The Day of Mihran, Being the Day of al-Buwayb

يوم مهران وهو يوم البويب

c. 14 AH

In al-Baladhuri: the Muslims gathered at Dayr Hind in year 14, Shirawayh having perished and Buran daughter of Kisra ruling till Yazdgard ibn Shahriyar should come of age; she sent Mihran ibn Mihrbandadh al-Hamadhani against them in twelve thousand, and the Muslims gave him leave till he crossed the bridge to Dayr al-A'war's side. Sayf relates Mihran went on crossing to a place called al-Buwayb — where he was killed; al-Buwayb's flanks are said to have filled with bones till dust covered them in the civil-war time, and the stretch between al-Sakun and Banu Sulaym was the Euphrates' outflow into al-Jawf in the Khasraws' day. The Muslims camped at al-Nukhayla, Jarir ibn Abdallah over Bajila by some accounts and al-Muthanna over Rabi'a by others — or each over his own people. The armies met: Shurahbil ibn al-Simt al-Kindi fought well that day; Mas'ud ibn Haritha, al-Muthanna's brother, was killed, and al-Muthanna said 'let not my brother's fall dismay you — the falls of your best are such'; they charged as one man, steadfast, till God killed Mihran and routed the unbelievers, the Muslims pursuing with few escaping; Qurt ibn Jammakh al-Abdi fenced till his sword bent. Night fell and they crept back to camp, in year 14. Killing Mihran was claimed by Jarir ibn Abdallah and al-Mundhir ibn Hassan ibn Sirar al-Dabbi — each saying 'I killed him' — in a sharp dispute: al-Mundhir took his belt, Jarir the rest of his spoil; it is also said al-Husayn ibn Ma'bad ibn Zurara ibn Udas al-Tamimi was among his killers. Mihran and al-Qadisiyya are said to be eighteen months apart.

Overview

al-Baladhuri relates that the Muslims gathered at the monastery of Hind in 14 AH, and the Persians sent against them Mihran ibn Mihrbandadh al-Hamadhani with twelve thousand men. The Muslims gave him time until he had crossed the bridge, and then the two hosts met at al-Buwayb. ¹ The Persian commander was Mihran. The report says that Queen Buran, daughter of Khosrow, was the one who sent him.

Command and fighting

The accounts differ. According to the Bajila, the commander was Jarir ibn Abd Allah; according to Rabi'a, it was al-Muthanna ibn Haritha; and it is also said that each group had its own leader. Shurahbil ibn al-Simt distinguished himself, and Mas'ud ibn Haritha, brother of al-Muthanna, was killed. ¹

al-Baladhuri relates that al-Muthanna told the Muslims not to be frightened by the fall of his brother. They charged as one man until Mihran was killed and the Persians were routed. ¹

Who killed Mihran

Jarir and al-Mundhir ibn Hassan al-Dabbi disputed who had killed him. al-Mundhir took his belt, and Jarir took the rest of his spoils. It is also reported that others were among his killers. Qurt ibn Jammakh al-Abdi is named among those who fought until his sword was bent. ¹ al-Buwayb lies in al-Buwayb.

The Conquest of al-Anbar and the Raid on Baghdad's Market

In al-Baladhuri: Khalid marched to al-Anbar whose people fortified; a guide told him of Baghdad's market — the old market at Qarn al-Sarat — so he sent al-Muthanna ibn Haritha raiding on it and the Muslims filled their hands with gold, silver and light goods, then overnighted at al-Saylahin and came to al-Anbar where Khalid was; they besieged its people and burned through its outskirts — al-Anbar being named for the Persians' granaries there, from which al-Nu'man's retainers and clients drew their rations — so when they saw what befell them they made peace with Khalid on terms he accepted from them. It is also said Khalid sent al-Muthanna ahead to Baghdad then marched after and himself led the raid — not established. Via al-Sha'bi: Anbar's people have a covenant and contract. Shaykhs of Anbar told al-Baladhuri they were pacified in Umar's caliphate on their canals: four hundred thousand dirhams and a thousand Qatawani cloaks yearly, Jarir ibn Abdallah al-Bajali conducting the peace — or, it is said, on eighty thousand; God knows best.

The Day of Mihran, Being the Day of al-Buwayb

At a glance

Overview

Command and fighting

Who killed Mihran

Connections

People and things also explored

Sources

Time

The Conquest of al-Anbar and the Raid on Baghdad's Market