Page:Baladhuri-Hitti1916.djvu/190

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CHAPTER IV

The Battle of Ajnâdîn (or Ajnâdain)

The enemy routed. The battle of Ajnâdîn[1] ensued. In this battle about 100,000 Greeks took part, the majority of whom were massed one band after the other by Heraclius [Hiraḳl], the rest having come from the neighboring districts. On that day, Heraclius was in Ḥimṣ [Emesa]. Against this army, the Moslems fought a violent battle, and Khâlid ibn-al-Walîd particularly distinguished himself. At last, by Allah's help, the enemies of Allah were routed and shattered into pieces, a great many being slaughtered.

The martyrs. Those who suffered martyrdom on that day were ʿAbdallâh ibn-az-Zubair ibn-ʿAbd-al-Muṭṭalib ibn-Hâshim, ʿAmr ibn-Saʿîd ibn-al-ʿÂṣi ibn-Umaiyah, his brother Abân ibn-Saʿîd (according to the most authentic report. Others, however, claim that Abân died in the year 29), Ṭulaib ibn-ʿUmair ibn-Wahb ibn-ʿAbd ibn-Ḳuṣai (who fought a duel with an "unbeliever" who gave him a blow that severed his right hand making his sword fall down with the palm. In this condition he was surrounded and killed by the Greeks. His mother Arwa, daughter of ʿAbd-al-Muṭṭalib, was the Prophet's aunt. His surname was abu-ʿAdi), and Salamah ibn-Hishâm ibn-al-Mughîrah. According to others, Salamah was killed at Marj aṣ-Ṣuffar. Other martyrs were: ʿIkrimah ibn-abi-Jahl ibn-Hishâm al-Makhzûmi, Habbâr ibn-Sufyân ibn-ʿAbd-al-Asad al-Makhzûmi (who, according to others, was killed in the battle of

  1. Mémoire, p. 50 seq.; Skizzen, vol. vi, p. 54.

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