Tarikh (al-Tabari) 2578
The Year 122 AH
قَتْلِ الْبَطَّالِ وَاسْمُهُ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ أَبُو الْحُسَيْنِ الْأَنْطَاكِيُّ، فِي جَمَاعَةٍ مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ بِبِلَادِ الرُّومِ وَفِي سنة اثنتين وعشرين ومائة قُتِلَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ الْبَطَّالُ فِي جَمَاعَةٍ مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ بِأَرْضِ الرُّومِ . وَلَمْ يَزِدِ ابْنُ جَرِيرٍ عَلَى هَذَا، وَقَدْ ذَكَرَ هَذَا الرَّجُلَ الْحَافِظُ ابْنُ عَسَاكِرَ فِي تَارِيخِهِ الْكَبِيرِ، فَقَالَ: عَبْدُ اللَّهِ أَبُو يَحْيَى الْمَعْرُوفُ بِالْبَطَّالِ. كَانَ يَنْزِلُ أَنْطَاكِيَةَ، حَكَى عَنْهُ أَبُو مَرْوَانَ الْأَنْطَاكِيُّ. ثُمَّ رَوَى بِإِسْنَادِهِ أَنَّ عَبْدَ الْمَلِكِ بْنَ مَرْوَانَ حِينَ عَقَدَ لِابْنِهِ مَسْلَمَةَ عَلَى غَزْوِ بِلَادِ الرُّومِ وَلَّى عَلَى رُؤَسَاءِ أَهْلِ الْجَزِيرَةِ وَالشَّامِ الْبَطَّالَ وَقَالَ لِابْنِهِ مَسْلَمَةَ: صَيِّرْهُ عَلَى طَلَائِعِكَ، وَأْمُرْهُ فَلْيُعَسَّ بِاللَّيْلِ الْعَسْكَرَ، فَإِنَّهُ أَمِينٌ ثِقَةٌ مِقْدَامٌ شُجَاعٌ. وَخَرَجَ مَعَهُمْ عَبْدُ الْمَلِكِ يُشَيِّعُهُمْ إِلَى بَابِ دِمَشْقَ. قَالَ: فَقَدَّمَ مَسْلَمَةُ الْبَطَّالَ عَلَى عَشَرَةِ آلَافٍ يَكُونُونَ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ تُرْسًا مِنَ الرُّومِ أَنْ يَصِلُوا إِلَى جَيْشِ الْمُسْلِمِينَ. بعض من أخبار البطال قَالَ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَائِذٍ الدِّمَشْقِيُّ: ثَنَا الْوَلِيدُ بْنُ مُسْلِمٍ حَدَّثَنِي أَبُو مَرْوَانَ - شَيْخٌ مِنْ أَهْلِ أَنْطَاكِيَةَ - قَالَ: كُنْتُ أَغَازِي الْبَطَّالَ وَقَدْ أَوْطَأَ الرُّومَ ذُلًّا، قَالَ الْبَطَّالُ: فَسَأَلَنِي بَعْضُ وُلَاةِ بَنِي أُمَيَّةَ عَنْ أَعْجَبِ مَا كَانَ مِنْ أَمْرِي فِيهِمْ، فَقُلْتُ لَهُ: خَرَجْتُ فِي سِرِّيَّةٍ لَيْلًا، فَدَفَعْنَا إِلَى قَرْيَةٍ، فَقُلْتُ لِأَصْحَابِي: أَرْخُوا لُجُمَ خُيُولِكُمْ وَلَا تُحَرِّكُوا أَحَدًا بِقَتْلٍ وَلَا بِسَبْيٍ حَتَّى تَشْحَنُوا الْقَرْيَةَ فَإِنَّهُمْ فِي نَوْمَةٍ. فَفَعَلُوا وَافْتَرَقُوا فِي أَزِقَّتِهَا، فَدَفَعْتُ فِي أُنَاسٍ مِنْ أَصْحَابِي إِلَى بَيْتٍ يَزْهَرُ سِرَاجُهُ، وَإِذَا امْرَأَةٌ تُسَكِّتُ ابْنَهَا مِنْ بُكَائِهِ وَهِيَ تَقُولُ: لَتَسْكُتْنَّ أَوْ لَأَدْفَعَنَّكَ إِلَى الْبَطَّالِ يَذْهَبُ بِكَ. وَانْتَشَلَتْهُ مِنْ سَرِيرِهِ وَقَالَتْ: أَمْسِكْ يَا بِطَّالُ. قَالَ: فَأَخَذْتُهُ. وَرَوَى مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَائِذٍ بسنده عَنِ الْبَطَّالِ قَالَ: انْفَرَدْتُ مَرَّةً عَلَى فَرَسِي، لَيْسَ مَعِي أَحَدٌ مِنَ الْجُنْدِ، وَقَدْ سَمَّطْتُ خَلْفِي مِخْلَاةً فِيهَا شَعِيرٌ، وَمَعِي مَنْدِيلٌ فِيهِ خُبْزٌ وَشِوَاءٌ، فَبَيْنَا أَنَا أَسِيرُ لَعَلِّي أَلْقَى أَحَدًا مُنْفَرِدًا أَوْ أَطَّلِعُ عَلَى خَبَرٍ، إِذَا أَنَا بِبُسْتَانٍ فِيهِ بُقُولٌ حَسَنَةٌ، فَنَزَلْتُ وَأَكَلْتُ مِنْ ذَلِكَ الْخَبْزِ وَالشِّوَاءِ مَعَ الْبَقْلِ، فَأَخَذَنِي إِسْهَالٌ عَظِيمٌ قُمْتُ مِنْهُ مِرَارًا، فَخِفْتُ أَنْ أَضْعُفَ مِنْ كَثْرَةِ الْإِسْهَالِ، فَرَكِبْتُ فَرَسِي وَالْإِسْهَالُ مُسْتَمِرٌّ عَلَى حَالِهِ، وَجَعَلْتُ أَخْشَى إِنْ أَنَا نَزَلْتُ عَنْ فَرَسِي أَنْ أَضْعُفَ عَنِ الرُّكُوبِ، وَأَفْرَطَ بِي الْإِسْهَالُ فِي السَّرْجِ، حَتَّى خَشِيَتُ أَنْ أَسْقُطَ مِنَ الضَّعْفِ، فَأَخَذْتُ بِعِنَانِ الْفَرَسِ، وَنِمْتُ عَلَى وَجْهِي لَا أَدْرِي أَيْنَ يَسِيرُ الْفَرَسُ بِي، فَلَمْ أَشْعُرْ إِلَّا بِقَرْعِ نِعَالِهِ عَلَى بَلَاطٍ، فَأَرْفَعُ رَأْسِي فَإِذَا دَيْرٌ، وَإِذَا قَدْ خَرَجَ مِنْهُ نِسْوَةٌ صُحْبَةَ امْرَأَةٍ حَسْنَاءَ جَمِيلَةٍ جِدًّا، فَجَعَلَتْ تَقُولُ لَهُنَّ بِلِسَانِهَا: أَنْزِلْنَهُ. فَأَنْزَلْنَنِي، فَغَسَلْنَ عَنِّي ثِيَابِي وَسَرْجِي وَفَرَسِي، وَوَضَعْنَنِي عَلَى سَرِيرٍ، وَعَمِلْنَ لِي طَعَامًا وَشَرَابًا فَمَكَثْتُ يَوْمًا وَلَيْلَةً مَسْبُوتًا، ثُمَّ أَقَمْتُ بَقِيَّةَ ثَلَاثَةِ أَيَّامٍ حَتَّى تُرَادَّ إِلَيَّ حَالِي، فَبَيْنَا أَنَا كَذَلِكَ إِذْ قِيلَ: جَاءَ الْبِطْرِيقُ. فَأَمَرْتُ بِفَرَسِي فَحُوِّلَ، وَغُلِّقَ عَلَيَّ الْبَابُ الَّذِي أَنَا فِيهِ، وَإِذَا هُوَ بِطْرِيقٌ كَبِيرٌ فِيهِمْ قَدْ جَاءَ لِخِطْبَتِهَا، فَأَخْبَرَهُ بَعْضُ مَنْ كَانَ هُنَاكَ بِأَنَّ هَذَا الْبَيْتَ فِيهِ رَجُلٌ وَلَهُ فَرَسٌ، فَهَمَّ بِالْهُجُومِ عَلَيَّ، فَمَنَعَتْهُ الْمَرْأَةُ مِنْ ذَلِكَ، وَأَرْسَلَتْ تَقُولُ لَهُ: إِنْ فَتَحَ عَلَيْهِ الْبَابَ لَمْ أَقْضِ حَاجَتَهُ. فَثَنَاهُ ذَلِكَ عَنِ الْهُجُومِ عَلَيَّ، وَأَقَامَ إِلَى آخِرِ النَّهَارِ فِي ضِيَافَتِهِمْ، ثُمَّ رَكِبَ فَرَسَهُ، وَرَكِبَ مَعَهُ أَصْحَابُهُ وَانْطَلَقَ. قَالَ الْبَطَّالُ: فَنَهَضْتُ فِي أَثَرِهِمْ، فَهَمَّتْ أَنْ تَمْنَعَنِي خَوْفًا عَلَيَّ مِنْهُمْ فَلَمْ أَقْبَلْ، وَسُقْتُ حَتَّى لَحِقْتُهُمْ، فَحَمَلْتُ عَلَيْهِ، فَانْفَرَجَ عَنْهُ أَصْحَابُهُ وَأَرَادَ الْفِرَارَ، فَأَلْحَقُهُ فَأَضْرِبُ عُنُقَهُ وَاسْتَلَبْتُهُ وَأَخَذْتُ رَأْسَهُ مُسَمَّطًا عَلَى فَرَسِي، وَرَجَعْتُ إِلَى الدَّيْرِ، فَخَرَجْنَ إِلَيَّ وَوَقَفْنَ بَيْنَ يَدَيَّ، فَقُلْتُ: ارْكَبْنَ. فَرَكِبْنَ مَا هُنَالِكَ مِنَ الدَّوَابِّ، وَسُقْتُ بِهِنَّ حَتَّى أَتَيْتُ أَمِيرَ الْجَيْشِ، فَدَفَعْتُهُنَّ إِلَيْهِ، فَنَفَّلَنِي مَا شِئْتُ مِنْهُنَّ، فَأَخَذْتُ تِلْكَ الْمَرْأَةَ الْحَسْنَاءَ بِعَيْنِهَا، فَهِيَ أَمُّ أَوْلَادِي. وَكَانَ أَبُوهَا بِطْرِيقًا كَبِيرًا فِيهِمْ، وَكَانَ الْبَطَّالُ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ يُكَاتِبُ أَبَاهَا وَيُهَادِيهِ. وَذَكَرَ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَائِذٍ بسنده عن مَوْلَى خُزَاعَةَ يُخْبِرُ عَمَّنْ سَمِعَهُ مِنَ الْبَطَّالِ أَنَّ هِشَامَ بْنَ عَبْدِ الْمَلِكِ لَمَّا وَلَّاهُ الْمِصِّيصَةَ بَعَثَ الْبَطَّالُ سَرِيَّةً إِلَى أَرْضِ الرُّومِ فَغَابَ عَنْهُ خَبَرُهَا فَلَمْ يَدْرِ مَا صَنَعُوا، فَرَكِبَ بِنَفْسِهِ وَحْدَهُ عَلَى فَرَسٍ لَهُ، وَسَارَ حَتَّى وَصَلَ إِلَى عَمُّورِيَّةَ، فَطَرَقَ بَابَهَا لَيْلًا، فَقَالَ لَهُ الْبَوَّابُ: مَنْ هَذَا ؟ قَالَ الْبَطَّالُ: فَقُلْتُ: أَنَا سَيَّافُ الْمَلِكِ وَرَسُولُهُ إِلَى الْبِطْرِيقِ فَخُذْ لِي طَرِيقًا إِلَيْهِ. فَلَمَّا دَخَلْتُ عَلَيْهِ إِذَا هُوَ جَالِسٌ عَلَى سَرِيرٍ، فَجَلَسْتُ مَعَهُ عَلَى السَّرِيرِ إِلَى جَانِبِهِ، ثُمَّ قُلْتُ لَهُ: إِنِّي قَدْ جِئْتُكَ فِي رِسَالَةٍ، فَمُرْ هَؤُلَاءِ فَلْيَنْصَرِفُوا. فَأَمَرَ مَنْ عِنْدَهُ فَذَهَبُوا. قَالَ: ثُمَّ قَامَ فَغَلَقَ بَابَ الْكَنِيسَةِ عَلَيَّ وَعَلَيْهِ، ثُمَّ جَاءَ فَجَلَسَ، فَاخْتَرَطْتُ سَيْفِي، وَضَرَبْتُ بِهِ رَأَسَهُ صَفْحًا، وَقُلْتُ لَهُ: أَنَا الْبَطَّالُ فَاصْدُقْنِي عَمَّا أَسْأَلُكَ عَنْهُ وَإِلَّا ضَرَبْتُ عُنُقَكَ. قَالَ: وَمَا هُوَ ؟ قُلْتُ: السَّرِيَّةُ الَّتِي بَعَثْتُهَا مَا خَبَرُهَا ؟ فَقَالَ: هُمْ فِي بِلَادِي يَنْتَهِبُونَ مَا تَهَيَّأَ لَهُمْ، وَهَذَا كِتَابٌ قَدْ جَاءَنِي يُخْبِرُ أَنَّهُمْ فِي وَادِي كَذَا وَكَذَا، وَاللَّهِ لَقَدْ صَدَقْتُكَ. فَقُلْتُ: هَاتِ الْأَمَانَ. فَأَعْطَانِي الْأَمَانَ، فَقُلْتُ: ائْتِنِي بِطَعَامٍ. فَأَمَرَ أَصْحَابَهُ فَجَاءُوا بِطَعَامٍ، فَوُضِعَ لِي، فَأَكَلْتُ ثُمَّ قُمْتُ لِأَنْصَرِفَ فَقَالَ لِأَصْحَابِهِ: اخْرُجُوا بَيْنَ يَدَيْ رَسُولِ الْمَلِكِ. فَانْطَلَقُوا يَتَعَادُّونَ بَيْنَ يَدَيَّ، وَانْطَلَقْتُ إِلَى ذَلِكَ الْوَادِي الَّذِي ذُكِرَ، فَإِذَا أَصْحَابِي هُنَالِكَ، فَأَخَذَتْهُمْ وَرَجَعْتُ إِلَى الْمِصِّيصَةِ. فَهَذَا أَغْرَبُ مَا جَرَى. قَالَ الْوَلِيدُ: وَأَخْبَرَنِي بَعْضُ شُيُوخِنَا أَنَّهُ رَأَى الْبَطَّالَ وَهُوَ قَافِلٌ مَنْ حَجَّتِهِ، وَكَانَ قَدْ شُغِلَ بِالْجِهَادِ عَنِ الْحَجِّ، وَكَانَ يَسْأَلُ اللَّهَ دَائِمًا الْحَجَّ ثُمَّ الشَّهَادَةَ، فَلَمْ يَتَمَكَّنْ مِنْ حَجَّةِ الْإِسْلَامِ إِلَّا فِي السَّنَةِ الَّتِي اسْتُشْهِدَ فِيهَا، رَحِمَهُ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى، سبب شهادة البطال وَكَانَ سَبَبُ شَهَادَتِهِ أَنَّ لِيُونَ مَلِكَ الرُّومِ خَرَجَ مِنَ الْقُسْطَنْطِينِيَّةِ فِي مِائَةِ أَلْفِ فَارِسٍ، فَبَعَثَ الْبِطْرِيقُ - الَّذِي الْبَطَّالُ مُتَزَوِّجٌ بِابْنَتِهِ الَّتِي ذَكَرْنَا أَمْرَهَا - إِلَى الْبَطَّالِ يُخْبِرُهُ بِذَلِكَ فَأَخْبَرَ الْبَطَّالُ أَمِيرَ عَسَاكِرِ الْمُسْلِمِينَ بِذَلِكَ، وَكَانَ الْأَمِيرُ مَالِكَ بْنَ شَبِيبٍ، وَقَالَ لَهُ: إِنَّ الْمَصْلَحَةَ تَقْتَضِي أَنْ نَتَحَصَّنَ فِي مَدِينَةِ حَرَّانَ، فَنَكُونُ بِهَا حَتَّى يَقْدَمَ عَلَيْنَا سُلَيْمَانُ بْنُ هِشَامٍ فِي الْجُيُوشِ. فَأَبَى عَلَيْهِ ذَلِكَ، وَدَهَمَهُمُ الْجَيْشُ، فَاقْتَتَلُوا قِتَالًا شَدِيدًا وَالْبَطَّالُ يَجُولُ بَيْنَ يَدَيِ الْأَبْطَالِ، وَلَا يَتَجَاسَرُ أَحَدٌ أَنْ يُنَوِّهَ بِاسْمِهِ ; خَوْفًا عَلَيْهِ مِنَ الرُّومِ فَاتَّفَقَ أَنْ نَادَاهُ بَعْضُهُمْ، وَذَكَرَ اسْمَهُ غَلَطًا مِنْهُ، فَلَمَّا سَمِعَ ذَلِكَ فُرْسَانُ الرُّومِ حَمَلُوا عَلَيْهِ حَمْلَةً وَاحِدَةً، فَاقْتَلَعُوهُ مَنْ سَرْجِهِ بِرِمَاحِهِمْ، فَأَلْقَوْهُ إِلَى الْأَرْضِ، وَسَاقُوا وَرَاءَ النَّاسِ يَقْتُلُونَ فِيهِمْ وَيَأْسِرُونَ، وَقُتِلَ الْأَمِيرُ الْكَبِيرُ مَالِكُ بْنُ شَبِيبٍ وَانْكَسَرَ الْمُسْلِمُونَ، وَانْطَلَقُوا إِلَى تِلْكَ الْمَدِينَةِ الْخَرَابِ فَتَحَصَّنُوا بِهَا، وَأَصْبَحَ لِيُونُ فَوَقَفَ عَلَى مَكَانِ الْمَعْرَكَةِ، فَإِذَا الْبَطَّالُ بِآخِرِ رَمَقٍ، فَقَالَ لَهُ لِيُونُ مَا هَذَا يَا أَبَا يَحْيَى ؟ فَقَالَ: هَكَذَا تُقْتَلُ الْأَبْطَالُ. فَاسْتَدْعَى لِيُونُ بِالْأَطِبَّاءِ لِيُدَاوُوهُ فَإِذَا جِرَاحُهُ قَدْ نَفَذَتْ إِلَى مَقَاتِلِهِ، فَقَالَ لَهُ لِيُونُ: هَلْ مِنْ حَاجَةٍ ؟ قَالَ: نَعَمْ. قَالَ: وَمَا هِيَ ؟ قَالَ: تَأْمُرُ مَنْ مَعَكَ مِنْ أُسَارَى الْمُسْلِمِينَ أَنْ يَلُوا غَسْلِيَ وَالصَّلَاةَ عَلَيَّ وَدَفْنِي. فَفَعَلَ، وَأَطْلَقَ لِأَجْلِ ذَلِكَ أُولَئِكَ الْأُسَارَى، وَانْطَلَقَ لِيُونُ إِلَى أُولَئِكَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ الَّذِينَ تَحَصَّنُوا فَحَاصَرَهُمْ، فَبَيْنَمَا هُمْ كَذَلِكَ إِذْ جَاءَتْهُمُ الْبُرُدُ بِقُدُومِ سُلَيْمَانَ بْنِ هِشَامٍ فِي الْجُيُوشِ الْإِسْلَامِيَّةِ، فَفَرَّ لِيُونُ فِي جَيْشِهِ رَاجِعًا إِلَى الْقُسْطَنْطِينِيَّةِ، قَبَّحَهُ اللَّهُ. قَالَ خَلِيفَةُ بْنُ خَيَّاطٍ: كَانَتْ وَفَاةُ الْبَطَّالِ وَمَقْتَلُهُ بِأَرْضِ الرُّومِ فِي سَنَةِ إِحْدَى وَعِشْرِينَ وَمِائَةٍ. وَقَالَ ابْنُ جَرِيرٍ: فِي سَنَةِ ثِنْتَيْنِ وَعِشْرِينَ وَمِائَةٍ. وَقَالَ أَبُو حَسَّانَ الزِّيَادِيُّ: قُتِلَ فِي سَنَةِ ثَلَاثَ عَشْرَةَ وَمِائَةٍ. قُلْتُ: وَقَدْ قَالَهُ غَيْرُهُ، وَأَنَّهُ قُتِلَ هُوَ وَالْأَمِيرُ عَبْدُ الْوَهَّابِ بْنُ بُخْتٍ فِي سَنَةِ ثَلَاثَ عَشْرَةَ وَمِائَةٍ ، كَمَا ذَكَرْنَا ذَلِكَ. فَاللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ، وَلَكِنَّ ابْنَ جَرِيرٍ لَمْ يُؤَرِّخْ وَفَاتَهُ إِلَّا فِي هَذِهِ السَّنَةِ. فَاللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ. قُلْتُ: فَهَذَا مُلَخَّصُ مَا ذَكَرَهُ الْحَافِظُ ابْنُ عَسَاكِرَ فِي تَرْجَمَةِ الْبَطَّالِ مَعَ تَقَصِّيهِ لِلْأَخْبَارِ وَاطِّلَاعِهِ عَلَيْهَا، وَأَمَّا مَا يَذْكُرُهُ الْعَامَّةُ عَنِ الْبَطَّالِ مِنَ السِّيرَةِ الْمَنْسُوبَةِ إِلَى دَلْهَمَةَ، وَالْبَطَّالِ، وَالْأَمِيرِ عَبْدِ الْوَهَّابِ، وَالْقَاضِي عُقَبَةَ فَكَذِبٌ وَافْتِرَاءٌ، وَوَضْعٌ بَارِدٌ، وَجَهْلٌ كَبِيرٌ، وَتَخْبِيطٌ فَاحِشٌ، لَا يَرُوجُ ذَلِكَ إِلَّا عَلَى غَبِيٍّ أَوْ جَاهِلٍ رَدِيٍّ، كَمَا يَرُوجُ عَلَيْهِمْ سِيرَةُ عَنْتَرَةَ الْعَبْسِيِّ الْمَكْذُوبَةُ، وَكَذَلِكَ سِيرَةُ الْبَكْرِيِّ، وَالدَّنَفِ وَغَيْرِ ذَلِكَ، وَالْكَذِبُ الْمُفْتَعَلُ فِي سِيرَةِ الْبَكْرِيِّ أَشَدُّ إِثْمًا وَأَعْظَمُ جُرْمًا مِنْ غَيْرِهَا ; لِأَنَّ وَاضِعَهَا يَدْخُلُ فِي قَوْلِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ: مَنْ كَذَبَ عَلَيَّ مُتَعَمِّدًا فَلْيَتَبَوَّأْ مَقْعَدَهُ مِنَ النَّارِ.
Translation
✧ The Killing of al-Baṭṭāl His name was ʿAbd Allāh Abū al-Ḥusayn al-Anṭākī, who was killed along with a group of Muslims in the land of the Byzantines. In the year 122 AH, ʿAbd Allāh al-Baṭṭāl was killed along with a group of Muslims in Byzantine territory. Ibn Jarīr did not add anything beyond this. Al-Ḥāfiẓ Ibn ʿAsākir mentioned this man in his great history, saying: ʿAbd Allāh Abū Yaḥyā, known as al-Baṭṭāl. He used to reside in Antioch. Abū Marwān al-Anṭākī narrated from him. Then he narrated with his chain of transmission that when ʿAbd al-Malik b. Marwān appointed his son Maslamah to lead a campaign against Byzantine lands, he placed al-Baṭṭāl in command of the leaders of the people of the Jazīrah and Syria, and said to his son Maslamah: "Make him the head of your vanguard, and order him to patrol the army at night, for he is trustworthy, reliable, bold, and brave." ʿAbd al-Malik went out with them to bid them farewell as far as the gate of Damascus. He said: Maslamah placed al-Baṭṭāl in command of ten thousand men who would be in front of him as a shield against the Byzantines, lest they reach the Muslim army. Some accounts of al-Baṭṭāl Muḥammad b. ʿĀʾidh al-Dimashqī said: al-Walīd b. Muslim narrated to us: Abū Marwān—a shaykh from the people of Antioch—narrated to me, saying: I used to campaign with al-Baṭṭāl, and he had brought humiliation upon the Byzantines. Al-Baṭṭāl said: One of the Umayyad governors asked me about the most amazing thing that happened to me among them. I said to him: I went out one night in a raiding party, and we came upon a village. I said to my companions: "Loosen the reins of your horses and do not move anyone to kill or capture until you fill the village, for they are asleep." They did so and dispersed through its streets. I and some of my companions came upon a house whose lamp was shining brightly. There was a woman quieting her son from his crying, saying: "You will be quiet or I will hand you over to al-Baṭṭāl to take you away." She snatched him from his bed and said: "Take hold, O Baṭṭāl." He said: So I took him. Muḥammad b. ʿĀʾidh narrated with his chain from al-Baṭṭāl, who said: Once I went out alone on my horse, with no one of the army with me. I had tied behind me a nosebag containing barley, and I had with me a kerchief containing bread and roasted meat. While I was riding, hoping to meet someone alone or to gain some intelligence, I came upon a garden with fine vegetables. I dismounted and ate some of that bread and roasted meat with the vegetables. Then I was seized with severe diarrhea, from which I rose many times. I feared I would become weak from the frequency of the diarrhea. So I mounted my horse while the diarrhea continued unabated. I was afraid that if I dismounted, I would be too weak to remount. The diarrhea overwhelmed me in the saddle, until I feared I would fall from weakness. So I took hold of the horse's rein and lay on my face, not knowing where the horse was taking me. Before I realized it, I heard the clatter of its hooves on pavement. I raised my head and behold, there was a monastery. Women had come out of it, accompanying a beautiful and very lovely woman. She said to them in their tongue: "Take him down." They took me down, washed my clothes, my saddle, and my horse, and placed me on a bed. They prepared food and drink for me. I remained for a day and a night in a stupor, then I stayed for the rest of three days until my strength returned to me. While I was in that state, it was said: "The patrician has come." I ordered that my horse be moved, and the door of the room where I was was locked. There came a great patrician among them, who had come to ask for her hand in marriage. Some of those present informed him that there was a man in this room, and that he had a horse. He intended to break in upon me, but the woman prevented him from doing so, and sent word to him: "If he opens the door, I will not grant your request." That deterred him from breaking in upon me. He remained until the end of the day as their guest, then mounted his horse, and his companions mounted with him and departed. Al-Baṭṭāl said: I rose and followed after them. She tried to prevent me out of fear for me from them, but I did not accept. I drove on until I caught up with them. I charged at him, and his companions scattered from around him. He tried to flee, but I caught up with him and struck his neck. I despoiled him and took his head, tying it to my horse. I returned to the monastery. They came out to me and stood before me. I said: "Mount." They mounted whatever riding animals were there. I drove them along until I came to the commander of the army and handed them over to him. He gave me as spoil whatever I wished of them. I took that very beautiful woman, and she is the mother of my children. Her father was a great patrician among them. After that, al-Baṭṭāl used to correspond with her father and exchange gifts with him. Muḥammad b. ʿĀʾidh mentioned with his chain from a client of Khuzāʿah, who reported from someone who heard it from al-Baṭṭāl: When Hishām b. ʿAbd al-Malik appointed him governor of al-Maṣṣīṣah, al-Baṭṭāl sent out a raiding party into Byzantine territory. He lost news of them and did not know what they had done. So he rode out by himself alone on a horse of his, and traveled until he reached Amorium. He knocked at its gate at night. The gatekeeper said: "Who is this?" Al-Baṭṭāl said: I said: "I am the king's swordsman and his messenger to the patrician, so show me the way to him." When I entered upon him, he was seated on a throne. I sat with him on the throne beside him. Then I said to him: "I have come to you with a message, so order these people to leave." He ordered those with him, and they went away. He said: Then he rose and locked the door of the church upon me and himself. Then he came and sat down. I drew my sword and struck his head with the flat of the blade, and said to him: "I am al-Baṭṭāl. Tell me the truth about what I ask you, or I will strike your neck." He said: "What is it?" I said: "The raiding party I sent out—what is their news?" He said: "They are in my lands, plundering whatever they can. Here is a letter that has come to me informing me that they are in such-and-such a valley. By God, I have told you the truth." I said: "Give me a guarantee of safety." He gave me the guarantee. I said: "Bring me food." He ordered his companions, and they brought food. It was placed before me. I ate, then rose to depart. He said to his companions: "Go out before the king's messenger." They went ahead of me, showing me the way. I went to that valley which had been mentioned, and there were my companions. I took them and returned to al-Maṣṣīṣah. This is the most extraordinary thing that happened. Al-Walīd said: One of our shaykhs informed me that he saw al-Baṭṭāl returning from his pilgrimage. He had been occupied with jihād and kept away from the pilgrimage. He used to constantly ask God for the pilgrimage and then martyrdom. He was not able to perform the obligatory pilgrimage except in the year in which he was martyred, may God Almighty have mercy on him. The cause of al-Baṭṭāl's martyrdom The cause of his martyrdom was that Leo, the king of the Byzantines, marched out of Constantinople with one hundred thousand horsemen. The patrician—whose daughter al-Baṭṭāl had married, and whose story we have related—sent word to al-Baṭṭāl informing him of that. Al-Baṭṭāl informed the commander of the Muslim armies of that. The commander was Mālik b. Shabīb. He said to him: "The best course is for us to fortify ourselves in the city of Ḥarrān and remain there until Sulaymān b. Hishām comes to us with the armies." But he refused that. The enemy army fell upon them, and they fought a fierce battle. Al-Baṭṭāl was riding among the heroes, and no one dared to call out his name for fear of the Byzantines. It happened that someone called out to him and mentioned his name by mistake. When the Byzantine knights heard that, they charged at him with a single charge, plucked him from his saddle with their lances, and threw him to the ground. They pursued the people, killing and capturing among them. The great commander Mālik b. Shabīb was killed, and the Muslims were defeated. They went to that ruined city and fortified themselves in it. In the morning, Leo came and stood at the site of the battle. There was al-Baṭṭāl at his last breath. Leo said to him: "What is this, O Abū Yaḥyā?" He said: "Thus are heroes killed." Leo summoned physicians to treat him, but his wounds had penetrated to his vital organs. Leo said to him: "Do you have any need?" He said: "Yes." He said: "What is it?" He said: "Command those with you among the Muslim captives to take charge of washing me, praying over me, and burying me." He did so, and for that reason he released those captives. Leo went to those Muslims who had fortified themselves and besieged them. While they were in that state, messengers came to them with news of the arrival of Sulaymān b. Hishām with the Islamic armies. Leo fled with his army, returning to Constantinople, may God disfigure him. Khalīfah b. Khayyāṭ said: Al-Baṭṭāl's death and killing in Byzantine territory occurred in the year 121 AH. Ibn Jarīr said: In the year 122 AH. Abū Ḥassān al-Ziyādī said: He was killed in the year 113 AH. I say: Others have said this too, and that he and the commander ʿAbd al-Wahhāb b. Bukht were killed in the year 113 AH, as we have mentioned. But God knows best. Ibn Jarīr did not date his death except in this year. God knows best. I say: This is a summary of what al-Ḥāfiẓ Ibn ʿAsākir mentioned in the biography of al-Baṭṭāl, despite his exhaustive pursuit of the reports and his familiarity with them. As for what the common people relate about al-Baṭṭāl from the popular epic attributed to Dhalhamah, al-Baṭṭāl, the commander ʿAbd al-Wahhāb, and the judge ʿUqbah, it is a lie, a fabrication, a cold forgery, great ignorance, and gross confusion. It finds no acceptance except among the gullible or the ignorant and base, just as the fabricated epic of ʿAntarah al-ʿAbsī is accepted among them, and likewise the epic of al-Bakrī, al-Danaf, and others. The fabricated lie in the epic of al-Bakrī is more sinful and a greater crime than others, because its author falls under the saying of the Prophet ﷺ: "Whoever lies about me deliberately, let him take his seat in the Fire."
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