Jabalah what he was ordered by ʿUmar to propose; but Jabalah refused the offer and insisted on staying in the land of the Greeks. ʿUmair then came into a place called al-Ḥimâr—a valley—which he destroyed putting its inhabitants to the sword. Hence the proverb, "In a more ruined state than the hollow of Ḥimâr."[1]
Heraclius' adieu to Syria. When Heraclius received the news about the troops in al-Yarmûk and the destruction of his army by the Moslems, he fled from Antioch to Constantinople, and as he passed ad-Darb[2] he turned and said, "Peace unto thee, O Syria, and what an excellent country this is for the enemy!"[3]—referring to the numerous pastures in Syria.
The battle of al-Yarmûk took place in Rajab, year 15.[4]
Ḥubâsh loses his leg. According to Hishâm ibn-al-Kalbi, among those who witnessed the battle of al-Yarmûk was Ḥubâsh ibn-Ḳais al-Ḳushairi, who killed many of the "uncircumcised" and lost his leg without feeling it. At last he began to look for it. Hence the verse of Sauwâr ibn-Aufa:
"Among us were ibn-ʿAttâb and the one who went seeking his leg; and among us was one who offered protection to the quarter,"
—referring to dhu-l-Ruḳaibah.[5]
Christians and Jews prefer Moslem rule. Abu-Ḥafṣ ad-Dimashḳi from Saʿîd ibn-ʿAbd-al-ʿAzîz:—When Heraclius massed his troops against the Moslems and the Mos-
