Battle of Ullays (12 AH)

The battle of Ullays on the Euphrates, in 12 AH, was the fiercest of Khalid ibn al-Walid (may God be pleased with him)'s battles in the conquest of Iraq. The Christian tribesmen of Bani 'Ijl and Bakr ibn Wa'il, angered by those killed at the battle of al-Walaja, joined Jaban, the Persian commander, and disobeyed his order. They laid out food to show that they were not concerned with the Muslims. Khalid came upon them while the food was still set out, and Malik ibn Qays was killed in single combat. The fighting was fierce, and Khalid swore that he would make their blood flow. For a day and a night he struck the necks of the captives, until al-Qa'qa' and others advised him to send water over them so that his oath would be fulfilled. He did so, and the place was called the River of Blood. The number of the dead reached seventy thousand. Then he marched to Amghisiya and took spoils the like of which had not been taken before. When the news reached Abu Bakr, he said, "The women have failed to bear the like of Khalid." ¹.