The Battle of Nihawand (Fath al-Futuh)

يوم نهاوند فتح الفتوح

In al-Baladhuri: when Yazdgard fled Hulwan in year 19, Persians of Rayy, Qumis, Isbahan, Hamadhan and the Mahayn gathered to him in year 20 under Mardanshah Dhu al-Hajib behind the Dirafsh-i Kabiyan — sixty thousand, some say a hundred thousand. Ammar had written Umar, who meant to march himself, then ordered two-thirds of Kufa out with a Basra detachment and charged al-Nu'man ibn Muqarrin — 'not as tax-gatherer, but as ghazi' — with succession running Hudhayfa, Jarir, al-Mughira, al-Ash'ath; al-Hurmuzan had counseled 'Isbahan is the head, Adharbayjan the wings.' The Muslims chained themselves in tens and fives lest they flee; Persian arrows wounded some before battle. Al-Nu'man announced three banner-shakes — ablution, then swords and shoes, then charge with none turning to another — and fought, his armor heavy, the first martyr, the Persian splitting his mule's belly; Ma'qil found him breathing, washed his face, gave him the tidings of victory — 'praise God; write to Umar.' Hudhayfa took the banner and the conquest was named Fath al-Futuh. Abu Uthman al-Nahdi bore the news to Umar, who wept, hand on head. Al-Sa'ib ibn al-Aqra' held the spoils — 'raise no falsehood, withhold no right' — climbed the fortress on Dhu al-Muwaynatayn's word to the Nukhayrkan treasure, two baskets of unmatched jewels sold at Umar's order to the Qurashi youth Amr ibn Harith for the warriors' shares, who resold one at al-Hira for the whole price and kept the other — his first capital. The conquest fell a Wednesday of year 19, or 20, and via Abu Ma'shar 21; al-Nu'man had camped at al-Isbidhar, al-Ash'ath on the right, al-Mughira the left.

Overview

al-Baladhuri relates that when Yazdegerd fled from Hulwan, the Persians corresponded with the people of al-Rayy, Qumis, Isfahan and Hamadhan, and gathered to him. They put over them Mardanshah Dhu al-Hajib (Dhu al-Hajib). Their number was sixty thousand, and it is said a hundred thousand. ¹ The place: Nihawand.

Mobilisation

Ammar ibn Yasir (may God be pleased with him) wrote to Umar with news of them, and he ordered that two-thirds of the people of Kufa march and one third remain, and he sent a force from Basra. He appointed al-Nu'man ibn Muqarrin, and said that if he were killed, the commander would be Hudhayfa ibn al-Yaman. He consulted al-Hormuzan, who said that Isfahan was the head and Adharbayjan the two wings. ¹

The battle

al-Baladhuri relates that al-Nu'man shook his banner three times, and then the Muslims charged. al-Nu'man was the first to fall, and Hudhayfa took the banner, and God granted them victory, and it was named "the conquest of conquests". The left wing was under al-Mughira ibn Shu'ba. ¹

Differing dates

The conquest was on a Wednesday in 19 AH, and it is also said 20 AH. al-Hasan and Muhammad, quoting Abu Ma'shar, said 21 AH. ¹

Uthman ibn Hunayf's Survey of the Sawad

In al-Baladhuri: Umar sent Uthman ibn Hunayf al-Ansari to survey the Sawad — he found it thirty-six million jarib and set on each a dirham and a qafiz, that qafiz being like their makuuk called al-Shaburqan — Yahya ibn Adam saying it was the sealed Hajjaji measure. Via Qatada from Abi Mujlaz: Umar appointed Ammar ibn Yasir over the Kufans' prayer and armies, Abdallah ibn Mas'ud over their judiciary and treasury, and Uthman ibn Hunayf over the land-survey, allotting them a sheep daily — half with its offal for Ammar, the other half between the two; Uthman surveyed and set ten dirhams on a palm jarib, ten on a vine jarib, six on cane, four on wheat, two on barley, and wrote it to Umar who ratified it. Via al-A'mash from Ibrahim from Amr ibn Maymun: Umar sent Hudhayfa ibn al-Yaman over what was beyond the Tigris and Uthman ibn Hunayf over what was this side — both setting a qafiz and a dirham per jarib. Via Muhammad ibn Abdallah al-Thaqafi: al-Mughira ibn Shu'ba wrote while over the Sawad 'we have crop kinds exceeding wheat and barley' — naming mash, vines, ratba and sesame — so eight each was set and palms waived. Via al-Ayzar ibn Hurayth: Umar set two dirhams and two jaribs on a wheat jarib, a dirham and a jarib on barley, ten on vine, ten on ratba, five on cotton, a dirham on each Farsi palm and on the two daqal grades. Via al-Sha'bi: Uthman ibn Hunayf set five dirhams for a ratba jarib and ten for vine, without bundling what grew beneath.

The Battle of Nihawand (Fath al-Futuh)

At a glance

Overview

Mobilisation

The battle

Differing dates

Connections

People and things also explored

Sources

Time

Uthman ibn Hunayf's Survey of the Sawad