al-Nusayr and Hudhayfa's Raid toward Tikrit

غارة النسير وحذيفة إلى تكريت

c. 634 CE · c. 13 AH† †

† Hijri date derived by computation from the Gregorian/Julian date; it may differ from the transmitted date by a day or two.

In al-Baladhuri: al-Tusayr ibn Daysam ibn Thawr was sent from Ayn al-Tamr against a water of Banu Taghlib — he surprised them by night, killed and captured; a captive freed for guiding him to a Rabi'a clan led him to night-strike them for booty and captives, then he went to Tikrit's landward side and the Muslims took booty. Via Abu Mas'ud al-Kufi: he came to Ukbara' — its people safe-conducted, bringing food and fodder for his men — then passed al-Baradan whose people ran before the Muslims; he told them 'no harm' and that was their safe-conduct; then to al-Mukharrim — not yet called Mukharrim, only named after some descendant of Mukarram ibn Hazn ibn Ziyad ibn Anas al-Dayyan al-Harithi settled it, per al-Kalbi — then they crossed a bridge bound at Qasr Sabur, known today as Qasr Isa ibn Ali; Khurzad ibn Mahibandadh its garrisoned warden fought them and was routed, and they withdrew to Ayn al-Tamr. Al-Waqidi said: al-Muthanna ibn Haritha sent al-Nusayr and Hudhayfa ibn Mihsan after the Day of the Bridge and his withdrawal with the Muslims to Khaffan, in Umar's caliphate, with horse — they fell on some of Banu Taghlib, crossed to Tikrit and took cattle and sheep. Attab ibn Ibrahim via Abu Mas'ud: al-Tusayr and Hudhayfa safe-conducted Tikrit's people and wrote them a document which Utba ibn Farqad al-Sulami enforced for them when opening al-Tirhan and Mosul; it is also said al-Nusayr was sent by Khalid ibn al-Walid (may God be pleased with him) raiding villages at Maskin and Qatarrabul for a fine booty.

Overview

al-Baladhuri gives several reports of a raid led by al-Nusayr (in one copy al-Tusayr) ibn Daysam, with Hudhayfa ibn Mihsan, toward Tikrit. ¹

Al-Baladhuri's account

al-Nusayr went from Ayn al-Tamr to a water belonging to Banu Taghlib. He attacked them at night, killing and taking captives. A captive whom he had released guided him to a clan of Rabi'a, and he raided them at night, taking booty and captives. He went by land toward the region of Tikrit, and the Muslims took booty. ¹

The account of Abu Mas'ud al-Kufi

He came to Akbara, and its people granted him safe-conduct and brought out food and fodder for his men. He then passed by al-Bardan, whose people were also granted safe-conduct, and then came to al-Mukharram. The source relates al-Kalbi's account of why it was so named. They then crossed a bridge near the palace of Sabur. Khurzad ibn Mahibandadh, who had been assigned to watch over them, came out against them. They fought and defeated him, and then came to Ayn al-Tamr. ¹

The account of al-Waqidi

al-Waqidi said that al-Muthanna ibn Haritha sent al-Nusayr and Hudhayfa after the day of the Bridge and his withdrawal to Khafan, in Umar's caliphate. They fell upon a people of Banu Taghlib, crossed to Tikrit, and obtained cattle and sheep. ¹

The safe-conduct of Tikrit

'Ataab ibn Ibrahim quotes Abu Mas'ud that al-Nusayr and Hudhayfa granted safe-conduct to the people of Tikrit and wrote them a document. Utba ibn Farqad al-Sulami carried it out for them when he conquered al-Tayrahan and Mosul. The report also gives another view: that al-Nusayr was sent by Khalid ibn al-Walid and raided villages at Maskan and Qatrabbul. ¹

Notes

The reports differ over who sent the raid, and they are not weighed against one another here. The date is derived and needs an additional source.

The Great Snowfall of Baghdad in 398

On Wednesday, 11 Rabi' I 398, snow fell on Baghdad and lay on the ground a cubit deep in one place and a cubit and a half in another. It stayed for a week without melting, and people shovelled it from their roofs into the streets and alleys, while remnants lingered in one spot for about twenty days. Its fall reached Tikrit, and reports came of its falling at Wasit and in the area between al-Batiha, Basra, Kufa, 'Ukbara and Mihrubān.

al-Nusayr and Hudhayfa's Raid toward Tikrit

At a glance

In time

Overview

Al-Baladhuri's account

The account of Abu Mas'ud al-Kufi

The account of al-Waqidi

The safe-conduct of Tikrit

Notes

Connections

People and things also explored

Sources

Time

The Great Snowfall of Baghdad in 398