The Battle of Fihl

وقعة فحل

c. January 635 CE · Dhu al-Qa'da 13 AH

In al-Baladhuri: the battle of Fihl of al-Urdunn fell two nights remaining of Dhu al-Qa'da, five months after Umar ibn al-Khattab's accession, the people's commander being Abu Ubayda ibn al-Jarrah — Umar having written to him investing him with Syria and the commanders concurring, together with Amir ibn Abi Waqqas, Sa'd's brother; some say Abu Ubayda's command reached him while the people were besieging Damascus and he concealed it from Khalid for days since Khalid commanded in war, telling him when asked 'I disliked to break you and weaken your standing while you were upon heights'; the battle's cause was Heraclius, come to Antioch, summoning the Romans and the people of the Jazira and setting over them a man of his intimates and trusted men, who met the Muslims at Fihl and fought them hardest until God gave them victory, their patrician and near ten thousand with him falling, the rest scattering through Syria's towns or joining Heraclius; Fihl's people fortified themselves and the Muslims besieged them until they asked safety on paying jizya for their heads and kharaj for their land, securing themselves and their wealth with their walls not to be demolished — Abu Ubayda concluding the compact, some say Shurahbil ibn Hasana.