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The Battle of Mihrân
407

The Moslems camped at an-Nukhailah[1] and were led, according to the Bajîlah, by Jarîr ibn-ʿAbdallâh, and, according to the Rabîʿah, by al-Muthanna ibn-Ḥârithah. Others affirm that the Moslems were commanded in turn by the heads of the various tribes. The Moslems met their enemy, and Shuraḥbîl ibn-as-Simṭ al-Kindi distinguished himself in the fight that ensued. Masʿûd ibn-Ḥârithah was slain. So al-Muthanna said, "Fear not, Moslems, because my brother is killed. Such is the fate of the best among you." Upon this, the Moslems charged, as if they were one body, with confidence and patience which resulted, by Allah's help, in the death of Mihrân and the defeat of the "infidels".[2] The Moslems pursued them with slaughter; and few were those who escaped. On this day, Ḳur ibn-Jammâḥ al-ʿAbdi applied his sword until its edge was bent. When the night fell, they returned to their camp. This took place in the year 14.

The death of Mihrân was effected by Jarîr ibn-ʿAbdallâh and al-Mundhir ibn-Ḥassân ibn-Ḍirâr aḍ-Ḍabbi, each one of whom claimed that he had killed him, which led to a fierce dispute.[3] At last, al-Mundhir carried away Mihrân's belt; and Jarîr, the rest of the spoils from him. Some assert that among those who killed him was al-Ḥiṣn ibn-Maʿbad ibn-Zurârah ibn-ʿUdas at-Tamîmi.

Moslem raids. After this victory, the Moslems did not cease to make raids in the regions between al-Ḥîrah and Kaskar, Sûra, Barbîsma [?] and Ṣarâṭ[4] Jâmâsib and between al-Fallûjatain, an-Nahrain and ʿAin-at-Tamr.[5]

  1. Yâḳût, vol. iv, pp. 771–772.
  2. Cf. Masʿûdi, vol. iv, pp. 205–206.
  3. Yûsuf, p. 16, lines 16–17.
  4. Cf. Dînawari, p. 121.
  5. See Le Strange, The Lands of the Eastern Caliphate, p. 25, map.