campaigns in Eastern iraq

Hazrat Muthana bin Harith

Chief of Banu Bakr in northeastern Arabia, became Muslim during Prophet’s (PBUH) lifetime.

Participated in the campaign of Bahrain.

Visited Caliph Hazrat Abu Bakr (RA) in Madinah and suggested that the Arabs living in border areas of Iraq rightfully belonged to Arabia.

Recommended that campaigns be launched to liberate these tribes from Persian control → would strengthen Islamic influence.

Abu Bakr (RA) approved after consulting his council and considering Prophet’s predictions about Islam spreading to Iraq and Syria.

Preparations made: Hazrat Muthana (RA) raided eastern Iraq with aid; main army under Khalid bin Walid (RA) to follow.

battle of khazima/chains

Khalid bin Walid (RA) ordered by Abu Bakr (RA) to march to Uballa/Kazima.

Persian governor Hurmuz prepared forces; chained soldiers together → “fight bravely till last breath.”

Khalid (RA) arrived, challenged Hurmuz to duel → Khalid killed him.

Persian troops, chained together, fought fiercely → Muslims attacked in full force.

Chains became a trap during retreat → thousands of Persians killed.

Victory for Muslims before nightfall.

batle of mazar

Persian reinforcements under Qarin marched to Mazar near the Tigris.

Khalid bin Walid (RA) gathered Muslim troops.

Duel: Qarin faced Maqal bin Al Ashi → Qarin killed.

Two other Persian generals also killed in duels.

General attack → Persians resisted but Muslims killed 30,000.

People of Mazar agreed to pay Jizya

battle of walaja

Persian ruler Rustam sent army under Andarzaghar to Walaja.

Khalid bin Walid (RA) led 10,000 Muslim troops.

Duel: Khalid killed giant Hazar Mard, reputedly as strong as 1,000 men.

General battle: Muslims initially struggled → Khalid’s war tactics brought victory.

Andarzaghar fled into the desert → died of thirst.

battle of ullies

Khalid killed Persian Abdul Aswad in duel.

Persians resisted stubbornly → Muslims prayed to Allah, renewed morale → broke Persian resistance.

Muslims secured fourth consecutive victory.

fall of hira

After Ullies, Khalid advanced toward Hira.

Persian governor Azadbeh abandoned the city → fled to Madain.

Treaty: residents to pay Jizya (200,000 dirhams), Muslims guaranteed religious liberty and protection.

Outcome: Most of South and North Iraq conquered.