CHAPTER I
The Conquest of as-Sawâd
THE CALIPHATE OF ABU-BAKR AṢ-ṢIDDÎḲ
Al-Muthanna invades as-Sawâd. Al-Muthanna ibn-Ḥârithah ibn-Salamah ibn-Ḍamḍam ash-Shaibâni used to lead incursions with some of his men against as-Sawâd.[1] Having heard of it, abu-Bakr made inquiries regarding him and learned from Ḳais ibn-ʿÂṣim ibn-Sinân al-Minḳari that that was not a man with no reputation, or of unknown origin, or of no support; but it was al-Muthanna ibn-Ḥârithah ash-Shaibâni. Later, al-Muthanna presented himself before abu-Bakr and said to him, "Caliph of the Prophet of Allah, make me your lieutenant over those of my people who have accepted Islâm, that I may fight against those foreigners, the Persians." Abu-Bakr wrote him a covenant to that effect. Al-Muthanna proceeded till he came to Khaffân; and inviting his people to Islâm, they accepted it.
Khalîd in al-Ubullah. Abu-Bakr then wrote to Khâlid ibn-al-Walîd al-Makhzûmi, ordering him to go against al-ʿIrâḳ. Others say that he sent him from al-Madînah. In the meantime, abu-Bakr wrote to al-Muthanna ibn-Ḥârithah ordering him to receive Khâlid and obey his word.
Previous to this, Madhʿûr ibn-ʿAdi-l-ʿIjli had written to abu-Bakr presenting his case and the case of his people, and asking to be put in charge of the campaign against the Persians. Now, abu-Bakr wrote and ordered him to join Khâlid, stop with him when he stopped and move with him
- ↑ ʿIrâḳ, the region west of the Tigris. Rustah, p. 104.
