So we crossed over. My father said: “I have never seen a day as deadly as this (1). The Persians came like mountains of iron. They had bound themselves not to flee from the Arabs, fastening themselves to one another in groups of seven; and they scattered iron caltrops behind them, saying, ‘Whoever among us flees will be hamstrung by these iron caltrops.’
When al-Mughirah ibn Shu‘bah saw their great numbers, he said: “I have never seen a day as deadly as this (1). Our enemy are allowing their numbers to grow; they are in no hurry. Yet by Allah, if the decision were mine, I would move against them at once.”
Al-Numan was a man who wept readily. He said: “Allah, Mighty and Majestic, has made you witness occasions like this before, so do not let it grieve you, nor regard your present position as shameful. By Allah, the only thing preventing me from engaging them in battle is something I witnessed from the Messenger of Allah—peace and blessings be upon him—” Then he mentioned the hadith.
Al-Numan then said: “O Allah, I ask You to grant me the joy of a victory through which Islam and its people will be honoured, and disbelief and its people humbled. Then seal my life thereafter with martyrdom.” Then he said, “Say Amin, may Allah have mercy on you.” So we said Amin, and he wept, and we wept.
Al-Numan said: “I shall shake my standard, so ready yourselves and your weapons. Then I shall shake it a second time, so be ready to fight the enemy before you. When I shake it a third time, let each contingent charge the enemy nearest to them, with Allah’s blessing.”
When the time for prayer came and the winds began to blow, he proclaimed, “Allah is Most Great,” and we did likewise. He said: “It is the wind of victory, by Allah, if Allah wills. I hope that Allah will answer me and grant us victory.” He shook the standard, and they made ready; then he shook it a second time, and then a third time. We all charged, each contingent attacking the enemy nearest to them.
Al-Numan said: “If I am struck down, then Hudhayfah ibn al-Yaman is to lead the people. If Hudhayfah is struck down, then so-and-so; and if so-and-so is struck down, [then so-and-so]”—until he named seven men, the last of them being al-Mughirah ibn Shu‘bah.
My father said: “By Allah, I knew of no Muslim who wished to return to his family before being killed or attaining victory.” They stood firm against us, and we heard nothing but the clash of iron against iron, until casualties were inflicted among—