Khalid's Departure for Syria

شخوص خالد إلى الشام

c. Rabi' I 13 AH

In al-Baladhuri: Khalid marched from Ayn al-Tamr to Syria, telling al-Muthanna ibn Haritha 'return, may God have mercy on you, to your command — unsparing, unwasting'; his departure was in Rabi' al-Akhir — or, it is said, Rabi' al-Awwal — of year 13; some say he came to Duma from Ayn al-Tamr, opened it, then returned to al-Hira and thence to Syria — the sounder being his march direct from Ayn al-Tamr.

Overview

Al-Baladhuri relates that Khalid set out from Ayn al-Tamr for Syria, and charged al-Muthanna ibn Haritha to return to his authority without falling short or flagging. ¹

Timing

His departure was in Rabi al-Akhir, or it is said Rabi al-Awwal, of 13 AH. ¹

Differing accounts

Al-Baladhuri gives one account that Khalid came from Ayn al-Tamr to Duma and took it, then came to al-Hira, and from there went on to Syria. He says that the more correct account is that he set out from Ayn al-Tamr. ¹

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.

Khalid's Departure for Syria

At a glance

In space

Overview

Timing

Differing accounts

Connections

People and things also explored

Sources

Time

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