[The First Campaign against the Turks]

This event confirmed the hadith already cited and authenticated in the Ṣaḥīḥ (1) from Abū Hurayrah and ʿAmr ibn Taghlib (2), that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

“Judgement Day will not arrive until you fight a people with broad faces, snub (3) noses, and ruddy complexions, their faces like hammered shields (4).” Another narration adds: “They wear sandals made of hair (5).”

When ʿUmar’s letter reached ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ibn Rabiʿah ordering him to campaign against the Turks (6), he advanced, crossed al-Bāb, and headed for the target ʿUmar had specified. Shahrbarāz asked, “Where are you bound?” He replied, “To the king of the Turks in Balanjar.” Shahrbarāz protested, “We are content to remain on peaceful terms with them while we stay behind al-Bāb.” ʿAbd al-Raḥmān answered, “Allah sent us a Messenger and promised us—through his own words—victory and conquest, and we are ever-victorious.”

He then fought the Turks, pushing two hundred farsakhs into Balanjar territory and raiding them several times. He would later engage them in awe-inspiring encounters during the caliphate of ʿUthmān, as we shall recount in its proper place, Allah willing.

Sayf ibn ʿUmar related, through al-Ghuṣn ibn al-Qāsim, from a man, from Salmān ibn Rabiʿah (7):

When ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ibn Rabiʿah entered their lands, Allah held the Turks back from advancing against him. They said, “This man could not have dared face us unless angels were with them, preventing them from dying.” So they fortified themselves and fled, taking their livestock (and spoils) with them. Later, during ʿUthmān’s rule, he campaigned against them again and defeated them as he had others. When ʿUthmān appointed over Kūfah someone who had previously apostatised, he set out on another expedition. The Turks murmured among themselves, saying, “These people do not die.” (Someone replied, “Watch them,” and they did.) They ambushed the Muslims in the woods; one Turk shot an unsuspecting Muslim, killed him, and escaped from (his companions). They then attacked the Muslims until they realised that the Muslims do indeed die, and a fierce battle ensued. A voice called out from the sky: “Steadfast, O house of (8) ʿAbd al-Raḥmān! Your meeting-place is Paradise.” ʿAbd al-Raḥmān fought on until he was killed, the troops broke ranks, and the banner was seized—