248 LIFE OF MOHAMMED. 



Christians were not to be taken by surprise. A pro- 

 digious force of 100,000 men, composed of Greeks 

 and auxiliary Arabs, was assembled. The Moslems 

 hesitated whether to give battle or wait for rein- 

 forcements. " Friends," cried their chief, " let us 

 cut our way to paradise through the ranks of the 

 enemy. We have no alternative but martyrdom or 

 victory !" 



Fanaticism is blind to danger ; and in spite of this 

 vast disproportion of nililibers, the believers flew 

 to the attack, resolved to conqiler or die. Seven 

 years of triumph had inspired them with confidence 

 in their good fortune, and a successfid valour had 

 made them invincible. The combat was long and 

 bloody. Z aid fell among the foremost, covered witli 

 wounds and glory. The standard of Islam, as the 

 Prophet had directed, was transferred to Jafar, bro- 

 ther of Ali, who more than sustained the fame of his 

 country. When his right hand Was struck off, he 

 placed the sacred banner in his left ; and when that 

 too, was dismembered, he seized it between his 

 bleeding stumps, and held it to his breast, though 

 pierced with fifty wounds, till the blow of a Roman 

 sabre cleft his head in twain. Abdaliah, the third in 

 command, met with the same fate ; which so dis- 

 pirited the hearts of the Mussulmans that they turned 

 their backs for inglorious flight. At this crisis the 

 intrepid Khaled raised the fallen standard, and suc= 

 ceeded in rallying the fugitives, who returned to the 

 charge \vith redoubled fury. The centre of the 

 enemy's line was broken, and thrown into complete 

 disorder; the rout became general, and a terrible 

 slaughter must have ensued^ had not darkness fa- 

 voured their retreat. In a nocturnal council, the 

 command was unanimously devolved on Khaled, 

 Who remained with his troops all night on the field 

 of battle. No pliuKler had yet rewarded the bra- 

 ver}' of the soldiers: but early next morning their 

 new general, by a skilful maiitEuvre iji deploying his 



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