BATTLE OF CHAINS (633 A.D./12 A.H.) Hafir was the place where the first battle between Muslims and Persians took place. Persians were under the command of Hurmuz, a famous Persian general. According to Islamic practice and advice given by the Caiiph, Hazrat Khalid invited the Persians to Islam and wrote to them. Our aim is not to fight. Accept Islam, the peaceful way, and you wil be safe. If not then clear our way to the people so that we may exj lain this beautiful way of life to them. If you accept Islam you will have to pay Jizya (Defence Tax) to the Caliphate. If you do not agree to any of these conditions then the only alternative is the use of sword. Before deciding on the third alternative you should keep in your mind that I am bringing against you a people who love death more than you love your life.” Hazrat Khalid (Rad.A) was right in telling that Muslims loved death in the path of Allah more than 1 ”e loved by .ion-believers. When a Muslim dies in the path of Allah rte is a martyr and gets into Paradise before his blood falls on the earth.
Persians weie too proud and paid no attention to Hazrat Khalid’s invitation. A battle took place at Hafir and Persians were defeated and routed. In order not to run from the battlefield the Persian soldiers had tied themselves to one another with chains. Due to this the battle is known as the Battle of Chains. But it proved fruitless because of the effective attack of Muslims. Even the commander of the Persian army was killed in the battle. After the * Battle of Chain at Hafir some other small skirmishes took p’ace at Madhar, Walja and Ullis etc. Each time the Muslims fought with a new force several times bigger but they defeated the Persians not because of their n imber and weapons but due to the power of Iman and trust in Allah.
