Q. & A. 711 to 1707 with solved Papers css 1971 to date

THE BATTLE OF QADISIYA
(635 A.D./1? A.IL)
As soon as Hazrat Mughirah left the Persians camp, Rustam asked his army to prepare for an attack in the morning. There was a canai between the two armies. He ordered building of a bridge over
Hazrat Umar (Rad. A.)
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it. Next day in the morning he crossed the canal to attack the Muslims when both the armies were ready to fight, hazrat Sa’d bin Abi Wiqqas (Rad.A) told Rustam through an epistle: ’’Rustam! There are people with me to whom death (in the path of Allah) is more attractive thari is wine to people in your army”.
At last the battle started at Qadisiya in the month of Muharram, 14 A.H. (June, 635 A.D.). Hazrat Sa’d was sick and drected the operation from the sick bed. This battle was hotly contested and lasted for three days. Muslims were about 28,000 in number while the Persian army was estimated at 120,000 (four times bigger than Islamic army). Rustam displayed great skill in arraying his troops. On the first day the battle started amidst loud cries of ”AHahu Akbar” (Allah is the Greatest). Though the Muslims displayed great valours and skill but the Persian elephants played havoc with the Muslim cavalry. The Arab horses were not trained to fight in a battle having elephant. However Muslim archers and lancers rained arrows and spears and knocked down many elephant riders. The battle ended without reaching a final decision on the first day.6
The following day the battle 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. Moreover a-number of Muslim archers pierced the eyes of the elephants and cut their trunks. The blind elephants ran towards the Persian army and destroyed their ranks. The battle continued to the fourth day. Now the blind elephants played a havoc with the Persians themselves. Then some of the Muslim warriors from among the chief of the clans rushed towards Rustam and destroyed the special battalion around him. 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 six thousand Muslims casualties while the number of the Persians killed was thirty thousand.
The Battle of Qadisiya proved to be decisive in the history of Islam. It shattered the strength of the Persian Empire. Hazrat Umar (Rad.A) received the news with great joy. The Muslims gained
’ Dr Majid Ali Khan, P 79

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Political and Cultural History of Islam

immense booty which was distributed among the troops according to the Islamic Law and a fifth portion was despatched to the Baitul Mai. Following the victory at Qadisiya Muslims chased the Persians. They captured Babal and Kutha and then laid siege to Bahrah Sher, a very important and strong fort at the outskirt of the Persian 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.