A.H. 13–14.
deserve. That he did not belong to the Nobility of Islam was the misfortune which kept him in the background. Jarīr declined to serve under him, a common Bedawi like himself,—not even a Companion of the Prophet; and complained accordingly to the Caliph. ʿOmar, as we shall see, listened to the appeal, and eventually appointed another Commander over both. But before entering on a new chapter in the Persian war, we must revert in our next to the course of events in Syria.
Muthanna.The character of Al-Muthanna, however, deserves more than a passing notice. Among the generals who secured the triumph of Islām, he was second only to one. Inferior to Khālid in dash and brilliancy of enterprise, he did not yield to him in vigour and strategic skill. Free from the unscrupulous cruelty of that great Leader, we never hear of his using victory to gratify private ends. It was due alone to the cool and desperate stand which Al-Muthanna made at the Bridge, that the Muslim force was not utterly annihilated there; while the formation so rapidly afterwards of a fresh army by which, with the help of Christian tribes (rare mark of Muslim liberality in contrast with the bigotry of later days) a prodigious host was overthrown, showed powers of administration and generalship far beyond his fellows. The repeated supersession of Al-Muthanna cost the Caliphate much, and at one time even rendered the survival of Islām in Al-ʿIrāḳ doubtful; but it never affected his loyalty to ʿOmar. The sentiment of the day may have rendered it difficult for the Caliph to place a Bedawi of obscure origin in command of men who as Companions, had fought under the Prophet’s very banner. But it is strange that no historian, jealous for the honour of the heroes of Islām, has regretted the supersession of one so distinguished in its annals, or sought to give Al-Muthanna his deserved place as one of the great Generals of the world.
