licly strike clappers,[1] or openly celebrate Easter Monday[2] or show the cross in public. Thereunto, Allah is witness and Allah is a sufficient witness. Signed by ʿIyâḍ's own signature."
Others report that ʿIyâḍ assessed four dînârs on every adult of ar-Raḳḳah; but the fact is that ʿUmar wrote after this to ʿUmair ibn-Saʿd, his governor, instructing him to assess four dînârs on every man, as it was the case with those who possessed gold.
The terms with ar-Ruha. ʿIyâḍ then advanced against Ḥarrân and encamped at Bâjuddah, whence he sent forth the van of the army. The people of Ḥarrân closed the city gates, shutting the troops out. ʿIyâḍ followed up the van and when he camped at Ḥarrân, the Ḥarnânîyah from among its inhabitants sent him a word saying that they had under their control a part of the city and asking him to go to ar-Ruha, promising to accept whatever terms he may make with it, and leaving him free to negotiate with the Christians of Ḥarrân. Hearing that, the Christians sent him word, consenting to what had been proposed and offered by al-Ḥarnânîyah. Accordingly, ʿIyâḍ advanced to ar-Ruha whose people gathered against and shot at the Moslems for an hour. The fighters made a sally, but the Moslems put them to flight and forced them to seek refuge in the city. No sooner had that taken place than they offered to capitulate and make peace. To this, ʿIyâḍ consented and wrote them the following statement:[3]
"In the name of Allah, the compassionate, the merciful.
- ↑ Ar. nâḳûs.
- ↑ Ar bâʿûth, used to-day for the Christian festival of Monday after Easter, is defined by Ḳâmûs, Tâj al-ʿArûs and Lisân al-ʿArab as corresponding to the Moslem prayer in which a petition for rain is offered. Cf. S. Fraenkel, Die Aramäischen Fremdwörter im Arabischen, p. 277.
- ↑ Cf. Yûsuf, p. 23.
