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But the army of Eastern
Rome was still a powerful instrument for the waging of imperial
wars and, after the Persian Army, the most efficient and formidable
military machine in the world. Its legions were well-equipped and
ably led, and could still strike terror into the hearts of the peoples
over whose lands they marched. Like any great imperial army, it
was not one national unit but a heterogeneous collection of contingents
from many peoples inhabiting many lands. In its ranks served Romans,
Slavs, Franks, Greeks, Georgians, Armenians, Arabs and tribes from
far-flung regions. These soldiers manned garrisons in the cities
of Syria, most of which were fortified.
Syria, like Iraq, was partly an Arab land,
especially in its eastern and southern parts. The Arabs had been
there since pre-Roman times; and when Emperor Constantine made Christianity
the State religion of the Empire in the early part of the fourth
century A.D., these Arabs also embraced Christianity. But, the Arabs
of Syria were people of no consequence until the migration of the
powerful Ghassan tribe from the Yemen to Syria, which occurred a
few centuries before Islam. For some time the Ghassan fought the
Roman garrisons in Eastern Syria. Then as the Romans came to realise
and value their martial spirit and warlike traits, they made peace
with them and agreed to their living in Syria as a semi-autonomous
people with their own king. The Ghassan Dynasty became one of the
honoured princely dynasties of the Empire, with the Ghassan king
ruling over the Arabs in Jordan and Southern Syria from his capital
at Busra. The last of the Ghassan kings, who ruled at the time of
Khalid's invasion, was Jabla bin Al Aiham. This man shared with
Adi bin Hatim, who has been mentioned earlier in this book, the
distinction of being the tallest Arab in history. His feet too touched
the ground when he rode his horse! 1
This then was the Syria, and this its political
and military condition, that greeted the Muslim army in the early
weeks of the thirteenth year of the Hijra.
The man who commanded the first serious
military venture into Syria was a namesake of Khalid, viz.
Khalid bin Saeed-a man whose military ability was just the opposite
of Khalid's! Towards the end of 12 Hijri (beginning of 634) Abu
Bakr placed him at Taima, some distance north of Madinah, with a
detachment which was to act as a general reserve.
While at Taima, it occurred to Khalid bin
Saeed to invade Syria; and for this project he sought the Caliph's
permission. Abu Bakr had no intention of attempting the conquest
of Syria with a small body of men, especially under an indifferent
and untried general. But the Muslims knew little about the detailed
military situation in Syria and Abu Bakr decided to let this operation
proceed as a reconnaissance in force. He therefore wrote and gave
Khalid bin Saeed permission to enter Syria; but cautioned him against
getting involved in any serious hostilities which might threaten
his withdrawal into the safety of Arabia.
Khalid bin Saeed set out with his small
force, entered Syria and ran headlong into some Roman forces. The
Roman commander in contact with the Muslims-a skilful tactician
by the name of Bahan-lured the unwary Muslims into a trap and executed
a pincer movement to encircle them. At this, Khalid bin Saeed lost
his nerve and fled, leaving most of his men behind. Luckily for
the Muslims, Ikrimah bin Abi Jahl was present at this action; and
taking command of the situation, he extricated the Muslims from
a blunder that was about to turn into a major tragedy. Ikrimah was
able to save the Muslims, but inevitably the expedition bore the
stigma of defeat. Khalid bin Saeed was now in disgrace, and Abu
Bakr made no secret of his contempt for the man's pusillanimity
and lack of skill. (Later, however, this man was allowed to join
the Muslims in Syria, and he retrieved his honour by dying in battle.)
The exact location of this action is disputed.
Some historians suggest that it took place at Marj-us-Suffar, south
of Damascus, but it is unlikely that the expedition could have got
that far before being seriously engaged by the Roman army. The benefit
of this abortive venture to the Muslims, however, was that it made
it clear to the Caliph that the invasion of Syria was not a matter
to be taken lightly.
On return from the annual pilgrimage at
Makkah in February 634, Abu Bakr issued a call to arms for the invasion
of Syria. All was now quiet on the Iraq front. Khalid's campaign
in Iraq had proved an unqualified success: it not only expanded
the political boundaries of the Muslim State but also filled the
coffers of Madinah. The Muslims therefore came to feel that if they
could win against the formidable and much-feared Persians, why not
also against the Romans who were not so fearsome as an imperial
military power? Moreover, the promise of the new religious movement
had to be fulfilled and its destiny achieved. Islam had come as
a blessing for all mankind; and the message had to be conveyed to
all mankind.
1. Ibn Qutaiba: p. 644.
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