EXPEDITION TO IRAQ (PERSIAN EMPIRES) There was a lot of confusion during those days in the Persian Empire. A child, Yezdgird, was ruling over the Empire under the supervision of a lady, Puran Dukht. The Persians helped the rebels of Bahrain and had done all they could do to crush Islam. There were certain Arab tribes living near the border. Some of them accepted Islam which others were Christians. Muthanna, the chief of a border tribe (Wa’il) accepted Islam.
Since the bordering Arabs tribes of Iraq (Persia at that time) were the main target of persecution by the Persians. Muthanna and his companions took advantage of the internal conflict of Persian Empire and started small fights. In order that the Persians may not wage a full scale war against Muslims, Abu Bakr (Rad.A) permitted Muthanna to go ahead with his scheme. But later Muthanna came to Hazrat Abu Bakr (Rad.A) and sought his permission for a regular fight. The Muslims were endangered by the Persian Empire which wasted to wipe out the increasing power and might of Muslims. Moreover they were not pleased with the help given by the Persians to the Bahrain rebels. Abu Bakr (Rad.A) after consulting his ”Shura” (Advisory Council) permitted him to start full scale war on the condition that first he must invite Persians to Islam peacefully. Since Muthanna was not much experienced, Hazrat Abu Bakr (Rad.A)
ordered his great general Hazrat Khalid bin Walid (Rad.A) to proceed immediately to reinforce Muthanna’s army. It was the first month of the year 12 A.H. (633 A.D). Hazrat Khalid met the Muthanna’s army at Ubullah.