Q5. Write an account of Battle of Yarmuk fought during the caliphate of Hazrat Umar (RA).

(10)

A. At his death bed, Hazrat Abu Bakr (RA) was concerned regarding his successor who had to assume
the office after him. Hence, after a careful thought, he chose to nominate Umar (RA) and put his
proposal before the leading companions. After the agreement of all, Hazrat Umar was chosen as the
second caliph of Islam in 634 AD. He took the title of “Successor to the Successor of the Messenger
of Allah” and his caliphate lasted for 10 years. It was Hazrat Umar (RA)’s glorious caliphate in which
the Islamic Empire expanded rapidly, he fought numerous battles against the Byzantines to confiscate
the land for Muslims.

Unlike Hazrat Abu Bakr, Hazrat Umar (RA) didn’t have to deal with the questions of political
instability. The entire Arab Peninsula was united under his command & Muslims now had the military
experiences to conquer more land, so battles were fought against the Byzantines.

Fought in the summer of 636, the battle of Yarmuk was major conflict between the Byzantines and
the Muslims. The fall of Damascus alerted Heraclius to the Muslim threat from east, to recapture the
city. Heraclius, the byzantine emperor organized a massive army that assembled at jabiya in Golan
Heights. The number of the Muslim army was around 24,000. The roman army also received
reinforcements, this brought their total strength to 240,000. The Muslim army were under the
command of Abu Ubaydah ibn al jarrah, Yazid ibn Abu Sufyan, Amr ibn al Aas, & Khalid ibn al Waleed.
The romans selected Daqosa. By a defensive point of view, this place was safe as there was a
mountain on one side and the river Yarmuk on the other side.

Khalid saw that the Muslim army had no unified command. He clearly saw the danger of four
separate commands, so he called together the commanders and gave a proposal to unite all four
divisions of Muslim army and let him be the commander. He divided army into thirty eight regiments.
Eighteen of them were kept in the middle and appointed Abu Ubaydah there. Ten regiments were on
the right side, under Shurahbeel bin Hasnah and the rest were on the left under Yazid bin Sufyan.
Khalid firstly invited the Romans/Byzantines to Islam or else to pay jizyah. They refused the proposals
and the battle began. Khalid bin Waleed addressed his men, urging them to stick together and be
united, “This is one of Allah’s battles. There should be neither pride nor wrongdoing in it. Strive
sincerely, seeking Allah in your work, for this day also has what lies beyond it.”

Battle of Yarmuk, proceeded by a series of conflicts for about a month and urged into a furious battle
at the end of August when the Muslims, pretending to retreat from their positions, lured the
Byzantines into rough terrain, where they were ambushed. Byzantines divided their army into
infantry and cavalry and separated them, enabling Muslims to inflict great damage on them. On the
other hand, Muslim army was divided into cavalry and infantry into small groups to make it appear
enormous to enemy. Romans couldn’t stay when they faced a rainfall of arrows from the Muslim
side. The Muslims had already blocked the mouth of valley. The full weight of the Muslim attack now
fell on the Roman infantry. They were also unsettled by a storm. Their main army was trapped in the
rugged valleys, with cliffs of Yarmuk gorge behind them. Khalid captured the old Roman Bridge across
Wadi al Ruqqad and the Muslims stormed the Roman/Byzantine camp at Yaqusa. Byzantines were
further demolished and Muslims won a marvelous victory.

So important was this victory that Hazrat Umar (RA) fell into a prayer of gratitude before Allah, after
hearing the news.