and ʿAmr ibn Saʿid, and Aban ibn Saʿid, and Khalid ibn Saʿid as well (1)—yet no one knew what had become of him—together with Dirar ibn al-Azwar, Hisham ibn al-ʿAs, and ʿAmr ibn al-Tufayl ibn ʿAmr al-Dawsi, in whose case Allah fulfilled the dream his father had seen (2) on the day of al-Yamama.

A number of men slipped away (3) that day: ʿAmr ibn al-ʿĀṣ withdrew with four others until they reached the women, but they returned when the women (4) rebuked them. Shurahbil ibn Hasana and his companions also broke ranks, then came back after the commander admonished them with the divine words, “Indeed, Allah has purchased from the believers their lives and their wealth” (Quran 9:111).

On that very day Yazid ibn Abi Sufyan stood fast and fought with great valor. His father passed by him and said, “My son, fear Allah and be patient, for there is not a single Muslim in this valley who is not hemmed in by fighting. How then about you and your peers, to whom the affairs of the Muslims have been entrusted? They are the people most entitled to patience and sincere counsel. So fear Allah, my son, and let none of your comrades outdo you in seeking reward, in steadfastness in battle, or in boldness against the enemy of Islam.” He replied, “I shall, if Allah wills,” and he fought fiercely that day, holding the centre of the line (may Allah be pleased with him).

Saʿid ibn al-Musayyab reported from his father: “When the voices died down on the day of Yarmouk, we heard a cry that seemed to fill the entire camp: ‘O help of Allah, draw near! Steadfastness, steadfastness, O company of Muslims!’ We looked and it was Abu Sufyan, standing beneath the banner of his son Yazid.”

Khalid spent the night in the pavilion of Theodorus (Tadharaq), the brother of Heraclius—commander of all the Romans that day—who had fled with the rest. Throughout the night horsemen rode past Khalid’s tent, slaying every Roman they encountered until dawn, when Theodorus was killed. He had thirty marquees and thirty brocade apartments furnished with cushions and silk. When morning came they gathered all the spoils that were there, yet their joy at what they found was far outweighed by their sorrow for the Ṣiddiq when Khalid informed them of his death. Allah, however, compensated them with al-Faruq (may Allah be pleased with him).

In consoling the Muslims for the loss of the Ṣiddiq, Khalid said, “Praise be to Allah, who decreed death for Abu Bakr—who was dearer to me than ʿUmar; and praise be to Allah, who appointed ʿUmar—who was more disliked by me than Abu Bakr, yet obliged me to love him.”

Khalid pursued the fleeing Romans until he reached Damascus. Its people came out and said, “Do we remain under our covenant and treaty?” He answered, “Yes.” He then followed the enemy to Thaniyyat al-ʿAqab, killed a great many of them there, and pressed on to Homs; its inhabitants came forth, and he granted them terms just as he had done with the people of Damascus.

Abu ʿUbaydah likewise sent ʿIyad ibn Ghanm in pursuit; he advanced until he reached Malatya (5). Its people made a treaty with him, and he returned.