'Annals of 'Omān' [‎10] (27/112)

10
Annals of'Otndn.
and the furthest limits of 'Oman to the north; and at liis invitation all the
people accepted el-Islam, save the Persians who dwelt in 'Oman, When the
Persians rejected el-Islam, the el-Azd assembled round Jeifar, and all agreed
to expel the Persian deputy Maskan and his followers from the country.
As the Persians refused either to join el-Islam or to leave the country quiet
ly, the el-Azd attacked them, killed their leader Maskan and many more,
and drove the remainder into their town of Damsetjerd, when they besieged
them rigorously, until they sued for terms. The el-Azd granted them quar
ter on condition that they left all their gold and silver and other property
behind and quitted 'Oman, which they did. 'Amr continued to reside with
and direct the el-Azd, until the death of the Prophet. After that, 'Abd-bin-
el-Julanda and many of the el-Azd proceeded to visit Abu-Bekr 4 the Just,
who praised the conduct of the people of 'Oman in accepting the message
of the Prophet willingly and spontaneously. It is said too that 'Ahd served
the Khalifeh in an expedition against the A'l-Jifneh. Abu-Bekr then wrote
to the people of 'Oman thanking them and confirming Jeifar and 'Abd in
the government. The virtues of these two cannot be fully described, but
much might be written of them. They continued pre-eminent in 'Oman
until they died. They were succeeded by 'Abbad-bin 'Abd-bin el-Julanda,
in the time of 'Othman-bin 'Affan and 'AH.
Then came the wars and divisions, and Mu'awiyah succeeded to power;
but his authority was not established in 'Oman. At the period when
'Abdul-Malik-bin Marwan reigned and el-Hejjaj governed el-'Irak, Sulei
man and Sa'id, the sons of 'Abbad-bin 'Abd-bin el-Julanda, ruled in 'Oman.
El-Hejjaj sent several large armies against them, but they defeated them on
each occasion and put them to flight until at length el-Kasim-bin Shi'wah
came with a numerous army to 'Oman in ships, which anchored at one of
the villages of'Oman, named Hataf. Suleiman-bin'Abbad led the el-Azd
against the invaders, and a battle ensued in which the troops of el-Hejjaj
were routed and el-Kasim and many of his followers slain ; and Suleiman
captured all their property.
When this alarming news reached el-Hejjaj, he sent for Muja'ah-bin
Shi wah, hi other of el-Kasim, and ordered him to rouse the people and make
a general levy of the Nizar 5 tribes. El-Hejjaj was personally incensed and
eager for revenge. He wrote to 'Abd-el-Malik-bin Marwan, and restrained
the chiefs of the el-Azd of el-Basrah from aiding Suleiman-bin 'Abbad. I
have found it stated that the army which el-Hejjaj collected and sent
against 'Oman, numbered 40,000 men. One half was despatched by land
and the other half by sea. The former portion of the army having marched
to 'Oman was opposed by Suleiman at the head of a force of the el-Azd, con
sisting of 3,000 horsemen and 3,500 camel riders. The encounter took
place by the water, which is within five, or some say three, days' march of