ARAB QONQUEST IRAN

The last of our prophet Muhmmad saw. Dispatched embassies to the different Rulers of Arabia to invited them to accept Islam. Many of the Rulers came under the banner of Islam. He also sent an envoy to the court of Persia, the Persian King Chosroes ll. Known in Persia as khusraw parwiz. He insulted the envoy and thereby incurred the displeasure of the Muslim. The enmity of Persians was further revealed in the rebellion of Bahrain, during Hazrat Abu bakr, when they helped the enemy of Muslim, thus the Persian proved dangerous to the Muslim state and therefore Muslim had to cautious against them.

After crushing the rebellion of Bahrain, the first caliph Hazrat Abu bakr turned his attention toward Persia, so. In 633 A.D Hazrat Au Bakr ordered Khalid bin walid to proceed to the border of Persian Emperor accompanied 10.000 army men, at that time Hurmuz was the commander of Persian forces. The first battle between Muslim and Persian took placed at a place called Hafir. The battle was known as the Battle of Chain. The Persian was defeated and their commander was killed. Hira was besieged and the Persians surrendered and entered into treaty with the Muslim, supporting to pay tributes to the Muslim, the tribute taken from the Christians Hira was termed Jizya.

At the lost of the Hira the Persian became Furious and they were trying to recover it from the hand of Muslim. The Persian king sent Rustam, a famous and general with a large army, Khalid bin Walid has already left to Syria. And Muthanna was left alone in the Persian Frontier. So, Mthanna to the second caliph Hazrat Umar to reinforcement, thereafter Hazrat Umar sent an army toward Persia under the commanded of Abu Ubayda, the battle finally took place at the place called Namaraq in 634 A.D in which Persian were defeated.

The defeated of Persian in the Battle Namaraq enkindled their national pride. They against met the Muslims on the river of Euphrates under commander Bahman, unfortunately Abu Ubayda refused the advised of Muthanna to crossed the river and gave the battle to the Persian. As the resulted Muslims fell in to another’s till 3000 remained out of 9000. Muslim was defeated in this battle. This battle was known as battle of bridge. After this battle retook Hira, meanwhile Yazdigard lll the last sasanians kings had succeeded to the throne.

Hazrat Umar was mortified at the news of the Muslim disaster and began to raise attack against the Persians, both the armies met at the place named Buwaib, a few miles from Kufa. The Persians were defeated after hard conquest their leader Mahram was slain in this battle Buwaib.

The Persians couldn’t tolerate the crushing in that battle of Buwaib and now they began to prepare themselves against all over the lands of Muslims. Sa’ad bin Abi Waqqas was chosen for the chief commander as the Muthanna has been died. Firstly he sent envoy to the Persian court to accept Islam before the opening hostilities, but Persian King insulted the envoys. The ill treatment of Persian king hastened the war, the Persian soldiers were sent against the Muslims under the command of Rustam to Qodisiya. A harder battle took placed at Qodisiya in 637 A.D in which lasted for three days. Although the Persians fought gallantly but defeated and their famous general Rustam was killed, and by the death of him the strength of Persia was completely broke down. This secured for the Muslim to footing ground in Persia.

After a few months Sa;ad bin Abi Waqqas with the permission Of the caliph Umar, Marched against the capital Madain and occupied it. Thus the territory between the Euphrates and the Tigris came under the possession of the Muslims.

The Persians king took refuge in Hulwan, about hundred miles to the north of Madain, He also occupied Jalula. Sa’ad bins Abi Waqqas with strong army under the commander of Qaka to meet the Persians were defeated and Hulwan was captured and the Muslims strongly garrisoned the place.

After this a peace was concluded with the Persians and fighting took place for a view months. But the Persians took and brook the treaty in 638 A.D and the Muslims were completely declare war against them, the last great battle was fought in 642 A.D at Nihawand in which the Persians were completely defeated. Soon after big lost of the throne the King of Persians Yazdigard fled to Isfahan, then to Khirman and from there to Balkh. Thus the whole Persia is under the sway of Muslim.

Written by: Muhammad Ikhsan.
The author is student of post graduate under department of Islamic Studies. Aligarh Muslim University