The night attack

In the morning, Thomas summoned the city elders and warriors. When they arrived, he said, "0 Christians, a greatly untrustworthy nation has descended upon you. They have arrived and now inhabit your lands. So how can you be so patient when your women are dishonoured and your children imprisoned? Your women are now their slave-girls and your children their slaves. The Cross did not fall except out of anger at your desire for peace with the 'Arabs and so it had no relationship left with you. I went out against them and would not have returned until I had completely finished them off, but was struck in my eye. I will definitely take revenge and pluck out 1,000 'Arab eyes. I will get to the Cross and soon reclaim it from them."

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Damascenes: Here we are present before you and are pleased with whatever you are pleased with for yourself. If you order us to go out, we will go and if you order us to fight, we will fight.

Thomas : Know that he who bravely tackles war does not fear anything. I have resolved to attack tonight and catch them in their places for the night terrifies and you are better acquainted with the terrain than they are. All of you must prepare for battle tonight and go out of the gate. I shall not return until I have completed these tasks. When I have finished them off, I will take their commander as a prisoner to Caesar so that he may do with him as he pleases.

Damascenes: Out oflove and honour (we obey).

Then when they split up into groups at each gate, Thomas said, "Do not fear, for their leader is far from you. There are none here except their lower-classes and freed- slaves, so grind them like you grind wheat."

He called one group to go out from Faddis Gate against' Amr bin al-'

A~~

while he departed from the Thomas Gate with every great warrior. Hanging a gong on the wall he said, "The sounding of the gong will be the signal for you to rush out of the Gates and slay the sleeping enemy. If you do this, you will break them so that they will never heal again."

They rejoiced and went to their stations, awaiting the signal to attack the Muslims. Thomas called a Roman and said to him, "Take a gong and climb up the wall with it. When you see us opening the gate, sound it lightly so that only our people can hear it." He then led with his group, all armoured and carrying swords. He carried an Indian blade and wore a Persian helmet which Heraclius had gifted to him. The Romans kept their swords still until they reached the gate where Thomas waited for their numbers to be completed. When he saw them completed he said, "0 people! When we open the gate, rush out at full speed towards the enemy. Attack them and place your swords in them. Do not spare anyone who begs for mercy, except the commander. If anyone sees the Cross he should grab it."

They responded, "For love and honour!"

Thomas ordered someone to go to the man with the gong and order him to strike it lightly. He opened the gate and they rushed out against the unaware Sahabah ~. However, some of the Sahiibah ~ were awake. Upon hearing the noise they woke up the others. The Muslims sprang up like striking pythons so that they were alert when the enemy arrived. They attacked the disorganised enemy with their swords under

cover of darkness until Khalid ~ heard. He stood up anxious about the yelling and shouted, "Come forth to the aid of Islaml By the Lord ofthe Ka'bah, my people have been tricked - 0 Allah, keep watch over them with the Eye which never sleeps. 0 Most Merciful of those who show mercy."

Khalid ~ went forth without armour or headgear, wearing only a linen Syrian robe. He and 400 horsemen rode like angry lions until they reach the Eastern Gate where they found the group fighting Riifi' bin 'Umayrah and his men. The Muslim voices were raised with,

"La

ilaha illallahu!" and "Allahu Akbar!" while the enemy had been looking down from the walls and screaming since the Muslims awoke. Khiilid .• attacked the Romans proclaiming, "Glad tidings, 0 Muslims. Help has come from the Rabb of all the worlds. I am the valiant horseman. I am Khalid bin al- Walid." He attacked them, throwing their warriors to the ground and killing their men, all the while worrying about AbU 'Ubaydah ~ and the Muslims at the other gates whose screams could be heard. The Romans, Jews and Christians were all screaming.

Sinin bin' Awf narrates: I asked my cousin, Qays, "Were the Jews also fighting

you?"

Henarrated:

Yes, they were shooting arrows at us from above the walls. At that time Khalid ~ feared what the enemy of Allah was doing to Shurahbil ~ who was in dire straits with none other facing equal difficulty. The first to reach the Muslims was Thomas. They patiently fought him as he shouted, "Where is your despicable general who afllicted me? I am the defender of the Cross."

He wounded several Muslims. When Shurahbil ~ heard him he turned to him and said, "I am your man, I am your rival, I am the exterminator of you all, the seizer of your cross and the scribe of the revelation of Rasfilullah ~."

Thomas sprang to him like a lion but found Shurahbil ~ to be a fierce opponent and thus the two rivals remained fighting until half the night had passed.

Aban's ~ widow was in Shurahbil's ~ army and displayed the greatest patience while shooting her arrow. Her every arrow found its target until she killed many Romans. They began avoiding her until one Roman appeared, whom she shot in the throat. He screamed to his comrades who gathered against her and took her prisoner, while the enemy of Allah died. Shurahbil ~ struck Thomas with a terrific blow which he blocked with his leather shield, shattering the sword. Thomas intended laking him prisoner when two Roman horsemen grabbed him with the Muslim cavalry c~ming behind them. When these Muslims attacked the Romans, Umm Aban

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broke free. She attacked them and called out. 'Abdurahman bin Abi Bakr '* and Aban bin 'Uthman bin 'Affan led the Muslims to her and killed the two Roman horsemen. Thomas returned to Damascus unsuccessful.

Tamim bin 'Adi who witnessed the conquest of Syria narrates:

I was in the tent of AbU 'Ubaydah '* who was performing S.alah when he heard a scream. He said, "There is no power to do good and no ability to avoid evil except through Allah, the Most High, the Most Mighty." He put on his armour and called his men to prepare them. He saw the Muslims in an uproar and fighting, so he overtook both the (Roman) right-wing and left-wing advancing on the gate shouting, "Allahu Akbar!" The Muslims also began shouting, "Allahu Akbar!" When the Christians heard, they thought that the Muslims were attacking from behind so they retreated while AbU 'Ubaydah '* mowed them down.

I (al- Waqidi) have been informed that not a single Roman survived AbU 'Ubaydah's '* attack that night. During the fight, .Qirar '* arrived soaked in blood. Khalid,* said, "What has happened behind you?"

l2irar,* :

Glad tidings, 0 commander, I did not come to you until I slaughtered 150

men this night and my men killed such a number which cannot be counted. I have sufficed you against the threat coming from the Small Gate against Yazid bin Abi Sufyan, Then I went to the other gates and killed many men.

Khalid '* was pleased with that. They then all went to Shurahbil '* and thanked him for what he had achieved. On that moonlit night, such events happened the like of which had not been seen before and thousands of Romans were slain.

In document Futuhusham - The Islamic Conquest of Syria - Al Waqidi (Page 137-140)