The Origins of the Islamic State/Part 9/Chapter 1

by Aḥmad ibn Yaḥyá al-Balādhurī

PART IX

AL-ʿIRÂḲ AND PERSIA

CHAPTER I

The Conquest of as-Sawâd

THE CALIPHATE OF ABU-BAKR AṢ-ṢIDDÎḲ

Al-Muthanna invades as-Sawâd. Al-Muthanna ibn-Ḥârithah ibn-Salamah ibn-Ḍamḍam ash-Shaibâni used to lead incursions with some of his men against as-Sawâd.^[1] Having heard of it, abu-Bakr made inquiries regarding him and learned from Ḳais ibn-ʿÂṣim ibn-Sinân al-Minḳari that that was not a man with no reputation, or of unknown origin, or of no support; but it was al-Muthanna ibn-Ḥârithah ash-Shaibâni. Later, al-Muthanna presented himself before abu-Bakr and said to him, "Caliph of the Prophet of Allah, make me your lieutenant over those of my people who have accepted Islâm, that I may fight against those foreigners, the Persians." Abu-Bakr wrote him a covenant to that effect. Al-Muthanna proceeded till he came to Khaffân; and inviting his people to Islâm, they accepted it.

Khalîd in al-Ubullah. Abu-Bakr then wrote to Khâlid ibn-al-Walîd al-Makhzûmi, ordering him to go against al-ʿIrâḳ. Others say that he sent him from al-Madînah. In the meantime, abu-Bakr wrote to al-Muthanna ibn-Ḥârithah ordering him to receive Khâlid and obey his word.

Previous to this, Madhʿûr ibn-ʿAdi-l-ʿIjli had written to abu-Bakr presenting his case and the case of his people, and asking to be put in charge of the campaign against the Persians. Now, abu-Bakr wrote and ordered him to join Khâlid, stop with him when he stopped and move with him when he moved. On the arrival of Khâlid in an-Nibâj,^[2] he was met by al-Muthanna ibn-Ḥârithah. Thence Khâlid proceeded to al-Baṣrah in which there was at this time Suwaid ibn-Ḳuṭbah adh-Dhuhli (others than abu-Mikhnaf say that there was in it Ḳuṭbah ibn-Ḳatâdah adh-Dhuhli) of the tribe of Bakr ibn-Wâʾil, accompanied by a band of followers. Suwaid had designs regarding al-Baṣrah similar to those of al-Muthanna regarding al-Ḳûfah, which at that time was not called al-Ḳûfah but al-Ḥîrah. Suwaid said to Khâlid, "The inhabitants of al-Ubullah had assembled against me but failed to make the attack simply because of thy presence, as I believe." "If that is so," answered Khâlid "the advisable thing for me would be to leave al-Baṣrah in the day time and return in the night, at which time my companions would enter thy camp and we will fight together." Accordingly, Khâlid left in the direction of al-Ḥîrah and when darkness fell, he turned back until he got to the camp of Suwaid, which he entered with his men. In the morning, the inhabitants of al-Ubullah, hearing that Khâlid had left al-Baṣrah, advanced towards Suwaid. Seeing the great number of men in his army, they were confounded and turned back. Thereupon, Khâlid shouted, "On them! I see in them the looks of a people whose hearts Allah has filled with terror!" Then the Moslems charged them, put them to flight, and by Allah's help, killed a great number and caused others to drown in Dijlat al-Baṣrah.^[3] Thence Khâlid passed through al-Khuraibah,^[4] reduced it and carried its inhabitants away into captivity. He left over it in his place—as it is reported by al-Kalbi—Shuraiḥ ibn-ʿAmir ibn-Ḳain^[5] of the banu-Saʿd ibn-Bakr ibn-Hawâzin. The city was a fortified frontier town for the Persians.

Nahr al-Marʾah. It is also reported that Khâlid came to the river known as al-Marʾah^[6] river, with whose people he made terms. He then fought against a body of men assembled at al-Madhâr.^[7]

Khâlid proceeds to al-Ḥîrah. Khâlid then proceeded to al-Ḥîrah,^[8] and left Suwaid ibn-Ḳuṭbah to rule over his district, saying, "We have crushed the Persians in thy district in a way that will humiliate them before thee."

Others report that when Khâlid was in the district of al-Yamâmah, he wrote to abu-Bakr for reinforcements; and abu-Bakr sent him Jarîr ibn-ʿAbdallâh al-Bajali. Jarîr met Khâlid as the latter was on his way out of al-Yamâmah, joined him and attacked the al-Madhâr's chief by Khâlid's orders. Allah knows if that is so.

Al-Wâḳidi states, "Our friends in al-Ḥijâz maintain that Khâlid left for al-ʿIrâḳ, passing by Faid^[9] and ath-Thaʿlabîyah,^[10] after which he came to al-Ḥîrah.

Zandaward, Duma and other places reduced by Khâlid. Khâlid ibn-al-Walîd passed through Zandaward in Kaskar and reduced it; he also reduced Durna and its territory, which capitulated after one hour's shooting by the people of Zandaward on the Moslems.

He then proceeded to Hurmuzjarad, to the inhabitants of which he made a promise of security. The city itself was taken. Khâlid then came to Ullais. Jâbân,^[11] the chief of the Persians, set out against him and Khâlid sent ahead al-Muthanna ibn-Ḥârithah ash-Shaibâni who met Jabân at Nahr ad-Damm [sanguine canal]. Khâlid made terms with the inhabitants of Ullais, stipulating that they act as spies, guides and helpers to the Moslems against the Persians.

Khâlid in al-Ḥîrah. Khâlid then proceeded to Mujtamaʿ al-Anhâr^[12] [confluence of canals], where he was met by Azâdhbih, the holder of the frontier fortifications of Kisra that lay between the Persian and the Arab territories. The Moslems fought against him and defeated him. Then Khalid came and stopped at Khaffân. Others say he proceeded directly to al-Ḥîrah, where he was met by ʿAbd-al-Masîḥ ibn-ʿAmr ibn-Ḳais ibn-Ḥaiyân ibn-Buḳailah^[13] (Buḳailah's proper name being al-Ḥârith) of the Azd, Hâniʾ ibn-Ḳabîṣah ibn-Masʿûd ash-Shaibâni and Iyâs ibn-Ḳabîṣah at-Ṭâʾi (others say Farwah ibn-Iyâs), Iyâs being the ʿâmil of Kisra Abarwîz over al-Ḥîrah after an-Nu'man ibn-al-Mundhir. These men made terms with Khâlid, stipulating that they pay 100,000 dirhams per year, others say 80,000 per year, that they act as spies for the Moslems against the Persians, and that Khalid would not destroy any of their churches or citadels.

It was reported by abu-Mikhnaf , on the authority of abu-l-Muthannah-l-Walîd ibn-al-Ḳaṭâmi, who is the same as ash-Sharḳi ibn-al-Ḳaṭâmi-l-Kalbi, that ʿAbd-al-Masiḥ, who was an aged man, appeared before Khâlid who asked him, "Where dost thou come from, old man?" And he replied, "From my father's back."—"What didst thou come out from?"—"From my mother's womb."—"Woe unto thee! Where aft thou now?"—"In my clothes."—"Woe to thee! Where dost thou stand now?"—"On the ground."—"Dost thou have reason [Ar. taʿḳul]?"—"Yes, I can bind [aʿḳul] and tie up [a camel]."^[14]—"Woe to thee! I am speaking to thee like a man!"—"And I am answering thee like a man."—"Art thou for peace or for war?"—"For peace."—"What are these forts then?"—"We built them for the rogue until the meek comes."^[15] The two then discussed the question of peace and it was agreed that 100,000 [dirhams] be offered the Moslems every year. The money taken from these people was the first sum carried to al-Madînah from al-ʿIrâḳ. It was also stipulated that they seek no evil for the Moslems and that they act as spies against the Persians. All that took place in the year 12.

Al-Ḥusain ibn-al-Aswad from Yaḥya ibn-Âdam:—The latter said: "I heard it said that the people of al-Ḥîrah were 6,000 men, on each one of whom 14 dirhams, each having the weight of 5 ḳîrâṭs, were assessed, making 84,000 dirhams in all, of 5 ḳîrâṭs each, or 60,000 of 7 each. To that end, he [Khâlid] wrote them a statement which I myself have read."

It is reported that Yazîd ibn-Nubaishah-l-ʿÂmiri said, "We came to al-ʿIrâḳ with Khâlid and went as far as the frontier fort of al-ʿʿUdhaib. We then came to al-Ḥîrah whose people had fortified themselves in al-Ḳaṣr al-Abyaḍ [white citadel], Ḳaṣr ibn-Buḳailah and Ḳaṣr al-ʿAdasîyîn. We went around on horseback in the open spaces among their buildings, after which they made terms with us." (According to ibn-al-Kalbi al-ʿAdasîyîn were a branch of the Kalb, and were named after their mother who was also of the Kalb tribe.)

Abu-Masʿud al-Kûfi from ash-Shaʿbi:—Khuraim^[16] ibn-Aus ibn-Ḥârithah ibn-Lâm aṭ-Ṭâʾi said to the Prophet, "If Allah enables thee to reduce al-Ḥîrah, I shall ask thee to give me Buḳailah's daughter." When Khâlid wanted to make terms with the inhabitants of al-Ḥîrah, Khuraim said to him, "The Prophet has given me Buḳailah's daughter. She should not therefore be included in thy terms." This was testified to by Bashîr ibn-Saʿd and Muḥammad ibn-Maslamah of the Anṣâr; and therefore, Khâlid did not include her in the terms, but turned her over to Khuraim. She was then bought from Khuraim for 1,000 dirhams, she being too old for Khuraim to marry her. Some one remarked to Khuraim, "She was sold very cheap. Her people would have paid thee many times the price thou hast charged." And he replied, "I never thought there was a number above ten hundred."

Another tradition has it that the one who asked the Prophet to give him Buḳailah's daughter was one of the Rabîʿah. The former view, however, is more authentic.

Bâniḳiya taken. Khâlid ibn-al-Walîd despatched Bashîr ibn-Saʿd abu-an-Nuʿmân ibn-Bashîr of the Anṣâr to Bâniḳiya.^[17] Bashîr was met by the Persian horsemen headed by Farrukhbundâdh. Bashîr's men were shot with arrows; but he led the charge and put the enemy to flight, killing Farrukhbundâdh. He then returned with a wound which became recrudescent, when he came to ʿAin at-Tamr, and caused his death. Others say that Khâlid himself, accompanied by Bashîr, met Farrukhbundâdh.

Khâlid then sent Jarîr ibn-ʿAbdallâh al-Bajali to the people of Bâniḳiya. Jarîr was met by Buṣbuhra ibn-Ṣalûba, who refused to fight and proposed to make peace. Jarîr made terms with him on 100,000 dirhams and one mantle.^[18] Others say that ibn-Ṣalûba came to Khâlid and, refusing to fight, made those terms. After the battle of an-Nukhailah and the death of Mihrân, Jarîr came and received from ibn-Ṣalûba's people and from the people of al-Ḥîrah the sum agreed upon, and wrote them a receipt. Others deny that Jarîr ibn-ʿAbdallâh ever came to al-ʿIrâḳ except in the caliphate of ʿUmar ibn-al-Khaṭṭâb. Abu-Mikhnaf and al-Wâḳidi, however, repeat that he went there twice.

Khâlid wrote a statement to Buṣbuhra ibn-Ṣalûba and sent the mantle to abu-Bakr together with the money from al-Ḥîrah and the thousand dirhams. Abu-Bakr offered the mantle as a present to al-Ḥusain ibn-ʿAli.

Abu-Nasr at-Tammâr from ʿAbdallâh ibn-Mughaffal^[19] al-Muzani:—No part of al-ʿIrâḳ made covenant [with the Moslems] except al-Ḥîrah, Ullais and Bâniḳiya.

Al-Ḥusain ibn-al-Aswad from ibn-Mughaffal:—No land below al-Jabal^[20] is fit for sale except the land of the banu-Ṣalûba and the land of al-Ḥîrah.

Al-Ḥusain ibn-al-Aswad from al-Aswad ibn-Ḳais's father:—The latter said, "We arrived in al-Ḥîrah and made terms on so much money and a camel's saddle." In answer to my question, "What did ye do with the saddle?" he replied, "One of us had no saddle and we gave it to him."

Abu-ʿUbaid from umaid ibn-Hilâl:—When Khâlid arrived in al-Ḥîrah, its inhabitants made terms without offering any resistance. The following verse was written by Ḍirâr ibn-al-Azwar al-Asadi:

 

"I had insomnia in Bâniḳiya and whosoever receives
what I received there—a wound, would certainly have insomnia."

 

Al-Wâḳidi states, "Our companions agree that this Ḍirâr was slain in al-Yamâmah."

Al-Falâlîj and Tustar. From Bâniḳiya, Khâlid came to al-Falâlij,^[21] in which was massed a host of Greeks. They were soon dispersed, and Khâlid, meeting no resistance, returned to al-Ḥîrah. Hearing that Jâbân was at the head of a great army in Tustar,^[22] Khâlid sent against him al-Muthanna ibn-Ḥârithah ash-Shaibâni and Ḥanẓalah ibn-ar-Rabîʿ^[23] ibn-Rabâḥ al-Usaidi of the banu-Tamîm (he is the one called Ḥanẓalah-l-Kâtib [the scribe]). No sooner had these two come to the place where Jâbân was, than he fled.

Sûḳ Baghdâd and al-Anbâr. Khâlid proceeded to al-Anbâr^[24] whose people betook themselves to their fortifications. Here some one came to Khâlid and pointed out to him Sûḳ [market] Baghdâdh,^[25] which later [after Baghdâdh was founded] was called as-Sûḳ al-ʿAtîḳ [the old market] and which lay near Ḳarn aṣ-Ṣarât^[26] Khâlid sent al-Muthanna who made a raid on this market, and the Moslems filled their hands with gold and silver and commodities light to carry. They spent the night at as-Sailaḥîn, and then came to al-Anbâr where Khâlid was. The Moslems then invested the inhabitants of al-Anbâr and set fire to places in its district. Al-Anbâr was thus called because the Persian granaries were in it and the friends and protégés of an-Nuʿmân used to get their subsistence allowances from it. Seeing what had befallen them, the inhabitants of al-Anbâr made terms which satisfied Khâlid, and so he left them in their homes.

Others assert that Khâlid sent al-Muthanna before him to Baghdâdh and then followed him and directed the raid against it, after which he returned to al-Anbâr. This, however, is not authentic.

Al-Ḥusain ibn-al-Aswad from ash-Shaʿbi:—The people of al-Anbâr have a covenant [with the Moslems].

A tradition communicated to me by certain sheikhs from al-Anbâr states that terms were concluded with the people of al-Anbâr in the caliphate of ʿUmar in which it was stipulated that they pay for their canton [ṭassûj] 400,000 dirhams and 1,000 cloaks fabricated in Ḳaṭawân, per year. The terms were made by Jarîr ibn-ʿAbdallâh al-Bajali. Others say that the sum was 80,000; but Allah knows best.

Jarîr reduced Bawâzâj al-Anbâr in which are to-day many of his freedmen.

According to a report there came to Khâlid ibn-al-Walîd someone who pointed out to him a market above al-Anbâr in which the Kalb, Bakr ibn-Wâʾil and others from the tribe of Ḳuḍâʿah used to meet. Khâlid despatched against this place al-Muthanna ibn-Ḥârithah who made a raid against it, carried as booty what there was in it, slaughtered and took captives.

ʿAin at-Tamr. Thence Khalid advanced to ʿAin at-Tamr^[27] and invested its fort in which a great frontier guard of Persians was stationed. The holders of the fort made a sally and fought, but after that, they confined themselves to their fort, where Khâlid and the Moslems besieged them until they sued for peace. Khâlid refused to give them promise of security and reduced the fort by force, slaughtering and carrying away captives. Here he found certain persons in a church whom he took captives. Among these captives was (1) Ḥumrân ibn-Abân ibn-Khâlid at-Tamri. Others say his father's name was Abba. This Ḥumrân was the freedman of ʿUthmân. He first belonged to al-Musâiyab ibn-Najabah-l-Fazâri from whom ʿUthmân bought him, and then released him. ʿUthmân later sent him to al-Kûfah to make inquiry regarding the conduct of his ʿâmil there, on which occasion Ḥumrân did not tell the truth. So ʿUthmân denied him the rights of protection [Ar. jiwâr] and Ḥumrân went and settled in al-Baṣrah. Among other captives were (2) Sîrîn, father of Muḥammad ibn-Sîrîn,^[28] whose brothers were Yaḥya ibn-Sîrîn, Anas ibn-Sîrîn, and Maʿbad ibn-Sîrîn, Muḥammad being the eldest brother, and all being the freedmen of Anas ibn-Mâlik al-Anṣâri; (3) abu-ʿAmrah, a grandfather of ʿAbdallâh ibn-ʿAbd-al-Aʿla, the poet; (4) Yasâr, a grandfather of Muḥammad ibn-Isḥâḳ—the author of as-Sîrah^[29]—and a freedman of Ḳais ibn-Makhramah ibn-al-Muṭṭalib ibn-ʿAbd-Manâf; (5) Murrah abu-ʿUbaid, a grandfather of Muḥammad ibn-Zaid ibn-ʿUbaid ibn-Murrah (Nafis ibn-Muḥammad ibn-Zaid ibn-ʿUbaid ibn-Murrah, the owner of the citadel [ḳaṣr] near al-Ḥarrah [volcanic tract of al-Madînah] was a son of this Muḥammad. His descendants give the name of their ancestor as ʿUbaid ibn-Murrah ibn-al-Muʿalla-l-Anṣâri and later az-Zuraḳi); (6) Nuṣair, the father of Mûsa ibn-Nuṣair, the governor of al-Maghrib. This Nuṣair was a freedman of the banu-Umaiyah, as it is asserted by freedmen in the frontier towns descended from slaves whom he had released. Ibn-al-Kalbi says that abu-Farwah ʿAbd ar-Raḥmân ibn-al-Aswad and Nuṣair abu-Mûsa ibn-Nuṣair were both Arabs of [the clan of] Arâshah of [the tribe of] Bali and that they were taken captives from Jabal al-Jalîl [Mt. Galilee] in Syria during the caliphate of abu-Bakr. Nuṣair's name was originally Naṣr which was later used in the diminutive form Nuṣair. Some one of the banu-Umaiyah gave him his liberty; and he returned to Syria where in a village called Kafarmara^[30] his son Mûsa was born. Mûsa was lame. Al-Kalbi adds that some one said that the two [Nuṣair and abu-Farwah] were brothers taken captives from ʿAin at-Tamr, and that they owed their liberty to the banu-Ḍabbah.

According to ʿAli ibn-Muḥammad al-Madâʾini, it is stated by someone that abu-Farwah and Nuṣair were of the captives of ʿAin at-Tamr. Abu-Farwah was bought by Nâʿim al-Asadi who sold him later to ʿUthmân who used him for digging graves. When the people rose up against ʿUthmân, abu-Farwah joined them and said to ʿUthmân, "Restore what thou hast wrongfully taken from others!" To this ʿUthmân replied, "Thou representest the first thing. I bought thee out of the ṣadaḳah funds that thou mayest dig the tombs; but thou hast left that." His son ʿAbdallâh ibn-abi-Farwah was one of the illustrious freedmen. One of his descendants^[31] was ar-Rabîʿ ibn-Yûnus ibn-Muḥammad ibn-abi-Farwah, a companion of al-Manṣûr. Abu-Farwah was thus called because of a furred garment [Ar. farwah] which he had on when he was taken captive.^[32]

According to certain reports, Khâlid made terms with the holders of ʿAin at-Tamr fort and these captives [mentioned above] were found in a church in a certain canton.^[33] Some say that Sîrîn was one of the inhabitants of Jarjarâya and that he came there on a visit to a relative of his and was taken captive together with those in the church.

Al-Ḥusain ibn-al-Aswad from Yaḥya ibn-Âdam from ash-Shaʿbi:—Khâlid ibn-al-Walîd made terms with the people of al-Ḥîrah and ʿAin at-Tamr, and stated them in a letter to abu-Bakr, which the latter endorsed. Yaḥya adds, "I asked al-Ḥasan ibn-Ṣâliḥ,^[34] 'Have the people of ʿAin at-Tamr, like those of al-Ḥîrah, to pay something for their lands, but nothing for their persons?' To this al-Ḥasan replied, 'Yes.'"

It is stated by someone that there was at ʿAin at-Tamr at the head of the an-Namir ibn-Ḳâsiṭ tribe, Hilâl ibn-ʿAḳḳah ibn-Ḳais ibn-al-Bishr an-Namiri,^[35] who gathered an army and fought against KhâḲlid. He was defeated, killed and crucified. According to ibn-al-Kalbi, there was at the head of the an-Namir at that time ʿAḳḳah ibn-Ḳais ibn-al-Bishr himself.

The wound of Bashîr ibn-Sad al-Anṣâri became recrudescent and caused his death. He was buried at Ain at-Tamr. By his side was buried ʿUmair ibn-Riʾâb ibn-Muhashshim ibn-Saʿîd ibn-Sahm ibn-ʿAmr, who was hit by an arrow at ʿAin at-Tamr and fell a martyr.

The razzias of an-Nusair ibn-Daisam. When Khâlid ibn-al-Walîd was at ʿAin at-Tamr he sent an-Nusair ibn-Daisam ibn-Thaur to a spring of water by which were settled the banu-Taghlib, whom he surprised by night, killing and carrying away many captives. One of the prisoners asked Khâlid to release him, promising to point out to him a quarter inhabited by the banu-Rabîʿah. Khâlid did so and an-Nusair came to the Rabîʿah quarter, where he fell upon them in the night-time and carried away booty and captives. He then proceeded inland towards Takrît. Thus did the Moslems enrich themselves with booty.

According to a tradition communicated to me by abu-Masʿûd al-Kûfi, on the authority of Muḥammad ibn-Marwân, an-Nusair came to ʿUkbarâʾ and gave promise of security to its inhabitants, who brought forth food for his men and their animals. He then passed through al-Baradân, whose people hurried to present themselves before the Moslems. An-Nusair said, "Never mind!"; which was enough to guarantee their safety.

Thence an-Nusair advanced to al-Mukharrim which according to abu-Masʿûd was not called then Mukharrim,^[36] but was so called after being occupied by a certain descendant of Mukharrim ibn-Ḥazn ibn-Ziyâd ibn-Anas ibn-ad-Daiyân al-Ḥârithi, as it is mentioned by Hishâm ibn-Muḥammad al-Kalbi.

The Moslems then crossed a bridge lying near Ḳaṣr [castle] Sâbûr, known to-day by the name of Ḳaṣr ʿÎsa ibn-ʿAli. The bridge was in charge of Khurzâd ibn-Mâhibundâdh who went out against the Moslems, but was fought and defeated by them. The Moslems then retreated to ʿAin at-Tamr.

An-Nusair and Ḥudhaifah. It is stated by al-Wâḳidi that after the battle of al-Jisr [bridge] and after making the Moslems withdraw to Khaffân, al-Muthanna ibn-Ḥârithah sent in the caliphate of ʿUmar ibn-al-Khaṭṭâb an-Nusair and Ḥudhaifah ibn-Miḥṣan at the head of a body of horsemen, who destroyed a band of the banu-Taghlib and crossed over to Takrît from which they carried away camels and goats.

"One of the things told me by abu-Masʿûd," said ʿAttâb ibn-Ibrâhîm, "was that an-Nusair and Ḥudhaifah promised security to the people of Takrît and wrote a statement which was carried out by ʿUtbah ibn-Farḳad as-Sulami when he reduced aṭ-Ṭîrhân [or Ṭîrahân] and al-Mauṣil. He also mentioned the fact that an-Nusair, directed by Khâlid ibn-al-Walîd, made a raid against villages in Maskin and Ḳaṭrabbul [or Ḳuṭrubbul] from which he carried off large booty." From ʿAin at-Tamr, Khâlid advanced to Syria and said to al-Muthanna ibn-Ḥârithah, "Return [to al-Ḥîrah?]—may Allah have mercy on thee—to thy Sultan, untired and unfailing."^[37]

The departure of Khâlid for Syria took place in Rabîʿ II, according to others, Rabîʿ I, year 13. It is claimed by some that Khâlid came from ʿAin at-Tamr to Dûmah,^[38] which he reduced, and after that he proceeded to al-Ḥîrah and thence to Syria. That he departed for Syria from ʿAin at-Tamr, is, however, more reliable.

Footnotes

1. ʿIrâḳ, the region west of the Tigris. Rustah, p. 104.
2. Khurdâdhbih, pp. 146, 147.
3. or Dijlat al-ʿAura == the united course of the Tigris and the Euphrates before they empty into the Persian Gulf. Yâḳût, vol. iii, p. 745.
4. Hamadḥâni, Buldân, p. 189.
5. Ṭabari, vol. i, p. 2382.
6. i. e., the woman's river; Ṭabari, vol. i, p. 2026.
7. Yâḳût, vol. iv, p. 468; Hamadhâni, p. 211.
8. Ḥauḳal, p. 163.
9. A town in central Najd. Muḳaddasi, p. 254.
10. On the west bank of the Euphrates. Kuhrdâdhbih, p. 127.
11. Ṭabari, vol. i, p. 2018.
12. Wellhausen, Skizzen, vol. vi, p. 42 ; Caetani, vol. ii, p. 937.
13. Duraid, p. 285; Ṭabari, vol. i, p. 2019; Masʿûdi, vol. i, p. 217.
14. Pun on words. Caetani, vol. iv, p. 657 takes it to mean, "I am rich enough to pay the blood-wit [ʿaḳl] and to retaliate by killing [ḳawad]".
15. Cf. Masʿûdi, vol. i, p. 218; Ṭabari, vol. i, p. 2019; Caetani, vol. iv.
16. Mawardi, p. 333; Ṭabari, vol. i, pp. 2047–2048.
17. Hamadhâni, p. 165.
18. Ar. ṭailasân == Persian apparel of dark wool. Dozy, Vêtements, pp. 278–280.
19. Mughaffal and not Mughaffil as Balâdhuri has it. See Dhahabi, p. 477.
20. Al-Jabal or al-Jibâl == Media. Hamadhâni, pp. 209 seq.
21. Pl. of Fallûjah. Yâḳût, vol. iii, p. 908.
22. Ḥauḳal, p. 172.
23. "Rabîʿah" in Duraid, p. 127; and "Rabîʿah ibn-Ṣaifi" in Ḳutaibah, Maʿârif, p. 153.
24. Iṣṭakhri, p. 77.
25. Le Strange, Baghdâd during the Abbasid Caliphate, p. 12.
26. As-Sarât Point, where aṣ-Ṣarât canal disembogued to the Tigris. See Yaʿḳûbi, Buldân, p. 235.
27. Yâḳût, vol. iii, p. 759.
28. Bakri, p. 199.
29. The biography of the Prophet from which ibn-Hishâm's was abridged.
30. "Kafarmathra" in Marâṣid, vol. ii, p. 504.
31. Caetani, vol. ii, p. 945.
32. Aghâni, vol. iii, p. 127, adds Kaisân, one of the ancestors of abu-l-ʿAtâhiyah, to the list of captives.
33. ṭassûj. Nöldeke, ZDMG, 1874, vol. xxviii, p. 94, note.
34. One of the intermediate authorities of this tradition.
35. Ṭabari, vol. i, p. 2122: "an-Namari".
36. Yaʿḳûbi, Buldân, p. 253.
37. Certain verses describing the battles referred to above are here omitted from the translation. This was done in a few other cases.
38. Skizzen, vol. iv, p. 47, n. 3. De Goeje, Mémoire, p. 15, takes this to be Dûmah al-Ḥîrah and not al-Jandal. Cf. Müller, Der Islâm, vol. i, p. 229, note.