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weariness and hunger made you leave your country and go on this expedition. If you wish, we shall give
ten dinars, clothes, and food to every one of you, on one condition, that you return to your country and
next year we will do the same.
Khaalid gnashed his teeth, as he was provoked by his flagrant lack of manners, yet he repressed
himself and answered confidently, "We didn't leave our country out of hunger as you said, but we heard
that Roman blood is very delicious and tasty, so we have decided to quench our thirst with it."
Swiftly, the hero rode back to the ranks of his army and raised the Muslim standard to the full
length of his arm, then he launched the attack. Allahu akbar. Let the breeze of Paradise blow!
At once, his army was like a missile as it charged into the battlefield. They met in an extraordinary,
monstrous, and deadly combat. The Romans rushed into the battlefield with an enormous number, yet
they found that their foes were not an easy prey. The self-sacrifice and firmness that the Muslims
displayed on that day were impressive.
In the first place, one of the Muslim soldiers rushed to Abu `Ubaidah Ibn Al-jarraah (May Allah be
pleased with him) during the battle and said, "I have set my mind on martyrdom. Do you want me to take
a message to the Prophet (PBUH) when I meet him?" Abu `Ubaidah answered, "Yes, tell him we have
indeed found true what our Lord had promised us." Immediately, the man darted like an arrow into the
horrors of the battlefield. He craved death; therefore, he fought fiercely with one sword while thousands
of swords were thrusted into him until he won martyrdom.
Secondly, Ikramah lbn Abu Jahl - yes, he was the son of the infamous Abu Jahl. He called out to the
Muslims when the Romans were killing anyone who came within the sweep of their swords and said, "I
fought against the Prophet before Allah guided me to Islam, so how can I possibly be afraid of fighting
Allah's enemy after I submitted myself to Islam?"
Then he cried out, "Who gives me the pledge to death?' He was given the pledge to death by a group
of Muslims. Then they broke through the enemy lines. They preferred martyrdom to victory. Allah
accepted the bargain they had concluded through their pledge and they won martyrdom.
Thirdly, other Muslims were badly wounded and water was brought so that they might quench their
thirst, yet when it was offered to the first one, he pointed to his brother who was lying next to him more
seriously wounded and who was more thirsty. Again, when this brother was offered water, he in his turn
pointed to his brother. Finally, the majority of them died thirsty after they had demonstrated an incredible
example of self-denial and selfsacrifice. Indeed, the Battle of Al-Yarmuuk witnessed unprecedented and
unmatched instances of self-sacrifice.
Among these striking masterpieces of self-sacrifice exhibited by the determined will of the Muslims
was the extraordinary portrait of Khaalid lbn Al-Waliid at the head of only 100 soldiers who flung
themselves against 40,000 Romans. Khaalid kept calling out to his 100 soldiers saying, `By Allah, the
Romans seemed to have lost their patience and courage, therefore I pray to Allah to let you have the
upper hand over them."
How could 100 soldiers have the upper hand over 40,000? It is, indeed, incredible! Yet, were not the
hearts of these 100 soldiers filled with faith in Allah the Most High, the Most Great? Were they not filled
with faith in His trustworthy and honest Prophet (PBUH)? Were they not filled with faith in that cause
which represents the most persistent vital issue in life? This cause represents piety and righteousness.
And was not their Caliph Abu Bakr As-siddiiq (Allah be pleased with him) the man who, while his flags
were raised above the whole world, sat there in Al-Madiinah, the new capital of the new world, milking
with his own hands the ewes of widows and kneading with his own hands the bread of orphans? Was not
their Commander Khaalid lbn Al-Waliid the antidote for the doubts of tyranny, arrogance, oppression,
and transgression? Was not the Sword of Allah drawn against the powers of backwardness, decay, and
disbelief? Were not all these portraits a depiction of truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?