lost one of his feet while it was still inside his boot, whereas the Companions had nothing on their feet but simple sandals, yet not a single foot—indeed, not even a toe—of theirs was harmed. They remained in that state until winter had passed; then the siege grew more intense. Some of the leading figures of Ḥimṣ advised the townspeople to negotiate a settlement, but they refused, saying, “Shall we make peace when the emperor is close at hand?”

It is related that on one of those days the Companions raised the takbīr so loudly that the city quaked, some of its walls split, and when they uttered a second takbīr certain houses collapsed. The common folk therefore came to their notables and said, “Do you not see what has happened to us and the distress we are in? Will you not conclude a peace with these people on our behalf?”

Thus they made terms on the same basis as those concluded with the people of Damascus: half of the houses would belong to the Muslims, a land-tax would be levied on the estates, and jizya would be taken from persons according to their wealth or poverty (1).

Abū ʿUbaydah sent the one-fifth share of the spoils and the good news to ʿUmar by way of ʿAbd Allah ibn Masʿūd. He also stationed a large garrison in Ḥimṣ commanded by several leaders, among them Bilāl and al-Miqdād (2). Abū ʿUbaydah then wrote to ʿUmar, informing him that Heraclius had cut the water to al-Jazīrah and that he would sometimes show himself and at other times disappear; ʿUmar replied ordering him to remain where he was.

The Engagement at Qinnasrīn

After Ḥimṣ had been taken, Abū ʿUbaydah dispatched Khālid ibn al-Walīd to Qinnasrīn. When he arrived, its people—together with Arab Christians who were with them—rose against him. Khālid fought a fierce battle there, killing great numbers; as for the Byzantines present, he wiped them out and slew their commander, Mītās (3). The Bedouins, however, excused themselves, saying that the fighting had not been with their approval; Khālid accepted their apology and left them alone. He then advanced to the town, whose inhabitants barricaded themselves inside (4).

Khālid said to them, “Even if you were in the clouds, Allah would carry us up to you or bring you down to us.” He persisted until Allah granted him the conquest—praise belongs to Him.

When ʿUmar learned what Khālid had accomplished in this encounter he said, “May Allah have mercy on Abū Bakr; he knew men better than I. By Allah, I did not dismiss him out of any suspicion, but I feared that the people would come to rely on him alone.”

In this same year Heraclius fell back with his army and departed from the lands of Syria to those of Rome. This is how Ibn Jarīr (5) records it on the authority of Muḥammad ibn Isḥāq, while Sayf maintains that it occurred in the year 16 AH.

They relate that whenever Heraclius made pilgrimage to Jerusalem and then left it he would say, “Peace be upon you, O Syria—a farewell from one who has not yet had his fill of you and who shall return.” But when he finally resolved to leave Syria and reached al-Ruha he asked its people to accompany him to Rome. They replied, “Our remaining here will benefit you more than our joining you,” so he left them. When he came to Shamshāt (6) and ascended a nearby elevation—