Expansion of Muslim Empire during the reign of Hazrat Umar Farooq (R.A.)

 1: The battle of Qadisiya:

As soon as Hazrat Mughirah left the Persian camp,Rustam asked his army to prepare for the attack in the morning.There was acanal between the two armies.He ordered building of a bridge over it.Next day,in the morning he Crossed the canal to attack the Muslims.

When both the armies were ready to fight , Hazrat Sa'ad bin Abi Waqas (R.A.)told Rustam through an epistle:"Rustam!There are people with me to whom death(in the path of ALLAH)is more attractive than is wine to the people in your army ."

At last the battle started at Qadisiya in the month of Muharram 14A.H.(June634). Hazrat Sa'ad (R.A.)was sick and the operations from the sick bed .This battle was hotly contested and lasted for three days.Muslims were about 28000/-in number while the Persian army was estimated at 120,000(four time bigger than Islamic army)Rustam displayed great skill in arraying his troops.

On the first day,the battle started amidst loud cries of Allahu Akbar (Allah is the greatest) Though the Muslims displayed great valour and skill but the Persian elephants played havoc with the Muslim cavalry.The Arab horses were not trained to fight in a battle having elephants.However , Muslim archers and lancers rained arrows and spheres and knocked down many elephant riders.

The battle ended without reaching a final decision on the first day.The following day the battle was again ended without a victory for any of the two armies.On the third day, Muslims wrapped pieces of cloth round the bodies of their Camels to frighten the Persian elephants.The plan worked out successfully.

The canopy of Rustam was blown in the air and he himself tried to flee.He was detected by the Muslims and was slain.

Seeing their slain commander,the Persians started fleeing for their lives . Thousands of Persians were slain.There were about 6,000 Muslim casualties while the number of the Persians killed was 30,000.The battle of Qadisiya proved to be decisive in the history of Islam.

It shattered the strength of Persian Empire.Hazrat Umar Farooq (R.A.) received the news with great joy .The Muslims gained the immense booty which was distributed among the troops according to the Islamic law and a fifth portion was dispatched to the bait-ul-Mal.

Following the victory at Qadisiya, Muslims chased the Persians.They captured babal and Khutha and then laid seige to Bahrah Sher,a very important and strong fort at the outskirts of the Persians capital,Mada'in (Ctesiphon).

The siege went on for two months and ultimately Muslims captured the fort.

The next step was to conquer Mada'in, the capital itself.