2826 — “Whenever he set out on a campaign and did not fight at the beginning of the day, he would not hasten to engage until the times for prayer arrived, the winds began to blow, and fighting became favorable.”

Ibn Jarir al-Tabari transmitted it in al-Tarikh (2/233–235), and Ibn Hibban (1712—al-Mawarid), the wording being al-Tabari’s, through the route of Mubarak ibn Fudalah: Ziyad ibn Jubayr ibn Hayyah narrated to us; he said: My father informed me that Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) said to al-Hurmuzan: “Now that you have put yourself in my hands, give me sincere counsel.” (1) This was after he had said to him, “Speak; there is no harm,” and had granted him safety. Al-Hurmuzan said: “Yes. Persia today has a head and two wings.” Umar said: “Where is the head?” He replied: “Nahavand, with Bandar (2), who has with him Khosrau’s commanders and the people of Isfahan.” Umar asked: “And where are the two wings?” Al-Hurmuzan mentioned a place which I have forgotten. Al-Hurmuzan then said: “Cut off the two wings, and you will weaken the head.” Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said to him: “You have lied, enemy of Allah. Rather, I shall make for the head, and Allah will cut it off for me. Once Allah cuts it off from me, the two wings will also be cut off from me.”

Umar wanted to march against it himself, but they said: “We adjure you by Allah, Commander of the Believers, not to go yourself against the Persians. For if you were struck down there, the Muslims would have no cohesion. Instead, dispatch the troops.” So he dispatched the people of Medina, sending among them Abdullah ibn Umar ibn al-Khattab. He also dispatched the Emigrants and the Helpers, and wrote to Abu Musa al-Ashari: “March with the people of Basra.” He wrote to Hudhayfah ibn al-Yaman: “March with the people of Kufah, until you all assemble at Nahavand. Once you have assembled, your commander shall be al-Numan ibn Muqarrin al-Muzani.” When they had assembled