Islamiyat · May / June 2024 · Paper 22 · Question 4

Write an account of the Battle of Buwayb and the Battle of Qadisiyyah, fought in the caliphate of ʿUmar.

Mark according to the marking grid for AO1 – Knowledge, given on page 4.

Answers may include some of the following ideas, but all valid material must be credited.

Battle of Buwayb

Fought in the year 635 to avenge the defeat at the Battle of the Bridge. Umar sent messengers to all parts of Arabia to gather a force to face the Persians. Many Muslims and Christians gathered around the Muslim standard and Muthanna though seriously wounded in the Battle of the Bridge led the force from his sick bed.

The Persian army of 12 000 men led by Mehran met the Muslim force on the bank of the Euphrates. Both sides faced each other from either side of the river but this time the Persians crossed over and the battle was fought on the western front.

The Persians, greater in number than the Muslims, fought hard but Mehran was killed by a young man from the Taghlib tribe, and his death demoralised the Persians and they tried to retreat but the Muslims blocked the access to the bridge and managed to eliminate the Persian force.

Southern Iraq now came under Muslim control and with this victory Muslims lost their fear and awe of the Persians.

Battle of Qadisiyyah

Fought in the year 636. The Persians prepared to fight the Muslims to avenge their defeat at Buwayb.

The Muslim commander was Sa’d bin Abi Waqqas with an army of 12 000. Sa’d was ill at the time and commanded the army from his sick bed. Muslim accounts say that a delegation was sent to Yazdegerd inviting him to accept Islam, pay jizya or prepare for war. The arrogant emperor was contemptuous of the Arabs and refused the first two options.

A stand-off lasted three months with skirmishes on border settlements which the Muslims won. Desertions and defections in the Persian side led to Rustam blocking the channel and crossing over to attack the Muslims.

The Muslim army had been reinforced by this time. Sa’d using tactical methods and with clever strategies was able to break the Persian army. On the third day Rustam was killed as he tried to swim to safety and the Persians were routed.

Two thirds of the Persian army was killed, and the Muslims lost a fifth of their men in this battle. It was a decisive battle in the history of Islam, it shattered the strength of the Persians and many people of the conquered areas accepted Islam.

What do ʿUmar’s actions following the conquest of Jerusalem tell you

about his character?

Mark according to the marking grid for AO2 – Understanding, given on page 5.

Answers may include some of the following ideas, but all valid material must be credited.

Candidates understanding of Umar’s character is being gauged by looking at his actions at the time of the conquest of Jerusalem. It could be said that his conduct at the time reflected his humbleness and his piety and give reasons to back their view. For example, he accepted the condition of the inhabitants of Jerusalem that he personally be present at the surrender of Jerusalem, despite his army being victorious, he showed humility and accepted their demand.

Sharing a camel with his slave on his journey to Jerusalem, him setting about cleaning the Temple Mount, not praying (salat) in the church for fear that Muslims may convert it into a mosque reflect his humility and his religious tolerance.

By also acknowledging the rights of the Christians and the Jews he displayed his fairmindedness.