cluded besides the Jarâjimah all those who lived in their city, as well as the merchants, employees and dependents, whether Nabateans or not, together with the inhabitants of the villages. These were called "ar-Rawâdîf"[1] because they were included in the terms with the Jarâjimah though not of their number. Others say they were so called because they came riding behind al-Jarâjimah when the latter presented themselves in the Moslem camp. On certain occasions, al-Jarâjimah acted properly with respect to the [Moslem] governors; but on others, they deviated from the right path and held friendly communications with the Greeks.
ʿAbd-al-Malik agrees to pay them a certain sum. In the days of ibn-az-Zubair, when Marwân ibn-al-Ḥakam died and ʿAbd-al-Malik, who was appointed by Marwân as heir-apparent, wished to succeed Marwân in the caliphate and was ready to leave for al-ʿIrâḳ to fight against al-Muṣʿab ibn-az-Zubair, certain Greek horsemen went forth to Mt. al-Lukâm under a Greek leader and started for the Lebanon, after having been joined by a large body of al-Jarâjimah, Nabateans, and runaway slaves once possessed by the Moslems. Under these conditions, ʿAbd-al-Malik had to make terms with them, agreeing to pay 1,000 dînârs per week. He also made terms with the Greek "tyrant," agreeing to pay him a sum of money, because ʿAbd-al-Malik was too busy to fight against him, and because he feared that in case the "tyrant" came to Syria, he might overpower him. In this, he followed the precedent of Muʿâwiyah who, being engaged in the fight in al-ʿIrâḳ, agreed to pay something to them [the Greeks], and took hostages from them, whom he held in Baʿlabakk. All this synchronized with the attempt made by ʿAmr ibn-Saʿîd ibn-al-ʿÂṣi to secure the caliphate
- ↑ Followers, dependents.
