CHAPTER V
The Battle of al-Ḳâdisîyah
ʿUmar sends Saʿd ibn-abi-Waḳḳâṣ. The Moslems wrote to ʿUmar ibn-al-Khaṭṭâb telling him of the great number of the Persians massing against them, and asked for reinforcements. ʿUmar desired to lead the razzia in person and collected an army for that purpose; but he was advised by al-ʿAbbâs ibn-ʿAbd-al-Muṭṭalib and other sheikhs from among the Companions of the Prophet to stay at home and send out the forces and troops; and ʿUmar did that. ʿAli ibn-abi-Ṭâlib advised him to go himself; but ʿUmar replied, "I have made up my mind to stay." ʿUmar proposed to ʿAli the idea of going; but the latter refused, upon which ʿUmar wanted Saʿîd ibn-Zaid ibn-ʿAmr ibn-Nufail al-ʿAdawi to go. Finally, it occurred to him to send Saʿd ibn-abi-Waḳḳâṣ, which he did. The name of abu-Waḳḳâṣ was Mâlik ibn-Uhaib ibn-ʿAbd-Manâf ibn-Zuhrah ibn-Kilâb. Saʿd was a man of valor and a good shot. Others say that at this time Saʿîd ibn-Zaid ibn-ʿAmr was on an expedition in Syria.
Saʿd proceeded to al-ʿIrâḳ and stayed at ath-Thaʿlabîyah for three months, in the course of which all the troops overtook him. Thence he came, in the year 15, to al-ʿUdhaib. Al-Muthanna ibn-Ḥârithah happened to be ill at that time, and he advised Saʿd to meet the enemy between al-Ḳâdisîyah and al-ʿUdhaib. His case soon became serious and he was carried to his clan among whom he died. Saʿd married his wife.
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