phant. Abu-Miḥjan ibn-Ḥabîb ath-Thaḳafi also charged the elephant and struck and broke its leg. The "polytheists", thereupon, made an attack which resulted in the death of abu-ʿUbaid. Others say that the elephant threw its weight upon him and crushed him.[1]
The Moslems who fell. After abu-ʿUbaid, the flag was carried by his brother, al-Ḥakam, who was then killed, and the flag passed to the hands of his son, Jabr, who also fell. Al-Muthanna[2] ibn-Ḥârithah carried it for one hour, after which he withdrew his men as some of them defended the others. On this occasion, ʿUrwah ibn-Zaid al-Khail fought so fiercely that his action was estimated to be equivalent to that of a whole group of men.
Among those who took part in the defense of the Moslems on the west bank of the river, was the poet abu-Zubaid aṭ-Ṭâʾi, who happened to be at al-Ḥîrah on some personal business. Abu-Zubaid was a Christian.
Al-Muthanna came and occupied Ullais and communicated the news in a letter to ʿUmar ibn-al-Khaṭṭâb sent with ʿUrwah ibn-Zaid.
Among those killed in the battle of al-Jisr [the bridge], according to abu-Mikhnaf, was abu-Zaid al-Anṣâri, one of those who compiled the Koran in the days of the Prophet.
The battle of al-Jisr was fought on Saturday at the end of Ramaḍân, year 13.
Abu-ʿUbaid al-Ḳâsim ibn-Sallâm from Ḳais ibn-abi-Ḥâzim:—As abu-ʿUbaid was crossing Bâniḳiya with a band of followers, the "polytheists" cut the bridge and many of his men lost their lives. Ismâʿîl ibn-abi-Khâlid adds that abu-ʿAmr ash-Shaibâni stated that the battle of Mihrân was fought at the beginning of the year, and al-Ḳâdisîyah at the end of it.
