This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
The Founding of al-Kûfah
441

ibn-Ḥawîyah as-Saʿdi of the banu-Tamîm. Saʿd [ibn-abi-Waḳḳâṣ] allowed them to settle where they chose, and assigned 1,000,000 dirhams for stipends. Their chief [naḳîb] was one of them called Dailam;[1] hence the name of the place Ḥamrâʾ Dailam. Later Ziyâd [ibn-Abîhi], following the orders of Muʿâwiyah, sent some of them to Syria where they are called al-Furs [Persians], others to al-Baṣrah where they were combined with the Asâwirah [Persian cavalry].

According to abu-Masʿûd, the Arabs call the non-Arabs Ḥamrâʾ [the red], and would say, "I came from Ḥamrâʾ Dailam," as they would say, "I came from Juhainah " or some other place. Abu-Masʿûd adds, "I heard someone say that these Asâwirah lived near ad-Dailam and when they were attacked by the Moslems in Ḳazwîn, they accepted Islâm on the same terms as the Asâwirah of al-Baṣrah. Then they came to al-Kûfah and settled in it."

According to al-Madâʾini, Abarwîz brought from ad-Dailam 4,000 men who acted as his servants and escort, which position they held until the Arab invasion. They then took part in the battle of al-Ḳâdisîyah under Rustam. When Rustam was killed and the Magians were defeated, they withdrew, saying, "We are different from those others [i. e., Arabs]; we have no refuge, and have already left a bad impression on the Moslems. Let us then adopt their faith, and we will be strengthened by them." Having deserted to the Moslem camp, Saʿd wanted to know the cause; and al-Mughîrah ibn-Shuʿbah asked them about it. Thus, they presented their case, saying, "We will adopt your faith." Al-Mughîrah came back to Saʿd and told him about it. Saʿd promised them security; and they accepted Islâm. They witnessed the conquest of al-Ma-

  1. "Dîlam" in Persian.