Abu ‘Imran al-Jawni narrated—through ‘Alqama ibn ‘Abd Allah al-Muzani, from Ma‘qil ibn Yasar—that ‘Umar consulted al-Hurmuzan about Isfahan, Fars, and Azerbaijan. Al-Hurmuzan said, “Isfahan is the head, and Fars and Azerbaijan are the two wings. If you cut off one wing, the head and the other wing will regroup (1); but if you strike the head, the two wings will collapse.”
‘Umar then said to al-Nu‘man ibn Muqarrin, “I intend to appoint you.” He replied, “Not as a tax collector, but yes as a fighter.” ‘Umar answered, “Then you shall go forth as a fighter.”
So he dispatched him and wrote to the people of Kufa to reinforce him; among them were Hudhayfa, al-Zubayr, al-Mughira, al-Ash‘ath, and ‘Amr ibn Ma‘di Karib. The remainder of the lengthy report is found in al-Hakim’s al-Mustadrak.
That account includes the supplication: “O Allah, grant al-Nu‘man martyrdom together with victory for the Muslims, and open the land for them.” They all said “Āmīn.” He then shook his banner three times, charged, and was the first to fall—may Allah be pleased with him.
Dhu al-Hajibayn fell from his grey mule; his abdomen split open, yet Allah granted victory. I then reached al-Nu‘man while a trace of life remained in him. I brought him water and poured it over his face, washing away the dust.
He asked, “Who is that?” I said, “Ma‘qil.” He asked, “What have the people done?” I replied, “Allah has granted victory.” He said, “Praise be to Allah; write that to ‘Umar.” His soul then departed—may Allah be pleased with him (2).
(1) The printed edition garbles this sentence, giving it in the following distorted form: “fa-idha quṭtiʿat janāḥāhā fāʾa al-raʾs wa-janaḥ” (“If its two wings are cut, the head returns and tilts”).
(2) Reported by al-Hakim, 3/293, with a sound chain of transmission. Al-Bukhari also records it (no. 3159) in the Book of Jizya, “Chapter on Jizya and Armistice,” through the isnad of al-Muʿtamir b. Sulayman – from Saʿid b. ʿUbayd Allah al-Thaqafi – from Bakr b. ʿAbd Allah al-Muzani and Ziyad b. Jubayr – from Jubayr b. Ḥayya, who relates: ʿUmar sent detachments to the frontier towns to fight the polytheists. Al-Hormuzan embraced Islam and said, “I wish to consult you about these campaigns.” ʿUmar replied, “Yes. The lands and the people in them, with respect to the enemies of the Muslims, are like a bird that has a head, two wings and two legs. If one wing is broken, the two legs will still carry the remaining wing and the head; if the other wing is broken, the legs and the head will still manage; but if the head is crushed, the legs, the wings and the head are all finished. The head is Kisra (the Persian emperor), one wing is Caesar (the Byzantine emperor) and the other wing is Persia. Therefore order the Muslims to march first against Kisra.”
Bakr and Ziyad together also transmit from Jubayr b. Ḥayya: ʿUmar summoned us and appointed al-Nuʿman b. Muqarrin as our commander. When we reached enemy territory, the governor of Kisra advanced against us with forty thousand men. An interpreter came forward and said, “Let someone from among you speak to me.” Al-Mughira said, “Ask whatever you wish.” He asked, “Who are you?” He replied, “We are a people from the Arabs who used to live in …” (and the report continues).