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After Ain at-Tamr, when Ayadh wrote
to Khalid requesting reinforcements, Khalid wrote back,
"Wait a while: there will come to you mounts
Carrying lions in shining armour,
Battalions followed by battalions."1
The portion of Central
Iraq lying between the Euphrates and the Tigris, below Ctesiphon, was
now under Muslim control. The inactivity of the Persians confirmed Khalid's
belief that Ctesiphon was no longer in a position to interfere with his
operations, let alone pose a threat to his base at Hira or his communications
with the desert. Hence Khalid turned his attention to the north, where
his forces had not yet ventured. There were two places which offered a
likelihood of opposition-Anbar and Ain-ut-Tamr, both manned by sizable
Persian garrisons and Arab warriors who would resist the advance of the
Muslims. Both were governed by Persian officers. (See Map
10.)
Khalid decided to take Anbar first. This
was an ancient fortified town and commercial centre to which trade
caravans came from Syria and Persia. It was also famous for its
large granaries. At the end of June 633 (middle of Rabi-ul-Akhir,
12 Hijri) Khalid marched from Hira with half his army (about 9,000
men), leaving behind a strong garrison at Hira and several detachments
in Central Iraq. Moving along the west bank of the Euphrates, he
crossed the river somewhere below Anbar. As his scouts moved out
eastwards to keep the approaches from Ctesiphon under observation,
he moved the army to Anbar and laid siege to the town. The Muslims
found that the town was protected not only by the walls of the fort,
but also by a deep moat filled with water. The moat was within close
bow?range of the wall so that those attempting to cross it would
have to face accurate fire from archers on the walls. The bridges
over the moat had been destroyed at the approach of the Muslims.
2
Anbar was the chief town of the district
of Sabat, which lay between the two rivers west of Ctesiphon. In
Anbar resided the governor of Sabat, a man named Sheerzad who was
known more for his intellect and learning than his military ability.
Sheerzad was now faced with the task of defending the fort against
a Muslim army with the forces under his command-the Persian garrison
and a large number of Arab auxiliaries in whom apparently he had
little faith.
The day after his arrival Khalid moved up
to examine the defences of the fort. On top of the wall he saw thousands
of Persians and Arabs standing around carelessly in groups, looking
at the Muslims as if watching a tournament. Amazed at this sight,
Khalid remarked, "I see that these people know nothing about
war." 2
He collected 1,000 archers-the best of his
marksmen-and explained his plan. They would move up casually to
the edge of the moat with bows ready, but arrows not fitted. At
his command they would instantly fit arrows to their bows and fire
salvo after salvo at the garrison. "Aim at the eyes",
Khalid told the archers. "Nothing but the eyes!"
4
The detachment of archers moved towards
the fort. The crowds standing on the wall gaped at the archers,
wondering what they would do next. When the archers had got to the
moat, Khalid gave the order, and 1,000 swift missiles flew across
the moat, followed by another 1,000 and yet another. In a few seconds
the garrison had lost 1,000 eyes. A clamour went up in the town:
"The eyes of the people of Anbar are lost!" As
a result of this action the Battle of Anbar is also known as the
Battle of the Eyes. 5
When Sheerzad heard of the misfortune that
had befallen the garrison, he sent Khalid an offer to surrender
the fort if suitable terms were agreed upon. Khalid rejected the
offer; the surrender would have to be unconditional. Sheerzad half-heartedly
decided to continue resistance.
Khalid resolved to storm the fort. The wall
would have to, be scaled, but this was not too difficult a task.
The chief problem was crossing the moat, which was deep and wide.
There were no boats available nor material with which to make boats
or rafts; and the Arab of the desert was no swimmer. Khalid decided
to make a bridge of flesh and bone.
1. Ibn Kathir, Al-Bidayah wan-Nihayah, Dar
Abi Hayyan, Cairo, 1st ed. 1416/1996, Vol. 6 P. 428.
2. Nothing remains of Anbar except some mounds
3 miles north-west of the present Faluja and about a mile from the
Euphrates. One can still pick up pieces of old pottery on the mounds
which cover an area half a mile square. According to Yaqut (Vol.
1, p. 367), the Persians called this town Fairoz Sabur.
3. Tabari: Vol. 2, p. 575.
4. Ibid.
5. Ibid.
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