to protect Samarqand from them, and that their supreme king Khagan was with them—help, help!

Junayd therefore set out in haste at the head of a large army toward Samarqand. He reached the Samarqand Pass, leaving a distance of four farsakhs between himself and the city. Khagan confronted him with a massive host and charged the vanguard of Junayd’s army, which fell back to the main camp while the Turks pursued them from every side. The two forces now faced one another, yet the Muslims were still eating their midday meal, unaware that their vanguard had broken and withdrawn upon them. They leapt to their weapons, formed ranks at their stations—an open, exposed plain—and the battle was joined.

The Turks hurled themselves against the Muslims’ right wing, where the clans of Tamīm and Azd were positioned, and they slew great numbers of them and others whom Allah honored with martyrdom. One of the Muslim champions stepped forward to face a company of the idolaters (1). Khagan’s interpreter called out to him, “If you come over to us, we shall place you among those who repudiate the Great Idol so that we may worship you.” He replied, “Shame on you! I fight you only that you may worship Allah alone, without partner.” He then fought until he was killed—may Allah have mercy on him.

The Muslims rallied one another; heroes and valiant men converged from every quarter. They stood firm, persevered, and charged the Turks as one man, whereupon Allah—Exalted be He—put the enemy to flight and many Turks were slain. The Turks then wheeled around and struck back, killing a multitude of Muslims until only about two thousand remained. We belong to Allah and to Him we return. On that day Sawrah ibn al-Hurr was killed. A great number of Muslims were taken prisoner and brought before King Khagan, who ordered that every last one of them be executed. We belong to Allah and to Him we return.

This encounter is known as the Battle of the Ravine, which Ibn Jarīr relates at great length (2).

[Among the notable figures who died that year]

Rajāʾ ibn Ḥaywah al-Kindī (3), Abū al-Miqdām—some say Abū Naṣr al-Shāmī—was a distinguished Successor, eminent, trustworthy, virtuous, and upright, a loyal adviser to the Umayyad caliphs. Whenever Makḥūl was asked a question he would say, “Ask our shaykh and master Rajāʾ ibn Ḥaywah.” Many leading scholars praised him, deemed his narrations reliable, and transmitted ḥadith from him. He left behind beneficial reports and fine words—may Allah have mercy on him.

Shahr ibn Ḥawshab al-Ashʿarī al-Ḥimṣī (4)—some say he was from Damascus—was likewise a revered Successor. He narrated from his mistress Asmāʾ bint Yazīd ibn al-Sakan and others.