُ طَلَائِعُهُمْ فَرَكِبَ الذَّبُوبَ فَلَمْ يَلْحَقُوهُ، فَأَتَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ بِالْكِتَابِ. وَسَارَ خَاقَانُ إِلَى الْأَثْقَالِ، وَقَدْ خَنْدَقَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ خَنْدَقًا، فَأَتَاهُمْ وَهُمْ قِيَامٌ عَلَيْهِ، فَأَمَرَ الصُّغْدَ بِقِتَالِهِمْ فَهَزَمَهُمُ الْمُسْلِمُونَ، وَصَعِدَ خَاقَانُ تَلًّا فَجَعَلَ يَنْظُرُ لِيَرَى عَوْرَةً يَأْتِي مِنْهَا، وَهَكَذَا كَانَ يَفْعَلُ، فَلَمَّا صَعِدَ التَّلَّ رَأَى خَلْفَ الْعَسْكَرِ جَزِيرَةً دُونَهَا مَخَاضَةٌ فَدَعَا بَعْضَ قُوَّادِ التُّرْكِ فَأَمَرَهُمْ أَنْ يَقْطَعُوا فَوْقَ الْعَسْكَرِ حَتَّى يَصِيرُوا إِلَى الْجَزِيرَةِ، ثُمَّ يَنْحَدِرُوا حَتَّى يَأْتُوا عَسْكَرَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ مِنْ خَلْفِهِمْ، وَأَنْ يَبْدَءُوا بِالْأَعَاجِمِ وَأَهْلِ الصَّغَانِيَانِ، وَقَالَ لَهُمْ: إِنْ رَجَعُوا إِلَيْكُمْ دَخَلْنَا نَحْنُ. فَفَعَلُوا وَدَخَلُوا مِنْ نَاحِيَةِ الْأَعَاجِمِ فَقَتَلُوا صَغَانَ خُذَاهْ وَعَامَّةَ أَصْحَابِهِ وَأَخَذُوا أَمْوَالَهُمْ، وَدَخَلُوا عَسْكَرَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ فَأَخَذُوا جَمِيعَ مَا فِيهِ، وَتَرَكَ الْمُسْلِمُونَ التَّعْبِيَةَ وَاجْتَمَعُوا فِي مَوْضِعٍ وَأَحَسُّوا بِالْهَلَاكِ، وَإِذَا رَهَجٌ قَدِ ارْتَفَعَ، وَإِذَا أَسَدٌ فِي جُنْدِهِ قَدْ أَتَاهُمْ، فَارْتَفَعَتِ التُّرْكُ عَنْهُمْ إِلَى الْمَوْضِعِ الَّذِي كَانَ فِيهِ خَاقَانُ، وَإِبْرَاهِيمُ يَعْجَبُ مِنْ كَفِّهِمْ وَقَدْ ظَفِرُوا وَقَتَلُوا مَنْ قَتَلُوا وَهُوَ لَا يَطْمَعُ فِي أَسَدٍ، وَكَانَ أَسَدٌ قَدْ أَغَذَّ الْمَسِيرَ وَأَقْبَلَ حَتَّى وَقَفَ عَلَى التَّلِّ الَّذِي كَانَ عَلَيْهِ خَاقَانُ، وَتَنَحَّى خَاقَانُ إِلَى نَاحِيَةِ الْجَبَلِ، فَخَرَجَ إِلَى أَسَدٍ مَنْ كَانَ بَقِيَ مَعَ الْأَثْقَالِ وَقَدْ قَتَلَ مِنْهُمْ بَشَرًا كَثِيرًا. وَمَضَى خَاقَانُ بِالْأَسْرَى وَالْجِمَالِ الْمُوَقَرَةِ وَالْجَوَارِي، وَأَمَرَ خَاقَانُ رَجُلًا كَانَ مَعَهُ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ الْحَارِثِ بْنِ سُرَيْجٍ فَنَادَى أَسَدًا: قَدْ كَانَ لَكَ فِيمَا وَرَاءَ النَّهْرِ مَغْزًى، إِنَّكَ لَشَدِيدُ الْحِرْصِ، وَقَدْ كَانَ عَنِ الْخُتُّلِ مَنْدُوحَةٌ وَهِيَ أَرْضُ آبَائِي وَأَجْدَادِي. فَقَالَ أَسَدٌ: لَعَلَّ اللَّهَ أَنْ يَنْتَقِمَ مِنْكَ. وَسَارَ أَسَدٌ إِلَى بَلْخٍ فَعَسْكَرَ فِي مَرْجِهَا حَتَّى أَتَى الشِّتَاءُ، ثُمَّ فَرَّقَ النَّاسَ فِي الدُّورِ وَدَخَلَ الْمَدِينَةَ، وَكَانَ الْحَارِثُ بْنُ سُرَيْجٍ بِنَاحِيَةِ طَخَارِسْتَانَ فَانْضَمَّ إِلَى خَاقَانَ. فَلَمَّا كَانَ وَسَطُ الشِّتَاءِ أَقْبَلَ خَاقَانُ، وَكَانَ لَمَّا فَارَقَ أَسَدٌ أَتَى طَخَارِسْتَانَ فَأَقَامَ عِنْدَ جَبْغَوَيْهِ، فَأَقْبَلَ فَأَتَى الْجُوزَجَانَ وَبَثَّ الْغَارَاتِ. وَسَبَبُ مَجِيئِهِ أَنَّ الْحَارِثَ أَخْبَرَهُ أَنَّهُ لَا نُهُوضَ بِأَسَدٍ فَلَمْ يَبْقَ مَعَهُ كَثِيرُ جُنْدٍ وَنَزَلَ جَزَّةَ، فَأَتَى الْخَبَرُ إِلَى أَسَدٍ بِنُزُولِ خَاقَانَ بِجَزَّةَ، فَأَمَرَ بِالنِّيرَانِ فَرُفِعَتْ بِالْمَدِينَةِ، فَجَاءَ النَّاسُ مِنَ الرَّسَاتِيقِ إِلَيْهَا، فَأَصْبَحَ أَسَدٌ وَصَلَّى صَلَاةَ الْعِيدِ، عِيدِ الْأَضْحَى، وَخَطَبَ النَّاسَ، وَقَالَ: إِنَّ عَدُوَّ اللَّهِ الْحَارِثَ اسْتَجْلَبَ الطَّاغِيَةَ لِيُطْفِئَ نُورَ اللَّهِ وَيُبَدِّلَ دِينَهُ، وَاللَّهُ مُذِلُّهُ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ، وَإِنَّ عَدُوَّكُمْ قَدْ أَصَابَ مِنْ إِخْوَانِكُمْ مَنْ أَصَابَ، وَإِنْ يُرِدِ اللَّهُ نَصْرَكُمْ لَمْ يَضُرَّكُمْ قِلَّتُكُمْ وَكَثْرَتُهُمْ، فَاسْتَنْصِرُوا اللَّهَ، وَإِنَّ أَقْرَبَ مَا يَكُونُ الْعَبْدُ مِنْ رَبِّهِ إِذَا وَضَعَ جَبْهَتَهُ لَهُ، وَإِنِّي نَازِلٌ وَوَاضِعٌ جَبْهَتِي، فَاسْجُدُوا لَهُ وَادْعُوا مُخْلِصِينَ. فَفَعَلُوا وَرَفَعُوا رُءُوسَهُمْ وَلَا يَشُكُّونَ فِي الْفَتْحِ، ثُمَّ نَزَلَ وَضَحَّى مشاورة أسد الناس في المسير إلى خاقان وَشَاوَرَ النَّاسَ فِي الْمَسِيرِ إِلَى خَاقَانَ، قَالَ قَوْمٌ: تَحْفَظُ مَدِينَةَ بَلْخٍ وَتَكْتُبُ إِلَى خَالِدٍ وَالْخَلِيفَةِ تَسْتَمِدُّهُ. وَقَالَ قَوْمٌ: تَأْخُذُ فِي طَرِيقِ زُمَّ فَتَسْبِقُ خَاقَانَ إِلَى مَرْوَ. وَقَالَ قَوْمٌ: بَلْ تَخْرُجُ إِلَيْهِمْ. فَوَافَقَ هَذَا رَأْيَ أَسَدٍ، وَكَانَ عَزَمَ عَلَى لِقَائِهِمْ، فَخَرَجَ بِالنَّاسِ وَهُوَ فِي سَبْعَةِ آلَافٍ مِنْ أَهْلِ خُرَاسَانَ وَالشَّامِ، وَاسْتَخْلَفَ عَلَى بَلْخٍ الْكَرْمَانِيَّ بْنَ عَلِيٍّ، وَأَمَرَهُ أَنْ لَا يَدَعَ أَحَدًا يَخْرُجُ مِنْ مَدِينَتِهَا وَإِنْ ضَرَبَ التُّرْكُ بَابَهَا. وَنَزَلَ بَابًا مِنْ أَبْوَابِ بَلْخٍ، وَصَلَّى بِالنَّاسِ رَكْعَتَيْنِ طَوَّلَهُمَا، ثُمَّ اسْتَقْبَلَ الْقِبْلَةَ وَنَادَى فِي النَّاسِ: ادْعُوا اللَّهَ تَعَالَى، وَأَطَالَ الدُّعَاءَ، فَلَمَّا فَرَغَ قَالَ: نُصِرْتُمْ وَرَبِّ الْكَعْبَةِ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى ! ثُمَّ سَارَ، فَلَمَّا جَازَ قَنْطَرَةَ عَطَاءٍ نَزَلَ، وَأَرَادَ الْمُقَامَ حَتَّى يَتَلَاحَقَ بِهِ النَّاسُ، ثُمَّ أَمَرَ بِالرَّحِيلِ وَقَالَ: لَا حَاجَةَ بِنَا إِلَى الْمُتَخَلِّفِينَ. ثُمَّ ارْتَحَلَ وَعَلَى مُقَدِّمَتِهِ سَالِمُ بْنُ مَنْصُورٍ الْبَجَلِيُّ فِي ثَلَاثِمِائَةٍ، فَلَقِيَ ثَلَاثَمِائَةٍ مِنَ التُّرْكِ طَلِيعَةً لِخَاقَانَ، فَأَسَرَ قَائِدَهُمْ وَسَبْعَةً مَعَهُ، وَهَرَبَ بَقِيَّتُهُمْ، فَأُتِيَ بِهِ أَسَدٌ فَبَكَى التُّرْكِيُّ، فَقَالَ: مَا يُبْكِيكَ ؟ قَالَ: لَسْتُ أَبْكِي لِنَفْسِي وَلَكِنِّي أَبْكِي لِهَلَاكِ خَاقَانَ، إِنَّهُ قَدْ فَرَّقَ جُنُودَهُ بَيْنَهُ وَبَيْنَ مَرْوَ. فَسَارَ أَسَدٌ حَتَّى شَارَفَ مَدِينَةَ الْجُوزَجَانِ فَنَزَلَ عَلَيْهَا عَلَى فَرْسَخَيْنِ مِنْ خَاقَانَ، وَكَانَ قَدِ اسْتَبَاحَهَا خَاقَانُ، فَلَمَّا أَصْبَحُوا تَرَاءَى الْعَسْكَرَانِ، فَقَالَ خَاقَانُ لِلْحَارِثِ بْنِ سُرَيْجٍ: أَلَمْ تَكُنْ أَخْبَرْتَنِي أَنَّ أَسَدًا لَا حَرَاكَ بِهِ وَهَذِهِ الْعَسَاكِرُ قَدْ أَقْبَلَتْ، مَنْ هَذَا ؟ قَالَ: هَذَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى وَرَايَتُهُ. فَبَعَثَ خَاقَانُ طَلِيعَةً وَقَالَ: انْظُرُوا هَلْ تَرَوْنَ عَلَى الْإِبِلِ سَرِيرًا وَكَرَاسِيَّ ؟ فَعَادُوا إِلَيْهِ فَأَخْبَرُوهُ أَنَّهُمْ رَأَوْهَا، فَقَالَ خَاقَانُ: هَذَا أَسَدٌ. وَسَارَ أَسَدٌ قَدْرَ غَلْوَةٍ، فَلَقِيَهُ سَالِمُ بْنُ جَنَاحٍ فَقَالَ: أَبْشِرْ أَيُّهَا الْأَمِيرُ قَدْ حَزَرْتُمْ وَلَا يَبْلُغُونَ أَرْبَعَةَ آلَافٍ، وَأَرْجُو أَنْ يَكُونَ خَاقَانُ عَقِيرَةَ اللَّهِ. فَصَفَّ أَسَدٌ أَصْحَابَهُ، وَعَبَّى خَاقَانُ أَصْحَابَهُ، فَلَمَّا الْتَقَوْا حَمَلَ الْحَارِثُ وَمَنْ مَعَهُ مِنَ الصُّغْدِ وَغَيْرِهِمْ، وَكَانُوا مَيْمَنَةَ خَاقَانَ عَلَى مَيْسَرَةِ أَسَدٍ، فَهَزَمَهُمْ فَلَمْ يَرُدَّهُمْ شَيْءٌ دُونَ رِوَاقِ أَسَدٍ، وَحَمَلَتْ مَيْمَنَةُ أَسَدٍ وَهُمُ الْجُوزَجَانُ وَالْأَزْدُ وَتَمِيمٌ عَلَيْهِمْ، فَانْهَزَمَ الْحَارِثُ وَمَنْ مَعَهُ وَانْهَزَمَتِ التُّرْكُ جَمِيعُهَا، وَحَمَلَ النَّاسُ جَمِيعًا فَتَفَرَّقَ التُّرْكُ فِي الْأَرْضِ لَا يَلْوُونَ عَلَى أَحَدٍ، فَتَبِعَهُمُ النَّاسُ مِقْدَارَ ثَلَاثَةِ فَرَاسِخَ يَقْتُلُونَ [ مَنْ يَقْدِرُونَ عَلَيْهِ ] حَتَّى انْتَهَوْا إِلَى أَغْنَامِهِمْ وَأَخَذُوا مِنْهَا أَكْثَرَ مِنْ مِائَةِ أَلْفٍ وَخَمْسِينَ أَلْفَ رَأْسٍ وَدَوَابَّ كَثِيرَةً. وَأَخَذَ خَاقَانُ طَرِيقًا فِي الْجَبَلِ وَالْحَارِثُ يَحْمِيهِ، وَسَارَ مُنْهَزِمًا، فَقَالَ الْجُوزَجَانِيُّ لِعُثْمَانَ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ الشِّخِّيرِ: إِنِّي لَأَعْلَمُ بِبِلَادِي وَبِطُرُقِهَا، فَهَلْ تَتْبَعُنِي لَعَلَّنَا نُهْلِكُ خَاقَانَ ؟ قَالَ: نَعَمْ، فَأَخَذَا طَرِيقًا وَسَارَا وَمَنْ مَعَهُمَا حَتَّى أَشْرَفُوا عَلَى خَاقَانَ فَأَوْقَعُوا بِهِ، فَوَلَّى مُنْهَزِمًا، فَحَوَى الْمُسْلِمُونَ عَسْكَرَ التُّرْكِ وَمَا فِيهِ مِنَ الْأَمْوَالِ، وَوَجَدُوا فِيهِ مِنْ نِسَاءِ الْعَرَبِ وَالْمُوَلِّيَاتِ مِنْ نِسَاءِ التُّرْكِ مِنْ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ. ( وَوَحِلَ بِخَاقَانَ بِرْذَوْنُهُ فَحَمَاهُ الْحَارِثُ بْنُ سُرَيْجٍ، وَلَمْ يُعْلِمِ النَّاسَ أَنَّهُ خَاقَانُ )، ( وَأَرَادَ الْخَصِيُّ الَّذِي لِخَاقَانَ أَنْ يَحْمِلَ امْرَأَةَ خَاقَانَ ) فَأَعْجَلُوهُ فَقَتَلَهَا، وَاسْتَنْقَذُوا مَنْ كَانَ مَعَ خَاقَانَ مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ. وَتَتَبَّعَ أَسَدٌ خَيْلَ التُّرْكِ الَّتِي فَرَّقَهَا فِي الْغَارَةِ إِلَى مَرْوِ الرُّوذِ وَغَيْرِهَا فَقَتَلَ مَنْ قَدَرَ عَلَيْهِ مِنْهُمْ وَلَمْ يَنْجُ مِنْهُمْ غَيْرُ الْقَلِيلِ، وَرَجَعَ إِلَى بَلْخٍ. وَكَانَ بِشْرٌ الْكَرْمَانِيُّ فِي السَّرَايَا فَيُصِيبُونَ مِنَ التُّرْكِ الرَّجُلَ وَالرَّجُلَيْنِ وَأَكْثَرَ. وَمَضَى خَاقَانُ إِلَى طَخَارِسْتَانَ وَأَقَامَ عِنْدَ جَبْغَوَيْهِ الْخَزْلَجِيِّ، ثُمَّ ارْتَحَلَ إِلَى بِلَادِهِ، فَلَمَّا وَرَدَ أُشْرُوسَنَةَ تَلَقَّاهُ خَرَابُغْرَهْ أَبُو خَانَاجِزَهْ جَدُّ كَاوُوسَ أَبِي أَفْشِينَ بِكُلِّ مَا قَدَرَ عَلَيْهِ، وَكَانَ مَا بَيْنَهُمَا مُتَبَاعِدًا، إِلَّا أَنَّهُ أَحَبَّ أَنْ يَتَّخِذَ عِنْدَهُ يَدًا. ثُمَّ أَتَى خَاقَانُ بِلَادَهُ وَاسْتَعَدَّ لِلْحَرْبِ وَمُحَاصَرَةِ سَمَرْقَنْدَ، وَحَمَلَ الْحَارِثَ وَأَصْحَابَهُ عَلَى خَمْسَةِ آلَافِ بِرْذَوْنٍ. فَلَاعَبَ خَاقَانُ يَوْمًا كُورْصُولَ بِالنَّرْدِ عَلَى خَطَرٍ، فَتَنَازَعَا، فَضَرَبَ كُورْصُولُ يَدَ خَاقَانَ وَكَسَرَهَا، وَتَنَحَّى وَجَمَعَ جَمْعًا، وَبَلَغَهُ أَنَّ خَاقَانَ قَدْ حَلَفَ لَيَكْسِرَنَّ يَدَهُ، فَبَيَّتَ خَاقَانَ فَقَتَلَهُ، وَتَفَرَّقَتِ التُّرْكُ وَتَرَكُوهُ مُجَرَّدًا، فَأَتَاهُ نَفَرٌ مِنَ التُّرْكِ فَدَفَنُوهُ. وَاشْتَغَلَتِ التُّرْكُ يُغِيرُ بَعْضُهَا عَلَى بَعْضٍ، فَعِنْدَ ذَلِكَ طَمِعَ أَهْلُ الصُّغْدِ فِي الرَّجْعَةِ إِلَيْهَا. البشارة إلى هشام بن عبد الملك بقتل خاقان وَأَرْسَلَ أَسَدٌ مُبَشِّرًا إِلَى هِشَامِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْمَلِكِ بِمَا فَتَحَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِمْ وَبِقَتْلِ خَاقَانَ، فَلَمْ يُصَدِّقْهُ وَقَالَ لِلرَّبِيعِ حَاجِبِهِ: لَا أَظُنُّ هَذَا صَادِقًا، اذْهَبْ فَعُدْهُ ثُمَّ سَلْهُ عَمَّا يَقُولُ، فَفَعَلَ مَا أَمَرَهُ بِهِ، فَأَخْبَرَهُ بِمَا أَخْبَرَ بِهِ هِشَامًا، ثُمَّ أَرْسَلَ أَسَدٌ مُبَشِّرًا آخَرَ فَوَقَفَ عَلَى بَابِ هِشَامٍ وَكَبَّرَ، فَأَجَابَهُ هِشَامٌ بِالتَّكْبِيرِ، فَلَمَّا انْتَهَى إِلَيْهِ أَخْبَرَهُ بِالْفَتْحِ، فَسَجَدَ شُكْرًا لِلَّهِ تَعَالَى، فَحَسَدَتِ الْقَيْسِيَّةُ أَسَدًا وَقَالُوا لِهِشَامٍ: اكْتُبْ بِطَلَبِ مُقَاتِلِ بْنِ حَيَّانَ النَّبَطِيِّ، فَسَيَّرَهُ أَسَدٌ إِلَى هِشَامٍ، فَلَمَّا دَخَلَ عَلَيْهِ أَخْبَرَهُ بِمَا كَانَ، فَقَالَ لَهُ هِشَامٌ: حَاجَتُكَ ؟ قَالَ: إِنَّ يَزِيدَ بْنَ الْمُهَلَّبِ أَخَذَ مِنْ أَبِي مِائَةَ أَلْفِ دِرْهَمٍ بِغَيْرِ حَقٍّ فَاسْتَحْلَفَهُ عَلَى ذَلِكَ. فَكَتَبَ إِلَى أَسَدٍ، فَرَدَّهَا عَلَيْهِ، وَقَسَّمَهَا مُقَاتِلٌ بَيْنَ وَرَثَةِ حَيَّانَ عَلَى كِتَابِ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى. قَالَ أَبُو الْهِنْدِيِّ يَذْكُرُ هَذِهِ الْوَقْعَةَ : أَبَا مُنْذِرٍ رُمْتَ الْأُمُورَ وَقِسْتَهَا وَسَاءَلْتَ عَنْهَا كَالْحَرِيصِ الْمُسَاوِمِ     فَمَا كَانَ ذُو رَأْيٍ مِنَ النَّاسِ قِسْتَهُ بِرَأْيِكَ إِلَّا مِثْلَ رَأْيِ الْبَهَائِمِ     أَبَا مُنْذِرٍ لَوْلَا مَسِيرُكَ لَمْ يَكُنْ عِرَاقٌ وَلَا انْقَادَتْ مُلُوكُ الْأَعَاجِمِ     وَلَا حَجَّ بَيْتَ اللَّهِ مَنْ حَجَّ رَاكِبًا وَلَا عَمَرَ الْبَطْحَاءَ بَعْدَ الْمَوَاسِمِ     وَكَمْ مِنْ قَتِيلٍ بَيْنَ سَانٍ وَجَزَّةٍ كَسِيرَ الْأَيَادِي مِنْ مُلُوكٍ قَمَاقِمِ     تَرَكْتَ بِأَرْضِ الْجُوزَجَانِ تَزُورُهُ سِبَاعٌ وَعِقْبَانٌ لَحَزِّ الْغَلَاصِمِ     وَذِي سُوقَةٍ فِيهِ مِنَ السَّيْفِ خَبْطَةٌ بِهِ رَمَقٌ مُلْقًى لِحَوْمِ الْحَوَائِمِ     فَمِنْ هَارِبٍ مِنَّا وَمِنْ دَائِنٍ لَنَا أَسِيرٍ يُقَاسِي مُبْهَمَاتِ الْأَدَاهِمِ     فَدَتْكَ نُفُوسٌ مِنْ تَمِيمٍ وَعَامِرٍ وَمِنْ مُضَرَ الْحَمْرَاءِ عِنْدَ الْمَآزِمِ     هُمْ أَطْمَعُوا خَاقَانَ فِينَا فَأَصْبَحَتْ حَلَائِبُهُ تَرْجُو خُلُوَّ الْمَغَانِمِ وَكَانَ ابْنُ السَّايِجِيِّ الَّذِي أَخْبَرَ أَسَدًا بِمَجِيءِ خَاقَانَ قَدِ اسْتَخْلَفَهُ السَّبْلُ عَلَى مَمْلَكَتِهِ عِنْدَ مَوْتِهِ، وَأَوْصَاهُ بِثَلَاثِ خِصَالٍ، قَالَ: لَا تَسْتَطِلْ عَلَى أَهْلِ الْخُتُّلِ اسْتِطَالَتِي عَلَيْهِمْ، فَإِنِّي مَلِكٌ وَأَنْتَ لَسْتَ بِمَلِكٍ، إِنَّمَا أَنْتَ رَجُلٌ مِنْهُمْ، وَقَالَ لَهُ: اطْلُبِ الْحُنَيْشَ حَتَّى تَرُدَّهُ إِلَى بِلَادِكُمْ، فَإِنَّهُ الْمَلِكُ بَعْدِي، وَكَانَ الْحُنَيْشُ قَدْ هَرَبَ إِلَى الصِّينِ، وَقَالَ لَهُ: لَا تُحَارِبُوا الْعَرَبَ وَادْفَعُوهَا عَنْكُمْ بِكُلِّ حِيلَةٍ. فَقَالَ لَهُ ابْنُ السَّايِجِيِّ: أَمَّا تَرْكِي الِاسْتِطَالَةَ عَلَيْهِمْ وَرَدِّي الْحُنَيْشَ فَهُوَ الرَّأْيُ، وَأَمَّا قَوْلُكَ لَا تُحَارِبُوا الْعَرَبَ، فَكَيْفَ وَقَدْ كُنْتَ أَكْثَرَ الْمُلُوكِ مُحَارَبَةً لَهُمْ ؟ قَالَ السَّبْلُ: قَدْ جَرَّبْتُ قُوَّتَكُمْ بِقُوَّتِي فَمَا رَأَيْتُكُمْ تَقَعُونَ مِنِّي مَوْقِعًا، وَكُنْتُ إِذَا حَارَبْتُهُمْ لَمْ أُفْلِتْ مِنْهُمْ إِلَّا جَرِيضًا، وَإِنَّكُمْ إِذَا حَارَبْتُمُوهُمْ هَلَكْتُمْ. فَهَذَا الَّذِي كَرَّهَ إِلَى ابْنِ السَّايِجِيِّ مُحَارِبَةَ الْعَرَبِ. مدح بعض الشعراء لأسد بن عبد الله لانتصاره وقتله خاقان وَقَدْ قَالَ بَعْضُ الشُّعَرَاءِ فِي أَسَدٍ يَمْدَحُهُ عَلَى ذَلِكَ: لَوْ سِرْتَ فِي الْأَرْضِ تَقِيسُ الْأَرْضَا     تَقِيسُ مِنْهَا طُولَهَا وَالْعَرْضَا لَمْ تَلْقَ خَيْرًا مَرَّةً وَنَقْضَا     مِنَ الْأَمِيرِ أَسَدٍ وَأَمْضَى أَفْضَى إِلَيْنَا الْخَيْرَ حِينَ أَفْضَى     وَجَمَعَ الشَّمْلَ وَكَانَ رَفْضَا مَا فَاتَهُ خَاقَانُ إِلَّا رَكْضَا     قَدْ فَضَّ مِنْ جُمُوعِهِ مَا فَضَّا يَا بْنَ سُرَيْجٍ قَدْ لَقِيتَ حَمْضَا     حَمْضًا بِهِ يُشْفَى صُدَاعُ الْمَرْضَى

Translation

✧ Mention of the killing of the Khāqān in the year 119 AH The reason for that was that Asad b. ʿAbd Allāh, the governor of Khurāsān, acted as deputy for his brother Khālid b. ʿAbd Allāh over Iraq. Then he marched with his armies to the city of Khuttal and conquered it. His troops spread out through its land, killing, taking captives, and seizing booty. Ibn al-Sāyijī wrote to the Khāqān, who was at Nawākith, informing him of Asad's entry into Khuttal, the dispersal of his troops there, and that he was in a vulnerable state. When his letter reached him, he ordered his companions to prepare and set out. When Ibn al-Sāyijī sensed the coming of the Khāqān, he sent to Asad: "Depart from Khuttal, for the Khāqān is bearing down upon you." But he insulted the messenger and did not believe him. Ibn al-Sāyijī then sent: "I did not lie to you; I am the one who informed him of your entry and the dispersal of your army, and that it was an opportunity for him, and I asked him for reinforcements. If he meets you in this state, he will overcome you, and the Arabs will blame me forever as long as I live, and the Khāqān will lord it over me, and his burden will become heavy upon me. He said: 'I drove the Arabs out of your land and restored your kingdom to you.'" So Asad knew that he had told the truth. He ordered the heavy baggage to be sent ahead, placing Ibrāhīm b. ʿĀṣim al-ʿUqaylī in charge of it, and he sent out the elders with him. The baggage set out, accompanied by the people of Ṣaghāniyān and Ṣaghān Khudhāh. Asad then came from Khuttal toward the Jabal al-Milḥ intending to cross the river of Balkh. Ibrāhīm b. ʿĀṣim had already crossed over with the captives and what they had taken. Asad looked out over the river and stayed for the day. On the next day, he crossed the river at a ford, and the people began to cross. The Khāqān caught up with them and killed those who had not yet crossed the river. The outpost was held by the Azd and Tamīm; they fought the Khāqān and were routed. The Khāqān advanced, and the Muslims thought that he would not cross the river to them. But when the Khāqān saw the river, he ordered the Turks to cross it. They crossed, and the Muslims entered their camp. The Turks took whatever they saw outside. The servant boys came out and struck them with clubs, so the Turks withdrew. Asad and the Muslims spent the night there, and he drew up his companions in formation during the night. When morning came, he did not see the Khāqān. He consulted his companions, and they said to him: "Accept the respite." He said: "This is no respite! This is a calamity! The Khāqān gained yesterday from the soldiers and weapons, and nothing prevents him from attacking us today except that some of the captives he took told him of the location of the baggage ahead of us, so he went seeking it out of greed." So he set out and sent scouts. When evening came, he consulted the people about whether to halt or continue marching. The people said: "Accept the respite. What could the loss of wealth matter when we and the people of Khurāsān are safe?" Naṣr b. Sayyār remained silent with his head lowered. Asad said to him: "What is wrong with you that you do not speak?" He said: "O Commander, there are two alternatives, either of which is to your advantage: if you march, you may relieve those with the baggage and save them; if you reach them and they have perished, you will have crossed a difficult stretch that must be crossed." Asad accepted his view and marched for the rest of the day. Asad summoned Saʿīd al-Ṣaghīr, the client of Bāhilah, who was a horseman in the land of Khuttal, and wrote with him a letter to Ibrāhīm ordering him to prepare and informing him of the Khāqān's march against him. He said to him: "Travel with the utmost speed." Saʿīd asked him for his horse al-Dhabūb. Asad said: "By my life, if you risk your life and I begrudge you the horse, I would indeed be base." So he gave it to him. Saʿīd took a spare horse with him and set out. When he came parallel to the Turks, who had marched toward the baggage, their vanguard pursued him, so he mounted al-Dhabūb and they could not catch him. He brought the letter to Ibrāhīm. The Khāqān marched to the baggage, and Ibrāhīm had dug a trench. He came upon them while they were standing at it. He ordered the Sughd to fight them, but the Muslims routed them. The Khāqān climbed a hill and began looking to see some weak point from which to attack, as was his habit. When he climbed the hill, he saw behind the camp an island before which there was a ford. He summoned some of the Turk commanders and ordered them to cross above the camp until they reached the island, then descend until they came upon the Muslim camp from behind, beginning with the non-Arabs and the people of Ṣaghāniyān. He said to them: "If they fall back toward you, we will enter." They did so and entered from the direction of the non-Arabs. They killed Ṣaghān Khudhāh and most of his companions, took their wealth, entered Ibrāhīm's camp, and seized everything in it. The Muslims abandoned their formation and gathered in one place, sensing destruction. Then a dust cloud rose, and there was Asad with his troops coming to them. The Turks lifted off them and withdrew to the place where the Khāqān was. Ibrāhīm marveled at their restraint, though they had prevailed and killed whom they killed, and he did not hope for Asad's arrival. Asad had urged the march onward and advanced until he stood on the hill where the Khāqān had been. The Khāqān had withdrawn toward the side of the mountain. Those who had remained with the baggage came out to Asad, and many of them had been killed. The Khāqān departed with the captives, laden camels, and slave girls. The Khāqān ordered a man who was with him from the companions of al-Ḥārith b. Surayj to call out to Asad: "You have had a raid beyond the river; indeed your eagerness is intense. There was ample room to avoid Khuttal, but it is the land of my fathers and forefathers." Asad said: "Perhaps Allah will exact vengeance upon you." Asad marched to Balkh and encamped in its meadow until winter came. Then he dispersed the people into houses and entered the city. Al-Ḥārith b. Surayj was in the region of Ṭakhāristān and joined the Khāqān. In the middle of winter, the Khāqān advanced. After Asad had left, he had come to Ṭakhāristān and stayed with Jabghūyah. Now he advanced and came to al-Jūzjān and sent out raiding parties. The reason for his coming was that al-Ḥārith informed him that Asad had no strength, that not many troops remained with him, and that he had halted at Jazza. The news reached Asad that the Khāqān had halted at Jazza. He ordered fires to be raised in the city, and people came from the rural districts. Asad arose in the morning and performed the Festival prayer, the Festival of the Sacrifice, and delivered a sermon to the people. He said: "The enemy of Allah, al-Ḥārith, has brought in the tyrant to extinguish Allah's light and change His religion, and Allah will humiliate him, if Allah wills. Your enemy has struck some of your brothers. If Allah wills your victory, your small numbers and their great numbers will not harm you. So seek Allah's help. The closest a servant is to his Lord is when he places his forehead on the ground for Him. I am going to descend and place my forehead, so prostrate to Him and supplicate sincerely." They did so and raised their heads, not doubting victory. Then he descended and offered his sacrifice. Asad consulted the people about marching against the Khāqān. Some said: "Guard the city of Balkh and write to Khālid and the caliph seeking reinforcements." Others said: "Take the road of Zamm and beat the Khāqān to Marw." Others said: "Rather go out against them." This last agreed with Asad's view, for he had resolved to meet them. He set out with the people, numbering seven thousand from the people of Khurāsān and Syria. He left al-Kirmānī b. ʿAlī as his deputy over Balkh and ordered him not to let anyone leave the city even if the Turks beat at its gate. He halted at one of the gates of Balkh and prayed two rakʿahs with the people, prolonging them. Then he faced the qiblah and called out to the people: "Supplicate Allah, the Exalted." He prolonged the supplication. When he finished, he said: "You are granted victory, by the Lord of the Kaʿbah, if Allah, the Exalted, wills!" Then he marched. When he crossed the bridge of ʿAṭāʾ, he halted and wanted to stay until the people caught up with him. Then he ordered departure and said: "We have no need of the laggards." Then he set out, with Sālim b. Manṣūr al-Bajalī commanding his vanguard of three hundred. He encountered three hundred Turks serving as the Khāqān's vanguard. He captured their leader and seven men with him, and the rest fled. The Turk was brought to Asad and wept. Asad said: "What makes you weep?" He said: "I do not weep for myself, but I weep for the destruction of the Khāqān. He has dispersed his troops between himself and Marw." Asad marched until he overlooked the city of al-Jūzjān, and he halted two parasangs from the Khāqān. The Khāqān had already plundered it. When morning came, the two armies came into view of each other. The Khāqān said to al-Ḥārith b. Surayj: "Did you not tell me that Asad had no strength? These armies have advanced—who is this?" He said: "This is Muḥammad b. al-Muthannā and his banner." The Khāqān sent out a vanguard and said: "Look whether you see on the camels a couch and chairs." They returned and told him that they had seen them. The Khāqān said: "This is Asad." Asad advanced about a bowshot. Sālim b. Janāḥ met him and said: "Rejoice, O Commander! You have estimated them; they do not reach four thousand. I hope the Khāqān will be Allah's sacrificial offering." Asad drew up his companions in ranks, and the Khāqān marshaled his. When they met, al-Ḥārith and those with him of the Sughd and others, who were on the Khāqān's right wing, charged against Asad's left wing and routed them, nothing stopping them short of Asad's pavilion. Then Asad's right wing, consisting of the people of al-Jūzjān, the Azd, and Tamīm, charged them. Al-Ḥārith and those with him fled, and all the Turks fled. The people all charged, and the Turks scattered across the land, not turning back toward anyone. The people pursued them for about three parasangs, killing those they could catch, until they reached their flocks, from which they took more than one hundred and fifty thousand head and many mounts. The Khāqān took a mountain road while al-Ḥārith protected him, and he fled defeated. The man of al-Jūzjān said to ʿUthmān b. ʿAbd Allāh b. al-Shikhkhīr: "I know my own land and its roads. Will you follow me so that perhaps we may destroy the Khāqān?" He said: "Yes." So the two of them and those with them took a road and marched until they looked down upon the Khāqān and fell upon him. He turned in flight. The Muslims seized the Turk camp and all the wealth in it, and they found there women of the Arabs and enslaved women from the Turk women—everything. (The Khāqān's jade got stuck in mud, and al-Ḥārith b. Surayj protected him, not letting the people know that he was the Khāqān.) (The eunuch belonging to the Khāqān wanted to carry off the Khāqān's wife, but they overtook him and killed her, and they rescued those Muslims who were with the Khāqān.) Asad pursued the Turk cavalry that had been dispersed in raiding toward Marw al-Rūdh and elsewhere, killing those of them he could catch, and none of them escaped except a few. He returned to Balkh. Bishr al-Kirmānī was among those in raiding parties who would strike the Turks, taking one man, two men, or more. The Khāqān went on to Ṭakhāristān and stayed with Jabghūyah al-Khazlajī. Then he departed for his own land. When he reached Ushrūsanah, Kharābughrah Abū Khānājizah, the grandfather of Kāwūs, father of Afshīn, met him with everything he could muster. There had been distance between them, but he wished to earn a favor with him. Then the Khāqān came to his own land and prepared for war and the siege of Samarqand, and he mounted al-Ḥārith and his companions on five thousand jades. One day the Khāqān was playing backgammon with Kūrṣūl for a stake when they quarreled. Kūrṣūl struck the Khāqān's hand and broke it, then withdrew and gathered a force. He learned that the Khāqān had sworn to break his hand, so he attacked the Khāqān by night and killed him. The Turks scattered and left him stripped. A few Turks came and buried him. The Turks then became occupied raiding one another, and at that the people of Sughd aspired to return. Asad sent a bringer of good tidings to Hishām b. ʿAbd al-Malik about the victory Allah granted them and the killing of the Khāqān. Hishām did not believe him and said to al-Rabīʿ, his chamberlain: "I do not think this man is truthful. Go and repeat his words back to him, then ask him what he says." Al-Rabīʿ did as he was commanded, and the messenger repeated what he had told Hishām. Then Asad sent another bringer of good tidings, who stood at Hishām's gate and proclaimed the takbīr. Hishām answered with the takbīr. When he reached him, he informed him of the victory, and Hishām prostrated in gratitude to Allah, the Exalted. The Qaysī faction envied Asad and said to Hishām: "Write demanding Muqātil b. Ḥayyān al-Nabaṭī." So Asad sent Muqātil to Hishām. When he entered upon him, he told him what had happened. Hishām said to him: "What is your request?" He said: "Yazīd b. al-Muhallab took from my father one hundred thousand dirhams without right, so make him swear an oath about that." Hishām wrote to Asad, who returned the money to him, and Muqātil divided it among the heirs of Ḥayyān according to the Book of Allah, the Exalted. Abū al-Hindī said, mentioning this battle: Abū Mundhir, you sought out great matters and weighed them, and asked about them like a keen bargainer. There was no man of sound judgment whose judgment you measured against your judgment but it was like the judgment of beasts. Abū Mundhir, had it not been for your march, there would be no Iraq, nor would the kings of the non-Arabs have submitted. No one would have made pilgrimage to the House of Allah riding, and the plain of Makkah would not have flourished after the seasons of pilgrimage. How many a slain man between Sān and Jazza, with broken arms, from among the kings of the Ḥabashah! You left them in the land of al-Jūzjān, visited by beasts and eagles to cut their throats. And many a common man there has a sword stroke upon him, still gasping, cast aside for the circling birds of prey. So some flee from us, and some are in our debt, a captive enduring the fearsome darkness. May souls ransom you from Tamīm and ʿĀmir and from the ruddy Muḍar at the narrow passes. They made the Khāqān covetous of us, so his milch camels came to hope for the emptying of the spoils. Ibn al-Sāyijī, the one who informed Asad of the Khāqān's coming, had been appointed by al-Sabl as his successor over his kingdom at his death, and al-Sabl had given him three pieces of advice. He said: "Do not lord it over the people of Khuttal as I did over them, for I was a king and you are not a king; you are only a man from among them." He also said to him: "Seek out al-Ḥunayish until you restore him to your land, for he is the king after me." Al-Ḥunayish had fled to China. And he said to him: "Do not fight the Arabs, but fend them off from you by every stratagem." Ibn al-Sāyijī said to him: "As for my refraining from lording it over them and restoring al-Ḥunayish, that is sound counsel. But as for your saying 'do not fight the Arabs,' how can that be, when you were the most warlike of kings against them?" Al-Sabl said: "I have tested your strength against mine, and I did not see you deal with me effectively. But when I fought them, I never escaped them except gasping for breath. And if you fight them, you will perish." This was what made Ibn al-Sāyijī dislike fighting the Arabs. Some poets said in praise of Asad for his victory and killing of the Khāqān: If you were to travel the earth measuring it, measuring its length and breadth, you would not find anyone better in success and breaking the enemy than the Amir Asad, nor anyone more resolute. He brought goodness to us when he was granted authority, and gathered the scattered community that had been dispersed. The Khāqān did not escape him except by galloping; he scattered of his hosts what he scattered. O Ibn Surayj, you have met with bitter plants, bitter plants by which the headache of the sick is cured.

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