The Origins of the Islamic State/Part 2/Chapter 4
CHAPTER IV
The Battle of Ajnâdîn (or Ajnâdain)
The enemy routed. The battle of Ajnâdîn[1] ensued. In this battle about 100,000 Greeks took part, the majority of whom were massed one band after the other by Heraclius [Hiraḳl], the rest having come from the neighboring districts. On that day, Heraclius was in Ḥimṣ [Emesa]. Against this army, the Moslems fought a violent battle, and Khâlid ibn-al-Walîd particularly distinguished himself. At last, by Allah's help, the enemies of Allah were routed and shattered into pieces, a great many being slaughtered.
The martyrs. Those who suffered martyrdom on that day were ʿAbdallâh ibn-az-Zubair ibn-ʿAbd-al-Muṭṭalib ibn-Hâshim, ʿAmr ibn-Saʿîd ibn-al-ʿÂṣi ibn-Umaiyah, his brother Abân ibn-Saʿîd (according to the most authentic report. Others, however, claim that Abân died in the year 29), Ṭulaib ibn-ʿUmair ibn-Wahb ibn-ʿAbd ibn-Ḳuṣai (who fought a duel with an "unbeliever" who gave him a blow that severed his right hand making his sword fall down with the palm. In this condition he was surrounded and killed by the Greeks. His mother Arwa, daughter of ʿAbd-al-Muṭṭalib, was the Prophet's aunt. His surname was abu-ʿAdi), and Salamah ibn-Hishâm ibn-al-Mughîrah. According to others, Salamah was killed at Marj aṣ-Ṣuffar. Other martyrs were: ʿIkrimah ibn-abi-Jahl ibn-Hishâm al-Makhzûmi, Habbâr ibn-Sufyân ibn-ʿAbd-al-Asad al-Makhzûmi (who, according to others, was killed in the battle of Muʾtah), Nuʿaim ibn-ʿAbdallâh an-Naḥḥâm al-ʿAdawi (who, according to others, was killed in the battle of al-Yarmûk), Hishûm ibn-al-ʿÂṣi ibn-Wâʾil as-Sahmi (who is also supposed by others to have been slain in the battle of al-Yarmûk), Jundub ibn-ʿAmr ad-Dausi, Saʿîd ibn-al-Ḥârith, al-Ḥârith ibn-al-Ḥârith, and al-Ḥajjâj ibn-al-Ḥârith ibn-Ḳais ibn-ʿAdi as-Sahmi. According to Hishâm ibn-Muḥammad al-Kalbi, an-Naḥḥam was killed in the battle of Muʾtah.
Saʿîd ibn-al-Ḥârith ibn-Ḳais was slain in the battle of al-Yarmûk; Tamîm ibn-al-Ḥârith, in the battle of Ajnâdîn; his brother, ʿUbaidallâh ibn ʿAbd-al-Asad, in al-Yarmûk; and al-Ḥârith ibn-Hishâm ibn-al-Mughîrah, in Ajnâdîn.
Heraclius flees to Antioch. When the news of this battle came to Heraclius, his heart was filled with cowardice and he was confounded. Consequently, he took to flight to Antioch [Anṭâkiyah] from Ḥimṣ [Emesa]. It was mentioned by someone that his flight from Ḥimṣ to Antioch coincided with the advance of the Moslems to Syria. This battle of Ajnâdîn took place on Monday twelve days before the end of Jumâda I, year 13. Some, however, say two days after the beginning of Jumâda II, and others two days before its end.
After that, the Greeks massed an army at Yâḳûṣah which was a valley with al-Fauwârah at its mouth. There the Moslems met them, dispelled them and put them to flight with a great slaughter. Their remnants fled to the cities of Syria. The death of abu-Bakr took place in Jumâda II, year 13, and the Moslems received the news in al-Yâḳûṣah.[2]