“I used to go out on campaign with al-Baṭṭāl, a man who had trampled the Byzantines into utter humiliation.

Al-Baṭṭāl said: One of the Umayyad governors once asked me about the most astonishing incident that had befallen me during my raids against them. I answered:

We set off by night in a raiding party and came upon a village. I told my companions, ‘Loose the reins of your horses and do not alarm anyone—by killing or otherwise—until you have saturated (1) the village with your presence, for they are on their watch.’ They did as instructed and spread through its alleyways. I and a few of my men approached a house whose lamp was still shining (2). Inside we found a woman quieting her child, who was crying, and saying to him, ‘Be quiet, or I will hand you over to al-Baṭṭāl and he will take you away.’ She snatched him from his cradle and said, ‘Take him, O Baṭṭāl.’ So I took him (3).

Muḥammad ibn ʿĀʾidh also relates—through al-Walīd ibn Muslim, from Abū Marwān of Antioch—on the authority of al-Baṭṭāl, who said:

Once I was riding alone with no troops accompanying me. Behind me I had slung (4) a feed-bag filled with barley, and in a cloth I carried some bread and roast meat. As I rode on, hoping to meet an isolated enemy or pick up some intelligence, I came upon an orchard with fine greens. I dismounted and ate the vegetables together with the bread and roast meat, whereupon I was struck by severe diarrhea, rising again and again until I feared that the continual flux would sap my strength. I mounted my horse while it still persisted, afraid that if I dismounted again I would be too weak to remount. The diarrhea became so excessive in the saddle that I feared I might fall from weakness. I grasped the reins and lay forward on my face, not knowing where the horse was taking me, until I suddenly heard its hooves clattering on flagstones. Raising my head, I found myself at a monastery. Some women emerged, escorted by a very beautiful lady, and in their tongue she said, ‘Help him dismount.’ They helped me down, washed my clothes, saddle, and horse, laid me on a bed, and prepared food and drink for me. I remained in a stupor (5) for a day and a night, then stayed another three days until my strength returned.

While I was still recuperating, it was announced, ‘The patrician has arrived; he wishes to marry her.’ She ordered that my horse be led away and tethered at the door of the room where I lay. A prominent patrician had indeed come to request her hand. Those present told him that the room contained a man with a horse, and he prepared to storm in upon me, but the lady prevented him and sent word: ‘If you force that door open, I will not grant your request.’ That deterred him from attacking me. The patrician remained their guest until late afternoon, then mounted his horse; his companions mounted theirs, and they departed.”