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When the Roman emperor heard the news of the mobilization of these armies, he advised his
ministers and commanders to make peace with the Muslims to avoid inevitable defeat. However, his
ministers and commanders insisted on fighting and maintained, "By our Lord, we will make Abu Bakr's
hair stand on end before his horses breed in our land." Consequently, they mobilized an army estimated
at 240,000 warriors.
The Muslim commanders dispatched this terrifying news to Abu Bakr, who pledged, "By Allah, I
will rid them of their doubts through Khaalid." Thus, the antidote of their evil suggestions of mutiny,
aggression, and disbelief, namely Khaalid Ibn Al-Waliid, was ordered to go on an expedition to Syria,
where he was to command the Muslim armies.
Khaalid promptly acted upon his orders and left Iraq under Al- Muthannaa Ibn Haarithah's
supervision and marched with his troops until they reached the Muslim headquarters in Syria. His
ingenuity enabled him to organize the Muslim armies and coordinate their different positions in no time.
Shortly before the outbreak of war, he addressed his warriors after he had praised and thanked Allah,
saying, "This is Allah's day. On this day, we must not give way to pride not let injustice overrule. I
advise you to purify your jihaad and your deeds for Allah. Let us take turns in command. Let each and
everyone of us take over the command for a day."
"This is Allah's day." What a wonderful onset! "We must not give way to pride nor let injustice
overrule." This sentence is even more graceful, adequate, and awesome. On the one hand, the great
leader was not lacking in self-denial and cleverness, for in spite of the fact that the caliph had assigned
the command of the army to him, he did not want to give Satan a chance to whisper in the breasts of his
soldiers. Therefore, he relinquished his absolute hold on the army to every soldier in the ranks even
though he was already the commander. Thus, the commander of the army rotated from day to day.
The enormous and well-equipped Roman army was really terrifying. On the other hand, the Roman
commander realized that time was in the Muslims' favor, for they were given to protracted battles which
would guarantee their victory. Therefore, he decided to mobilize all their troops for a quick battle to
finish off the Arabs once and for all.
Undoubtedly the courageous Muslims, on that day, were gripped by fear and anxiety, yet in such
Predicaments they always resorted to their faith, in which they found hope and victory. Notwithstanding
the might of the Roman armies, the experienced Abu Bakr had firm belief in Khaalid's abilities; therefore
he said, "Khaalid is the man for it. By Allah, I will rid them of their doubts with Khaalid."
Let the Romans parade their terrifying, enormous forces, for the Muslims had the antidote. Ibn Al-
Waliid mobilized and rallied his army, then divided it into brigades. He laid out a new plan for attack and
defense that adhered to the Roman war strategy and tactics with which he was well-acquainted from his
past experience with the Persians. He was ready for all possibilities. Strangely enough, the battle raged
exactly as he had imagined it would, step by step and one fight after another. If he had actually counted
the number of strokes of swords, he would not have been much more accurate. Before the two armies
clashed, he was worried about the possibility that some of the soldiers, especially those who had newly
embraced Islam, might flee upon seeing the terrifying and enormous Roman army.
Khaalid believed that the ingenuity of victory and firmness were one and the same. He believed that
the Muslim army could not afford the loss of even one of its soldiers, for it was enough to spread
malignant panic and havoc inside the army, which was something that even the entire Roman army could
not succeed in doing. In consequence, he was extremely firm concerning anyone who deserted his post
and weapon and ran away. In the Battle of Yarmuuk, in particular, and afterwards, his troops took their
positions. He called the Muslim women and, for the first time, gave them swords. He ordered them to
stand at the rear of the lines to "Kill anyone who flees." It was the magic touch of a mastermind.
Shortly before the battle erupted, the Roman commander asked Khaalid to show himself, for he
wanted a few words with him. Khaalid rode towards him, then they galloped to the area that separated
the two armies. Mahan, the Roman commander, addressed Khaalid saying, "We know that nothing but