A.H. 13–14.
The people of the town deserted by Heraclius, and astonished at the irresistible valour of the Muslims, remained passive spectators of events. The Muslims treated them well, and, in consequence, received from them supplies and forage. A colony of Muslims was founded upon the Orontes—the river which flows by Antioch, the town to which Heraclius had withdrawn. Whilst the army which was to sweep the invaders out of the bounds of the Empire was being organised, to Baānes the Armenian was committed the task of constantly harassing the Arabs, and so preventing, above all, the fall of Damascus. He is said to have driven back the Muslims from Emesa upon Damascus, and pitched his camp on the banks of the River of Damascus—the often-mentioned Baradà, the Abana of the Old Testament, within sight of the City—only, however, to retire again upon Emesa. The Muslims built a fort at Berza, the reputed birthplace of Abraham, at the foot of Jebel Ḳâṣiyūn, about a league to the north of the City, in order to protect the besiegers from attack in that direction. An advanced post, under the brave Himyari Dhuʾl-Kelāʿ, is said also to have been established at the Thanīyat al-ʿOḳāb, where the tracks leading to Damascus and to the Euphrates divide.
As regards the disposition of the Muslim forces before the town, Khālid's division was stationed to the east side, in such a way that his left wing faced the East Gate, at the extremity of the "street called Straight," whilst his centre lay between this gate and that of St Thomas, on what is now the great cemetery. Reminiscences of the siege are, it is true, to be found upon the north side also; there is the convent of Khālid, half a league outside the Gate of Paradise, Bāb al-Farādīs; this gate itself bears traces of fire, which may date from this time; and it is sometimes at the present day called Bāb al-Karādis—perhaps from the heap of corpses. On the other hand, the East Gate is the best preserved of all the gates of Damascus.
Capitulation.The divisions of Abu ʿObeida faced the Gate of Jābiya or West Gate, and that of Yezīd the Bāb aṣ-Ṣaghir or "Little Gate" at the south-west angle of the wall, or the stretch of wall between it and the Bāb Kaisān at the south-east. The camp of ʿAmr is said to have been pitched opposite the Bāb Tūmā, or Gate of St Thomas, at the
