THE BATTLE OF WALAJAHH
Being weakened by two successive defeats, the Persian king, Ardshecr, ordered the assembling of two more Persian armies to fight the Muslims. One army was placed under the command of Andarzaghar, a military Governor of considerable standing who had grown up among the Arabs, and was familiar with the Arab way of fighting, He commanded considerable popularity among the Arab tribes allied with the Persians. In addition to the regular Persian army, Andarzaghar was commissioned to raise contingents from the Arab auxiliaries. The other force was placed under the direct command of Balunan, the Commander-in-Chief of the Persian forces.
Andarzaghar was required to move with his army to grapple with the Muslims. The other force under Bahman was to follow after some time. The strength of the army of Andarzarghar was very considerable, and if the army of Bahman reinforced it, the Persian army would likely assume formidable dimensions.
Khalid Ibn Al-Waleed, may Allah be pleased with him, weighed up the situation and worked out liis strategy. He left two battalions in ambush, so as to attack the enemy from the rear at the right moment. Khalid’s strategy, therefore, was that he should tackle the army of Andarzaghar before the main army under Bahman could join it.
By forced marches, Khalid reached Walajah. As Andarzaghar surveyed the field, the Muslim army did not consist of more than 10,000 persons, and the Muslim cavalry was nowhere to be seen. The strength of the Persian army, on the contrary, was thrice the strength of the Muslim army, and Andarzaghar thought that in no time he would he able to make mince meat of the Muslim force and thus avenge the defeats of Kazimah and Madhaar.
The two armies met with a clash of steel, and the battle raged with unabated fury. The Muslims struck at the heavily armed Persians, but the Persians stood their ground, and repulsed all attacks. Then Andarzaghar ordered a counter attack. The Muslims were able to hold the attack for some time, but as the Persians intensified their pressure, the Muslims began to lose ground and fell back. Andarzaghar exhorted his men to step up their pressure for victory was very much in sight.
At that critical juncture, Khalid gave a signal. The next moment over the crest of the ridge that stretched behind the Persian army appeared columns of mounted Muslim warriors. Raising shouts of “Allahu Akbar” (Allah is Greatest), the Muslim cavalry charged at a gallop, and the plain of Walajahh shook under the thundering hooves of the Arab horse. The Persians who were pressing forward were now caught in a trap. When they turned their face to meet the charge of the Muslim cavalry, the main Muslim army delivered a furious charge. The ring of steel became tighter round the Persians, and in whatever direction they turned, the sword and dagger struck them down. Andarzaghar fled from the battlefield and penetrated deep into the desert where he lost his way and died of thirst.
The battle of Walajah ended in a victory for the Muslims. That was the third consecutive victory of the Muslims over the Persians. The victory of Walajah established the superiority of the Muslim fighting forces. Once again a large booty fell into the hands of the Muslims. Four-fifth of the spoils were distributed among the Muslim warriors on the spot, and the remaining one-fifth were sent to Madeenah. Khalid’s remark was: “Behold the incredible heap of spoils! We have attained two goals! Victory in Allah’s Cause, and amazing wealth.”
(Source: Biographies of the Rightly Guided Caliphs.)
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