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Tabari Volume 14
Tabari Volume 14
History of a1-Tabari
The volume ends with ' Umar's appointment of the electoral council,
five senior figures in the Islamic community . to decide on his successor,
and the fascinating and historically greatly important account of the
workings of the council with all the cut and thrust of debate and the
politicking behind the scenes. Thus was 'Uthmin b. 'Affan appointed to
succeed 'Umar.
ISBN 0-7914-1294-6 F•
90000
VOLUME XN
Editorial Board
Ihsan Abbas, University of Jordan, Amman
C. E. Bosworth, The University of Manchester
Franz Rosenthal, Yale University
Everett K. Rowson, The University of Pennsylvania
Ehsan Yar-Shater, Columbia University (General Editor)
SUNY
ci
VOLUME XIV
G. Rex Smith
The University of Manchester
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
46
Preface
Ehsan Yar-Shater
0
Contents
OP
Preface / v
Abbreviations / xi
Bibliography / 167
Index / 173
e
Abbreviations
40
Translator's Foreword
This volume of Tabari 's text (I, pp. 2634 -2 798 of the Leiden
edition and IV, pp. 137-2411 of the Cairo edition) covers the
period 211 - 23/6411 - 43 and can be divided into two distinct and
almost equal parts : the first concerning the conquests under
'Umar b. al-Khallab in Iran and the east, which gives this
volume its title, and the second concerning 'Umar himself, his
assassination, and an assessment of the caliph and the man.
The text translated in this volume owes much to Tabari's
informant Sayf b . 'Umar, a controversial figure who has occa-
sioned some comment. Although much trusted by Tabari for the
early period of Islamic history, Sayf is not used as an informant
by others. He has, for example, been accused of presenting
inconsistent accounts and of overemphasizing the role of his
own tribe, Tamim. References to assessments of the mysterious
Sayf are given below, p. 1 n. 3.
Historical Background
'Umar had assumed the caliphate in 113 /634, the immediate
successor of the first caliph, Abu Bakr (11-13 /632-34). Abu
Bakr's first major problem had been how to hold together the
young Islamic community that had been built by the Prophet
and that immediately after his death threatened to disintegrate.
Some tribes of the Peninsula felt no further loyalty to the com-
munity and its leader, and they had anyway, increasingly with
xiv Translator's Foreword
The Conquests
Two fronts initially opened up, the Syrian and the Iraqi. The
former attracted less attention from Tabari , who compiled all
history in terms of an eastern center with every other area or
province on the periphery . Without becoming too involved
in the massive problem of the discrepancies in the dates of
the conquests (a second point to which I feel compelled to
return briefly below), we can probably say that the majority of
Greater Syria had fallen to the Muslims by 15/636 and that the
Byzantines under Heraclius were in full retreat from the area.
On the second front, according to Tabari 's accounts, Iraqi towns
such as Babylon, al-Mada'in, the old Sasanian capital; and
Tikrit had been taken by the Muslims in the year x6/637-638.
Of tremendous importance was the resounding victory secured by
the Muslim forces under Sad b . Abi Wagga¢ at al-Qadisiyyah,
when a huge Sasanian army under Rustam dissolved in panic.
Such a victory left the Sasanian empire to the east vulnerable to
attack and penetration by the forces of Islam . As we shall see
from Tabari 's accounts of the eastern conquests in this volume,
they were not slow to take advantage of their success and of the
weakness of a once mighty empire. In the following year (17/
638-639 ), again according to Tabari , al-Kufah was founded as a
Muslim garrison town in southern Iraq, and the conquering
armies began to raid into the province of Fars.
Translator's Foreword xv
with all the cut and thrust of debate and the politicking behind
the scenes.
Physically ' Umar was immensely tall, head and shoulders
above the crowd . Although he was dark, we are told that his skin
was pale and perhaps blotchy . He had a bald patch on the top of
his head. He was never elegantly dressed , quite the opposite in
fact, and is invariably portrayed in a simple waist wrapper. By
natural disposition , he was rough and ready, eating at home
inferior food with some greed and toting a stick or whip, which
he was never afraid to use on the person. A blow dealt , however,
might be regretted later and the victim of his brusque behavior
eventually compensated in some way. He was never afraid of
stripping down and throwing himself into some hard , sometimes
dirty, work, whether it be feeding hordes of the poor in the
midday sun or treating camels with tar. He is portrayed as
absolutely scrupulous in all his dealings with money . Wealth
set aside by the community for the public good was inviolate]
he was often personally short of money. Gifts, however insig-
nificant, taken from campaign booty with the approval of the
troops on the front and delivered to him in Medina brought
only an angry response , sometimes a box round the ears, as the
messenger was sent away to return the gift to its rightful place
with the rest of the spoils . He could be extremely kind and
compassionate and the anecdote of the woman and her starving
children, which is given below, is famed as an example of
'Umar' s pity toward those suffering great hardship.
The Translation
Two problems in connection with the translation of the text
have been dealt with in a manner that requires clarification. The
first is the constant use in the original of pronouns-sometimes
referring to nouns distant from them, sometimes referring to no
noun at all! In this I have followed what seems to be the sensible
method of the translator of Volume XV of this series (see his
Translation and Editorial Conventions p. xxi). I use parentheses
() to surround the noun to which the pronoun refers where
merely to use a pronoun in English would be to create ambiguity,
possibility even incomprehension. I have also used brackets I I
to surround any additions supplied for the purpose of a clearer
and smoother understanding of the text.
The second problem arises because of the total nonexistence
in Arabic of reported or indirect speech. All conversations in the
original are in direct speech and always introduced by nothing
more precise than he said/she said/they said. Where it seems to
me important to retain the original direct speech, I have done so.
xx Translator's Foreword
Acknowledgments
There remains the pleasant task of acknowledging the kind
assistance of Professors C. E. Bosworth and J. Derek Latham.
Both gave extremely generously of their time and effort to read
through the manuscript of this volume; both made numerous
suggestions for the improvement of the text and the notes. I
am enormously grateful to them both. Successive postgraduate
seminars in Durham and Manchester have benefited me greatly,
and I must finally mention Mushallah al-Muraykhi with par-
ticular thanks.
G. Rex Smith
0
The
Events of the Year
2I (cont'd)
(DECEMBER I0, 641-NOVEMBER 3 0, 642)
q1
In this year 'Umar lb. al-Khallabl gave the armies of Iraq the 116341
command to seek out those of Persia , ) wherever they might be.
He commanded some of those Muslim troops who were in al-
Ba$rah and its surrounding areas to march on the region of Fars,
Kirman, and I§fahan and some of those who were in the district
and regions2 of al-Kufah Ito march] on I*fahan , Azerbaijan, and
al-Rayy. Some said that 'Umar did this in the year 1 8 [January
iz, 639-January z, 640]. This is [ also) the version of Sayf b.
'Umar.3
r. Firs here in the text refers broadly to the land of Persia, not specifically the
province of that name, indeed including the provinces of Firs, Kirman, lgfahan,
Azerbaijan, and al-Rayy, listed below. The text of this volume thus begins with
this general command on the part of the caliph, 'Umar b. al-Khallab, to his
forces in Iraq to move eastward and begin the conquest of Iran.
x. For the Persian word mah, see Le Strange, Lands, x90; Barthold, Geography,
:08.
3. Sayf b. 'Umar )d. ca. x8o/796) appears as the major source for Tabari's
account of the conquest of Iran, see Translation, XIII, xiii -xviii; XV, xvi-xvii.
See also Hinds, "Sources," 3-r6, with an assessment on p. ill Hinds also
discusses Sayf in the context of the conquest of the province of Fars in "Con-
2 The Conquest of Iran
quest," 39, 47-49 , Duri, "Iraq School," 49-50; Duri, Rise, especially 46-47. See
also Hill, Termination, 26-27.
4. Al-Sari is al-Sari b. Yahyi. It should be noted that he invariably conveys his
information in writing. See Ibn Hajar, Tahdhfb, III, 46o-6z; Translation, I, 6-7.
Shu'ayb is Shu'ayb b . Ibrihim al -Tamimi. Muhammad is Muhammad b.
Abdalliih b. Sawad, first appearing in the account of the year 12 /633-634,
Tabari, I, 2026; cf. Duri, Rise, too. Talbah is Talhah b. al-A'lam al -Hanafi, first
appearing in the account of the year 111/632-633 , Tabari, 1, 1796 ; cf. Duri, Rise,
140. AI-Muhallab is al-Muhallab b. 'Ugbah al-Asadi, first appearing in the text
in the account of the year 12/633-634 , Tabari, I, 2023 . Amr is Amr b.
Muhammad (d. 199/814-815 ), who first appears in Tabari , I, 380; cf. Ibn Hajar,
Tahdhib, VIII, 98 - 99. Said is Said b. al-Marzuban , Abu Sad al-Baggil, who
first appears in Tabari, I, 19. Cf. Ibn Hajar , Tahdhib, IV, 79 - 8o. All are important
sources of Sayf b . 'Umar. Cf. Hill, Termination, 20 no. 23.
5. That is, the last Persian emperor, Yazdgard III, son of Shahriyar, who was
killed in 31/651 . A brief survey of his career is given in Zarrinkub, "Conquest,"
,8-26 . See also Spuler, Iran, z8-2o; Translation XIII, passim. For the Sasanian
family tree, see Ni ldeke, Geschichte, table, 436a. For these and following
events, cf. Bal'ami, Chronique, III, 48off.
6. A town some 40 miles south of Hamadhin (Le Strange, Lands, 196), the site
of the famous battle earlier in 21 /641-641, in which the Muslims won a
resounding victory to pave the way for the later conquests of Iran . Cf. Tabari, I,
2596 - 1631 ; Translation, XIII, 179-214; Zarrinkub, "Conquest," 16.
7. Sad was the Qurashi commander of the Muslim forces at al-Qidisiyyah in
161637. A relative and Companion of the Prophet, Sa'd had been appointed to
lead the forces by 'Umar. See Spuler, Iran, 8; Shaban, History, 30: Zarrmkub,
"Conquest," to; Translation, XIII, passim . Cf. Bal'ami, Chronique, 111, 386.
8. Son of the client of Abu Hudhayfah of Makhzum, Companion, and later
follower of All . He died at jiffin in 37/657 . Cf. Shaban, History, 69, Ibn Sad,
Tabaqdt, I, 234+ 141, etc .; El , s.v. "Ammar b. Yasir" ( Reckendorf).
The Events of the Year zl 3
9. Companion and military commander . See Translation, XIII, 8o, 88-89, and
passim; also Zarrinkub, "Conquest," 2r, erroneously Atabin; Donner,
Conquests, 436; Ibn Hajar, l dbah, VI, 14S-
,o. For Ziyad, a prominent commander and administrator , see Ibn Hajar,
lldbah, IV, 28 ; Ibn al-Athir, Usd, 11, 2131 Donner, Conquests, ;65 (at Yarmuk). B.
Abd b. Qugayy is a tribal division (fakhdh) of Kilib b. Murrah. See Zubayri,
Quraysh, 256; Ibn Hazm, famharah , 114; Kalilailah, Mu'jam, II, 726; Caskel,
Gamharat, I, Table 4.
11. Important Companion and commander, who died ca . 42/662. See Morony,
Iraq, 433; E12 , S.V. "Abu Musi" (Veccia Vaglieri).
rz. That is, over al-Ba$rah. See Ibn Hajar, l dbah, VIII, z6, and Ibn al-Athir,
Usd, IV, 79, both giving little information on this military commander.
13. The dispatch of standards from the caliph to Muslim commanders in the
field marked the beginning of a general mobilization eastward of their armies.
14. Nu'aym was, with al-Nu'min and Suwayd, one of the famous Ibn
Mugarrin brothers and heroes of the eastern campaigns . See Ibn Hajar, Ifdbah, X,
178. See also note 26, below.
r5. A famous town in the Jibil, northeast of Baghdad and southwest of al-
Rayy, about equidistant from both . See Yiqut, Mu jam, V, 410-17; Le Strange,
Lands, 194-95.
16. Al-Sulami, Companion, military commander, and khardj official. He was
the conqueror of Mosul in 18/639 . Cf. Translation, XIII, 6o.
17. Al-Laythi, first mentioned in the text in the account of the year 14/635-
636, when he was appointed military commander . See Tabari, 1, 2232 . Cf. also
Translation, XIII, 4-5.
4 The Conquest of Iran
r8. A well- known town of the libil province. See Yagiit, Mu%am, II, 290-941
Le Strange, Lands, 191.
19. Al-Hubla was the nickname of pot -bellied Salim b. Ghanm b. 'Awf b.
al-Khazraj, the word meaning "pregnant ." Band al-Hubli is a tribal division
(baln) of al - Khazraj. There would appear to be nothing , however, linking al-
Khazraj with a Banu Asad . See Wigidi, Maghdzi, r66) ibn Hazm, Jamharah, 248,
354-55; Kahhalah, Mu dam, I, 239; Caskel, C;amharat, 1, Table 189.
zo. The Sasanian capital, seven leagues below Baghdad on both banks of the
Tigris, the twin towns of Ctesiphon and Seleucia. See Yiqut , Mu'7am , V, 74-75;
Le Strange, Lands, 3;.
xi. The editor of the Cairo edition enters these two under the name 'Abdallih
b. Warga' al-Riyahi al-Asadi in his index (X, 316 ). This is their first mention in
the text, and no further information on them would appear to he available.
xx. Tabari here corrects others (e.g., Balidhuri, Futdb, 31z) who make the
error of suggesting Ibn Budayl was playing a major military role at this time.
The Events of the Year 21 5
1s fahan33
'Ammar arrived as commander in al-Kufah and 'Umar' s letter
(2638] reached 'Abdallah (b. 'Abdallah with the order) to march on
Isfahan , leaving Ziyad in charge of al-Kufah. Abdallah b.
Warga' al-Riyahi was to be over his vanguard and 'Abdallah b.
Warga' al-Asadi and 'ISmah b. 'Abdallah -that is 'ISmah b.
'Abdallah b. 'Ubaydah b. Sayf b. Abd b. al-Harith34-over his
two wings . 'Abdallah marched at the head of the army and came
to Hudhayfah [ b. al-Yaman], who returned to his post. 'Abdallah
left Nihawand at the head of his followers and those of the army
of al-Nu'man who had departed with him to face [another] army
that had assembled against him, [comprising] some of the in-
30. Both renowned for their work in land survey and khardj assessment; see
Zarrinkub, "Conquest," 2o; Morony, Iraq, ror, 1o8, 121; Ben Shemesh, Taxation,
8o, 87, 93, 97, 100, 503.
31. For the general meaning of al-Sawad, see Le Strange, Lands, 24. I have here
translated the dual of the Leiden and Cairo texts. The variant reading, al-Sawad,
in the singular, however, should be noted, and Abu Yusuf, when referring to the
appointments of Hudhayfah and 'Uthman, also uses the singular, presumably
the Sawad of al-Kufah. See Ben Shemesh, Taxation, 80, 87; Morony, Iraq, sir.
Perhaps the following mention that 'Umar wrote only to the Kufans about his
appointments also points to the Sawad of al-Kufah alone being meant here.
32. In this early period, this seems the most appropriate rendering of wazir;
see Morony, Iraq, 536.
33. For the conquest of Igfahan, see Balidhuri, Futrih, 312-14; Ibn al-Athir,
Kdmil, III, 9; Bal'ami, Chronique, III, 48off. Cf. Donner, Conquests, Appendix N.
34. Ibn Tarif, an early military commander under Khalid b. al-Walid in Syria,
later in the east. See Ibn Hajar, Iidbah, VII, S.
The Events of the Year 21 7
35. Ustanddr in the text ; see CHIr, zr8; Morony, Iraq, 536, suggests Sasanian
official in charge of royal property or a crown prince. The first interpretation,
however, seems most appropriate to the context. Chronique, III, 183, says that
the town was governed by a Persian called PAdouspan. Cf. EI , s.v. "Badn-
spiinida " INikitine).
;6. Cf. justi Namenbuch, z78, where there is brief mention of this Persian
general.
37. For the Persian word rustdq, see Steingass, Dictionary, 575; Morony, Iraq,
534.
38. jayy is the name of one of the two towns making up Isfahan; see YAqut,
Muyam, II, zoz- 31 Le Strange, Lands, z03-4, zo6.
39. Cf. Noldeke, Geschichte, r 5 r n. z. Cf. also note 35, above.
40. Arabic: wa-in qatalta-ni sdlama-ka acildbi wa-in kdna acllabi Id yaqau
la-hum nushshdbah.
8 The Conquest of Iran
cloth, and the saddle came away, with 'Abdallah still on the
horse. But he came off, though he was still standing , then re-
gained a firm seat'on the horse , riding bareback. (Abdallah) told
him to stand still, but (al-Fadhusafan( agreed with him not to
fight [further). He said : "I do not want to fight you [furtherl, for I
see you are a perfect man . Rather I shall come back with you to
12.6401 your camp and make peace with you. I shall hand over the town
to you, allowing anyone who wishes to stay, but [he must] pay
tribute, keeping his property , and on condition that you grant
anyone whose land you have taken by force equal status with
them and they return [to their property]. Anyone who refuses to
entel into the same (agreement ) as we will go where he wishes,
and his land will be yours." ('Abdallah) replied that he accepted
his terms.
Abu Musa al-Ashari arrived [to join] Abdallah from the area
of al-Ahwaz41 when al-Fadhusafan had already made peace with
the latter. All the troops left Jayy and entered into the contract
except for thirty Isfahanis who opposed [the majority ofl their
people. They assembled and made off for Kirman, along with
their dependents, [ to join] a group already there. Abdallah and
Abu Musa entered Jayy, the town of Isfahan, and (the former)
wrote to Umar to this effect. Those who remained rejoiced,
whereas those who left regretted [their decision). Umar's reply
to Abdallah commanded him to march and join up with Suhayl
b. Adi42 to fight with him those in Kirman . He was also to
leave behind in Jayy those who would defend the town. He was
to appoint as his deputy over Isfahan al-Sa'ib b. al-Agra'.43
According to al-Sari -Shuayb-Sayf-a group of al-Hasan's
informants, who included al-Mubarak b. Fadalah -al-Hasan44-
47. Al-juzajini (d. ca. 256 /870), see Ibn Hajar, Tahdhib, I, 181-83; Rosenthal,
Historiography, 278, Translation, I, 26, note 96.
48. Amr b. Ali b. Babr al-Fallis (d. 249/864); cf. Ibn Hajar, Tahdhib, VIII,
8o-8z; Rosenthal, Historiography, 392. Translation, 1, 26 and n. 96.
49. Died 198/814. See Ibn Hajar, Talidhib, VI, 279- 81; Translation, I, zor n.
252.
50. Hammad died in 1671783. See Ibn Hajar, Tahdhib, III, x1-x6; Rosenthal,
Historiography, 518.
51. An unidentified narrator.
52. 'Alqamah died in 100/718 . See Ibn Hajar, Tahdhib, VII, 275.
53. Ruler of Rhuzistan , who, after leading much opposition against the Mus-
lim forces, surrendered to 'Umar earlier in 21 /641. Only later did he become a
Muslim. See Zarrinkub. "Conquest," 14-15 . See also Mas'udi, Muruf, IV, 23off.,
recounting the same anecdotes on the authority of Alqamah and Ma'gil. Cf.
also Bal'ami, Chronique, III, 481.
54. A veteran Muslim administrator and commander and a Thagafi (d. 5o/
670). See Shahan, History, 58, 84 , 187, Zarrinkub, "Conquest," 19, 21; Trans-
lation, XIII, passim.
55. "He of the two eyebrows." See Bal'ami, Chronique, III, 468; Nbldeke,
Geschichte, 226 n. 1. On such names, see Goldziher, "Ueber Dualtitel"; see also
Translation, XIII, 18o n. 618.
The Events of the Year 21 ii
with his advisers, saying: "What do you think? Shall I sit down
to [receive) him in royal splendor?" They replied that he should.
So he sat on his throne and put the crown on his head, while
the royal princes sat in two ranks, wearing earrings, gold brace-
lets, and silk-brocade garments . Then [the ruler) allowed (al-
Mughirah) to enter, carrying his lance and shield. He began to (2643)
poke at their carpets with his lance to unnerve them.56 Two
men took him by the arms, and he stood before their ruler,
who spoke to him, saying: "You Arabs, vehement hunger has
afflicted you, so you have left [your homelands]. If you wish,
we shall give you provisions, and you can return home." Al-
Mughirah spoke, praising and extolling God; then he said: "We
Arabs used to eat corpses and carrion; people used to trample us
under foot, not we them . God has sent forth from us a prophet,
the best of us in rank, the most truthful in what he says." (And
he mentioned the Prophet in the fashion he deserves.) "He made
us promises that we discovered were [fulfilled] as he had said. He
promised us that we would conquer you and take possession of
everything here. I see you are wearing (fine) garb and apparel. I
do not think that [the Muslim army] coming after me will go
away until they seize them." (Al-Mughirah) continued : "Then I
wondered what if I were to collect up my garments, leap up in
one bound, and sit with this huge infidel on his throne! Perhaps
[then) he would be unnerved ." He continued : "I waited for a
time when he was not expecting it and jumped. There I was
with him on his throne!" (The account) continues : They seized
him, beating him repeatedly with their hands and trampling him
under foot. (Al-Mughirah) continued : I said, "Is this how you
treat envoys? We do not act thus. We do not do this with your
envoys." The ruler replied, "If you wish, you can cross over to us
or we over to you (to fight).1157 (Al-Mughirah) said that they
would cross over to [the army of Isfahan). He continued: "So
56. Li-yatafayyarti, literally, "so that they might augur evil."
57. An indication that the audience was over and battle would ensue. A
similar story involving al-Mughirah has already appeared in the text in the
context of the events leading up to the battle of Nihlwand ('!'abaci , 1, 2601-3). If
it is a genuine account in either case, we learn much here and in the anecdote
recounted below (about his appointment ( of al-Mughirah , who had clearly failed
miserably in his diplomatic mission! He was later appointed governor of al-
Knfah (see p. 41 and remained in office until 'Umar 's murder.
1z The Conquest of Iran
6z. Famous shaykh of Kindah who settled in al-Kufah and died in 40/661. See
Morony, Iraq, p. 93; Donner, Conquests, 433-34) Mad'aj , Yemen, 12.,113,45-51,
and passim, Ell, s.v. (Reckendorf).
63. Arabic : umm walad, strictly speaking a concubine who has given birth to
a child by her master, see Translation, Xllf, 58.
64. Muhammad b. 'Umar (d. 207/823), famous author of K. al-Maghdzi and a
narrator used extensively by Tabari . See Duri, Rise, 37ff., Sezgin, GAS, 1, 294-
97.
5. Khilid b. al-Walid was a famous early Islamic general , see E12, S.V.
(Crone). This would appear to be the meaning here of aw,cd ild. See in particular
Kazimirski, Dictionnaire, II, r 5 5 i.
66. These are perhaps the sons of Amr b. al= A$. Abu Sirwa'ah is perhaps
Abu Sirwa'ah 'Uqbah b. al-Hirith b. 'Amir b . Nawfal b. 'Abd Manif, see lbn
Hajar, Tahdhib, VII, 238 - 39, XII, 1051 Translation, XII, io5 , I$fahini, Aghdni,
IV, 42. There appears to be no record of what exactly happened to the offending
pair.
67. Also Balidhurl, Futti,I, 224; and Ya 'qubi, Tdrikh, II, 156 , and Ibn 'Abd a1-
Haltom, Putt, ,, 170, with the rather strange suggestion that sons were sold,
presumably for the purpose of providing military service to the Muslims, as part
of a tribute arrangement . Bargah is ancient Barce in present day Libya , Balidhuri,
Futeh, 224-25; Yiqut, Mu dam, 1, 388 , Abun-Nasr, Maghrib, 315, map. It is
spelled Bargi in Wigidi , FutuIi, 1oz. Whereas Balidhuri, ibid. calls Barqah the
town of Anliibulus, Yiqut, ibid., says the town of Barqah is Antibulus.
14 The Conquest of Iran
73. Muhammad b. Humayd al -Rizi (d. 248/862), one of Tabari 's teachers in al-
Rayy and one of his leading authorities . See Sezgin , GAS, I, z9ff., 79, 242, 253.
74. Salamah b. al-Fail al -Azraq (d. after 190/805). He transmitted Ibn Isliiq's
Maghdzi and Mubtada '. See Ibn Hajar, Tahdhib, IV, 1 3ff.
75. Muhammad b. Isliiq (d. 150/767), author of the famous Sirah . See Ibn
Hajar, Tahdhib, IX, ;8-46; E12 . s .v. (Jones).
76. The famous Umayyad governor in Syria and later ( 41-60/661-680) first
Umayyad caliph.
77. Prominent figure in the Syrian conquests . See Ibn Hajar, I,cdbah, VII,
163-64.
78. One of the districts of Damascus, see Yiqut, Mu jam, 1, 338. Le Strange,
Palestine, 31-34.
79. A town south of Aleppo precisely described by Y10 t, Mu jam, IV, 403; Le
Strange, Palestine, 486; El , s.v. (Eliss6eff).
8o. The area south of Damascus , the principal center of which is Ammin) see
Yiqut, Mu jam, 1, 4891 Le Strange, Palestine, 34-35.
Sr. A place that is part of the province of Aleppo ; see Yiqut, Mu'jam, V, 155•
The same as Ma'arrat Qinnasrin; see Le Strange, Palestine, 39.
82. The maternal uncle of Mu'iwiyah . See Ibn Hajar, Tahdhib, XII, z6r; Ibn
Abd Rabbih, 'lqd, IV, 398•
83. Ibn Shariliil (d. ca. 103/721), the famous narrator; see Ibn Hajar, Tahdhib,
V, 65-69, especially 68. See also Ibn Sad, Tabagdt, V, 341, Rosenthal,
Historiography, 63, 187, 380.
84. Zayd b. Thibit was a famous Companion, who died in 45/665 . See Ibn
Hajar, Tahdhib, IV, 41-43.
16 The Conquest of Iran
(December 211, 64o -December Io, 641 .85 The governor of al-
Kufah was 'Ammar b. Yasir, who was also in charge of the
police.86 'Abdallah b. Mas' ud was in charge of the treasury,
'Uthman b. Hunayf of the land tax, and Shurayh reportedly held
the office of judge.''
85. It is in fact necessary to go back to the end of the year 17 (638 - 39) to find
the complete list. Cf. Tabari, I, 257o; Translation, XIII, 150.
86. For this meaning of ahddth, see Dozy, Suppldment, 1, 258, with
expressions from Baladhuri. See also Hinds, "Conquests," 5o n. 33; El2, S.V.
(Cahenj.
87. That is, Shurayh b . al-H3rith al - Kindi, a famous, perhaps "legendary,"
judge of early Islam (d. 72-99/691-718) . See Schacht, Origins, 228-29;
Translation, XIII, 159 n. 543.
1b
The
Events of the Year
22
(NOVEMBER 3o, 642-NOVEMBER I9, 643)
88. For Abmad and Abu Ma'shar, see Sezgin, GAS, 1, z9z, 796) Translation, I,
61 for Isbaq (d. 214/829), see GAS, zoo n. 245.
89. Yiqut, Mu'jam, IV, 14- 15, explains that isbahbad, the term used here, is
that used in Tabaristin as the title of the ruler. See also Morony, Iraq, 29.
9o. On the question of the date of the conquest of Azerbaijan, see Baladhuri,
Futub, 32.6) also Ya'qubI, Tarikh, 156, who gives only the date zz) Ibn al -Athir,
Kdmil, III, 13, under the year :z. For the conquest of Hamadhin , see Balidhurl,
Futnla, 3o9-ii (in the year z3 () Ya'qubi, Tdrikh, II, 157 (also in 23 () Ibn al-Athir,
ibid., io, sub anno zz.
1 8 The Conquest of Iran
91. That is, the dual of the Persian word mah = Arabic galabah. The former
is south, the latter southwest of Hamadhan. See Yaqut, Mu'fam, V, 48, Le
Strange, Lands, 196-97, Translation, XIII, 4, 199; EI2, s.v. "Mah al -Ba§ra," "Mih
al-Kufa" (Morony). See also note i.
92. That is, Nihawand, see note 91.
93. That is , al-Nusayr b. Daysam b. Thawr al-'Ijli, about whom there is no
information. '11I here are presumably'ijl b. Lujaym b . $a'b, a tribal division (barn)
of Bakr b. Wail, originally occupying an area between al-Yamamah and al-
Bagrah, see EI2, s.v. "'Idjl" (Watt (. '!jl and Hanifah are closely related tribal
groups (EI2, s.v. "Hanifa " (Watt)). See also Ibn Hazm, /amharah, 309, 3121
Caskel, Camharat, I, Tables 141, 156, 157, Kahhalah, Mu'fam, 1, 3121 II, 757.
94 Arabic fay'. See E12, S. V. (Lekkegaard).
The Events of the Year 22 19
95. That is, IQabbah b. Shihib b. Mu'iwiyah, rather than the better-known
Qabbah b. Udd, see Caskel, c`amharat, I, Table 3o9.
96. A Tamimi hero of both Qidisiyyah and Nihiwand , his exploits are much
emphasized by Say( b. 'Umar. See Tabarl,1, 2459-64 and x616 - x8; Translation,
XIII, passim, in particular 39-43, 2 09-11, El , s.v. (Zettersteen(.
97. The Persian general; see Morony, Iraq, 194.
98. Amr b. Bilil b. al-Hirith is unidentified.
99. Ribi b. Amir is unidentified. Muhalhil b. Zayd al-Khayl al-Tal was a
hero of the Riddah wars. See Ibn Hajar, Igabah, X, 49•
loo. The Persian general in charge of the army defeated at Nihiwand. See
Morony, Iraq, 192-93, for earlier events in which he played a part.
20 The Conquest of Iran
ioi. Persian Kangavar, a small town between Hamadhin and Qarmisin. See
Yiqut, Mu dam, IV, 484, who mentions Qa$r al-Lugug; Spuler, Iran, r27 and end
maps; Barthold, Geography, 195, El', s.v. "Kinkiwar" (Savory). See also Bal'ami,
Chronique, III, 487.
ioz. Yaqut's "A place in al-Jabal; I think it is in the regions of Hamadhan" (II,
i 29( is not very helpful. This must be a small place , not far from the town of
Hamadhan.
103. Dastaba is the extensive area between al-Rayy and Hamadhan, and this is
clearly what is meant here. See Yaqut, Mu'jam, If, 454; Le Strange, Lands, 220. It
is given as a town on Map r, 6o-6t , of the CHIr, IV.
104. Warrior in the eastern conquests. Lived until the end of the caliphate of
Mu'awiyah. See Ibn Hajar, IIdbah, IV, 254, Hill, Termination, r25, mg.
1o5. Died in al-Raqqah in Mu'awiyah's caliphate . See Ibn Hajar, I;dbah, IV,
254; Ibn al-Athir, Usd, II, 353.
rob. Fought at al-Qadisiyyah. See Ibn Hajar, I$dbah, IV, 253s Ibn al-Athir,
Usd, II, 352-53.
107. Masdlih the eastern equivalents of the western thughur; i.e., the regions
on the edge of Muslim control as they pushed eastward.
rob. Fos the land and its people, see Ell, s.v . (Minorskyj. The territory of
Daylam is the highlands of Jilin.
The Events of the Year 22 21
109. Qara;ah b. 'Amr b. Ka'b al-Khuza'i died in al-Kufah during the caliphate
of Mu'iwiyah . See Ibn Hajar, I,cdbah, VIII, 151-52.
no. He died in 154 /771. See Ibn Hajar, I.dbah, III, 266 - 67; Tahdhib, III, 260;
Ibn al-Athir, Usd, x70.
III. Balidhuri, Futdla , 319, says that the final conquest of al-Rayy was carried
out by Qara;ah b. Ka'b al-Anaari during the governorship of Abu Muni over
al-Kufah on behalf of 'Uthmin; see Zarrinkub, "Conquest," p. 23, erroneously
Qur;at . Ya'qubi, Tdrikh, II, 157, agrees, this statement coming under the year 23.
Cf. Ibn al-Athir, Kdmil, III, ii - 12, who, as always, follows Tabari, mentioning
without authority Qara;ah as conqueror. He mentions too a date of z1 for the
conquest . Cf. Ibn al-Athir, Usd, II, 170; Kdmil, III, 9. 'Umar died from his
wounds on Dhu al-Hijjah 3 , 23/October 13, 644.
112. This Daylami leader appears as Muthi in Yiqut, Mu yam, V, 341.
r i 3. Wij (al-)Rudh is situated between Hamadhin and Qazwin . Yigilt, Mu'jam,
V, 341 , gives the date of the battle as 29.
114. 1 vocalize this Persian proper name thus after reference to Justi,
Namenbuch, 386. But see cf. Bal'ami Chronique, III, 489, al-Zinbi; and Hill,
Termination, 128, etc., al-Zeynabi.
115. Isfandiyadh was the brother of Rustam b. Farrukhzidh , the Persian
general defeated at al-Qadisiyyah . See Zarrinkub, "Conquest," io.
rib. That is, 'I$mah, Muhalhil, and the three Simiks; see above.
zz The Conquest of Iran
117. A Yemeni Arliabi from Hamdany see below. See also Mad'aj, Yemen, 114,
141, etc.
its. 'Omar actually said, "A-bashir?" which can mean either "Is that
someone bearing good news?" or "Is that Bashir?" the latter being a man 's name.
'Urwah, the messenger, interpreted the question in the latter meaning, hence his
reply.
119. 'Umar makes a pun on their name, Simak. Cf. Bal'ami, Chronique, III,
488.
The Events of the Year 22 23
face their army in battle, and remain there, as it was the most
central and unified part of this territory for his purposes. So
Nu'aym established Yazid b . Qays al-Hamdani in charge of (2.652)
Hamadhan and marched out from Waj al-Rudh with his army to
al-Rayy.
Nu'aym recited the following concerning Waj al-Rudh:120
When I heard that Muta121 and his tribe,
Banu Basil, 122 had driven on their Persian armies,123
I roused up my armies against them , competing in glory,
that I might deny them with my swords my protection.124
We brought upon them our steel [armor ]-'twas as if we
were mountains looming up through the branches of the
galasim trees.125
When we met them in battle at (Waj al-Rudh , the valley) wide
and abundant in trees,
they having already begun to rear up to fight like a champ-
ion,
We repelled them at Waj Rudh with our force
on the morning we inflicted upon (the Persians) one of the
great calamities.126
They could not endure for any time at all, as death hovered,
against our sharp spears127 and cutting swords.
When their forces scattered, they were like
a wall the baked brick of which has crumbled with de-
stroying blows.
120. Meter jawil. Yiqut, Mu'jam, V, 341, quotes lines 1, 5, 6, 8, and to.
121. Yignt, Mu'jam, V, 341, M13thi, i.e., the ruler of Daylam.
1zz. This is the claim that the Daylamites are decended from Bisil b . Dabbah.
See Ibn Hazm, lamharah, 203 ("wa-Basilu bnu Dabbah, yuqdlu inna a]-
Daylama min waladi-h"), Caskel, (amharat, I, Table 89.
12.3. Yiqut, Mu'jam, has khuyal for junnd, "their Persian cavalry."
124. Nu'aym is here saying that he intends to slay them all and thus will not
have to make arrangements for their protection (dhimmah) after the battle.
125. "Mountains" to signify the strength and bulk of the Muslim forces. I am
unable to identify galdsim, nor indeed find this species of tree in the lexica at
my disposal.
126. That is, after the defeats of al-Qidisiyyah and Nihiwand , now Waj
(al)-Rudh.
11 z7. Yignt, Mu'jam, reads bi-1iaddi for li -baddi.
24 The Conquest of Iran
136. The great mountain that dominates Tabaristan and a small town,
modem Damivand, to the south of the mountain. See Yiqut, Mujam, 11, 4751 Le
Strange, Lands, 371.
137. Al-Mundhir b. Amr was an early military leader who had fought with
the Prophet. See Ibn al-Athir, Usd, III, 418-19.
138. Arabic gacab. See Dozy, Supplement, II, 353; Glossarium, cnxxrv.
139. The two sons of al-Zinabi, see Justi, Namenbuch, z76.
140. See note 13 S
z6 The Conquest of Iran
141. Al-Mudarib al-Ijli was a Companion or Follower, who has brief entries in
Ibn Elajar, Tahdhib, X, T66-67i Ibn al-Athir, Usd, III, 37t.
141. Little information appears to be available on 'Utaybah. See Donner,
Conquests, 383; Ibn 'Abd Rabbih, 'Iqd, 1, 2.83, Iyfahani, Aghdni, II, 47-48.
143. That is, al-Aswad b. Qutbah, a poet and warrior who was present at
al-Qadisiyyah, see Ibn Hajar, 1sdbah, 1, 171; Translation, XIII, i 1.
144. The title ma;mughdn has a religious connotation; see CHIT, 199.
145• Arabic, "fi al-sulhi 'ald shayin yaftadi bi-hi min-hum min ghayri an
yas'a1a-hu al-nafra wa-al-man'ah."
The Events of the Year 22 27
146. The westernmost town of Qumis and the first important place east of
al-Rayy. See Yiqut, Mu'jam, II, 394 , with no definite article; Le Strange, Lands,
367.
147. The MSS are far from clear here , and these place names are doubtful.
AI-Khuwir is possible; see note 146, above. I can find no reference to a place
called al-Lariz in the sources at my disposal . But see Ell, s.v.v. "Lir" and
"Larijin" jCalmard).
148. Yiqut, Mu'jam, III, 334 , has a Shirriz, without the article, but this is a
mountain in al-Daylam.
149. That is, every 1o dirhams weighing seven mithquls. See Sauvaire,
"MatEriaux," 460, see also Hinz, Masse, Iff.
1So. See Balidhuri, Futli.¢, 317ff.
151. An unidentified military leader.
z8 The Conquest of Iran
158. I translate the Arabic khardj "taxes." This term and the word jizyah,
which alone of the two has appeared in the text so far , were undoubtedly
synonymous in early Islam, with the meaning of tribute . The terms were later
refined in Islamic law and khardj took on the technical meaning of land tax. It
should be noted, however, that here both terms are to be found in the same
paragraph (and are perhaps not synonymous at all) and that , when it comes to
the actual document, only jizyah is used. Here, however, Suwayd not only
collected the khardj, but also busied himself with the assessment of the frontier
regions (furuj) of jurjan, as if for the purpose of levying some sort of tax based on
the land. For the two terms, see E12, s.v.v. "djizya" and "kharadj" (Cahen)s Ben
Shemesh, Taxation, r9-zo. - -"
1S9. An area to the north of jurjan is clearly meant here, although the name is
given several locations in Yaqut . See Mu 'jam, I!, 49z; Le Strange, Lands, 379-81.
30 The Conquest of Iran
167. See Balidhuri, Putnh, ;zsff, Bal'ami, Chronique, III, 494r CHIr, zo.
32 The Conquest of Iran
179. The translation of these two difficult, and seemingly corrupt, sentences
is tentative. The Arabic reads : wa-laysa li-tilka al-bilddi allati f i sdhati tilka
al-jibdli nabakun lam yugim al•Armanu bi-ha illd 'ala awfdzin wa-innamd
hum sukkdnun mimman hawla-hd wa-min al• furrd 'i ista',salat al-ghdratu
nabaka-ha min ahli al-garar.
i8o. Arabic, an yanfiru li-kulli ghdratin wa-yanfudhu li-kulli amrin ndba aw
lam yanub' rad-hu al-waif ,caldban.
The Events of the Year zZ 37
18r. This secretary is mentioned only here in the text . He is the brother of
Nu'aym and Suwayd. See Ibn Hajar, I.abah, IX, r68, with a reference to this
document.
18z. Or Mughin /Maghkan . The great plain that extends south of the River
Aras along the west coast of the Caspian. See Yaqut , Mu'jam, V, zz5 ; Le Strange,
Lands, 175-76 and Map 3, 87.
183. Capital of Georgia (lurjistin ) on the upper reaches of the River Kur. See
Yaqut, Muyam, II, 35-371 Le Strange, Lands, rsr.
184. Allan is one of the districts of the Khazars , north of Georgia. Yaqut
simply says that it is an extensive area on the edge of Armenia , near al -Bab, its
people bordering the land of the Khazars. Yaqut, Mu'jam, V, 8-9i Le Strange,
Lands, 179.
38 The Conquest of Iran
185. The famous Qaysi poet . See Igfahini, Aghdni, VIII, rot-8.
186. This unidentified witness features only in this place in the text.
187. A Kinini mentioned only on one other occasion in the text under the
year t4 ; see Tabari, I, 1236.
r88. A town in the territory of the Khazars, north of the River Aras. See
Yiqut, Mu jam, 1, 489-90.
189. I take this to refer to the great wall-reportedly built by AnOshirvin in
the sixth century A. D.-which ran westward from the town of al-Bab over the
mountains to keep out the warring tribes to the north . See Yiqut, Mu'jam, I,
3031 Le Strange, Lands, i 8o ; Barthold, Historical Geography, zz9.
The Events of the Year 22. 39
190. The "enterprise " I take to mean Islam itself, although it might refer to
the conquests being undertaken by the Muslims.
191. Al- Bay(la must be a place name here, although I can trace no further
reference to it. A parasang is generally reckoned to be 3 miles , see Hinz, Masse,
6z, about 6 kilometers.
192. The meter is Eawil.
193. Al-Kinani. He first appears as a narrator in the year II; see Tabari, I,
1977.
194. 1 here include the editorial addition from the Leiden apparatus criticus,
because al-Ghugn b. al-Qisim was from Bann Kinanah himself and other similar
chains of authority include the added phrase. Banes Kinanah is Kinanah b.
Khuzaymah, a large tribal confederation of 'Adnin living in the Hejaz. See
Kabbalah, Mu yam, 111, 996-97.
40 The Conquest of Iran
the Persian emperor. Were I in their power and then they heard
news of (the ruby), they would snatch it away from me. I swear
by God, nothing will stand in your way as long as you remain
true to your word and your great ruler does likewise . 11200 'Abd
al-Rahman turned to the envoy and said, "What was this ram-
part like? " He replied that [it was like ] the garment this man
was wearing. And (Matar) said, "And he looked at my garment."
Matar b. Thalj said to 'Abd al -Rahman b. Rabi 'ah; "The man
has certainly told the truth ! He has been and seen for himself."
He replied, "Yes indeed, he has given a description of iron and
brass," and he recited "Bring me pieces of iron " right to the end
of the verse .2O' 'Abd al-Rahman said to Shahrbariz , "How much
was your gift worth? " He replied, "The value of roo,ooo in my
own country and 3 ,000,000 or more in these parts."
Al-Wigidi claimed that Mu'awiyah launched a summer
campaign this year and penetrated into Byzantine territory at the
head of ro,ooo Muslims.
Some authorities report that the death of Khilid b. al-Walid
took place this year.
In [this year) Yazid b. Mu'awiyah2O2 and 'Abd al-Malik b.
Marwin203 were born.
During this year 'Umar b. al-Khattab led the pilgrimage. His
[2672] governor of Mecca was 'Attib b. Asid.204 Ya' li b. Umayyah205
was governor] of the Yemen. Those who were his governors in
the previous year whom we have already mentioned (remained)
in charge of the rest of the Muslim garrison towns.
2.o6. The two Miha are Nihiwand and Dinawar . See Yiqut, MO'jam, V, 48; Le
Strange, Lands, 289, 197 . Misabadhin is that part of the Jibal province due south
of Kurdistan. See Le Strange, Lands, zoz and Map 5 , opposite 185.
207. A town a little east of al-Ahwiz in KhUzistin. See Yiqut, Mu'jam, III,
27-t8 ; Le Strange, Lands, 243.
zo8. A town a little north of Rimahurmuz in KhOzistin. See Yaqut, Mu'iam,
I, 2.88 - 891 Le Strange, Lands, 245 and Map z, opposite 25.
209. 'Utirid b. 13ajib b. Zurirah b. 'UdasPUdus, a leader of Bann Tamim. He
was a member of the Tamimi delegation to the Prophet in 91630. See Tabari, 1,
1710- 11; Ibn Hisham, Sirah, II, 560-61 (Guillaume, Life, 628; Wigidi,
Maghdzi, III, 975.
zto. Arabic la-qad sababta ahabba udhunayya ilayya. That is, "I don't want
to hear any more of this!" Ammar had lost an ear at the battle of al-Yamimah;
see 812, s.v. "Ammar" (Reckendorf!.
44 The Conquest of Iran
126731 Ramahurmuz and ldhaj safe-conduct and that the Kufans and
the army of al-Nu'man [b. Mugarrinj had corresponded with
them while they were [enjoying this] safe-conduct. 'Umar
permitted them to do this to them and for the benefit of the
Basrans had his authorization duly witnessed. The Basrans laid
claim to certain settlements in Isfahan that Abu Musa had con-
quered on this side of Jayy when 'Umar had sent (the Basrans) as
reinforcements to (the Kufans) under the command of 'Abdallah
b. 'Abdallah b. 'Itban . The Kufans said: "You came to us as
reinforcements when we had already conquered the area, but we
shared the spoils with you. The covenant is ours , the land is
ours." 'Umar confirmed that they were right . Then the Basrans
who had taken part in the battles and who were at al-Qadisiyyah
took up another matter, saying, "Let them give us our share of
their main body of cultivated land and that on its periphery in
which we participated with them." 'Umar asked them if they
would be satisfied with Mah,2U at the same time asking the
Kufans if they would approve his granting (the Basrans) one
of the two Mahs. 212 They replied that he should do as he
thought fitting. So he granted them Mah Dinar213 with its share
for those of them who had taken part in the battles and who
were at al-Qadisiyyah as far as the district of al-Basrah and
Mihrajangadhaq.214 All this was for those Basrans who took part
in the battles and who were at al-Qadisiyyah. Mu'awiyah [when
he was governor of Syria) was the one who garrisoned Qinnasrin
with a military force from the Irags that had refused [to serve
All further] in the latter's time .215 Qinnasrin was simply one of
the rural districts of Hims until Mu'awiyah made it into a
garrison town and garrisoned it with those who had left al-Kufah
and al-Basrah at that time and he took for them , as their share
for the conquests of Iraq, Azerbaijan, Mosul, and al-Bab, and
brought them all together. The population of al-Jazirah and
(26741 Mosul were at that time floating , mixed with all those of the
two areas (al-Ba$rah and al-Kiifah ] who had not emigrated [to
participate in the conquests). Al-Bab, Azerbaijan, al-Jazirah, and
Mosul were conquered by the Kufans .216 When Mu'awiyah
b. Abi Sufyan was appointed governor [of Syria], all this was
transferred to those of them who had moved to Syria in the
time of All and to those with whom al-Jazlrah and Mosul
were populated who had not emigrated [to participate in the
conquests] in the time of 'Ali.
At the time of Mu'awiyah ['s governorship of Syria) the people
of Armenia were unbelievers.217 (Mu'awiyah ) had made Habib
b. Maslamah commander of al-Bab, he being at that time in
Jurzan.218 He entered into correspondence with the inhabitants
of Tiflis and those mountain areas, but then he fought against
them until they indicated their obedience [to him] and obtained
an agreement from him . After he had corresponded with them,
he wrote to them [as follows]:
In the name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful.
From Habib b. Maslamah to the people of Tiflis in
Jurzan, the land of al-Hurmuz .219 You are at peace. I
commend God to you. There is no other god than He.
Your envoy, Tafli, has come to us, has brought your
message, and has delivered [the gifts] you sent. Tafli has
mentioned that, according to your reckoning, we used
not to be one community, and indeed we were not thus
until God gave us guidance in the form of Muhammad
and strengthened us with Islam after we had been few,
lowly, and ignorant . Tafli has mentioned that you desire [2675]
to be at peace with us , and those who believe with
me and I are not averse to this. I send you 'Abd al-
22o. This scholar remains unidentified, and there is no other mention of him
in the text.
its. Qur'an, VIIl:58.
222. That is, Abd al-Rahman b. Khalid b. al-Walid al-Makhzami, son of the
famous early Muslim general , Khalid b. al-Walid . He died in 46/666, supposedly
poisoned at the instruction of a jealous Mu'awiyah . See Tabari, II, 82-83;
Translation, XVIII, 88-89.
223. An unidentified witness.
224. Both the Leiden and Cairo indexes indicate that this is 'Iyad b. Ghanm
al-Fihri, later governor in the Jazirah and Muslim leader in Syria , who died after
31/651 . See Tabari, I, 2505, 2865-66; Translation, XIII, 861 Translation, XV,
72-73. Ibn al-Athir (Usd, IV, 164-66 ), however, and Ibn Sad ( Tabagat, IV, 269,
VII, 398 ) insist that 'Iyad died in 20/641.
x25. A witness mentioned only here in the text.
The Events of the Year 22 47
:40. 'Umar had in fact given Mibrajinqadhaq to the Basrans, see p. 44 and
note s13, above.
r.41. Qur'an, Il:roz.. See p. 44, note 2-13, above.
242. An unidentified narrator.
243. Al-Walid b. Abd Shams, a Qurashi noble, has brief notices in Ibn al-
Athir, Usd, V, 90, and Ibn I:Iajar, I,sdbah, X, 311.
244. 1 am unable to clarify this obscure remark.
50 The Conquest of Iran
asked [them] why. They replied, "He has a servant who deals in
the fruits of our land!" So ('Umar) dismissed him and sent him
[2679] to al-Basrah . He also sent 'Umar b. Suraqah to al-Jazirah. He
said to the Kufan followers of Abu Musa who went with him
when he was dismissed, "Do you prefer someone strong and
tough or someone weak , but a believer ?" But he got no response
from them . So ('Umar) went off on his own to a part of the
mosque and went to sleep . Al-Mughirah b. Shu 'bah came to
him and stood watch over him until he woke up. Then he said,
"You have acted in this way, Commander of the Faithful, only
because of something very serious . Has some disaster overtaken
you?" He replied, "What is happening is more disastrous than
1100,000 who are not pleased with a commander, when he is not
pleased with them ." And he went on for some time on this
subject. (Al-Kufah was originally founded for 1100,000 troops.)
('Umar's) followers came to him and asked him what was on
his mind. He told them it was the Kufans whose problem was
causing him some distress . 'Umar repeated his request for
advice from them as before, and al-Mughirah gave him his
answer. He said, "The weak Muslim's weakness is not in your
interests, nor in those of the other Muslims [as well as his own].
His excellence by being a Muslim] is [only] in his own interests.
The strong, tough man's strength is in your interests and those
of the other Muslims [as well as his own ], whereas his toughness
works both against him and in his favor ." So ('Umar) sent
(al-Mughirah) [as governor] over ( the Kufans).
According to al-Sari-Shu'ayb-Sayf-Muhammad b. 'Abdal-
lah-Sa'id b. 'Amr:245 'Umar, before appointing al-Mughirah
governor, asked what his opinion was of making someone
[2680) governor who was weak, but a Muslim , as opposed to some-
one strong and tough . Al-Mughirah replied, "The faith of a
weak Muslim works [only ] in his own interests, whereas
his weakness works against your interests . The toughness of
a strong, tough man will work in his own interests and his
strength in those of the Muslims ." ('Umar) told him he was
sending him [as governor to al-Kufah] . Al-Mughirah was in this
245. Said b. Amr b. Said b. al-'Ao, a Qurashi scholar in al-Kufah. See Ibn
llajar, Tahdhib, IV, 68.
The Events of the Year zz 51
z46. A town about 70 miles east of Simarra , on the route from Baghdad to
Hulwan. See Yaqut, Mu Jam, 11, r56, Le Strange, Lands, 6z and Map 11, opposite
25. The defeat here referred to is that of the Persians at the hands of the Muslim
forces under Sad b . Abi Waggap in 56/637 . See Baladhuri, Putul.,, z64ff.j Tabari, I,
2456ff. Translation, XIII, 36ff.)i Zarrinknb, "Conquest," 53.
52 The Conquest of Iran
247. Arabic simply reads ndr, fire . I take this to be some kind of sacred flame
used in his practice of Zoroastrianism.
248. A famous town about 240 miles due north of Herat, one of the capitals of
the Khurasan province and standing on the River Murghab . See Yaqut,
Mu'jam , Marw al-Shahijan, V, i r 2ff. , Le Strange, Lands, 398ff.j E12, S.V.
(Bosworth!.
The Events of the Year zz 53
al-Hurmuzin to rebel (against the Muslims], and the people of
al-Jibal and the followers of al-Fayruzan did likewise . This it
was that induced 'Umar to permit the Muslims to penetrate
farther. The armies of al-Bagrah and al -Kufah pushed on farther
with the result that they decisively conquered the whole area.
Al-Ahnaf left for Khurasin, took Mihrajangadhaq , then left
for I$fahin, while the Kufans were besieging Jayy. He entered
Khurisin from al-Tabasayn249 and took Herat25O by force. He
appointed as his deputy there $uhar b. Fulan al =Abdi, 251 then
marched on Marw al-Shihijin. He dispatched to Naysabur,252
there being no intervening battle, Mutarrif b. 'Abdallah b.
al-Shikhkhir,253 and to Sarakhs254 al-Harith b . Hassan.255 When
al-Ahnaf drew near to Marw al- Shahijin, Yazdajird left it for 126831
Marw al- Rudh256 and remained there , while al-Ahnaf remained
249. For the conquest of Khurisin, see Balidhuri, Futtih, 4o3ff. Al-Ahnaf was
approaching from the southwest. The dual form , al-Tabasayn, is not infrequently
used for one of the two towns called Tabas, Tabas al-Tamr and Tabas al-'Unnib.
The two are about zoo miles apart, al-Tamr in the west, al-'Unnib in the
southwest of Quhistin . Assuming he could march through the Great Desert,
more or less as the crow flies, al-Abnaf would have passed through Tabas
al-Tamr on his way from Iyfahin to Herat . See Yiqut, Mu jam, IV, zo; Le
Strange, Lands, 359fl• and Map 8, opposite 335.
25o. The famous town in present -day Afghanistan. The town sits on the River
Herat in the southwest of the province of Khurisin and was chief town of one of
its quarters. See Yiqut, Mujjam, V, 396 -97; Le Strange, Lands, 407-9, 429-31;
EI2, s.v. (Frye).
251. That is, from Abd al -Qays. Perhaps his father 's name was Sakhr, see the
Leiden apparatus criticus, Tabari, 1, 2682, note o. He figures as a narrator under
the year 17, Tabari, 1, 2S37, and later sub anno z3, 1, 2707, delivering the fifths to
the caliph from Makrin . There is brief mention of Sulair b . Sakhr in Ibn Hajar,
Icdbah, V, x26.
252. In the west of Khurisin and a chief town of one of its quarters. See
Yiqut, MOM , V, 331- 33; Le Strange, Lands, 38zff. and Map VIII, opposite 335.
253. Al-Harashi. If this is the Basran jurist who died ca. 86 /705, he must have
been very young at this time . See Ibn Hajar, Tahdhib, X, 173- 74; Ibn Hazm,
Jamharah, 288.
254. A town on the River Herat in Khurasin, situated about ioo miles east of
Naysabur. See Yaqut, Mujjam, 111, zo8-9 ; Le Strange, Lands, 395ff. and Map 8,
opposite 335.
z55. Al-Dhuhli. A Muslim leader who is reported as assuming various
military tasks during the conquests . See Tabarl, 1, 2475 , 2 477 etc.; Ibn al-Athir,
Usd, 1, 32.3-2.5; ibn Hajar , I,sdbah, II, 152- 53; Tahdhib, 239.
256. About 15o miles south of Marw on the River Murghab in Khuriis3n. See
Yiqut, Mu'jam, V, riz; Le Strange, Lands, 397ff. and Map VIII, opposite 335.
54 The Conquest of Iran
263. Al-Najashi is Qays b. 'Amr, see l fahani, Aghdni, XII, 73, 76. The meter is
Iawil.
264. Ka's is not only the name of Rib'i 's mother, but, because it means "cup"
or "goblet," a pun is intended , he is generous in entertaining his guests with
drink.
265. Perhaps a reference to the Zoroastrian religion and its fire worship
practiced in pre-Islamic Iran.
z66. Two narrators mentioned only here in the text . Abu al-Janub 'Uqbah b.
Alqamah al-Yashkuri has a brief notice in In Hajar, Tahdhib, VII, 2.47.
267. A narrator mentioned only here in the text and who has only a brief
notice in In Hajar, Tahdhib, VIII, 2.32-32.
z68. A narrator mentioned only here in the text. Bakr b. Wail is a large tribal
confederation of Adnan, the northern Arabs. See Ibn Hazm, /amharah, 3o7ff.,
469, Kabhalah, Mu'jam, I, 93ff., E12, s.v. (Casket).
56 The Conquest of Iran
2.69. Al-Ahnaf 's name was 5akhr . See note 45, above.
270. That is, the River Oxus.
z7!. The text reads Ghuzak, but see Barthold, Turkestan . 96 etc., "the ikhshid
of Soghd."
172. The province of Farghanah stretched for more than zoo miles along the
upper stream of the River Jaxartes . See Yaqut, Mu'jam, IV, 253 Le Strange,
Lands, 476-77 and Map IX, opposite 433.
The Events of the Year zz 57
276. Al- Shamus is the name of the horse of Abdallah b. Amir al-Qurashi. Of
an animal the word means "recalcitrant." See Ibn Man;ftr, Lisdn , VI, 113-14)
Firgzabadi, Qomns, II, 2321 Zabidi, Tdj, XVI, 175; Lane, Lexicon, VIII, 2770. The
expression ndjizun bi-ndjiz originates in the commercial world, meaning, "ready
Imerchandisel for ready Imoneyl ". I translate "ready to respond to anything." For
the meaning of mushdriz, "bad tempered," "hostile," "quarrelsome," see
Firuzabadi, Q6mus, II, r851 Zabidi , Tdj, V, 361.
The Events of the Year 22 59
277. The famous battle that took place in 16 /637 and a decisive victory for the
Muslim forces over the Persians.
178. 1 here take the Arabic kuwar to indicate the four divisions of Khurasan. It
is true that they were officially known as arbn, the plural of rub , and that these
quarters were a later development. My explanation would be that suggesting
there were such quarters at this early date is an anachronism and that all that is
really meant is that the Kufans settled throughout Khurasan . For the four
quarters of Khurasan and their chief towns of Balkh , Naysabur, Marw, and Herat,
see Le Strange, Lands, 381-83.
The Events of the Year 2z. 6i
and with whom he had sent gifts and who was bringing back a
reply to his letter from the ruler of China. They asked him what [269.1)
had happened to him . He replied that, when he delivered the
letter and the gifts to [the ruler], he had presented him in return
with what they could see-and he showed them the present
he [was carrying] . [The ruler of China) responded to Yazdajird
by writing him the following letter, [but only] after he had
addressed (the messenger) as follows . "I know that in truth
rulers must give aid to [other) rulers against those who overcome
them. So describe these people who drove you out of your land
to me. I notice that you mention they are few and you are many.
Such a small number will not affect you in this way with your
great numbers. They can do this only if they are good and you
evil." (The messenger) suggested that he ask him whatever he
wanted. So he asked him if they kept to their agreement and he
replied that they did. (The ruler) asked what they said to them
before they made war on them . (The messenger) replied that
they called upon us to choose one of three things: [to accept]
their faith-and if we do, they treat us as themselves-or [to
pay] tribute and (enter) their protection or to be subjected to
open warfare . (The ruler) asked about how obedient they were
to their leaders . (The messenger) replied that no one was more
obedient to him leading them . (The ruler) asked what they
permitted and what they forbade, and (the messenger) told him.
He asked if they ever forbade what was permitted to them or
permitted what was forbidden them. [When] (the messenger)
replied that they did not, (the ruler) remarked that they would
never perish until they permitted what was forbidden and forbade
what was permitted to them. He then asked about their clothes,
and (the messenger) told him. [He asked) about their riding
animals, and (the messenger) mentioned their pure Arabian
horses and described them [to him]. "What fine horses they are!"
exclaimed (the ruler). [The messenger then] described camels to
him, how they kneel down and go forth to carry [loads]. (The
ruler's response was that this was the description of long-necked
beasts!) (The ruler of China) sent a letter to Yazdajird with (the
messenger) as follows . "I am not prevented from dispatching an [2692)
army to you stretching from Marw to China by my not knowing
what is proper for me. But if these people described to me by
62 The Conquest of Iran
23
(NOVEMBER 19, 643 -NOVEMBER 7, 644)
283. The ancient town of Persepolis on the River Pulvar in Fars province. The
district of lglakhr covered the whole of the northern part of Firs . See Yaqut,
Mu'jam, 1, 211-12; Le Strange, Lands, 275ff. and Map 6, opposite 249.
284. A commercial town in Firs on or near the River Shaper only about 40
miles from the Gulf coast . See Yiqut, Mu dam, 11, 56-57i Le Strange, Lands,
2.59-60.
285. See Balidhuri, Putilb, 386-87; Bal'ami, Chronique, 111, 5rz.
The Events of the Year 23 65
286. Al-Kinini, governor and Muslim military leader' active in Firs. See also
'1'abari, f, 2569; Ibn al-Athir, Usd, 11, 2441 Ibn Hajar, Igdbah, IV, 96-98.
287. A]-Sulami, Companion and Muslim military leader who died in 36/656.
See Ibn al-Athir, Usd, IV, 300; Ibn Hajar, I abah, IX, 87, Tahdhib, X, ;8.
288. The Persian Shipur or Bishipur , the district of Firs within the basin of
the upper reaches of River Shipur. The town is about 40 miles northeast of
Tawwaj . See Yaqut, Muyam, III, 167-68 ; Le Strange, Lands, 262 and Map VI,
opposite 249.
289. One of the five districts of Firs, of which the chief town is Shiraz. See
Yiqut, Muyam, 1, 1146; Le Strange, Lands, z48 and Map VI, opposite 2.49.
z9o. Al- Ala' was governor of Bahrain under the Prophet and the early caliphs
and a participant in the Riddah wars . In 17/638 he took a force from Bahrain over
to Firs, and, although launching a successful raid, his ships were lost and he was
cut off and had to be rescued. 'Umar dismissed him for this unauthorized attack.
See Wigidi, Maghdzf, II, 782; Ibn Hisham, Sirah, If, 576, 600, 607; Donner,
Conquests, 86, 327; Zarrinkub, "Conquest," 21. The battles with the Firsis
(Tabari, I, 2546ff.1 were fought in Tawus, a place described by Yiqut (Mu yam, IV,
8) as being situated in the coastal region of Firs.
66 The Conquest of Iran
long battle. Then God granted them Jar as a conquest, and the
Muslims [also ] conquered Istakhr, having killed a great many of
[the enemy] and taken what they wanted, though some (of the
enemy] fled . Then 'Uthman called upon the people to
tribute and to (make ] a compact. They therefore sent messages
to him, and he to them. Their religious leader297 and all those
who had fled or left responded favorably to his lcall]. They
gradually came back and yielded to [the payment of J tribute.
Now when the enemy fled, 'Uthman collected together all the
booty God had granted them and took out a fifth, sending it
to 'Umar, and distributing four-fifths of the booty among the
army. They abstained from plundering and delivered up what
was in their care, considering this lower world to be of little
importance. ' Uthman mustered them to him and rose to speak.
He told them that things would continue to advance and that
everyone would remain safe and sound from anything distaste-
ful as long as they did not take what was not theirs . If they did,
they would experience something unpleasant , and the much
they might have had then would not go as far as the little [2697]
they had now.
According to al-Sari-Shu 'ayb-Sayf-Abu Sufyan298-al-
Hasan: 'Uthman b . Abi al-'AS said on the day Istakhr [was
conquered], "When God wishes a people to prosper, He restrains
them and increases their trustworthiness . Hold on to it, for the
first thing you lose of your faith is trustworthiness . Once you
do lose it, every day something new will be lost to you."
[A Persian called] Shahrak299 threw off [his allegiance] at the
end of 'Umar's caliphate or at the beginning of 'Uthman's.
He roused up the people of Fars , calling upon them to break [the
peace agreement]. So 'Uthman b. Abi al-'As was dispatched
against him for a second time, accompanied by reinforcements
under the command of 'Ubaydallah b. Ma'mar3O0 and Shibl b.
301. A Muslim military leader, possibly a Muzani rather than a Bajali. See lbn
al-Athir, Usd, II, 385.
302.. There are two places with this name in Fars. One near Bushahr (Bushirej,
the other in the north of the province , just south of the River 'f'ib. It is
impossible to know for sure which is meant here . Yiqut !Mujam, III, 112-131,
however, mentions only the latter and recounts the story of the death of
Shahrak, whom he calls Suhrak . Cf. Le Strange, Lands, z61, 2.71 and Map 6,
opposite 2.49.
303. Arabic, fa-gala ya abati in taraku-nd fa-Id yakunu ghadd'u-nd hdhund
wa-ld bi-Rishahra wa-Id yakunanna illd ft al-manzil.
304. Al-Thagaf i. 'Uthman employed his brother in a senior military role
mainly in the area of Firs. Ibn Hajar, I. dbah, II, 271, gives his full name as Ibn
al-AS b. Naar b. 'Abd b. Duhman. Ibn al-Athir, Usd, 11, 35, gives Ibn AN al-As b.
Bashir b. Duhman. Cf. Balidhuri, Futub, 362., 386-87; Hill, Termination, 122,
135.
305. An unidentified narrator.
3o6. Sulayman b. $ilih al -Laythi died before 110/728. See lbn Hajar, Tahdhib,
IV, 199-200.
307. 'Ubaydallah is impossible to identify . 'Ubayd, rather than the Abd of
the Leiden text is from the Cairo edition and the Leiden Addenda. It must be
The Events of the Year 23 69
asked if the text is corrupt here and whether this 'Ubaydallah and 'Ubaydallah b.
Sulayman are not one and the same . See next note.
308. Perhaps more correctly 'Ubayd b. Sulayman . See In Hajar, Tahdhid, VII,
67, Translation, I, :z7 n. 402..
309. That is, the same authority as the 'Ubaydallah b. Sulayman above in the
text' see preceding note.
3 ro. That is, Abu al-Mundhir al-Jared b. Amr b. Hanash b. al-Mu'alli al= Abdi
was a convert from Christianity and a leader of Abd al-Qays. Ibn Hajar, I$dbah,
II, 5 r, says he died in 21 /642, or at Nihawand, or in 'Uthmin 's caliphate. See also
Ibn al-Athir, Usd, II, z6o-6x, Ibn Hajar, Tahdhib, II, 43-54•
3 x it. Al-Muka' bir was Azadh Furuz b. Jushnas. See Justi , Namenbuch, 53.
70 The Conquest of Iran
311. In Persian mythology Azhd Dahak was the tyrant who overthrew
Jamshad and ruled for t,ooo years . He was the personification of evil . See CHIT,
III, especiallpp. 426-27.
313. For Adharbiyan, see Justi, Namenbuch, 4i, Arzanban.
314. Darabjird is the easternmost district of Fars , and the chief town has the
same name. Fasa is a town in the district less than 6o miles west of the town of
The Events of the Year 23 71
Darabjird . See Yagiit, Mu'jam, 11, 446 ; IV, 160- 6t; Le Strange, Lands, 188ff. and
Map VI, opposite 149. For the conquests in Baladhuri, see Futuh , 388-90.
315. An unidentified narrator.
316. Al-Nahdi, famous figure in early Islam who died about 100/7 i 8. See Ibn
llajar, Tahdhib, VI, z77ff.
317. Abu Amr b. al=Ala' was himself of M3zin of Tamim . He died in 57/677.
See Ibn Iiajar, Tahdhib, XII, 178-80.
318. That is, Mazin b. Malik of Tamim . See Kahliilah, Mu'jam, III, 1013-14.
Cf. preceding note.
72 The Conquest of Iran
touching and asked him about the Muslims (in Fars], then about
Sariyah b. Zunaym. He gave ('Umar) the information. Then he
told him of the story of the casket, but ('Umar) took one look at
it and shouted at him, "No, I'll give you nothing319 until you
return to this army and make a [fair) distribution among them."
And he dismissed him. But he told the Commander of the
Faithful, that he had exhausted his camels and borrowed against
a gift from him. He asked him to give him what would satisfy
him. He would not leave ('Umar) alone until he exchanged his
own camel for one of the camels given as alms, and he took his
camel and put it with the alms camels . The messenger set off
back, an object of anger and denied any gift . He came to al-
Ba§rah and [onward to the army and finally] carried out 'Umar's
order. [While he was in Medina], people asked him about Sariyah,
about the conquest and whether they had heard anything on the
day of the battle. He replied that they had heard, "[To] the
mountain, Sariyah." [He added] that they were almost done for,
so they took refuge on it and God granted them the conquest.
Al-Sari-Shu'ayb-Sayf-al-Mujalid-al-Sha'bi gave an ac-
count similar to that of 'Amr.
323. 1 take the Arabic qurd here to mean the settlements of the Kirminis and
translate accordingly. There might, however, be a place named al-Quri, in which
case the translation would need emendation to "Suhayl advanced along what is
today the road to al -Quri as far as Jiraft ." There is no reference to such a
toponym in the geographical sources at my disposal . Jiraft is spelled Jiruft by Le
Strange. The town is situated south of the town of Kirman, and its district was
the whole of southern Kirmin province . See Yiqut, Mu'jam, II, 198 ; Le Strange,
Lands, 314ff. and Map VI, opposite 249.
324. An unidentified place.
325. That is, instead of the usual division of the animals as spoils by numbers.
326. D. ca. 182/789. See Ibn Hajar, Tahdhib, VII, 377ff.; Sezgin, GAS, 1, 312.
327. Hanbal b. Abi Haridah is unidentified. Quhistin is the province to the
southwest and west of Khurisin. See Le Strange, Lands, 352-ff. and Map VIII,
opposite 335.
328. Ibn Budayl must in fact have been only ten years old in the year 23; see
note zz, above.
329. Arabic verb agfaa; see E12, s.v. "Ili" ICahen). For al-Tabasayn, see
note 249, above.
The Events of the Year 2.3 75
330. For the conquest, see Balidhuri, Putub, 39zff.; Bal'ami , Chronique, III,
5 r7ff. Sijistan is the province to the south of Khurisin . See Yignt, Mu'jam, III,
r9oz; Le Strange, Lands, 334ff. and Maps VII and VIII.
335. AI-Tamimi, a Muslim military leader renowned for his courage, the
brother of al-Qa'gi'. See Tabari, I, z43 iff. etc.
332. An unidentified narrator.
333. The capital of Sijistin, E of Lake Zarah. Cf. Yiqut, Mu'jam, III, r 8; Le
Strange, Lands, 335ff. and Maps VII and VIII . Cf. also Bosworth, Sistdn and map,
in the district of al-Rukhkhaj.
334• This sentence and the first two of the following paragraph read in Arabic,
fa-tamma ahlu Sijistdna 'aid al-khardji wa-al-Muslimuna aid a1-aid' fa-kdnat
Sijistdnu a;ama min Khurdsdna wa-ab 'ada furu/an yugdtiluna al-Qandahdr.
The translation might therefore be, "So the Sijistanis paid the land tax, while the
Muslims on stipends ([the districts [ of Sijistan were greater and spread further
afield than [those of( Khurisinj, were making war on Kandahar,..."
335. Arabic al-Qandahar, east of Zaranj. See Yiqut, Mu*iam, IV, 40z-3; Le
Strange, Lands, 347 and Map VIII, opposite 335; Bosworth , Sistdn, map.
336. Something of an exaggeration, as a glance at the map in the CHIr, 6o-6r,
shows ! " The river of Balkh " must be the Oxus, which is in fact north of the
town.
76 The Conquest of Iran
(2,7o6) two frontier districts until Mu'awiyah's time. At that time the
ruler (shah) fled from his brother, who was called Zunbil,337
to an area called Amul,338 and (he and his followers ) paid al-
legiance to Salm b . Ziyad,339 at that time governor of Sijistan.
(The latter) was pleased with this [development], made a pact
with (the ruler and his followers ), and allowed them to settle in
this area . He wrote to Mu'awiyah about this, indicating that
it had been conquered . But Mu'awiyah replied that his cousin
might be pleased , but that he was not and that it was not indeed
proper that (his cousin ) should be pleased . Mu'awiyah was
asked why this was and replied it was because the area between
Amul and Zaranj was where there were difficulties and trouble.
These were people who were wily and- treacherous, so there
would be discord in future . The very least they would do would
be to take over the whole region of Amul. But Ibn Ziyad con-
cluded an agreement with them . After Mu'awiyah 's death when
there was civil war, the ruler rebelled and conquered Amul.
Zunbil was afraid of the ruler, so he took refuge from him in a
particular place in which he remains to this day . But he did not
take kindly to this, when the people just ignored him, and he
began to covet Zaranj . So he attacked (the town) and besieged
(its inhabitants ) until reinforcements arrived from al-Basrah.
Zunbil and all those who came with him and settled in this area
became "a bone in the throat" that has remained unremoved to
this day. This region had been subdued until Mu'awiyah died.
337. The text has Rutbil, but cf. Bosworth, Sistdn, 34 -36. Cf. Bal'ami,
Chronique, III, 5 i 8.
338. This place must be in or near Sijistan and cannot be either the Amul in
Tabaristin or that between Marw and Bukhara on the Oxus. Perhaps Kibul to
the northeast of Sijistan is meant. See Balidhuri, Futuh, 397 and Addenda,
DCXXIII.
39. Salm, according to Tabari elsewhere (Tabari, 11, 3911, was appointed
governor of Sijistan in 6t/68o by Yazid b. Mu'iwiyah (reigned 6o - 64/68o-683),
after Mu 'iwiyah 's death . Yazid too would have been Salm's cousin, whereas
Mu'iwiyah would have been his uncle. It seems we should read Yazid
throughout this passage rather than Mu'awiyah . Another possible explanation is
that Salm 's brother, 'Abbid, was appointed governor of Sijistan by Mu'iwiyah
about the year 59/679 (Tabari, 11, 189), and perhaps he is meant rather than Salm.
See also Bosworth , Sistdn, 44-45.
The Events of the Year 2.3 77
Bayrudh in al-Ahwaz352
(The same sources ) report : When the [Muslim) cavalry dispersed
throughout the various districts , a large force of Kurds and
345. As the Arabic terms given in the text indicate , Suhar gave 'Umar his
description of Makran in rhymed prose.
346. The meter of the poem is wafer.
347. A variant spelling of Makran used to fit the metre of the poem.
348. It should be recalled that the forces opposing the Muslims were a
mixture of Makrinis and Sindis.
349. That is, they kept their horses and, by implication, themselves under
complete control.
35o. A reference to 'Umar's express order that the Muslims should penetrate
no farther than Makran.
351. Arabic, al-bududi 'I-zawdni, that is, feminine plural, hence the
translation. It is a reference to Sind where perhaps the women had such a
reputation.
352. A town in the northwest of Khuzistin , north of a]-Ahwiz, variously
spelled Bayrudh by Yaqut (Mu'jam, 1, 526 and Bayrut and Birodh by Le Strange
The Events of the Year 23 79
(Lands, z411. See also Le Strange, Lands, Map z, opposite 25. For the battle,
Bal'ami, Chronique, III, 520.
353. A town standing on the canal of the same name , northwest of al-Ahwaz.
See Yagiit, Mu yam, 11, 66, Le Strange, Lands, 241 and Map II, opposite 25.
354. Strictly speaking, two towns lying in the fertile regions of al-Ahwaz, just
north of the town of al-Ahwaz . See, Yiiqut, Mu'lam V, 199, Le Strange, Lands,
239 and Map II, opposite 25.
355. He has a brief entry in Ibn al-Athir, Usd, IV, 423.
356. He was later governor of Sijistan. See Ibn al -Athir, Usd, 11, 164.
8o The Conquest of Iran
[z7ro) the Kufan armies besieging Jayy. Then he made off for al-Basrah
after the victory of the (Muslim) troops and when God had given
victory to al-Rabi' b. Ziyad over the army of Bayradh in Nahr
Tira and (Abu Musa) had taken the captives that they had.
Abu Musa chose some of them for whom there would be a
ransom, as a ransom was more profitable to the Muslims than
[holding captive] their prominent leaders and their value [in
themselves). He sent delegations and the fifths [to 'Umar).
A man of Anazah357 stood up and asked him to send him
in the delegation, but (Abu Musa ) refused. But (the man) left
(nevertheless ], charging (Abu Masi ) falsely, and 'Umar asked
(Aba Musa) to present himself. ('Umar) brought them together,
finding that Abu Masi had an excuse except in the matter of his
servant.358 He lessened his authority , but sent him back to his
post. But the other he charged with unrighteousness and ordered
him not to do such a thing again.
Al-Sari-Shu'ayb-Sayf-Muhammad, Talhah, al-Muhallab
and 'Amr: When Aba Musa returned from Isfahan after the
[Muslim ] armies had gone out into the various provinces and
al-Rabi' had defeated the army of Bayrudh and (Abu Musa)
had collected together the captives and their possessions, (the
latter) came out next morning to sixty young sons of village
headmen, 359 whom he had selected and sent them back in
return [for their ransom] . He sent news of the conquest to
'Umar, choosing a delegation [ to take it ]. A 'Anazi came to him
and asked him to write down his name [for inclusion] in the
delegation . (Aba Masi ) replied that he had already registered
[names of[ those who were more worthy (of participation in the
delegation] than he was . So (the 'Anazi ) withdrew in anger. Aba
Masi wrote to 'Umar about the matter of a 'Anazi called
Ipabbah b. Mihsan360-and he told him all about him. When
the letter [brought by] the delegation [with the news of l the
3 S7. This in all probability refers to Bana Anazah b. Asad, a large tribal group
in central Arabia. See Ibn ]Uazm, Jamharah, 2.94; Caskel, damharat, 1, Table
1172; Kabbalah, Mu'jam, III, 846-47, E12, s.v. (Graf).
358. A reference to the slave girl, 'Aqilah, mentioned, page 8i , below.
359• The text has dingan. See E12, s.v. (Lambton). For this anecdote, see
Tantawi, Akhbar, z 79ff.
36o. The text at last gives us the name of this Anazi bedouin.
The Events of the Year 23 8 i
361. 'Umar says, Id marllaban wa-Id ahlan! The reply reads, ammd al-
marl abu fa-min Alldh; wa-ammd al-ahlu fa-id ahlal
362. Arabic gafiz, see Hinz, Masse, 49.
363. The famous governor of the Umayyad Mu'awiyah and often called Ziyad
b. Abihi. See Shaban, History, 86-89.
364. Al-HuXay'ah is the famous poet born before Islam, Abu Mulaykah Jarwal
b. Aws. See Igfahani, Aghdni, fl, 43-62.
8z The Conquest of Iran
in charge of the people 's affairs [in al-Basrah [, but this man did
not know what kind of a governor he was . (Abu Musi ) said, "I
found that he was a man of merit and perception, so I handed
over responsibility for my governorate to him." "And he gave al-
Hutay'ah a thousand !" (Abu Musa) said, "I stuffed his mouth
1 7731zJ with money so he would not revile me!" ('Umar) said, "Now
you have done something ! ,365 He sent (Abu Musa) back [to al-
BasrahJ and told him when he arrived there to send Ziyad and
`Agilah to him. This he did. `Agilah arrived before Ziyad, then
he came and stood at the door . 'Umar went out while Ziyad was
standing at the door, dressed in white linen clothes , and said to
him, "What clothes are these?" So he told him. "How much did
they cost?" asked ('Umar), and he told him they cost little.
('Umar) believed him and said, "How much is your stipend?"
He replied, "Two thousand." ('Umar) asked him what he had
done with the first stipend he got. He replied that he had bought
his mother and set her free. With the second , [he said[, he bought
his stepson, a young slave, and set him free . ('Umar) wished him
success and questioned him about the ordinances of God, the
religious practices and the Qur 'an and found him well versed in
religious knowledge . He sent him back, ordering the Basran
commanders to follow his advice . He held 'Agilah back in
Medina. ('Umar) commented, "Indeed Ipabbah al-'Anazi was
angry with Abu Musa with some justification , that he came to
him, but left him in anger that he received no worldly gain.
(I?abbah ) has told the truth (about Abu Musa ), but also.lied, and
his lying has marred his telling the truth . Beware of lying; lying
leads lone] into hellfire!"
Now al-I;Iutay'ah had met (Abu Musa ) and he had given him a
127131 gift during the attack on Bayrudh . Abu Musi had begun to
besiege them and attack (the Persians and Kurds ), and he finally
defeated them. Then he passed on from them, leaving al-Rabi'
as his representative among them . Then after the conquest he
returned to them and took charge of the division [of the spoils].
According to al-Sari-Shu'ayb-Sayf-Abu 'Amr366-al-
3 67. Following the advice of the Leiden editor , I omit the word badawi for
Badrl, according to two MSS), because neither would seem to make sense.
368. Salamah b. Qays al-Asja i has a brief notice in Ibn al -Athir, Usd, II, 339.
369. An unidentified narrator.
370. Ja'far b. Awn was a narrator who died in .o6-207/821-823 . See Ibn
Hajar, Tahdhib, II, ior.
371. An unidentified narrator.
372. An unidentified narrator.
37;. An unidentified narrator.
374. Alqamah b. Marthad al-Hadrami has an entry in Ibn Hajar , Tahdhib, VII,
z71-73-
375. Ibn Hajar, Tahdhib, IV, 174- 75, says that Sulayman b. Buraydah b.
al-Hasib al-Marwazi died in 105 /723. He must, however, have been a
contemporary of 'Umar and Salamah.
84 The Conquest of Iran
ornament into a casket and sent off one of his men, saying,
"Take it and, when you come to al-Ba$rah, against the gifts the
Commander of the Faithful [will give you], buy two baggage
camels and load them up with provisions for yourself and your
young slave. Then make your way to the Commander of the
Faithful."
(The messenger) reported as follows: I did this and came to the
Commander of the Faithful as he was feeding lunch to the
people, leaning on a stick, as a shepherd does, and walking round
the huge bowls, saying, "Some more meat for this lot, Yarfa'=377 (2716)
some more bread for these; some more soup for these." When I
was pushed [through the crowd) into his presence, he told me to
sit down. I did so among those people nearest [to him). There
was some rough food-even the food I had with me was better!
When the people had finished, he told Yarfa' to take away his
bowls, then he turned away. I followed, and he entered the room
of a house. I asked permission to enter and gave my greetings.
He gave me permission , and I entered to where he was. He was
sitting on a hair cloth leaning against two leather cushions
stuffed with palm fibres. He threw one over to me and I sat
down on it, [finding myself] in a space inside a vestibule in
which there was a compartment with a small curtain. ('Umar)
asked (his wife], Umm Kulthum [to bring us) our lunch. She
brought out to him a piece of bread with some olive oil by the
side of which was some unground salt. ('Umar) asked Umm
Kulthum to join us and eat some of this (food) with us. She
replied, however, that she could hear the voice of a man with [2717]
('Umar). He confirmed that this was true, [adding that) he did
not think he was a local.378 (The messenger) added that this
was when he realized that ('Umar) did not know him. (Umm
Kulthum ) said , "If you had intended me to come out to join the
men, you would have dressed me up, as Ibn Ja'far379 does his
400. Ka' b al-Ahbir was a Yemenite Jewish scholar who converted to Islam in
ca. 17/638. He died ca. 35 /655. See E12, s.v . !Schmitz!.
401. Kulayb b. Abi al-Bukayr al-Laythi has an entry in Ibn Hajar, IIdbah, VIII,
minus the Abi, where this event is mentioned.
402. Abd al-Rahmin b. Awf was a prominent early Muslim convert and
merchant. He died ca. 31 /652. See EI2, s .v. !Houtsma-Watt).
The Events of the Year 23 91
their door and do not let anyone enter into their presence. I
commend to the caliph after my death the Helpers, 'Who have
made their abode in the city [of the Prophet) and in the Faith,'
i l ' : i. he do good to him who does good among them and forgive
him who does evil among them. I commend to the caliph after
my death the Arabs-for they are the very substance of Islam-
that what is their due of alms be taken and assigned to their
poor. I commend to the caliph after my death the covenant of
the Messenger of God that (non-Muslims ) be given a compact
faithfully fulfilled. 0 God, have I done what I ought to do?! I
leave the caliph after my death in a cleaner [condition ) than the
palm of the hand .409 'Abdallah b. 'Umar,410 go and find out who
has murdered me." He replied, "Commander of the Faithful, you
[z7z5) have been murdered by Abu Lu'lu'ah, slave of al-Mughirah b.
Shu'bah." ('Umar) exclaimed, "Praise be to God who has never
put my fate into the hands of someone who has bowed down to
Him on one single occasion !411 Go to 'A'ishah, 'Abdallah b.
'Umar, and ask her to permit me to be buried with the Prophet
and Abu Bakr. If the council is divided, 'Abdallah b. 'Umar,
you should vote with the majority. If they are [split) three
against three, follow the faction that 'Abd al-Rahman supports.
Allow the people to enter, 'Abdallah." So the Emigrants and the
Helpers came in to see him, offering him their greetings. He
would ask them if the [assassination ] was the result of some
conspiracy among them and they would reply, "God protect
(us)!" (The source ) continued : Ka'b entered with the others and
when he saw him, 'Umar began to recite the following:" 12
Ka'b gave me an evil prediction on three distinct occasions;
there can be no doubt that what Ka'b told me was right.
I am not afraid of death ; I shall surely die;
'Umar's Genealogy429
According to Ibn Humayd-Salamah-Muhammad b. Ishaq;
according to al-Harith-Ibn Sa'd-Muhammad b. 'Umar and
Hisham b. Muhammad ; according to 'Umar (b. Shabbah(--Ali
b. Muhammad (al-Mada 'ini1:43° They all agreed that 'Umar's
genealogy was as follows : 'Umar b . al-Khaflab b. Nufayl b. 'Abd
al-'Uzza b . Riyah b. 'Abdallah b. Qurt b. Razah b. 'Adi b. Ka'b
b. Lu'ayy. His kunyah was Abu Haft and his mother was
Hantamah bt. Hashim b. al-Mughirah b. Abdallah b. 'Umar
b. Makhznm.
Abu Ja'far (al-Tabari] said: ('Umar) was called al-Faruq.43'
427. The igdmah is the second call to prayer, after the adhdn, given by the
muezzin and it marks the beginning of the prayer proper . See SEI, s.v. "Ikama"
(Juynboll).
428. Abu al-Mundhir Hisham b. Mubammad b. al-SW ib al-Kalbi , the famous
historian who died ca. zo6/82z. See Sezgin, GAS, 1, 268-7t ; Duri, Rise, Of. and
passim, Ell, s.v. (Atallah(.
429. See Ibn al-Athir, Kdmil, III, z6) Mas'udi, Murdf, IV, t92ff., Bal'ami,
Chronique, III, 533.
430. That is there are three separate chains of authority.
431. Meaning "he who distinguishes between truth and falsehood."
I
96 The Conquest of Iran
A Description of 'Umar
According to Hannad b. al-Sari437 -Waki'438-Sufyan439- Agim
b. Abi al-Najjud44o - Zirr b. Hubaysh :441 'Umar went out one
432. He died ca. 150/767. See Ibn Hajar, Tahdhib, XI, 394-95.
433 He died in 120/738. See Ibn Hajar, Tahdhib, IX, 5-7.
434. Abu Amr Dhakwin was 'A'ishah 's client who died in 63/682. See Ibn
Hajar, Tahdhib, III, 220.
435 He died 208/823 . See Ibn Hajar, Tahdhib, XI, 380-81.
436. He died after 140/757. See Ibn Hajar, Tahdhib, IV, 399-401.
437• Hannad b. al-Sari b. Muy'ab b. Abi Bakr who died 243 /857. See Ibn Hajar,
Tahdhib, XI, 7off.
438. Waki' b. al-larrih b. Malik who died in 197/812. See lbn Hajar, Tahdhib,
XI, 123-311 Sezgin, GAS, I, 96ff.
439. Probably Sufyin b. Said al-Thawri, died 161 /778 jlbn Hajar, Tahdhib, IV,
111-15 )L Sezgin, GAS, 1, 96.
440. Aim b. Abi al-Najjdd al-Mugri, a Kufan Qur'an reader who died ca.
128/746. See Ibn Hajar, Tahdhib, V, 38-40; Sezgin, GAS, 1, 7.
441. He died ca. 83 /702. See Ibn Hajar, Tahdhib, III, 321-22.
The Events of the Year 23 97
44x. This is probably Zaynab bt. !al-)Jahsh, one of the Prophet 's wives, who
died in 20/641. Cf. Tabor!, 1, 2595 . 'Umar did however have a wife named Zaynab
and also a daughters see pages zoo-x , below.
443. An unidentified narrator.
444• A$ im b. 'Ubaydallih b. Apim b. 'Umar b. al-Khaxlib died at the
beginning of the caliphate of Abu al-Abbas, that is, ca . 13z/75o. See Ibn Hajar,
Tahdhib, V, 46- 9. -
445. Abdallihb. Amir b. Rabi'ah died after So/699. See Ibn Hajar, Tahdhib, V,
270-71.
446. An unidentified narrator.
447. Al-Qasim b. Muhammad is perhaps the grandson of Abu Bakr who died
ca. 1o5 /7z3. See Ibn Hajar, Tahdhib, VIII, 333-35.
448. Khilid b. Abi Bakr died in 162/778. See In "ajar, Tahdhib, III, 81-8z.
449. Usimah b. Zayd al -Laythi died in the caliphate of Abu Ja 'far, that is,
136-158 /754-775 . See Ibn Hajar, Tahdhib, 1, z07-8.
98 The Conquest of Iran
heard 'Umar b. al-Khaffab say, "I was born four years before the
last great Conflict."45o
Abu Ja'far lal-Tabaril reported: The early scholars differed on
the subject of 'Umar's age: some said that on the day he was
killed he was fifty-five years old.
450. Reference to the last of the four "conflicts " (frjdr) in pre-Islamic times,
that of al-Barr3d b. Qays, who killed 'Urwah al-Rahhil during one of the sacred
months when no fighting was permitted. See Lane, Lexicon, 2341 ; E12, s.V.
(Fuck).
451• He died in 257/870. See Ibn Hajar, Tahdhib, III, 393.
451. Abu Qutaybah is probably Salm b. Qutaybah, who died in zo1/816. See
Ibn Hajar, Tahdhfb, IV, 133-34.
453. Jarir b . Hizim died in 175 /791. See Ibn Hajar, Tahdhib, II, 69-72.
454. Ayyub al-Sakhtiyini died ca. 131 /748. See Ibn Hajar, Tahdhib, I, 397-99•
455. NW , the client of Abdallih b. 'Umar , died ca. 120/738 . See Ibn Hajar,
Tahdhib, X, 412-15.
456. Al-Migri, the famous Egyptian historian, who died 257/871. See Ibn Hajar,
Tahdhfb, VI, zo8; E12, S.V. "Ibn Abd al- Hakam" (Rosenthal).
457• Nu 'aym b. Hammed died ca. 229/844. See Ibn Iiajar , Tahdhib, X, 458-
63; Sezgin, GAS, 1, 1o4ff.
458. 'Abd al -'Aziz b. Muhammad b. 'Ubayd al-Darawardi died in 8z/7o1. See
Ibn Hajar, Tahdhib, VI, 353-55.
459• 'ydallih b. 'Umar b. Haft b. 'Ayim b. 'Umar b. al-Khallab, who died in
147/764. See Sezgin, GAS, 1, 89.
460. Abd al-Razziq b. Hammim died : 11/827 . See Ibn Hajar, Tahdhib, VI,
310-151 Sezgin, GAS, I, 99.
461. 'Abd al-Malik b. Abd al-'Aziz died in 15.0768. See Ibn Hajar, Tahdhib, VI,
402-6; Sezgin, GAS, I, 91.
The Events of the Year z.3 99
462. Abu Musa Muhammad died ca. 252/866 . See In Hajar, Tahdhib, IX,
425-z7.
463. Muhammad b. Ibrihim b . Abi Adi al-Qasmali died ca. 194/810. See Ibn
Hajar, Tahdhib, IX, i zff.
464. Probably Diwud b. Abi Hind , who died ca. 141 /759. See lbn Hajar,
Tahdhib, III, zo4ff.
465. Masi b. Ismail died in 223 /838. See Ibn Hajar, Tahdhib, X, ;33-351
Sam'ini, Ansdb, III, 18-19.
466. An unidentified narrator.
467. Qatidah b. Di'imah al-Sadnsi died in 117 /735. See Ibn Hajar, Tahdhib,
VIII, 351 - 561 Sezgin, GAS, I, Siff.
468. Hisham b. Sad died ca. x60 /776. See Ibn Hajar, Tahdhib, XI, 39-41.
zoo The Conquest of Iran
469. That is, the truce of al-Hudaybiyah in 6/6 27 between the Prophet and the
Meccans. See Ibn Hisham, Sirah, II, 3z6ff. (Guillaume, Life, 499ff.(.
470. Abu ( al-(fahm Amir/'Ubayd b. Hudhayfah. See Ibn al -Athir, Usd, V,
r62-63. No date of death is given in the entry, but he accepted Islam when
Mecca was conquered in 8/6 29. He was renowned as a genealogist.
47i. The battle of Siffin took place between Ali and Mu'awiyah in 37/657.
472. A son of the first caliph.
The Events of the Year 23 101
479. Muhammad b. Fu4ayl b. Ghazwin al-Qabbi died ca. 19S /811. See Ibn
Hajar, Tahdhib, IX, 4o5ff.
80. Qirir is perhaps Ibn Murrah al-Knf`i, who died in 131/749. See Ibn Hajar,
Tahdhib, IV, 457.
481. An unidentified narrator. For the following reports, see Ibn al -Athir,
Kdmil, III, z7ff.
482. It is not possible to provide more Information on Abu Said Ismail b.
Ibrahim al-Asadi. See Translation , I, 255.
481. Possibly Yunus b. 'Ubayd, who died in 140/757. See Juynboll, Tradition,
52.
484. Died ca. 249/86;. See Ibn Hajar, Tahdhib, III, 171ff.
485. Died ca. 204/820. See Ibn Hajar, Tahdhib, X, 437ff. , Sezgin, GAS, 1, 161.
486. Qatari b. Ka'b al-Qu;a'i appears in Ibn Hajar , Tahdhib, VIII, ;81-8z, but
no date of death is given.
487. Abu Yazid al-Madini appears in Ibn Hajar, Tahdhib, XII, 18o, as al-
Madan!, whose date of death is not given.
488. As mentioned in Qur'an, XVIII:26.
489. An unidentified narrator.
104 The Conquest of Iran
490. Abbis b. Abi Tilib died in 258/871 . See Ibn Hajar, Tahdhib, V, r x5-x6.
491. An unidentified narrator.
492. 'Umar b. Nafi' al-Thagafi has a short notice in Ibn Hajar, Tahdhib, VI,
zoo, which gives, however, no date of death.
493. The text has Abu Bakr al-'Absi , but Ibn Hajar, Tahdhib, XII, lists an Abu
Bakr al- Ansi, associating him with 'Umar b. NaII !see preceding note).
494• Cf. Bal'ami, Chronique, III, 538.
495• Died ca. 273/ 886. See Ibn Uajar, Tahdhib, IX, 383ff.
496. Abu al-Mughirah Abd al-Quddus b. al-Hajjij al -Khawlini died in :r2/
827. See Ibn Hajar, Tahdhib, VI, 369-70.
497• It is not possible to identify this narrator with certainty.
The Events of the Year 23 105
498. He has a brief notice in Ibn Hajar, Tahdhib, III, 344, although no date of
death is given.
499. Yal}ya b. Kathir died in 129 /746. See Ibn Hajar, Tahdhib, XI, z68-69.
500. Salim b . Abdallih b. 'Umar died in 106 /724. See Ibn Hajar, Tahdhib, III,
438.
5o1. That is, why do you have to choose a good beast as your baggage camel,
when there are inferior ones that could be used?
5oz. He has a brief notice in Ibn Hajar, Tahdhib, VII, 42.7-28.
503. Abu Mu'iwiyah Muhammad b. Khizim al-Darir died in 195 /8io. See Ibn
Hajar, Tahdhib, IX, 137-39.
504. Perhaps Abu Hayyin Yabyi b. Sa'Id, who died in 145/762. See Ibn Hajar,
Tahdhib, XI, 214-15.
505. An unidentified narrator.
506. An unidentified narrator.
507. A town on the Euphrates about 45 miles west of Baghdad . See Yiqut,
Mu7om, 1, z57-58; Le Strange, Lands, 2.5 and Map II, opposite 2.5.
5o8. Abdallih b. Wahb died in 197 /813. See Ibn Hajar, Tahdhib, VI, 71-74;
Sezgin, GAS, I, 466.
io6 The Conquest of Iran
509. Abd al-Rahmin b. Zayd b. Aslam died in 182. /798. See Ibn Hajar,
Tahdhib, VI, 177-79.
51o. Perhaps this is the grandfather , the original source.
51 i. Shu'bah b. al-Hajjaj died in 160 /776. See Ibn I;Iajar, Tahdhib, IV, 338-46.
512. His provincial governor in al-Bqrah.
513. Muhammad b. al-Ala' died ca . 248/861. See Ibn Hajar, Tahdhib, IX, 385ff.
514. Probably 'Abdallih b. Idris, who died in 19x/807 Ibn Hajar, Tahdhib, V,
144-46), rather than Abd al-Mun'im b. Idris, who died in 228/843 (1, x86 n. 76oj.
515. It is not possible to identify this narrator with certainty.
516. The meter is ra/az.
The Events of the Year 2.3 107
chided him and sent him away when he begged from him. He
replied, "He asked me for some of God's money. What will be
my excuse if I meet Him when I am a treacherous ruler? Why
did he not ask for some of my money?" (The source) added
that ('Umar) sent him 10,000 (dirhams).
According to Muhammad b. al-Muthanna-'Abd al-Rahman
b. Mahdi-Shu'bah-Yahya b. Hudayns' 7-Tariq b. Shihab:5's
Whenever 'Umar sent governors in charge of provinces, he
would say about them, "0 God, I have not sent them to take the
property (of the people), nor to abuse them physically. Anyone
oppressed by his commander has no commander except me."
According to Ibn Bashshar519-lbn Abi 'Adi-Shu'bah-
Qatadah-Salim b. AN al-Ja'd520-Ma 'dan b. Abi Talhah:52'
'Umar b. al-Khaflab gave an address to his people and said,
"0 God, I call You to bear witness to the commanders of the
garrison towns that I have sent them only to teach the people
their religion and the practice of their Prophet, to distribute
among them their spoils and to act with justice. If they have any
doubt about any matter, they will refer it to me."
According to Abu Kurayb-Abu Bakr b. Ayyash522--Abu ) 2741)
Ha$in :52 Whenever 'Umar appointed his governors, he would
go out with them to bid them farewell, saying, "I have not
appointed you governor over Muhammad 's community with
limitless authority. 524 I have made you governor over them only
to lead them in prayer, to make decisions among them based on
what is right, and to distribute (the spoils) among them justly. I
have not given you limitless authority over them. Do not flog
I
io8 The Conquest of Iran
the Arab [ troops] and humiliate them; do not keep them long
from their . families and bring temptation upon them; do not
neglect them and cause them deprivation. Confine yourselves
to the [actual text of the] Qur'an, and do not frequently cite
prophetic traditions . I am your partner." He would also allow
vengeance to be taken on his governors . If there was a complaint
against a governor, he would bring together the governor and
the complainant. If there was a genuine case against (the
governor) for which punishment was obligatory, he would
punish him.
According to Ya'qub b. Ibrahim-Ismail b. Ibrahim-Sa'id
al-Jurayri525 - Abu Nadrah526-Abu Firas : 527 'Umar b. al-
[2742 Khattab made the Friday address and said , "0 people, I do not
send governors to you to flog you or to take your possessions. I
send them to you to teach you your religion and the way you
should follow. If anything other than these is done to anyone, he
should refer (the matter) to me. By Him in whose hand is my
soul, I shall certainly permit the law of retaliation to be used
against (any governor )." Up jumped 'Amr b . al-'A* and said, "Do
you really think you will allow the law of retaliation to be
used against any commander appointed over your subjects who
disciplines one of them ?" ('Umar) replied, "Yes indeed, I shall
certainly allow that . Why not, as I have seen the Messenger of
God allow the law of retaliation against himself ? Do not beat
Muslims and humiliate them; do not keep them long from their
families and bring temptation upon them ; do not deny them
their rights and turn them into infidels ; do not settle them
among thickets so that you lose them."528
'Umar reportedly would himself patrol at night, seeking out
the Muslims' dwellings and personally finding out how they
were faring.
52.5. Said b. lyis al-Jurayri died in 144/761. See Ibn "ajar, Tahdhib, IV, 5-7.
526. Al-Mundhir b. Malik al-Abdi al-'Awgi died ca. ro9 /728. See In Hajar,
Tahdhib, X, 3o2ff.
527. Abu Firis al-Rabi' b. Ziyad al-Nahdi has a brief entry in Ibn Hajar,
Tahdhib, XII, Zor.
528. Perhaps figurative, "do not take them to places they do not know, where
they feel ill at ease, and do not lose control of them."
The Events of the Year 23 ro9
52.9. Abd al- Malik b. 'Amr a1-Agadi died ca. 2o5 /8zi. See Ibn Hajar, Tahdhib,
V1, 4o9ff.
53o. Qurrah b. Khalid al-Sadusi died ca. 170/786. See Ibn Hajar, Tahdhib, VIII,
371-72.
531. Bakr b. Abdallah al-Muzani died in 108 /726. See Ibn Hajar, Tahdhib, I,
484-85
1110 The Conquest of Iran
would catch fire. The roofs of houses at that time were made of
palm-branches.
According to Ahmad b. Harb532-Mu^'ab b. 'Abdallah al-
Zubayri533-his father-Rabi'ah b. 'Uthman-Zayd b. Aslam-
his father: I was going with 'Umar b. al-Khattab to Harrat
Wagim,534 and when we reached $irar535 there suddenly ap-
peared a fire which had been lit. He said, "I think, Aslam,536
[2744) these people must be riders overtaken by nightfall and cold.
Let's go! " So off we went at a good pace and we drew near to
them. They were a woman with some young boys, and there
was a pot set up over the fire . Her boys were all screaming.
'Umar said, "Greetings, people of the light," not wishing to call
them people of the flre.537 (The woman ) returned the greeting.
He asked if he might approach . She replied, "Bring us some good
or leave [us] alone." ('Umar) asked what was the matter. She
told him that nightfall and cold had overtaken them . He asked
what was making her children cry. She told him it was hunger.
"What is in this pot?" he asked. "Water," she replied, "to keep
them quiet until they fall asleep. [I ask] God [to judge ) between
us and 'Umar!" 'Umar said, "God have mercy upon you, how
can 'Umar know anything about you ?" She told him, "He is in
authority over us, and yet he neglects us." ('Umar) turned to
me and said, "Let's go ." So off we went at a good pace and
reached the flour store . He took out a measure [of flour and put]
a ball of fat into it. Then he said, "Let me carry [all this)." But I
replied, "I will carry it on your behalf." But he insisted twice or
three times, "Let me carry all this," while I was saying, "I will
carry it on your behalf." He finally said to me, "Will you carry
532. Perhaps Abroad b . Harb al-TAI, who died in 263/876. See Ibn Hajar,
Tahdhib, 1, 23.
533 Died ca. 235 /85!. See Rosenthal , Historiography, 379.
534• The lava field !harrahj east of Medina and still known by this name
today. See Biladi, Mu'jam, II, z83ff. For this anecdote, see Tantawi, Akhbdr,
439ff.
535• Three miles from Medina into the area of Harrat WAqim . See Hamdani,
Sifah, 124; Biladi, Mu dam, V, 13 Of.
536. That is, the source of the story, Zayd's father.
537• A$hdb al-ndr would indicate those in Hell , so 'Umar uses the expression
a$ljdb al-daw ' for this family party.
The Events of the Year 23 III
was handed over to him and compassionate and full of pity for
the weak.
According to 'Ubaydallah b. Sad al-Zuhris38- his paternal
uncle-his father-al-Walid b. Kathir539-Muhammad b.
'Ijlan54o-Zayd b. Aslam-his father: Some Muslims had a
word with Abd al-Rahman b. 'Awf and said, "Speak to 'Umar
b. al-Khattab, for he has inspired so much fear in us that indeed
we cannot look him in the face." 'Abd al-Rahman b. 'Awf
mentioned this to 'Umar and he said, "Did they really say this?!
I was indeed lenient with them to such as extent that I was
afraid of God. I became severe with them to such an extent that
I was afraid of God. I swear an oath in God' s name that I am
more afraid of them than they are of me!"
According to Abu Kurayb-Abu Bakr-'Agim [b. Kulaybj:
[2747] 'Umar appointed someone governor of Egypt. While 'Umar was
walking through one of the streets of Medina , he heard someone
say, "Good heavens, 'Umar, you appoint someone governor who
acts treacherously and you say that you have no responsibility
in the matter, when your governor is doing so and so!" So
('Umar) sent for ( the governor) and when he arrived gave him a
staff, a woolen coat, and sheep, saying to the man whose name
was Iyad b. Ghanm,541 "Pasture them, for your father was a
shepherd." Then he called him back and mentioned what had
been said [about him]. He added, "What if I send you back!" He
returned him to his post, saying, "I must have your word that
you will not wear any fine cloth , nor ride an expensive horse
(birdhawn )." 542
According to Abu Kurayb-Abu Usamah543- Abdallah b. al-
538. 'Ubaydallih b. Sad al-Zuhri died in 260 /873. See Ibn Hajar, Tahdhib, VII,
15-16.
539. Perhaps al-Walid b. Kathir al-Makhzumi, who died in 151/768 . See Ibn
Hajar, Tahdhib, XI, 148.
540. Muhammad b. 'Ijlin died in 149 /766. See Ibn Hajar, Tahdhib, IX, 341-43.
541. There is perhaps a play on words here : ghanam is used for sheep-a
strange gift anyway-and the governor 's father was called Ghanm . For 'Iyad b.
Ghanm, see note 124, above.
542.. The word cannot mean "nag" or some such inferior horse here. See
Morony, Iraq, 211.
543. Hammed b. Usamah died in Baghdad in 244 /858. See Ibn Hajar, Tahdhib,
III, 1-4.
The Events of the Year 23 11113
He was the first to carry a whip and to use it. He was the first to
institute the state registers for the people in Islam. He recorded
the [names oft people according to their tribes and assigned
them stipends. ( 2 7501
According to al-Harith-Ibn Sad-Muhammad b. 'Umar-
''idh b. Yahya561-Abu al-1juwayrith562-Jubayr b. al-Huway-
rith b. Nugayd:s` 'Umar b. al-Khatttab sought the advice of the
Muslims on the matter of establishing state registers . 'Ali b. Abi
Talib advised him to distribute all the wealth that accrued to
him every year, without keeping any. 'Uthman b. 'Affan re-
marked on the large amount of wealth that was coming to the
people in ample quantities . He said, "If they are not subjected to
an official census so that you know who has received [wealth]
and those who have not, I am afraid things will get out of hand."
Al-Walid b. Hisham b. al-Mughirah564 said to him, "0 Com-
mander of the Faithful, I have been to Syria and seen how the
rulers there have instituted a state register and conscripted a
regular army. So you do the same." ('Umar) took his advice and
summoned `Agil b. Abi Talib,565 Makhramah b. Nawfal,s" and
560. For diwdn, see Puin, Diwdn, passim, Ell, s.v. (Duri).
56r. An unidentified narrator.
562. Abu al-Huwayrith 'Abd a1-Rabman b. Mu'iwiyah died ca . 230/747. See
Ibn Hajar, Tahdhib, VI, 272-73.
563. Jubayr b. al-Huwayrith b. Nuqayd has a brief notice in Ibn al -Athir, Usd,
1,270.
564. He is unidentified.
565. Agi1 b. Abi TIM was the brother of All. See Ibn Hajar, Tahdhib, VII,
254. For this account, see Ya'qubi, Tarikh, It, 1153-
566. Makhramah b. Nawfal b . Ahib b. 'Abd Manif al-Zuhri was the father of
al-Miswar and the cousin of Sad b. Abi Waggag. He died in 54/674. See Ibn
al-Athir, Usd, IV, 337-38.
116 The Conquest of Iran
S7z. That is, the Prophet and Abu Bakr before him, whose policies, he is
explaining, he must at all costs follow.
573. Arabic, wa-la 'alla ba ,ia-hd fal- Arab) yalqd-hu ild dbd'in kathiratin wa-
ma bayna-na wa-bayna an nalga-hu lid nasabi-hi thumma 14 nufdriqu-hu lid
Adama Old dbd'an yasiratan.
574. Hizim b. Hishim al-Ka'bi is unidentified.
575. A large tribal group of al-Azd inhabiting the general area of Mecca. See
Ibn Hazm, Jamharah, 331j Hamdani, Sifah, rso, 179, zrr ; Kalibalah, Mu'jam,
1, 338-40.
576. An agricultural area north of Mecca, z; miles from 'Usfin (see next note).
See Hamdini Sifah, 120, i85j al-Mandsik, 415, 457, etc., Bilidi, Mu'jam, VII, 97.
5S77. An area of cultivation 36 miles from Mecca . See Hamdini, Sifah, 185s
Biladi, Mu dam, VI, zoo.
578. An unidentified narrator.
118 The Conquest of Iran
579• Al- Si'ib b. Yazid died in the 8os/ca . 700. See Ibn Hajar, Tahdhib, III,
450-51 . If this is a correct identification , he must have been very young when
he heard 'Umar's words.
58o. $an'i' in the Yemen has in fact two mountains : Nuqum in the east and
Ayban in the west. See Hamdani, Sifah, 12.5. Here, however, 'Umar means
anyone anywhere will receive his fair share of community wealth.
581. Qays b. al-Rabi' died in the late 16os/early 7808. Ibn Hajar, Tahdhib, VIII,
391-95.
582.. Ala' b. al-Sa'ib died in the 1309 /747-757. See Ibn Hajar, Tahdhib, VII,
2.03-7.
583. Zidhin is Abu Abdallah/'Umar al -Kindi, who died in 82./701. See Ibn
Hajar, Tahdhib, III, 3oz-3.
584. Salman al-Farisi died in the 3os/6508. See Ibn Ilajar, Tahdhib, IV, 137-
39•
The Events of the Year 23 119
592. Mubammad b . Muy'ab al -Qargasini 's nisbah I vocalize from the Leiden
text and from Yiqut (Mu'jam, IV, 3271, who briefly mentions a place called
Qargasiin. His date of death is given in Ibn Hajar 's Tahdhib, IX, 458 - 60, as z8o
or 288 1893 or 9oi . Cf. Translation, 1, 267 n. 633.
593• According to Ibn Hajar's Tahdhib, XII, 28-3o, Abu Bakr b. Abdallah died
in 256/ 870, but this does not find universal support. Cf. Translation, 1, 217
n. 350.
594• It is not possible to identify this narrator with certainty.
595• An unidentified narrator.
596. An unidentified narrator.
597. An unidentified narrator.
598• Arabic, man yattaqi Alldha yaqi-hi.
The Events of the Year 23 121
67;. The text of De Goeje's Selection ends at this point . See note 394•
674. Muhammad b. al-Munkadir died ca. 130/748 . See Ibn Hajar, Tahdhib, IX,
473-751 Sezgin, GAS, 1, 65.
615. His date of death is not given in the biographies . He has an entry in Ibn
Hajar, Tahdhfb, IV, 168-69.
616. Yazid b. 'Iya4 b. Ju'dubah died in al-Ba$ rah during the caliphate of the
Abbasid al-Mahdi ( 158-169 /775-785)• See lbn Hajar, Tahdhib, XI, 352-54.
617. Abdallih b. Abi Bakr b Mubammad b. 'Amr b . Hazm al-Anyiri died
ca. 135 /752. See Ibn Hajar, Tahdhib, V, 764-65.
618. I have retained this name in translation , although there appears to be
dittography here.
619. Abdallih b. Abi Islaiq died in 129 /746. See Ibn Hajar, Tahdhib, V, 148.
This could, however, be dittography, the "Abdallih b." from 'Abdallih b. Abi
Bakr and the "Isl}iq",from Ibn Isbiq.
620. Yazid b. Rnmin al-Asadi died in 130/747. See Ibn Hajar, Tahdhib, XI,
325.
621. 'Urwah b. al-Zubayr, the famous early historian, died ca. 95 /714. See
Duri, Rise, 76-8 and passim; Rosenthal, Historiography, 13off., 3951 Sezgin
GAS, I, z78ff.
124 The Conquest of Iran
Another Address
Another Address
After praising and extolling God and blessing the Prophet,
('Umar) said,
0 people, some greed [breeds a sense of] poverty) some
despair (of not getting what one wants breeds a sense of]
freedom from want. You bring together what you do not
consume and you hope for what you do not attain.
You have been placed for a defined period of time in a
"deceiving abode.i622 You were dealt with through the
revelation in the time of the Messenger of God: those
who kept things secret were dealt with according to
their secrecy. Those who did things openly were dealt
with according to their openness. But [now] show us the
best of your character, while God knows your secrets
well. For those who show us what is bad,623 yet claim
that what they keep secret is good, will not be believed
by us; as for those who show us something good openly,
we shall think good of them. You should know that
some avarice is a part of hypocrisy. "Spend what is
good for yourselves; those who are saved from their own
avarice, they are the successful ones."624
O people, make good your abode, put your affairs
aright, and fear God, your Lord. Do not dress your
womenfolk in fine cotton clothes (gabafi), for [even] if
they are not transparent, yet they will allow [the shape
of their bodies] to be visualized.
O people, I would indeed like to be delivered on a
completely even basis, neither to my advantage nor to
my disadvantage. I do also hope that, however long I am
permitted to live, I do what is right among you, God
willing, and that no Muslim will remain-even if he
is in his own home-to whom his right and his share of (2760]
God's wealth has not come, nor [that] he exerts himself
6az. That is, the lower world. See Qur':<n, III: x85.
623. The texts read shay'an, which is emended to sayyian.
624. Qur'in, LXIV: i 6.
iz6 The Conquest of Iran
Another Address
God has imposed upon you gratitude and instituted the
pilgrimage for you as part of the bounty of the hereafter
and this world that He has provided for you, without
your asking Him or wishing it from Him. He created
you, after you were nothing, for Himself and for you
to worship Him. He had the power to make you sub-
servient to the weakest of His creation, but rather
He made subservient to you the general mass of His
creation. He did not make you subservient to anything
other than He. And He "subjected to you what is in the
heavens and on earth and made His favors abound upon
you, both open and hidden . ,626 "He carried you by land
and sea . "627 "And He gave you of good things, perchance
you might be grateful . ,6211 Then He made for you hearing
and sight. Of God's favors to you are those that He
granted to mankind in general and others that He granted
exclusively to the people of your faith . These general and
special favors are continued during your turn of fortune,
your time, and your generation . None of these favors has
come to anyone in particular without, if he were to
share out what he received among all the people, their
6z5. The abrupt change of subject may indicate that the camel here is
metaphorical, rather than real. The meaning would therefore be: if you want
something in life, go for the best and do all you can to acquire it.
62.6. Qur'an, XXXI:zo.
6z7. After Qur'an, XVII:7o.
6z8. Qur an, VIII:z6.
The Events of the Year z3 127
gratitude for it being difficult for them and their right 12761)
to have it overburdening them, except with God's help
along with faith in God and His Messenger. You are
appointed successors on earth and conquerors of its
people. God has given your faith victory. No other com-
munity who differs from you in faith is left except two:
one rendered submissive to Islam and to those who
follow it, they paying you tribute, while (the Muslims)
take the best of their livelihood, what they have earned
and [produced with] the sweat of their brow; they must
work hard, while you have the benefit;629 and a [second]
community waiting for God's battles and attacks every
day and night. God has filled their hearts with terror.
They have no refuge to which they can flee or an escape
by means of which they can guard against attack.0
God's armies came upon them suddenly and right into
their own territory. (All this you have been granted)
along with an abundance of food, a pouring out of
wealth, the repeated dispatch of (victorious) troops and
the [successful] defense of the frontier areas with God's
permission, together excellent general security better
than which this community had not experienced since
Islam came into existence-God be praised!-along with
the great conquests in every land. With all this, what
might the gratitude of the grateful, the utterances of
those who mention [God) and the striving of those who
strive, along with these favors that are innumerable,
incalculable and the debt that cannot be paid except
with God's help, mercy, and kindness, achieve? We ask
God-there is no other than He-who has conferred this
upon us to grant us that we act in obedience to Him and
hasten to do what pleases Him.
Remember, o servants of God, God's favor among you
and seek to have an increase in His favor to you and in
62.9. That is, the Persians in the east, most of whom have been subjugated by
the Muslims.
63o. That Is, the Byzantines in the west, so far subjugated only in Syria.
1 12.8 The Conquest of Iran
641. That is, Abu Lu'lu'ah, the assassin of 'Umar; see note 399.
642. That is, 'Umar himself.
643. The meter is khanf. See lbn al-Athir, Knmil, III, 30.
644. The meter is hazaj.
The Events of the Year z3 131
652. Abu al-Walid al-Makki is Yasir b. Abd al-Rabmin. See lbn Hajar,
Tahdhib, XII, 2.74.
653. The meter is fawil.
654. Mudar is a huge tribal conferation amounting to a very large proportion
of all the northern Arab tribes known collectively as Adnin . See Kaliljilah,
Mu'jam, III, It 107.
655. 'Umar is apologizing for not having done his duty.
656. The meter is rajaz.
657. Abd al-Malik b. Nawfal b. Musihiq has a brief notice without date of
death in Ibn Hajar, Tahdhib, VI, 428.
658. 'Utbah b. Abi Sufyin b. Harb was the brother of Mu'iwiyah.
659. This is in all probability the large tribal group in the Mecca area, Kininah
b. Khuzaymah. See Ibn Hazm, famharah, riff., i8o; Zubayri, Nasab Quraysh,
ioff.j Kahhilah, Mu jam, III, 996-98.
The Events of the Year 23 133
will not know the source of the wherewithall you had to make
the gift, so they will blame you severely, and 'Umar will ton
and so will never absolve her of the (money) owed [to the
treasury]." So (Mu'awiyah ) sent (only) a hundred dinars (from
Hind's money] to his father and brother ['Amr), clothed them,
and gave them mounts. But 'Amr considered this too much and
Abu Sufyan said, "Do not think [it is too much], for Hind has
been involved in this gift and was present at a discussion (about
it]." So they all returned and Abu Sufyan said to Hind, "Did you
make any profit?" "God knows best!" she replied , "I (still] have
some business in Medina ." When she reached Medina and sold
[her goods), she complained about what had been paid out to
them . 'Umar said to her, "If the money (you owe) were mine, I
would leave it to you . But it is the Muslims ' money and this
is a discussion in which Abu Sufyan has been involved." So
('Umar) sent for (Abu Sufyan ) and detained him until she paid
(the money ) in full. ('Umar) asked ( Abu Sufyan), "How much
did Mu'awiyah give you ?" He replied, "A hundred dinars."
According to 'Umar-'Ali-Maslamah b. Muliarib669 -Khalid
al-Hadhdha 670-'Abdallah b. AN $a'ga'ah671--a1-Ahnaf: 'Abd-
allah b. 'Umayr672 came to 'Umar as he was assigning state
stipends to the people . Now (Abdallah's) father was killed a
martyr at the battle of Hunayn ,673 so he said, "O Commander
of the Faithful, give me a stipend ." But ('Umar) paid no atten-
tion to him . So he gave ('Umar) a prod. 'Umar cried, "Ouch!"
[ z768] and then turned to him and said, "Who are you?" He told him
he was 'Abdallah b. 'Umayr, so ('Umar ) said [to his servant],
"Yarfa', give him 6oo ." He gave him Soo, but ('Abdallah) did
not accept it and said, "The Commander of the Faithful has
given orders that I receive 6oo." And he went back and told
('Umar). He said, "Give him 6oo and a complete garment,
674. The poem was composed by Abu Tilib after the battle of Badr. See Ibn
Hishim, Sirah, II, 2.4 . The meter is fawil.
675. The poem was uttered by the dying'Ubaydah b. al-Hirith after the battle
of Badr, in fact quoting Abu Tilib's composition . The Sirah version (Ibn Hishim,
II, 24) reads yubzd Muliammadun, that is, "will Muhammad be maltreated,"
rather than the Tabari text yuqtalu AImadu. The "Abroad" of the text means
"Muhammad." See also Wigidi, Maghdzi, 1, 70.
676. By Anas b. Zunaym al-Dili, see Guillaume, Life, 559. The meter is lawil.
136 The Conquest of Iran
like your being put in charge of them ." I said, "Why, when we
are good to them?" ('Umar ) replied, "0 God, [grant] forgiveness.
They do not like you to combine the prophethood and the ca-
liphate among yourselves, lest it bring about self-aggrandizement
and pride. You will perhaps say, 'Abu Bakr did this.' No indeed,
but Abu Bakr did the most resolute thing he could. If he had
made (the. caliphate ) yours, he would not have benefited you
despite your close ties of relationship [to the Prophet]. Recite to
me what the poet of poets, Zuhayr, composed:677
When Qays b. 'Aylan678 hasten to a glorious goal,
the one who reaches it first is made chief."
So I recited it to him as dawn broke. ('Umar) said, "Recite 'The
Event '. ,679 So I recited it. Then he dismounted and said his
prayers, reciting "The Event " [in them].
According to Ibn Humayd-Salamah-Muhammad b. Ishaq-
a source-'Ikrimah68o- Ibn 'Abbas : As 'Umar b. al-Khattab
and some of his friends were reciting poetry together, one said
that so and so was the best poet . Another said that, rather, so
and so was the best poet . (Ibn Abbas) continued : I arrived and
'Umar remarked, "The most knowledgeable on the subject has
just arrived." And he asked, "Who is the best poet , Ibn 'Abbas?"
I replied it was Zuhayr b. Abi Sulma. 'Umar asked me to
provide some of his poetry that would prove what I had said. I
said, "He eulogized a group of Banu 'Abdallah b. Ghatafan as
follows:68I
677. The meter is fawil. The poet is Zuhayr b. Abi Sulmi, one of the greatest
of the pre-Islamic poets. See Ths'lab, Sharp, 2341 Igfahini, Aghdni, IX, r46ff. The
poem in question is quoted on 147.
678. A large tribal confederation of Adnin. The name Qays is synonymous
with the northern tribes, Adnin. See Ibn Hazm, Jamharah, 468ff., 48off.1
Ka1313alah, Mu'jam, III, 97z-93, El2, s.v. (Watt).
679. SGrat al-Wagi'ah, Qur'an, LVI, the "Event" being the day of judgment.
This is perhaps a more specific reference to "those coming first" (al-sdbiquna) in
verse to.
680. A client of Ibn Abbis and famous narrator , he died ca. 107/725. See Ibn
Hajar, Tahdhib, VII, 263-73.
681. A tribal group (ba fn) of Sad b . Qays b. Aylin of Adnin, of whom Zuhayr
was a member (Shantamari, Diwdn, 15o). Cf. Ibn Hazm, Jamharah, 248-49)
Kabkialah, Mu'jam, II, 732-33. For the poem itself, see Ibn al-Athir, Kdmil, III,
31. It does not figure in Zuhayr 's Diwdn. The meter is basis.
The Events of the Year 23 1137
[2-771) 'Umar said, "Far from it indeed,iS84 Ibn 'Abbas. I used to hear
things about you of which I was reluctant to inquire , lest they
bring about your removal from your position with me ." I said,
"What are they, Commander of the Faithful ? If they are right,
they should not [be such as to ] remove me from my position
with you; if they are false , then someone like me will remove
the falsehood from himself." 'Umar said, "I have heard that
you are saying they have turned (the caliphate) away from
you out of envy and injustice." I replied, "When you say out of
injustice, Commander of the Faithful, it has already become
clear to the ignorant and the thoughtful alike; when you say out
of envy, Iblis was envious of Adam ,685 and we are his offspring
who are envied ." 'Umar said, "Far from it! Your hearts, Banu
Hashim, have refused [to show anything) other than unchanging
envy and increasing spite and malice." I replied, "Take it easy,
Commander of the Faithful ; do not describe the hearts of a
people from whom God has removed uncleanness, and whom
He has purified completely, as being envious and malicious. The
heart of the Messenger of God is one of the hearts of Banu
Hashim." 'Umar retorted, "Leave me, Ibn 'Abbas." I said I would
comply, but, when I went to get up, he became embarrassed at
what he had said to me and said, "Stay where you are, Ibn
'Abbas . I shall tend to your right and approve of what gives you
pleasure." I replied, "Commander of the Faithful , I have a right
that is incumbent upon you and every Muslim. Anyone who
preserves it will achieve good fortune ; anyone who does not will
lose good fortune ." Then he got up and went away.
According to Ahmad b. 'Umar686 - Ya'qub b. Ishaq al-
Hadrami687-'Ikrimah b. 'Ammar688 - Iyas b. Salamah689-his
father: 'Umar b. al-Khattab passed through the market carrying
684. That is, that Quraysh are in any way attempting to thwart the legitimate
rights of the Alid family.
685. Iblis, the Devil, was the angel in Islamic tradition who refused to
prostrate himself before Adam. See Qur'an, VII: i i, t 9ff., XX: ii 5ff.
686. Cairo reads Abroad b. 'Amr. It is not possible to identify him with
certainty.
687. He died in 2.05/ 820. See Ibn Hajar, Tahdhib, XI, ;82.
688. He died in 159 /775. See Ibn Hajar, Tahdhib, VII, :61-6;.
689. He died in Medina in 119 /737. See lbn Hajar, Tahdhib, 1, 388-89.
The Events of the Year z3 139
697. The pilgrimage that can be undertaken at any time of the year . See SE1,
s.v. "'umra" ( Paret(.
698. Temporary marriage , mutah, is recognized by the Twelver Shi'is only.
See SE1, s.v. (Heffening (; Schacht, Origins, 266-67; Introduction, 163; Coulson,
History, 110- it, 1I5-16.
699. Where temporary marriage was permitted, it was carried out in return for
a robe or a handful of dates. See SEI, loc. cit.
700. The umm walad would normally have to wait until her master died
before gaining her freedom.
701. A plain in the area of Khaybar , about 6 miles away from the town. The
raid does not appear to be dated precisely in the sirah and maghdzi literature, but
must have been only a short time before the death of the Prophet in 10 /632. See
Wagidi, Maghdzi, I, 182ff. (Qararat al-Kudr(; Ibn Hisham, Sirah, II, 618; al-
Mandsik, 41 r; Bilidi, Mu'jam, VII, r 17.
The Events of the Year 23 141
they are satisfied. I water them and quench their thirst. I push
back the she-camel that grumbles when milked. I chide the she-
camel that does not stick to the road. I keep them moving. I do
not drive them too fast. I gather together camels pasturing alone. [27741
I bring up camels lagging behind. I chide often and beat seldom. I
raise my stick. I push away with my hand. Were it not for
all this, I would be much at fault!" (The source) continued:
Mu'awiyah heard this and said, "He was indeed knowledgeable
about their subjects."
According to Ya'qub b. Ibrahim-Ibn 'Ulayyah-Ibn 'Awn702
-Muhammad: 'Uthman said, "'Umar used to deny his family
and relatives things, seeking God's face, whereas I give freely to
my family and relatives, (also) seeking it. No three like 'Umar
will ever be met with again.i703
According to 'Ali b. Sahl704-I?amrah b. Rabi'ah705-
'Abdallah b. Abi Sulayman706-his father: I arrived in Medina
and entered one of the houses there. There was 'Umar b. al-
Khallab wearing [only] a striped waist wrapper and smearing the
alms camels with tar.707
According to Ibn Bashshar-'Abd al-Rahman [b. Mahdi)-
Sufyan [b. 'Uyaynahj-1jab11b708-Abu Wa'il [Shagiq[: 'Umar b.
al-Khallab said, "Had I known in the beginning what I know
now, I would have taken the excess wealth of the rich and
distributed it among the poor Emigrants."
According to Ibn Bashshar-'Abd al-Rahman b. Mahdi- 1 27751
Manqur b. Abi al-Aswad709-al-A'mash-Ibrahim710-al-Aswad
71 x. Al-Aswad b. Yazid died ca. 75/694. See Ibn Hajar, Tahdhib, I, 342-43-
712- An unidentified narrator.
The Events of the Year 23 143
713. That is, 'Uthmin and 'Ali. Five future caliphs had acted as the Prophet's
secretaries: Abu Bakr, 'Umar, 'Uthmin, All, and Mu'awiyah. Abu Bakr was by
this time dead; ' Umar is not talking of himself here , and Mu'iwiyah also is not
in question.
714. Arabic shard, the council of six appointed by 'Umar to decide on the
succession. See Ya'qubi, Tdrikh, II, 16o, Ibn al-Athir, al-Kamil, III, 3 zff.; Ibn Abd
Rabbih, 7qd, IV, z73ff.; Bal'ami, Chronique, III, 546ff.; Tantiwi, Akhbar, 531ff.
The reader's attention is also drawn to Abbott , papyri, 8off. Pp. 83-87 in
particular include the different versions of the account of the council , with full
references.
715. It is not possible to identify this narrator with certainty.
716. He died in 15o/767-776. See Ibn Hajar, Tahdhlb, IV, 636.
717. Shahr b. Hawshab al-Ash' ari died ca. 111/730. See Ibn Hajar, Tahdhlb, IV,
369-71.
718. Abu Mikhnaf Lilt b . Yaliya died ca. 157 /774. See U. Sezgin, Abu Mihnaf,
passim; Duri, Rise, 44f•, 143ff.j Rosenthal , Historiography, 70, 90.
719. An unidentified narrator.
72.0. I read tentatively from the Leiden apparatus criticus Sahl b . Sad al-Si'idi
who died ca. 88/7o7. See Ibn Hajar, Tahdhib, IV, z5zff.
721. It is not possible to identify this narrator with certainty.
7 22. Amr b. Maymun al-Awdi died ca. 75 /694. See Ibis Hajar, Tahdhlb, VIII,
I09-Io.
713. Abu ' Ubaydah b. al-Jarrala was the famous Companion and military
leader on the Syrian front against the Byzantines . He died in Syria in 18/639,
shortly after the conquest of Jerusalem by the Muslims. See Shaban, History, 31,
43j E P, s.v. (Gibb).
1144 The Conquest of Iran
7X4. Salim figures quite prominently in the early histories , but this is a
strange assertion . See Ibn Hishim, Sirah, I, 479, 679, 708, etc. ) Wagidi, Maghazi,
I, 9, 148, 754, etc.
72.5. In the first instance, if he does appoint a caliph, Abu Bakr has already
done this . In the second, if he does not, Mubammad himself did not appoint a
caliph. Either way he has a precedent.
The Events of the Year 23 145
Nufayl726 is one of them. I am not bringing him into the matter, [27781
but rather the following six: 'Ali and 'Uthman, sons of 'Abd
Manaf,727 'Abd al-Rahman (b. 'Awf( and Sa'd (b. Abi Waggaq),
maternal uncles of the Messenger of God, al-Zubayr b. al-
'Awwam, the true friend and cousin of the Messenger of God,
and Talhat al-Khayr b. 'Ubaydallah. 728 Let them select one of
themselves . When they appoint a leader, [you all] should give
him good help and support . If he entrusts anyone of you with
authority, he should convey to him what is committed to his
care."
They left and al-'Abbas729 said to 'Ali , "Do not get involved
with them." He replied, " I do not like dissension [in our
family]." (Al-'Abbas ) said, "Then you will see something you
do not like !" When morning came, 'Umar summoned 'Ali,
'Uthman, Sad, 'Abd al-Rahman b. 'Awf, and al-Zubayr b. al-
'Awwam and said, "I have looked into the matter and consider
you to be the chiefs and leaders of the people . This matter will
remain among you alone . When the Messenger of God died, he
was well pleased with you . I have no fears for you with the
people if you remain on the straight path . However, I do fear for
you if there is a difference of opinion among you and the people
then differ among themselves . Off you go to 'A'ishah's room,
with her permission, and deliberate . Choose one of you." Then
he added, "Do not go to ''ishah 's room; rather stay near at
hand." He put down his head , exhausted by the loss of blood.
So they went in and held secret discussions . But then their
voices became raised and 'Abdallih b. 'Umar exclaimed loud
enough for ('Umar) to hear, "God heavens, the Commander of
726. Said b. Zayd b. Amr b. Nufayl, the brother-in-law of 'Umar, who with
his wife, 'Umar's sister, was instrumental in the future caliph 's embracing Islam.
He died ca. 5r/671. See Ibn Hishim, Strah, 1, 226, 253.
727. A reference to the fact that both belonged to Quraysh-as did the other
four-and represented both its lines through 'Abd Manif, where the pedigree
split: 'Alt was descended from 'Abd Manif through Hishim , whereas 'Uthmin
was descended from 'Abd Manif through 'Abd Shams.
728. Al-Zubayr was the son of the Prophet's paternal aunt. I detect no great
significance in his calling Talbah Talbat al-Khayr, which I take to be a way of
expressing endearment.
W 729. Al-Abbis b. 'Abd al-Muttalib, the uncle of both the Prophet and 'All. See
E , S.V. !Watt!.
146 The Conquest of Iran
the Faithful is not yet dead!" ('Umar) came to and said, "All of
you, stop this! When I am dead, hold your consultations for
three days . Let $uhayb lead the people in prayer . Before the
fourth day comes you should have your commander from among
you. 'Abdallah b. 'Omar will be there as adviser, but he shall
1= 7791 have nothing to do with the matter [of the actual appointment].
Talhah shall share with you in the decision. If he comes within
the three days, include him in your decision . If the three days go
by and he does not come, make the decision nevertheless. Who
will deal with Talhah for me? " "I shall," responded Sa'd b. Abi
Waggag, "and he will not give a differing view, God willing."
'Umar said, "I hope he will not give a differing view, God
willing. I think one of these two, All or 'Uthman, will become
leader. If it is 'Uthman, he is a gentle person; if it is All, he has
a sense of humor . How suitable he is to carry them along the
true road ! If you appoint Sad, he is worthy of the office, but if
not, the one appointed should seek his assistance . I have never
dismissed him for disloyalty or weakness . How perceptive 'Abd
al-Rahman b. Awf is! He is disposed to what is right . [He is]
rightly guided and has a protector in God . Listen to what he has
to say."
('Umar) said to Abu Talhah al-An§ari, "For a long time had
God strengthened Islam through you Helpers, Abu Talhah.
Select fifty Helpers and urge them to choose one of them." To
al-Migdad b. al-Aswad730 he said, "When you put me into my
grave, assemble these people in one room to choose one of their
number." To $uhayb he said, "Lead the people in prayer for
three days . Let into [the deliberations] 'Ali, 'Uthman , al-Zubayr,
Sa'd, 'Abd al-Rahman b. 'Awf, and Talhah, if he arrives. Have
'Abdallah b. 'Umar present, but he shall have nothing to do
with the matter (of the actual appointment ]. Stay with them and
if five agree to approve of one man, but one refuses , smash in his
head, or strike it off with a sword . If four agree to approve of one
man, but two refuse , cut off the (latters') heads. If three approve
[: 780] of one of them, and three approve of another , get 'Abdallah b.
731. The meter is lawn. See Ibn al-Athir, Kdmil, III, 33.
733. A place between Mecca and Mini, nearer to the latter. See al-Mandsik,
6o1; Bilidi, Mu dam, VIII, 43-44.
734• Ya 'mar b. Awf, nicknamed al-Shuddikh, was during the pre-Islamic
period one of the arbitrators of Kininah who gave a judgment between the tribes
of Khuzi'ah and Qugayy on the question of the Ka'bah. See Ibn Man;Ur, Lisdn,
III, z8, Zabidi, Tdj, VII, 178-79. The second line is the very tentative rendering
of
la-yakhtaliyan rahlu bni Ya mara marl 'an
nai 'an band 1-Shudddkhi wirdan mu$allabd.
'Ali here emphasises his isolation in the face of opposition.
735. Abu al- Hasan is Ali. This seems to indicate Abu Talhah's support for the
Alid family.
The Events of the Year 23 149
them and made them get up, saying, "You want to say, 'We were
there; we were members of the electoral council .' " The electoral
council argued about the affair and a great deal of talking went
on among them. Abu Talhah said, "I was more afraid that you
would reject (the caliphate ) than I was that you would compete
for it. No, by Him who has taken away 'Umar's soul, I shall give
you no more than the three days that you were ordered. Then I
shall sit down in my own house and see what you are up to!"
'Abd al-Rahman said, "Which one of you will withdraw from
the (race for the caliphate), and undertake to appoint the best
of you?" No one answered. So he continued, "I withdraw."
'Uthman said, "I am the first to accept [this]. I heard the
Messenger of God say, '(`Abd al-Rahman) is trustworthy on
earth and will be in heaven ."' All the members, with the
exception of All who remained silent, expressed their approval.
So (Abd al-Rahman ) said, "What do you say, Abu al-Hasan?"
('Ali) replied, "Give me your word you will consider truth
paramount, you will not follow your whim, you will not show
any preference for a relative, and you will not let the community
down." (Abd al-Rahman) said [to the others ], "Give me your
solemn promises you will stand with me against anyone who
reneges [on your final decision ] and you will approve of anyone I
choose for you. I impose a pact with God upon myself that I
shall show no preference for a relative, because he is a relative,
nor shall I let down the Muslims ." He took a promise from them
and similarly gave them his word. (Abd al-Rahman) said to All,
"You say you have most right of those present to the office
because of your close relationship [to the Prophet) and your long
standing in and the good deeds you have done in the cause of
Islam, and you have not , [in saying so], said anything remote
[from the truth]. But if you were not involved in the matter and
were not here at all, whom would you think of them all has (2783]
most right to (the office)?" He replied, "'Uthman." (Abd al-
Rahman) took 'Uthman on one side and said, "You say you are
a shaykh of Banu `Abd Manaf and related to the Messenger
of God by marriage and his cousin, an excellent man of long
standing [in Islam]-and you have not said anything remote
from the truth and that (the caliphate) cannot therefore be taken
from you. But if you were not here, which of the members do
1 50 The Conquest of Iran
you think has most right to (the office )?" He replied, "Ali."
Then ('Abd al-Rahmin) took al-Zubayr on one side and ad-
dressed him in the same way as he had All and 'Uthmin. He
replied, "'Uthman." Then ('Abd al-Rahmin) took Sad on one
side and spoke to him . He answered "'Uthmin." 'Ali met Sad
and quoted, "'Fear God by whom you make demands one of
another, and the wombs [which bore you]. God is ever watching
you. 736 I am asking you, in the name of the relationship (rahim)
of this son of mine737 with the Messenger of God and that of my
paternal uncle, Hamzah, 738 with you, not to stand with 'Abd al-
Rahmin, assisting 'Uthmin against me. I have connections
'Uthman does not." 'Abd al-Rahmin went round at night
meeting the Companions of the Messenger of God and those
army commanders and nobles who arrived in Medina and con-
sulting with them . Everyone he took to one side gave him
instructions to opt for 'Uthman . Then on the eve of the
morning of the deadline, he came to the house of al-Miswar b.
Makhramah well into the night and woke him up, saying,
"You're asleep, when I have had very little tonight? Off you go
and summon al-Zubayr and Sa'd!"
So (al-Miswar ) summoned them and (Abd al- Rahmin) began
[2784 ] with al-Zubayr at the back of the mosque under the covering
(suffah ) that adjoins the house of Marwin, 739 saying, "Let the
rule go to the sons of 'Abd Manaf! i74O (AI-Zubayr) said, "I throw
in my lot with Ali." ('Abd al -Rahmin) said to Sad, "We are
cousins. Throw in your lot with me so that I can choose." He
replied, "If you choose yourself , that is fine! But if you choose
'Uthman, then I prefer to support 'Ali. Have yourself accepted
as caliph ], give us some respite and raise up our heads ." ('Abd
al-Rahmin) said, "Abu Ishaq, I have withdrawn from (the ca-
741. The text reads "Inni uritu ka-raw,iatin kha4yd'a" etc. Much neater is Ibn
Abd Rabbih, 'Igd, IV, 278, who has Inni ra aytu ka-anni fi rawoatin khadrd'a. I
have translated the latter. In the anecdote that follows the first noble stallion
camel represents the Prophet, the stallion camel Abii Bakr, and the fine
thoroughbred 'Umar. The fourth represents 'Umar's successor.
r5. The Conquest of Iran
742. Ibn Abi Sark was 'Iya4 b. Abdallah b. Sad who died ca. 100/718. See Ibn
Ijajar, Tahdhib, VIII, 2oo-1.
743• That is, the families of Ali and 'Uthmin, respectively.
744• MakhzUm b. Yaga;ah, a tribal group ( baln) of Lu'ayy b. Ghilib and Banu
Umayyah's chief rival among Quraysh. See Zubayri, Nasab Quraysh, 299-346,
Ibn Hazm, Iamharah , 141ff., 464, Kal bb lah, Mu'jam, III, Y058-
745- Sumayyah was a concubine, and this is therefore an insult. Ammar was
not of Quraysh. See note 8, above . See also E12, s.v. "'Ammar" ( Reckendorf).
The Events of the Year 2.3 1153
750. The meter is basil . Al-Farazdaq is the famous poet , Hammem b . Ghalib
b. $a'ga'ah, always associated with al-Akhtal and Jarir. Al-Farazdaq died ca.
'r 11729. Cf. El, s. v. (Blachtre(; for a more recent assessment of al-Farazdaq and
his work, see Jayyusi, "Umayyad Poetry," 4oiff. The poet here is eulogizing the
Umayyad caliph Yazid b. Abd al- Malik and satirizing Yazid b. al-Muhallab. Cf.
al-Farazdaq, Diwdn, 1, z65.
The Events of the Year 2.3 1155
[about whom] all of you have the same opinion . Do not obey an
evil doer who gives good advice or go against someone rightly
guided who gives his assistance. I am making this speech and I
ask God for forgiveness for you and for myself."
'Uthman b. 'Affan spoke next, saying, "Praise be to God who
took Muhammad as a prophet and sent him as a messenger. He
told him truthfully of His promise and granted him His help
(27901 against all those distantly or closely related. God has made us
his followers, guided by His command . He is our light. We act at
His command when personal opinions diverge and our enemies
dispute [with us]. Through His bounty God has made us leaders
and through our obedience to Him commanders . Our concern
does not extend beyond ourselves, no one else will approach us
except those who are oblivious to the truth and shrink from the
established aim. How preferable it would be if (dissension] were
left alone, Ibn Awf! How apt that it should be,753 if your
decision is opposed and your call abandoned. I am the first to
agree with you and to call to you, answerable and responsible for
what I say. I ask God for forgiveness for you and for myself."
Al-Zubayr b. al-'Awwam spoke after him, saying, "To con-
tinue. He who calls upon God is not ignorant and he who
answers Him is not rejected when personal opinions diverge and
necks turn . Only one deviating from the truth will not comply
with what you say. Only a wretch will abandon that for which
you call. Were it not for God's ordinances that were made
obligatory and God's regulations that were ordained and are
restored to those who keep them and remain alive and do not
die, death would be an escape from command and flight would
be security from authority. But we must answer God's call and
make the established practice prevail, lest we die a death of error
and lest we suffer from the blindness of a time of ignorance. I
agree with you in that to which you summon [us] and will
support you in what you have commanded. There is no power
and no strength except in God. I ask God for forgiveness for you
and for myself."
Sa'd b. Abi Wagga$ then spoke, saying, "Praise be to God who
753• Reading wa-aidir. Cairo reads wa-abdhir, "how wary we should be of its
occurring."
The Events of the Year 23 157
was first and will be last. I praise Him because He has saved me
from going astray and opened my eyes to error. Through God's [279=1
guidance those who are saved are the winners ; through His
mercy those who are pure are successful . Through Muhammad
b. 'Abdallah roads are lit up, paths are straight , and all truth
prevails, as all falsehood is no more . Beware, members of the
electoral council , of lies and the desire of those who are false.
Their desires have already dispossessed a people before you.
They inherited what you did and they acquired what you did, so
God made them enemies and heaped curses upon them. God
said, 'Those of the Israelites who did not believe are cursed by
David's tongue and that of Jesus, the son of Mary; this is because
they disobeyed and transgressed. They did not restrain one
another from evil that they committed . How wretched was what
they didli754 I have scattered [the arrows in] my quiver and taken
my winning arrow. For Talhah b . 'Ubaydallah I have adopted
[the opinion] of which I approved for myself."" I am answerable
for him and responsible for what (opinion] I gave on his behalf.
The matter is in your hands, Ibn 'Awf, for you to put your effort
into it and the good advice you intended . Upon God depends the
ultimate destination and to Him shall be the return . I ask for
forgiveness for you and for myself and take refuge in God from
your opposition."
All b. Abi Talib then spoke, saying, "Praise be to God who
sent forth Muhammad as Prophet from among us and as a
messenger to us. We are the house of the prophethood, the mine
of wisdom, the security of the people of the world, and a salva-
tion for those who ask for it. We have a right; if we are given it,
we take it, if we are refused it, we ride the rumps of our camels,
though the night journey be long.756 If the Messenger of God had
given us a commission, we would have carried out his agree-
ment; if he had said (something) to us [as a designation], we
would have disputed [with others] over it until we die. 157 No
[ z79z) one will be faster than I to call for truth and [claim] close
kinship. There is no power and strength except in God. Listen to
and remember what I have to say. Perhaps you will see swords
drawn and agreements broken in this matter after this council,
until you become one united group, and some of you become
leaders over those in error and over partisans (shiah) of the
ignorant." Then he recited the following:758
If Jasim has perished, I,
because of what Banu 'Abd b. I?akhm have done,759
Shall [nevertheless] obey anyone [even if he is] unable to find the
right way in the desert heat,
knowing well my destination , [guided by] every star.76°
'Abd al-Rahman said, "Which one of you is willing to with-
draw from this appointment and appoint someone else?" But
they did not respond to his suggestion. He continued, "I with-
draw myself and my cousin . i761 So the members gave him the
task of settling the matter. At the minbar he got them to swear
to give the oath of allgiance to whomsoever he gave it, even if he
were to give with one hand the oath of allegiance to the other.
He remained for three [nights] in his house, which was near the
mosque and called today Rahabat al-Qada' (Courtyard where the
Decision was made )- for this reason it was given this name.
$uhayb remained also for three [nights] leading the people in
prayer.
'Abd al-Rahman sent for 'Ali and said to him, "If I do not give
you the oath of allegiance, tell me to whom I should ." ('Ali)
replied, 1"Uthman ." Then ('Abd al- Rahman) sent for 'Uthman
and asked the same thing of him . ('Uthman) replied, "All."
('Abd al-Rahman ) then dismissed them both and summoned al-
758. The meter is wafir. See Ibn al-Athir, Kdmil, 111, 37.
759. Jasim is a section of the Amalekite tribe, Banu Abd b. Qakhm, from the
area of al-' Jl'if. See Ibn ManUr, Lisdn, XII, 354) Fruzabiidi, Qdmns, IV, 143)
Kalibalah, Mnyam, I, 157111, 725. Tabari, I, z3o, however, places Jasim in Oman.
760. Ali's message through this obscure poem is that , despite having been let
down badly by his own people and despite having no one on which to depend, he
can nevertheless proceed as he thinks fit, because he knows his goal is a
righteous and attainable one.
761. That is, Sad b. Abi Wagga$.
The Events of the Year 2.3 1159
762. The odd number of prostrations performed in prayer at night . See SEI, s.v.
(Wensinck).
r 6o The Conquest of Iran
hand to his shoulders 763 and said , "If you will come this way!"
S.. we got up and went to the*mosque where someone gave out
( 2 794] the cry, "Everyone in for prayer ! ,164 'Uthman [later] said, "I
held back, embarrassed by his haste to join All. I was at the
back of the mosque." Abd al- Rahman appeared wearing the
very turban that the Messenger of God had put on him and
carrying his sword . He went up into the minbar where he stood
for a long time . Then he said a prayer that the people did not
hear.
('Abd al-Rahman) then spoke, "0 people, I have questioned
you in secret and openly on the question of [who will be] your
leader. I have found that none of you regard (anyone else] as
equal to one of these two, 'Ali or 'Uthman. Come forward to
me, 'All ." He did so and stood beneath the minbar. 'Abd al-
Rahman took his hand and said, "Will you give me your oath of
office based on God 's Book, the practice of His Prophet, and the
deeds of Abu Bakr and 'Umar ?" He replied, "No, but based on
my own effort in all this and in accordance with my own
ability." ('Abd al-Rahman) let go of ('All's) hand and called out,
"Come forward to me, 'Uthman ." He took him by his hand, as
('Uthman) stood where 'Ali had stood, and said, "Will you give
me your oath of office based on God's Book, the practice of His
Prophet, and the deeds of Abu Bakr and 'Umar? " ('Uthman)
replied, "Indeed yes!" So ( Abd al-Rahman) stretched right up
to the ceiling of the mosque, his hand still in 'Uthman's
hand. Then he said, "0 God, hear and bear witness ! 0 God, I
have placed what was my own responsibility in all this upon
'Uthman." The people crowded round to give 'Uthman the
oath of allegiance, until they reached him at the minbar. 'Abd
al-Rahman sat down where the Prophet sat in the minbar, and
he sat ' Uthman down on the second step. The people began to
(2795] give him the oath of allegiance, but All excused himself. 'Abd
al-Rahman quoted , "He who breaks his word, does so to his own
detriment; he who keeps the agreement he has made with God,
He will bring him a great reward . "765 Then 'Ali came back,
763. Thus signifying that they should walk on either side of him.
764. Arabic, a1-faldtu jdmi 'ah. See Dozy, Supplement, I, 216-17.
765. Qur'in, XLVIII:ro.
The Events of the Year 23 16z
pushing his way through the people , and gave the oath of
allegiance, saying, "Deceit! What deceit!"
'Abd al-'Aziz766 said, "The reason for 'Ali's mentioning
deceit was simply that 'Amr b. al-'Ac had met All during the
period the electoral council was meeting and said , 'Abd al-
Rahman is striving hard . The more you show (your) firm resolu-
tion, the less keen he is (that you be appointed). But [the more
you say you will act according to] (your) effort and ability, the
keener he is (that you be appointed). Then ('Amr b. met
'Uthman and said, "Abd al- Rahman is striving hard. He will
indeed give you his oath of allegiance only because of firm
resolution. So accept ( the offer).' It was for this reason that 'Ali
mentioned deceit.i767
Then ('Abd al-Rahman) went off with 'Uthman to the house
of Fatimah bt. Qays, where he sat down with the people. Al-
Mughirah b. Shu'bah got up to make a speech , with 'Ali sitting
there, "Praise be to God, Abu Muhammad , who has granted you
success! There was indeed no one other than 'Uthman for (the
caliphate)." 'Abd al- Rahman said, "This is none of your business,
Ibn al-Dabbagh! I could give my own oath of allegiance to no one
without your saying what you have just said about him!"
Then 'Uthman sat at the side of the mosque and called for
'Ubaydallah b. 'Umar, who was confined in the house of Sa'd b.
Abi Wagga$. He is the one from whose hand the sword had been
snatched after he had killed Jufaynah, 76B al-Hurmuzan, and the
daughter of Abu Lu'lu'ah, saying that he was going to kill some
of those who were involved in shedding his father 's blood,
alluding to both the Emigrants and the Helpers . Sad had
jumped up against him, snatched the sword from his hand and
tugged at his hair until he had him on the ground . He held him
prisoner in his own house until 'Uthman brought him out . [2796]
'Uthman said to a group of Emigrants and Helpers , "Give me
your advice on [what to do with] this man who has brought
766. The father of Sulayman, see the chain of authorities, p. 154, above.
767. Amr later appeared as Mu' awiyah 's arbitrator against Abu Musa al-
Ash'arl, All's arbitrator, after $iffin in 38/659. It appears from this text that he
had long been against 'All.
768. Jufaynah was a Christian slave from al-Hlrah , see p. x63, below.
r62 The Conquest of Iran
schism into Islam." All replied , "I think you should kill him."
one of the Emigrants said, "'Umar was killed yesterday; will
his son be killed today?" But 'Amr b. a1= Ag said, "Commander
of the Faithful, God has exempted you from this having happened
while you were in authority over the Muslims; rather this took
place when you had none ." 'Uthman said, "I am now their
master. I have decided that blood money should be paid in this
case, and I shall bear the cost from my own money."
A Helper called Ziyad b. Labid al-Bayadi recited the following
when he saw 'Ubaydallah b. 'Umar:769
Ali, you have no way of escape, 'Ubaydallah,
no place of refuge from Ibn Arwa770 and no means of pro-
tecting yourself.
You spilled blood indeed, completely unlawfully-
and killing al-Hurmuzan is a dangerous matter-
For no other reason than that someone said,
"Do you suspect al-Hurmuzan of [killing ] 'Umar?"
When so many things were happening, a fool replied,
"Yes, do suspect him, since he suggested [it] and gave the
command.
The slave's weapon771 was inside the (Hurmuzan 's) house,
he turning it over [in his hand). One thing [must[ be
reckoned in relation to another."
'Ubaydallah. b. Umar complained to 'Uthman of Ziyad b.
Labid and his poem, so 'Uthman called in Ziyad b. Labid and
forbade him [from reciting it]. Ziyad recited the following,
speaking of 'Uthman:772
Abu 'Amr, 'Ubaydallah is a hostage-
have no doubt-for the killing of al-Hurmuzan.
For if you forgive him the offense, [this will be wrong],
769. The meter is {awil. Ziyad b. Labid al-Bayadi is unidentified. For the
poem, see Ibn al-Athir, Kdmil, 111, 37.
770. That is, 'Uthman b. Affin, whose mother was Arwi bt. Kurayz.
7711. That is, the double-bladed dagger used by Abu Lulu ah to kill 'Umar.
77s. The meter is wdfir. See Ibn al-Athir, Kdmil, III, 37.
The Events of the Year 23 163
sign of the cross between his eyes. $uhayb heard of this and sent
'Auir b. al- As to ('Ubaydallah). He kept at him, saying "[Give
me] the sword, by my mother and father!" until he handed it
over to him. Sad sprang upon him, took him by the hair and
they all came to $uhayb.
779. I have no further information on Nifi' b. Abd al- Hirith al-KhuzI i. For
the following list, see Ya 'gnbi, Tdrikh, 11, 16 t.
780. Sufyan b. Abdalli h al-Thaqafi has a brief entry in Ibn Hajar, Tahdhib, IV,
r 15 - 16, although no date of death is given.
781. Ya' li was more commonly known as Ya'li b. Umayyah, see note 2o5.
Nawfal b. Abd Manif was a tribal group (barn) of Quraysh. See Zubayri, Nasab
Quraysh, 197-2051 Ibn Hazm, /amharah, 115-17, Kahhilah, Mu yam, III, 1202-
3 782. Al-!anad is very close to, and at the present time a suburb of, the
important town of Ta'izz in the southern highlands of the Yemen . It was of great
importance in early and medieval times and the seat of one of the three
governors in the Yemen, along with $an'i' and Hadramawt (not here mentioned).
See Hamdini, Sifah, 44, 54 -55 and passim; Kay, Yaman, end map.
783. Qatidah b. al-Nu'miin al -Zafari fought at Badr, a fact mentioned in the
biographies, e.g., Ibn Hajar, Tahdhib, VIII, 357-58.
784. Byzantine Amorion, Arabic 'Ammuriyyah , in the heart of Asia Minor,
only approximately 170 miles southeast of Constantinople . See Yiqut, Mu'fam,
IV, r58, Runciman, Crusades, 1, Map 176.
785. 'Ubidah b. al-$imit died in 34/654 or later. He had been present at the
battle of Badr. See Ibn Hajar, Tahdhib, V, r 11ff.
The Events of the Year 2 3 x65
786. Abu Ayyub Khilid b. Zayd died in 50/670 or 55/675. See Ibn Hajar,
Tahdhib, III, 90-95.
787. Abu Dharr al-Ghifari died ca . 32/653. See Ibn Hajar, Tahdhib, XII,
9off. , El', s.v. (Robson (1 Cameron, Abu Dharr, passim.
788. Shaddid b. Aws died ca. 64/683. See Ibn Hajar, Tahdhib, IV, 3 r 5.
789. Asgalan on the Mediterranean coast north of Gaza . See Yiqut, Mu'jam,
IV, 5z2; Le Strange, Palestine, 400-3 and map opposite 1 4.
790. For Ka'b b. Sur al-Azdi, see Waki', Akhbar, I, z74ff.
795. Milik b. Anas was the author of the famous Muwaffa' and died in
179/796. See Ibn Hajar, Tahdhib, X, 5-9; Sezgin, GAS, 1, 457-64.
e
Bibliography
40
OP
The index contains all proper names of persons, places, and tribal and other
groups, as well as topographical data, occurring in the foreword, the text, and
the footnotes, together with some technical terms . As far as the footnotes are
concerned, however, only those names that belong to the medieval or earlier
periods are fisted.
The definite article, the abbreviations b. (for ibn, son) and bt. (for bint,
daughter), and everything in parentheses have been disregarded for the purposes
of alphabetization. Where a name occurs in both the text and the footnotes on
the same page, only the page number is given.
Abu Ishiq. See Sa'd b. Abi Waggi$ Abu Tilib, father of 'Ali 13 5 nn.
Abu Ismi'il al-Hamdini, rdwi I22 674-75, 15on.738
Abu Ja'far. See al-Tabarl Abu al-Tufayl 'Amir b. Withilah,
Abu Ja'far, Abbasid caliph 97 n. 449 rawi 48
Abu al-jahm b. Hudhayfah too Abe'Ubaydah b. al-Jarrih 143
Abu Janib, rdw! 83, 87 Abu 'Umar Dithir b. AN Shabib,
Abu al-Janub 'Ugbah b. 'Alqamah al- raw, 71
Yashkuri, rdwf 5 5 Abu Usimah Hammid b. Usimah,
Abu Kurayb Muhammad b. al-'Ali', raw! 1112
rdwi 106, 107,111,111 Abi1'Uthmin al-Nahdi , rdwi 71,133
Abu Lu'lu'ah Fayruz al-Nihiwandi Abu Wi'il. See Shaqiq b. Salamah
xvii, 891900 92,103 , 16T, 163 Abu al-Walid Yasir b. 'Abd al-Rahmin
Abu Ma 'bad Nifldh al-Aslami, al-Makki, rawi 132,135
rdWi 122 Abu al-Yaq;in . See 'Ammir b. Yasir
Abu Ma'shar, rdwi 17, 64,68, 94,123 Abu Yazid al-Madini, rdWl 103
Abu Mikhnaf Lu5 b . Yahyi, rdwi 143, Abu Yusuf 5, 6 n. 31
163 n. 776 Abu Zakariyyi' Yahyi b. Mug'ab al-
Abu Mu'idh al-Anoiri, raw! 723 Kalbi, rdw! 104
Abu Mu'iwiyah Muhammad b. Abu Zayd, grandfather of 'Abd al-
Khizim al-Qarir, rdwi Io5 Rahmi n b. Zayd, raw! io6
Abu Mufazzir al-Aswad b . Qu;bah Abu Zayd, ravel. See'Umar b. Shabbah
26 Abu al -Zinbi', raw! Io5
Abu al-Mughirah 'Abd al-Quddus b. al- al-Abwib 32 n. 169, 36
Hajjijal -Khawlini, rdwi 104 'Ad 131
Abu al-Muhajjal al-Rudayni, rdwi 83 Adam 117,138
Abu Muhammad . See 'Abd al -Rabmin adhdn, call to prayer 95 n. 427
b. 'Awf Adharbiyin, ruler of Sibur 70
Abu al -Mujilid Jarad b.'Amr, raw! 'Adnin 55 n. 268, 119 n . 588, 132 n.
133 654, 136 n. 678
Abu al-Mukhiriq Zuhayr b. Silim, Afghanistan 53 n. 250
rdwi 104, 105 al,Iddth, police i6
Abu Muni al -Ash'arl 3 , 4,8,9,27 n. ahl al-siyar, historians 51
111,34 , 43,44, 47,49, 50,63,70, Ahmad. See Muhammad b. 'Abdallih,
79,80-83 , 106, r6i n . 767,164 the Prophet
Abu Nadrah al-Mundhir b . Milik al- Ahmad b. 'Abd al -$amad al-Angiri,
'Abdi al-'Awgi, rdwi io8 raw, 114
Abu Qutaybah, rdwi 98 Ahmad b. Harb al-'J ii, raw! r 10
Abu al -Si'ib. See Salm b. Junadah Ahmad b. Thibit al-Rini, rawi 17, 64,
Abu Salamah al-Tabudhaki, Masi, 69,94
rdwi 99 Ahmad b .'Umar, rdwi 138
Abu Sirwa'ah 13 al-Ahnaf b . Qays 9, 51, 53-60,62,83,
Abu $ufrah, father of al-Muhallab 69 134
Abu Sufyin, father of Mu'iwiyah and al-Ahwiz 8, 43 n. 207, 78
'Utbah 133,134 'A'idh b. Yahyi, rdwi 115
Abu Sufyin, rdwi 67 'A'ishah, wife of the Prophet 86 n.
Abit Talhah al-An¢irl 91 , 146,148, 380,9z, 93,96 , 101,102- t 145, 148
3149 al-Akhtal, poet 154 n. 750
176 Index
(lliria 15 F
Constantinople 164 n. 784
Ctesiphon 4 n. 20, 48 al-Fidhusafan 7-9
al-Farazdaq, Hammim b. Ghilib b.
$a'ga'ah, poet 154
D Farghanah 56,59,62
far!, frontier region 29 n. 158
Dabbah b. Milan 8o-82 (al-(Farrukhan 25, 30
Dabbah b. Shihib b. Mu'iwiyah 19 n. Firs xiv, xv, 1, 10, 51,64 nn. 283-84,
95 65, 67-69, 71, 73
Dabbah b. Udd 1911.95 al-Firuq, epithet of 'Omar b. at-
al-Dahhak b. Qays al-Fihri 155 Khattib 95, 96
Dajnin 131 Fasi 70, 71
Damascus 15, 155 n. 752, 164 Fitimah, daughter of the Prophet
Damivand 25 n. 136 Muhammad lox
Damghan zS n. 156 Fatimah, daughter of 'Umar b. al-
Qamrah b. Rabi'ah al-Ramli, rdwi 141 Khattib too, r5on.737
daqal, poor quality dates 77 Fatimah ht . Qays al-Fihriyyah, sister of
Daribjird 70,71 al-Dal}hak b. Qays al-Fihri x55,
al-Dariwardi, 'Abd al-'Aziz b. 161
Muhammad, rdwi 98 fay', immovable booty i8 n. 94
Dastabi 20, 21, 22, 24 Fayruz. See Abu Lu'lu'ah
David 157 al-Fayruzan 19, 53
Diwud b. Abi Hind, rdwi 99 fifth (of booty) 22, 77, 80
Daylam 20, 21, 23 n. 1 zi p 27 n. 149 Fihr 155n.752
Destruction, Year of the i i9 fijdr, conflicts 98 n. 450
dhimmah, protection 23 n. t 24 Firuzibid 66 n. 296
Dhu al-liijibayn 10,12 al-Firuzibidi, Muhammad b.
Dhu al-Qarnayn 42 n. zoi Ya'qub 58 n . z76, 158 n. 759
Dihistin 29 Fukayhah, concubine of 'Umar b. al-
dihqdn, village headman 8o n. 3 59 Khattib rot
al-Dinawar 18, 19 , 43 n. 2o6, 44 n. 212 furuj. See far!
Dirar b. Murrah al -Kufi, rdwi 103
diwdn, state register i i 5 G
Dujayl On. 41
Dunbiwand 25-27 Gabriel 142
Gaza 165 n. 789
Georgia 37 n. 183
E ghanam, sheep i i z n. S41
Ghurak 56
Egypt xv, 15, 104, 112, 164 al-Ghugn b. al-Qasim, rdwi 39
electoral council, shard xvii, 93, 95, Ghuzak. See Ghurak
3143,147-49,152,154,155 Gog 42n. zo1
Emigrants 92, 113 , 141, 142, 1511, x61,
162 H
Euphrates 5, 6, io6
Event, The, Surat al-Wagi'ah 136 Habib b. Abi Thibit, rdwi 141
Index 179
14n-70,17n. 9o, 2-o nn. toy-6, zI 107 nn. 518-23, to8 nn . 525-27,
nn. 110- t it 24 n . 133, z5 n. 137, tog nn. 5x9-31, Ito n. 532; 1 rz
26 n. 141 , 3o n. 16z, 34 nn . 174 and nn. 538-4o and 543, 113 nn. 554-
176, 46 n. 244, 49 n. 243, 53 n. 255, 45, 547, and 549, 114 nn . 554-55,
65 nn . 286-87, 66 n. 295, 67 n. 115 nn. 562 and 565, t 18 nn. 581-
300, 68 nn. 3ot and 304, 79 nn. 84, 121 nn. 6oo, 604, and 607, 122
355-56, 83 n. 368, 89 nn. 391 and n. 61o, 12.3 nn. 614-17 and 619-
394, 92 n. 412 , 94 n. 423, 95 n. 429, 10, 129 n. 635, 131 nn. 646-47,
too n. 470, 103 n. 481 , 115 nn. 563 13z nn. 652 and 657, 134 n. 671,
and 566, 129 n . 640, 130n. 643, 136 n. 680, 138 nn. 687-89, 139
131 n . 649, 133 n. 661 , 136 n. 68r, nn. 69o and 692, 141 nn . 705 and
143 n. 714, 148 n. 732, 158 n. 758, 708-10, 142 n. 711, 143 nn. 716-
162 nn . 769 and 772 17, 720, and 722,146 n. 730, 152 n.
ibn'Awf. See 'Abd al-Rahmin b.'Awf 741, 164 nn. 780, 783, and 785, 165
Ibn 'Awn, rawi 141 nn. 786-88 and 791
Ibn al-Bare ' b. Ma'rur, rawi 113 Ibn Hantamah. See 'Umar b. al-Khaitib
Ibn Bashshir, Muhammad, rdwi 107, Ibn Hazm, 'Ali b. Abmad al-Andalusi
109, 141 3 n. 10, 4 n. 19, to nn. So and 52,
Ibn Budayl. See'Abdallih b. Budayl 18 n. 93, 23 n. 122, 53 n. 153, 55 n.
Ibn Da'b, rawi 122,129 268, Son. 357, 91 n. 404, 113 n.
lbn al-Dabbigh. See al-Mughirah b. 5 So, 116 nn. 569-70, 117 n. 575,
Shu'bah t 18 n. 58 5, 119 nn . 59o and 592-
ibn Fudayl , Muhammad al -Qabbi, 93, 132 n. 659,133 n. 667, 136 nn.
rawi 103 678 and 681, 15z n. 744, 163 n.
Ibn Hajar, Abmad b. 'Ali al-'Asgalini 777, 164 n. 781
2n.4,3nn . 9-10,12,and14,5nn. Ibn Hishim, 'Abd al-Malik 4z n. 204,
24, 2.6, and 28, 6 n. 34, 8 nn. 42-44, 43 n. 290, 65 n. 290, too n. 469,
9 n. 46, to nn . 47-49 , 13 n. 66,14 134 n. 673, 135 nn. 674-75, 14o n.
n. 69,15 nn . 74-75 and 77, 19 n. 701, 144 n. 724, 145 n. 72.6
99, 1o nn. 104 - 5, zt nn. tog-to, Ibn Humayd, Muhammad al-Rizi,
26 nn . 141 and 143, 34 nn. 175-76, rawi 15, 95, 114, 136, 142
37 n. 181, 4o n. 196, 42 n. 205, 48 ibn Idris, 'Abdallih, rawi io6
nn. 233-35 , 49 n. 243, 53 nn. 251, Ibn Ishiq, Muhammad, rawi 15, 95,
253, and 255, 55 nn . 266-67, 65 123
nn. 286 - 87,66 nn . 293 and 295, 68 Ibn Ja'far. See'Abdallih b. Ja'far b. Abi
nn. 304 and 306, 69 n. 3 to, 71 nn. Tilib
316-17, 74 n. 326, 83 nn . 37o and Ibn Ju'dubah, rawi. See Yazid b. lyio
374-75, 88 nn . 386-90, 89 nn. Ibn Jurayj, 'Abd al-Malik b. 'Abd al-
393, 395 , and 397-98 , 90n. 401, 91 'Aziz, rawi 98, 142
nn. 405 -7, 94 nn. 418, 420-21, Ibn al-Kha55ib. See 'Umar b. al-Khaltib
and 426, 96 nn . 432-41, 97 nn. Ibn Khuzaymah b. Thibit al-Angiri,
444-45 and 447-49, 98 nn. 451- 'Umirah, rawi 113
58 and 460-61, 99 nn. 462-65 and Ibn ManZur, Muhammad b. Mukarram
467-68, 103 nn. 479-80 and 484- 58 n. 276, 148 n . 734,158 n• 759
87, 104 nn. 490, 492-93, and 495- Ibn Masud. See'Abdallih b. Mas'nd
96, 105 nn . 498-500 , 502-4, and Ibn al-Munkadir, Muhammad, rawi
508-9, Io6 nn . 511 and 513-14, 123
Index 1 81
Ibn al-Muthanni, Abu Musa , rawi 99, Isfandiyadh, brother of Rustam 21,
Io6 31-33
Ibn Rasul, al-Malik al-Ashraf 'Umar b. Ishaq b. 'Isa, rawi 17, 64, 68, 94
Yusuf 93 n. 414 'I$mah b. 'Abdallah b. 'Ubaydah b. Sayf
Ibn Ss'd, Muhammad, rdwl and b. 'Abd b. al-Harith al -Qabbi 6, 9,
biographer z n. 8, 5 nn. 24 and 29, 20,21 n.116
14 n. 69,15 n. 83, 46 n. 214 , 89, 93, lsma'il b . Abi Hakim al-Qurashi,
95-97,991 100, 102, 113-20 raw- 131
Ibn Shihib al-Zuhri, raw! 94, 96,118, Ismail b. Abi Khilid, raw- 48, 139
123, 165 Ismail b . Ibrahim al-Asadi, rdwi 103,
Ibn Sumayyah . See 'Ammar b. Yasir 104,106,1108
Ibn Tarif. See'I$mah Ismiil b. Muhammad b. Sad,
Ibn'Ulayyah,rdwi 141 rdwi 118
Ibn 'Umar. SeeAbdallih b. 'Umar Israelites 35, 157
Ibn Umm Ghazal al-Hamdani 54 I$lakhr 64, 66-68,70
Ibn Wahb, 'Abdallih, rawi Io5 'lyacl b. Ghanm al -Fihri 46, 112
Ibn Ya'mar 148 lyas b. Salamah, rawi 138
Ibn Ziyid. See Salm b. Ziyid
Ibn al-Zubayr. See 'Abdallih b. al-
Zubayr J
Ibnat Abi Hathmah 129
Ibrahim b. Muhammad, rawi ' zz al-Jabal 20 n. Ioz
Ibrahim b. Talhah, rdwi 88 n. 366 al-Jabbanah 119
Ibrahim b. Yazid al-Nakhai, raw- 141, Jibir b. 'Amr al-Muzani 5
143 Jabr b. Yazid al-Ju'fi, rawi 94, 114
Idhaj 43,44 Ja'farb.'Awn, rawi 83, 87, 89
lfrigiyah 14 n. 72 Ja'far b. Muhammad al-Kuf i, rawi 103
Ijl 18 jaluli' 51
ikhshid, ruler 56n.271 Jamilah, wife of 'Umar b. at-
'Ikrimah,,rawl 136 Khallab Ioo
'Ikrimah b. 'Ammar, rawi 138 Jamshad 7o n. 312
Imran, rdwi 113 al-Janad 164
Imran b. Sawidah, rdwi 139 Jarir, Poet 154 n. 750
Indus xv, 77 n. 343 Jarir b. 'Abdallih al-Balali 47,48
igamah, second call to prayer 95 n. Jarir b. Hazim, raw- 98
427 Jarmidhah b. al-Farrukhzadh 31
Iran xiii, x, z n. 6 Jarmidhin 20
Iraq xiv, 1, 44 al-Jarud b. 'Amr al- Abdi, Abu al-
'Isa b. Haf$, rawi 113 Mundhir 69
'Isa b. al-Mughirah, rawi 55 Jisim 158
'Isa b. Yazd b. Da'b, rdwi 139 al-Jawf 133n.667
isbahbadh, ruler 17 Jaxartes, river 54 n. 258, 56 n. 272
Igfahin XV, 1, 44, 52 , 53, go, 83 JaYY 7, 44, 53, 80
al-I$fahini, Abu al-Faral 13 n. 66, 24 n. al-Jazirah IS, 34, 44, 4S, 46 n. 224, 50,
131, 26 n. 142, 38 n. 185, 5 5, 81 n. 104
364, 129 n. 640,136 n. 677, 155 n. Jerusalem 143n.723
752 Jesus 157
182. Index
ion. 106, 2! n. 115 , 23 n. 126,26 nn. 567 and 569 -70, i t8 n. 585,
n. 143, 44, 6o, 61 n. 405 121, 137, 138 n. 684 , 145 n. 727,
gal'ah, castle i8 151-54 , 164 n. 781
galasim, trees 1?) 23 Qurrah b. Khilid al-Sadusi, rdwi 109
al-Qalqashandi, Abu al-'Abbas QuPYY 148 n. 734
Ahmed 93 n. 414
al-Qandahar. See Kandahar
al-Qa'ga' b.'Amr 19, 75 R
Qara;ah b. 'Ann b. Ka'b al-Khuzi'i 21
Qarmism ion. ioi Rabih, witness 46
Qarqarat al-Kudr 140 al-Rabi' b. al-Nu'min, rawi 133
ga$abah, provincial center 18 n. 9i al-Raba' b. Sulayman, rdwi 88
gagabiyydt, finery 130 al-Rabi' b. Ziyid 79, 80, 82
al-Qasim b. Muhammad, rdwi 97 Rabi'ah b. 'Uthmin 2.x, 1 i o
Qagr al-Lufug 20 radm, wall, rampart 42 n. 201
Qatidah b. Di'amah al-Sadusi, rdfl4fah, those refusing to serve
rawi 99, 107, 143 'Ali 44 n. 215
Qatidah b. al-Nu'man al -Zafir1 164 Rahabat al-Qadi' 158
Qatan b. Ka'b al-Quta i, rawi io3 rabim, relationship 15o
al-Qayrawin 14 n. 71 Rimahutmuz 43,44
QaYs 155n.752. Rashid b. Sa'd, rdwi i io
Qaysb.'Aylin 136 Risil, ruler of Makrin 70
Qays b. '10mah b. Malik b . Qubay'ah b. al-Rayy xv, 1, 3 n. 15, 17, ion. 103,
Zayd b. al-Aws ioi 11-27,311 51, 52
Qays b. al-Rabi', rdwi 118 al-Rizi, Ahmad b. 'Abdallih 42 n. 205
Qazwin 21 n. 113 , 24 n. 134 Rib'! b. 'Amin al-Tai/al-Tamimi 19,
giblah 1S9 54
Qiha 24 Ribs b. Ka's S 5
Qinnasrin 1 5, 44 Riddah wars xiv
Qu41a'ah 133 n. 667 rikdb, riding camels iS
Qudayd 1317 Rishahr 68
Qufs 73 Rukhkhaj 75 n. 333
Quhistin 53 n. 249,74 mkh;ah, license 140
Qumis xv, 25, 27, 28 al-Rum 32
qurd, settlements 74 n. 323 Rugayyah, daughter of 'Umar b. al-
Qur'an 28 nn . 1S3-54, 30n. r60, 42n. KhalFab 101
201, 46 n. 221, 48, 49 n. 241, S7 n. al-Rusiris b. Junidib 38
273, 62 nn. 279-81 , Si, 92 n. 408, Rustam xiv, ii
103 n. 488,108 , 115, 121 , 125 nn. rustaq, district 7
622 and 624, 126 nn. 6z6-28, i 28 Rustiq al-Shaykh 7
nn. 631 - 33, 131 nn. 6So-S1, 137 Rutbil 76 n. 337
fl . 683 , 138 n. 685, 139 n. 696, 15o, Ruzbin Sul b. Ruzban 28, 29
153 nn . 747-49, 157n . 754, r6on.
765
Quraybah be. Abi Umayyah, wife of S
'Umar b. al-Khattib 1 oo
Quraysh 14 n. 69, 91 n. 403, 115, 116 Saber 65,70
A6 Index
S•i'd b. Abi Waggiy xiv, xv , 2, 5, 51, 52, 43, 47-51, 55, 64, 66, 67, 70, 71,
91, 93, 120, 145-48 , 15o-52, 156, 73, 80, 8z, 87, 133, 142, 163
157 n . 755, 158n . 761, 159, 161, Sariyah b. Zunaym al-Du'ali al-
16; n. 778, 164 Kinini 65 ,70-73,95
Sad b. Malik 163 al-Sawed 6, 48
Sad b. Masud al-Thagafi 47-49 Sawed b. Qulbah al -Tamimi 30,31
Sad b. Qays b. 'Aylin i; 6 n. 681 al-Sawahil 15
sadd, wall, rampart 4z n. zoi $awdmi', religious buildings 46
Safwin b. 'Amr, rawi 104 Sayf b. 'Umar, rdwi xiii, It z, 8, 9, 17,
al-Si'ib b. al-Agra' 8, 9 18, 19 n. 96, 21 , 34, 39, 43, 47-51,
al-Su'ib b. Yazid, rdwi 1 i S 55, 64, 66, 67, 70, 71, 73, 8o, 8z, 87,
Said b. 'Amr b. Said al'A$, rdwi 5o 95, 133, 142, 163
Said al-Jurayri, rdwi to8 Seleucia 4 n. 20
Said b. Khilid, rdwi 129 al-Sha 'bi. See 'Amin al-Sha'bi
Said b. al-Marzbin, Abu Sa'd al- Shaddid b. Aws, Companion 165
Baggal, rdwi 2,9,18,43 al-Shaft bt. 'Abdallih, rdwi 120
Said b. al-Musayyab, rnwi 131,z63 shah, ruler of Sijistan 76
Said b. Zayd b. 'Amr b. Nufayl 144, Shahr b. Hawshab al-Ash'ari, rdwi
145, 15z 143
$akhr. See al-Ahnaf Shahrak, governor of Fars 67-70
Salamah, father of Eyes 139 Shahram 25
Salamah b. Fadl al-Azraq, rdwi 15,95 Shahrbaraz, ruler of al-Bab 35, 36,
Salamah b. Kuhayl al-Ha4rami, 38-42
ravel 139 Shahrbaraz Jadhawayh 7
Salamah b. Qays al -Ashja'i 83, 84, al-Sham 35
86-89 al-Shammikh b. Qirir 38
$alih b. Kaysan, rdwi 96, 1 z9 al-Shammus, horse 58
Salim, client of Abu Hudhayfah 143, Shapur, river 64 n. 284, 65 n. z88
144 Shaqiq b. Salamah al-Asadi, rdwi 88,
Salim b. Abdallih b. 'Umar, rdwi 141
156, 29 n. 159, 3o n. 166, 37 nn. Zayd, the younger, son of 'Umar b. al-
118o and 183-84, 38 nn . 188-89, Khattib zoo
43 nn . 206-8, 44 n. 2113 , 45 n. 218, Zayd b. Akhzam al -Tai, raw! 98
48 nn. 238-39, 51 n. 246, 52 n. Zayd b. Aslam, rd W 99 , 1 to, I 12, 121,
248, 53 nn . 249-50, 252, 254, and 133
256, 54 nn. 258 and 261 - 62, 56 It. Zayd b. Thibit 15
272, 64 nn. 283 - 84, 65 nn. Zaynab bt. (al-)Jahsh, wife of the
288-90, 66 n. z96 , 68 n.302,
302,71 P. Prophet 97
314, 73 n • 322, 74 n. 325, 75 nn. Zaynab bt. Ma;'un, wife of 'Umar b. al-
330, 333 , and 335, 77 n. 340, 79 nn. Khattib 97 It. 442, 100
353-54, 119 n. 592, 164 n. 784, Zaynab bt. 'Umar b . al-Khattib 97 n.
165 n. 789 442, 101
Yarfa', servant of 'Umar b. al- al-Zinabi b . Qulah Abu al-
Khattib 85, 87 , 88,134,135 Furrukhin 2.1, 24-26
Igo Index
7 :. b. Hubaysh, rdwi 96, 97 11911. 640 , 145, 146 , 150P 151, 156,
Ziyid, client of al-I;lakam b. Abi 159
al-'A$ 69 al-Zubayri, al-Mu$'ab b. 'Abdallih 3n.
Ziyid b. Abi Sufyin, governor of al- to, 91 n - 403, i 16 nn. 569-70, I'S
Ba$rah 8 i, 8: n. 585, 132.n . 659, 152n. 744,
744,164
Ziyid b. Han;alah 3, 5, 6, 34 n. 781
Ziyid b. Labid al-Bayi4i, a Helper 162, Zuhayr b. Abi Sulmi, poet 136
i63 al-Zuhri. See Ibn Shihib al-Zuhri
al-Zubayr b. al-Awwim 86, 9i, ioi, Zunbil 76