CHAPTER VII
The Battle of Jalûlâʾ
A description of the battle. After spending several days in al-Madâʾin, the Moslems received word that Yazdajird had massed a great host, which was then at Jalûlâʾ, and had directed it against them. Saʿd ibn-abi-Waḳḳâṣ thereupon dispatched Hâshim ibn-ʿUtbah ibn-abi-Waḳḳâṣ at the head of 12,000 men to meet them. The Moslems found that the Persians, having left their families and heavy baggage at Khâniḳîn,[1] had dug trenches and fortified themselves, binding themselves with a pledge never to flee. Reinforcements were coming to them all the time from Ḥulwân and al-Jibâl [the mountains, i. e., Media]. The Moslems, thinking it best to hasten the attack before the reinforcements became too strong, met them with Ḥujr ibn-ʿAdi-l-Kindi commanding the right wing, ʿAmr ibn-Maʿdikarib commanding the cavalry and Ṭulaiḥah ibn-Khuwailid commanding the infantry. The Persians were on this occasion led by Khurrazâd, a brother of Rustam. The fight that ensued was the fiercest they ever had, in which arrows and lances were used until broken to pieces, and swords were applied until they were bent. Finally the Moslems altogether made one onslaught and drove the Persians from their position, putting them to flight. The Persians fled away and the Moslems kept pursuing them at their very heels with fearful slaughter until darkness intervened and they had to return to their camp.
- ↑ Yâḳût, vol. ii, p. 393.
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