Eve of Yarmuk
Mahan glared at the rag tag army from the desert with contempt. If the Muslims weren’t standing in formation he would have confused them for a mob. They had no uniform. Their weapons were anything but standard; one had Sasanian sword, another a Roman shield and the next a bow taken from a dead Ghassanid archer. Now these fakirs stood before him ready to do battle!
Sitting on his horse behind his soldiers, Mahan could see the silhouette of the Muslim line as the sun rose up from behind. What do these backward desert dwellers know about strategy and war? And yet, thought the Roman General, these same Muslims had decisively defeated his comrades at Ajnadin, Damascus & Baisan. And they now occupied the one point of elevation on the scrubby plain of Yarmuk, which gave them an annoyingly good vantage.
Mahan’s barrel chest swelled with confidence as he gazed at his soldiers standing in perfect formation with the standard of each squad and corps fluttering in the air. He had 120 000 of the toughest soldiers and most talented Generals produced by the Empire. Mahan knew he outnumbered the Muslim army 2 to 1 possibly 3 to 1. They had at most 40 000 troops.
Khalid Bin Al-Waleed (RA)
Their General was Khalid bin Waleed. His people call him the
"Sword of Allah". Ever since he entered the Syrian theater Mahan heard the stories. He was a man built for war, a military genius with a sharp strategic mind, a brilliant tactician and the strength to go up against any champion. Khalid (RA) employed strategies and battle field tactics that embarrassed the imperial armies of Persia and Rome.
The destruction of the Persian army at Walaja was still talked about in the capital. Khalid (RA) enveloped the entire Persian army and annihilated it. Mahan, a student of military history, understood the significance of that victory. Many factors are required to pull off a double envelopment or pincer movement. As a result there are few recorded instances of this tactic being employed successfully. The Carthaginian General Hannibal first employed this tactic against the Romans at the Battle of Cannae in 216 BCE. But Khalid (RA) was not aware of Hannibal and must have developed his strategy independently. Mahan would not underestimate him.
Mahan had the glory of Rome behind him. He’d studied his compatriot’s defeats and this time it would be different. He would go on the offensive and teach these camel herders a lesson in war.
Order of Battle on the Eve of Yarmuk
Day 1
Mahan watched his champions fall like flies. The two armies stood facing each other watching their champion’s faceoff in individual combat and the Muslims were winning. Mahan clenched his teeth in frustration. He swung around with his finger pointing at his deputy and barked “order the assault!”
Along the entire front a third of his army charged shrieking across no man’s land slamming into the Muslim lines.
Not a concerted effort; but simply to test the resolve of the battle hardened Muslim army. At the end of the day, both sides held the same position.
As the sun set across the Yarmuk River, Mahan vowed the next day would be different. He would teach Khalid (RA) and the Muslims a lesson in war.
Day 2
Pebbles bounced up and down on the scrubby Yarmuk plain as the Roman soldiers thundered across the field.
Mahan launched his left and right flank early in the morning hoping to catch the Muslims off guard. He planned to send wave after wave of fresh fighters until the Muslim line broke. He outnumbered Khalid’s (RA) army by a wide margin and knew that Khalid (RA) could not replace his tired troops. He would use his numerical superiority to his advantage.
Squeezed between the treacherous cliffs of the River Yarmuk and the army of Abu Ubaidah (RA), Yazeed repulsed the initial Roman attack.
How long could he hold out before fatigue kicked in, thought Mahan.
The blowing sound of a horn filled the air. From his periphery he saw the second wave launch in unison screaming across the field as the Muslim line reorganized in expectation. The Romans crashed into the tired Muslims and engaged. There was vicious close quarter combat with broken bodies littered everywhere. Mahan could see his troops slowly gaining. Their standard fluttered in the air, it was never pushed back; just kept inching forward. Mahan’s eye zoomed in on that one standard, watching it in expectation until the Muslim line broke and the flood gates opened.
On the left flank with the Azra hills off in the distance things were moving slowly. Amr Al Aas was putting up stiff resistance. His troops repelled 2 waves of Roman fighters and the 3rd wave was barreling towards them midway between the two armies. It was just a matter of time thought Mahan. Even the most battle hardened soldier must give in to fatigue. At that moment the veteran general’s prediction came true; the Muslim line broke. Mahan relaxed. His clenched fists loosened. So far so good.
The Muslims retreated in some disorder back toward their camp but there was no reprieve there. The women came out and threw pebbles at their men for retreating and exhorting them to turn and fight.
The Muslim commanders reorganized their troops and launched a counter attack but they desperately needed support.
Day 2 - Roman attack from the right and left flank
Mahan sat smug on his horse and surveyed his work. He’d broken through on both flanks. From his vantage point behind the center army Mahan could see that Khalid (RA) had not deployed his mobile guard. Mahan knew why and his lips curled into a vicious smile. If Khalid (RA) supported one flank, the other flank would be overwhelmed. Checkmate.
Mahan could taste victory. He was almost disappointed the famous Khalid bin Waleed (RA) did not provide a better challenge. So much for his reputation as a cunning strategist, thought Mahan.
As if on cue, Khalid (RA) deployed his mobile guard. He unleashed his cavalry in support of Amr just as he was launching his counter attack. Mahan’s left flank was struck from two sides. Mahan watched in dismay as the Romans fought heroically but were beaten back to their original lines. No worries, this battle would be decided on the other side of the field.
Day 2 - Muslim counter attack on the Roman left flank
Once Mahan saw that Khalid (RA) had committed his mobile guard to the left flank, he scrutinized the tactical situation on the right and devised his next move with the Corps Commander of the right flank Gregory.
Before Mahan had a chance to issue even a single order, a plume of dust rose up behind the Muslim lines at incredible speed. Mahan stared. Khalid’s (RA) mobile guard raced to support Yazeed on the other side. The Muslim leader hit them from three sides, with Yazeed counter attacking, Khalid’s (RA) mobile guard charging in and Abu Ubaidah (RA) supporting. Mahan’s soldiers put up a stiff resistance but at the end of the day, they fell back to their original position.
Mahan tipped his hat. Khalid’s (RA) reputation remained intact. The next day would be different. He’d learned a lesson from Khalid (RA).
Day 2 - Muslim counter attack on the Roman right flank
Day 3
Mahan felt the wind sweep across the blood soaked plain as he came out of his tent and slowly mounted his horse. Khalid (RA) was outnumbered by a wide margin, he thought. They must be tiring by now. It was just a matter of time before victory. He decided to keep the same strategy as the previous 2 days: attack the flanks and keep throwing fresh men until the lines broke.
Mahan focused on the left flank and gave the order to charge. Just as the previous day, his fighters broke through after several attempts. Just as the previous day, the Muslim commanders reorganized and launched a counter attack with Khalid (RA) supporting. And just as the second day the Muslims pushed the Romans back to their lines.
Day 3 - Roman offensive on the left flank
Day 3 - Muslim counter offensive on the left flank
Another day; another reverse.
Mahan’s face grew dark with concern. His lips tightened at the thought that he had thrown everything he had and gained nothing. From the other side of no man’s land he could hear the cries of “Allahu Akbar” repeated over and over again. Their morale must be high.
Mahan nudged his horse and trotted back to his tent, lost in thought: “What can I do differently to break this army from the desert?”
Mahan’s window of opportunity was closing and the chances of victory were becoming slim.
Day 4 – Day of Lost Eyes
The morning mist from the Yarmuk river gave a strange sense of calm on such a momentous day.
It was now or never. Mahan knew that if his men did not break through they would not be able to launch another offensive. Today had to be decisive. Realizing how desperate he was, he knew he had to take advantage of any opening no matter how trivial.
His men were ready. The standards were fluttering in the air and Mahan gave the order to charge. The horn sounded and the soldiers broke free. He was leaning on his veterans on the left flank again. So far they had carried the lion’s share of the fight and would do so again today.
After three days of fighting Mahan felt the Muslims on his left flank were ripe for the picking. The Roman soldiers engaged Amr and Shurahbeel’s Corps. Amr’s men held their line but the Romans broke through Shurahbeel.
Day 4 - Roman offensive on the left flank
At last! thought Mahan. He watched his troops break through. He knew Khalid (RA) would move his mobile guard to support as he did the previous few days and this time he would act decisively. Once Khalid (RA) moved the mobile guard, Mahan would order the other flank to attack. Without support, the Muslims line would crumble before Khalid (RA) had a chance to react.
Mahan waited. Khalid (RA) never moved. Instead, Khalid (RA) ordered Yazeed and Abu Ubaidah (RA) to charge at Mahan’s right flank to pin them down.
It can’t be!
Khalid (RA) was always one step ahead of him. Khalid (RA) was reading his mind and hearing his thoughts. Mahan was dealing with a master tactician who read the battlefield like a book. Those were not fairy tales he heard in the capital; they were true stories.
Day 4 - Abu Ubaidah (RA) and Yazeed pin down the Romans
Mahan’s brows furrowed in frustration; he couldn’t do anything! Once his right flank was pinned down, Khalid (RA) divided his mobile guard in two. The first half attacked the Romans by going around Shurahbeel’s army and the second half attacked from the south. It was a brilliant move. Hit from three sides, the Romans were pushed back to their original positions. Out-maneuvered again.
Day 4 - Khalid (RA) counter attack on the left flank
Meanwhile, on the banks of the Yarmuk river, only the standards could be seen above the dust cloud that enveloped the fighting men. All that could be heard were the sound of swords clashing against shields, arrows whizzing by, the screams of fallen soldiers and the groans of dying men.
Abu Ubaidah (RA) and Yazeed pinned down the Romans, giving Khalid (RA) valuable time to clean up the situation on the other side; but they had no support. The Roman archers launched an arrow barrage, which covered the blue sky black with arrows sailing across and impaling their victims with deadly accuracy. 700 Muslims lost an eye and the day become known as the day of lost eyes. Both commanders wisely pulled back.
Feeling the pressure of this rare opportunity, Mahan pressed his advantage. He ordered the right flank to chase the retreating Muslims. The Romans surged forward. Their morale boosted at the sight of a retreating foe. The Romans jumped over the fallen in pursuit, slashing at anything not Roman. The Muslims fell back deeper into their territory.
Ikrimah's Last Stand
As the Muslims retreated, one regiment stood its ground. Ikrimah, one of the great foes of the Prophet (SAW) before his conversion, made a pact with death. He would not surrender his position or die defending it. 400 men followed him. With the Muslim army falling back, they were surrounded on all sides. With the ferocity of possessed men they slashed their swords and thrust their spears against all challengers. The position was never lost. Of the 400 men, everyone was either killed or severely wounded. Ikrimah and his son were mortally wounded.
Father and son would later die with their head in the lap of Khalid (RA) – his uncle and dear, dear friend.
Day 4 - The Roman right chase the retreating Muslims
As the Romans surged deeper into Muslim territory, Mahan looked beyond the mayhem of the battle field and could see the Muslim camp. Tents of all sizes with camels tied down, tended by their servants. The women stood outside staring at the drama unfolding before them.
The battle raged for hours. Each side knowing what was at stake. Mahan was anxious. He was looking for a sign, anything to tell him the Romans had broken through. He could see the Roman standards deep inside Muslim territory but they weren’t moving. Several women emerged from the camp and with sword in hand threw themselves against the Romans with wild shouts. The men seeing their women fighting, flew into a rage and counter attacked.
The battle on this front broke down. There was no manoeuvre a general could make to sway the outcome. It came down to each individual soldier giving their super human strength to overcome the other.
Under the heat of the afternoon sun pounding down on the fighting men, Mahan saw the first sign. The fluttering flag of a Roman standard pulled back. Another several hundred meters away also pulled back. Another fell to the ground out of sight. A trickle of men started to retreat and then it became a flood. Mahan’s chest deflated, his head bowed and his eyes shut. They were so close.
The Romans were overcome and retreated back to their lines.
Day 4 - Position of both armies at the end of day 4
As the afternoon turned to evening the day’s action came to an end. It was a vicious day. The battle raged across the entire front and all generals were engaged in combat. Every commander proved his right to be a leader of brave men.
After four days of intense fighting and outnumbering the Muslims 3 to 1 the Romans could not deliver the final blow. The morale had shifted in the Muslims’ favour.
As the sun set on the western edge of the Yarmuk plain, Mahan walked towards his tent passing workers burying the dead and tending to the wounded. Entering his tent, he flopped on the cushions. After a period of stone cold silence he instructed his deputy to assemble his war council. They had to decide the action for the next day; but he knew the answer. They had to negotiate a truce.
But would Khalid (RA) agree?
"Women will no longer be able to give birth to the likes of Khalid bin Al-Waleed."
(Abu Bakr (RA))
Day 5
Sitting on his Arab stallion on the hilltop Jumm’a, Khalid’s (RA) shadow cast forward as the sun rose behind him. Broad-shouldered, he folded his arms across his sturdy frame and ran the fingertips of one hand over his cheek and through his thick flowing beard. The battlefield lay sprawling before him like a game of chess; he mentally moved the pieces to corner the king.
Across the scrubby Yarmuk plain, Khalid (RA) saw the glint off the amour as the morning sun struck the Roman line. Khalid (RA) gazed at the pomp and ceremony of the Roman army; silver armour resting neatly on top of their red tunics with a hint of gold.
Impressive; but never judge a soldier by his pretty clothes, Khalid (RA) thought, smiling. After four days of hard fighting, the Romans could not deliver that final fatal blow!
Waging war came naturally to Khalid (RA).
He belonged to the Makkan tribe of Bani Makhzum. They were responsible for matters of war. As a Makhzumi, proficiency over the horse, camel, sword, spear, bow and lance was a minimum and Khalid (RA) had mastered them all. His father, the tribal chief, mentored him in tribal warfare tactics; the importance of speed, mobility and surprise. As he reached maturity, war became his main interest. Yarmuk would be Khalid’s (RA) greatest test and it would push the limits of his training and experience.
Khalid's (RA) Men
Khalid (RA) dropped his glance at the base of the hill Jumm’a and observed his men. Between every soldier there was a wounded man leaning against another. Their spirit in the face of such overwhelming odds never wavered and he would not abandon them; even if it meant death.
He glanced back at the Roman line. He may not have a professional army, he thought, but he had a thousand Companions of the Prophet (SAW) and a hundred veterans of Badr, from the first battle. They were all he needed and he felt comfort in knowing this.
And yet, he was worried. How much longer could his men hold out? Another battle such as the one fought yesterday and his Bedouin army would have to disappear in the desert behind them. The Romans still had enough men to overwhelm the tired Muslims. What would the Romans do today.
Movement in the Roman center caught his attention. The Romans separated to create a corridor of men through which a rider appeared. The rider kicked up dirt and a trail of dust rose up behind as he rode to the middle of no man’s land. Khalid (RA) watched. Surely this was not a Roman knight out to challenge the Muslims to a dual? Khalid (RA) ordered his deputy to meet the rider.
The two emissaries met in no man’s land, their horses standing face to face inches apart. There was a verbal exchange. Khalid’s (RA) deputy nodded in understanding. The rider handed him a scroll, pulled on his reins and rode back to his line.
The deputy reported back to Khalid (RA). The rider was Mahan’s emissary with an offer of truce.
The Truce and the Decision to Continue The Battle
As the sun reached its zenith over the Muslim camp, the slaves tending to the camels overheard a passionate harangue inside Abu Ubaidah’s (RA) tent.
Inside, the tent lacked any ornamentation. An old faded rug with some worn out cushions covered the ground. All of the senior commanders sat on the threadbare rug in a semicircle with Abu Ubaida (RA) at the head. The decision to accept or reject the truce rested with Abu Ubaida (RA) as Supreme Commander of all Muslim forces in the Syrian theater (Abu Ubaidah (RA) had delegated command for Yarmuk to Khalid (RA)).
Many of the Corps Commanders argued to accept the truce. “This is victory,” they passionately argued. “The men are tired, wounded and we’re heavily outnumbered” they pleaded. “We fought a much larger army deep within enemy territory; we can leave with our honour intact and come back to fight another day.” Their words had an impact on Abu Ubaidah.
Khalid (RA) quietly listened to his fellow comrades. Their arguments were sound but they missed the bigger tactical picture.
Khalid (RA) folded his arms across his great chest and bowed his head down. Now was the time to be decisive he thought. The strategy was to remain on the defensive, wear out the enemy, then pounce. After four days of heavy fighting the Romans had lost their will to fight. It was now his turn. He could see the future battle play out in his mind like a game of chess. Even in the face of such over whelming odds he saw the path to victory.
They had to continue!
The brilliance of Khalid bin Waleed (RA) would be illuminated in these final two days. He selected the plain of Yarmuk because of lessons he’d learned from the Persian campaign. He defeated the Persian army at Kazima only to see its remnants turn up at Qarin. He realized that he could not fight a war of attrition against the imperial armies. He conceived a tactical solution and at Walaja he mastered it. He enveloped the Persian army and annihilated it. It was a stroke of genius and this would become his standard operandi.
At Yarmuk, his tactic would be different but the objective was the same. He selected Yarmuk because of a hidden trap. To their horror, the Roman generals would not realise this until it was too late.
When Khalid (RA) raised his head to speak, there was a hush in the tent. His reputation commanded attention. His battlefield record was unmatched not only in the number of victories but the brilliant manner in which he attained those victories. Khalid’s (RA) words carried weight.
“Bismillah” he started by invoking the name of Allah.
He continued in a deep tone and a deliberate pace, “these past four days have tested our resolve. But now is not the time to concede, when the fruits of victory are within our grasp.” Khalid (RA) rejected Mahan’s offer.
Khalid (RA) spoke about the heroics of the past four days. He reminded his men of their strategy and presented them with his plan.
Abu Ubaida (RA) and the other commanders listened with their eyes staring at the faded rug out of respect for their great general. If the person speaking was anyone other than Khalid (RA), they would probably have rejected his plan. But this was not just any person. This was Khalid (RA), son of Waleed.
Once Khalid (RA) finished, there was silence. Only the fluttering of a loose tent canvas could be heard. Abu Ubaida (RA) paused. No one spoke. The matter was settled. The Muslims would fight!
Final Preparations
As the afternoon heat gave way to a cool evening breeze, the rank and file relaxed for a well-deserved break. Many spent the day in prayer and remembrance of Allah, as was their habit.
Khalid (RA) spent the remainder of the day reorganizing the troops for the counter-offensive. He gave orders to the various commanders and squad leaders. He combined the 4 different cavalry regiments into one powerful mounted force totaling 8000 mounted warriors. This new cavalry unit was placed behind Amr Al Aas’ division on the right flank.
The news about the plan spread throughout the army; not one soldier objected.
After all they had been through over the past 4 years the; destruction of the imperials armies from Constantinople and Persia, the overwhelming odds they faced at each battle this, was just another stroll through the desert.
Their Iman was strong, they had faith in their leaders and they had complete confidence in Khalid (RA) as their general.
Tomorrow would be payback.
