CONQUEST OF ALEPPO, AND MARCH OF MÂLEK ASHTAR TO
THE BOUNDARIES OF RÛM [i.e., BYZANTINE EMPIRE].

When Abu O’baydah B. Jurrâh had terminated the war of Yarmûk, he turned the reins of his intention towards Aleppo. He reached his destination after having performed the distance, and pitched his camp outside the city. The inhabitants of Aleppo negotiated for peace, and agreed to pay the capitation tax; and the gates having been opened, the Musalmâns began to govern the subjugated locality. After Abu O’baydah had taken possession of Aleppo, he ordered Mâlek Ashtar to march towards the frontier passes of Rûm. He obeyed, and when he had progressed a few days, Meysarah B. Masrûf was ordered to reinforce him with one thousand warriors more, and to hasten his march. When Mâlek Ashtar had arrived near the frontier pass [Darband], he learnt that about thirty thousand of the enemy had assembled in that place ready to give battle. When Mâlek became aware of the multitude of opponents, he drew in the reins of his intention till the arrival of Meysarah, whereon they held a consultation, and deter­mined to begin hostilities. Both the opposing armies having arranged their centres, right and left flanks, and straightened their lines, champions issued from both sides roaring and boiling like the waves of the green sea [i.e., Indian Ocean]. On this occasion a hero of the Byzantine army, who was distinguished by his majestic figure, high stature, corpulent body, and firmness of purpose above his peers, placed his foot on the battle-ground and shouted for a champion; and though Mâlek Ashtar exhorted his brave warriors much, not one of them responded to the call. When Mâlek Ashtar perceived his own valiant men to be tardy in entering the lists of combat, he urged forward his charger, issued from the lines, and galloped to the Byzan­tine, whereon both drew their sabres and attacked each other. The Byzantine champion struck and split the helmet of Mâlek, his sword almost peretrating into the skull. Mâlek also inflicted a blow on the neck of his antagonist, but without much effect. Hereon the two heroes, the one dark-hearted and the other of an illuminated mind, separated from each other, and Ashtar returned to his friends. When he perceived that a rivulet of blood was flowing from his head, Mâlek cursed his sword, exclaiming: ‘I swear by God that if I had no need of it for fighting, I would knock this sabre against stones until it was broken to pieces!’ One of the sons of Mâlek replied: ‘Our sabre is expected only to cut [and not to thrust], and this is perhaps the reason why it has taken no effect.’ Mâlek said: ‘Thou hast spoken the truth.’ Then the son dressed the wound on the head of his father, and bandaged it. Mâlek then said to one of his cousins: ‘Take my sabre and lend me thy sword, that I may return to the conflict and remove that obstinate fellow.’ The cousin of Ashtar replied, however: ‘Kindly excuse me and leave me my sword, because I need it.’ Mâlek rejoined: ‘Grant my request, that I may give thee my daughter Ammu-n-nu’mân in marriage.’ Then he surrendered his sword to Mâlek; but when he desired again to rush into the fray, his rela­tives restrained him, saying: ‘Do not throw thyself into the vortex of destruction, and have nothing to do with that accursed fellow.’ Mâlek, however, swore by God that as long as a spark of life remained in his body he would not cease to contend with the foe nor don the garment of weakness. When the Amirs perceived that Ashtar would be as good as his word, they withdrew their tongues into their palates, thus taking off the hand of advice from him. Ashtar then hastened towards the enemy, and was struck by the champion, whose sword, however, took no effect; whereon he brought down his own upon the head of the Byzantine, and split it. Then another Byzantine champion sallied out from the lines and attacked Mâlek, who struck his arm with his sword; but the champion caught him by his belt, and while Ashtar struggled to make him let go his hold of it, both warriors tumbled from their horses to the ground, rolling down the declivity towards the river till they came to a halt in a portion of the river-bed which contained at that time no water. Here Ashtar disengaged himself from his antagonist, and killed him with one blow. He then walked out from the river-bed, and joined his friends.

On that day the two armies fought from the morning to the anterior prayers, till at last the eyes of the faithful were illuminated by the beauty of the coveted victory, and the opponents who had escaped the grasp of death took to their heels. Although the Musalmâns had vanquished the foe, they remained watching till dawn, and after they had held their matutinal prayers they received a courier bring­ing a letter from Abu O’baydah of the following purport: ‘The safety of one Musalmân is more precious to me than the riches of the infidels; therefore Mâlek is to return as soon as this letter reaches him.’ The army of Islâm obeyed this order, marched back, and joined Abu O’baydah after traversing the distance. Having appointed Habyb B. Muslamah to govern Aleppo and Qayssar B. Barr the surrounding districts, Abu O’baydah marched to Damascus, and on arriving there sent a letter to O’mar informing him of the state of affairs. Fârûq thereon sent him the follow­ing reply: ‘Let it be known to Abu O’baydah that his letter has arrived, and from the contents thereof the return of the Qayssar to Constantinople, the flight of the Byzantine army, and the arrival of the Musalmân forces in Damascus, have become known. For these propitious events and glorious victories due thanks have been offered to God. Thou who art Abu O’baydah, knowest that yet many forts and strong­holds in that country remain to be conquered; at present, however, it is required that thou shouldst for awhile abide in Damascus so as to afford the necessary rest to the victorious army after the fatigues and troubles of war. Let it be further known that now a letter has arrived from Sa’d B. Abu Woqqâss with the information that the Persian army has assembled in a locality named Galûlâ, and we entertain hopes that He who causes affairs to prosper will enable us to vanquish that multitude as well as the other infidels and malefactors.’ When this letter reached Abu O’baydah he remained in Damascus and engaged in the administration of the portion of Syria which had fallen under the sway of the adherents of Islâm and which thereon prospered by his clemency.