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 Antioch). The commander of the Moslems at that time was as-Simṭ ibn-al-Aswad al-Kindi.

When abu-ʿUbaidah was through with Damascus, he left over it in his place Yazîd ibn-abi-Sufyân, came to Ḥimṣ via Baʿlabakk, and encamped at the Rastan gate. The people of Ḥimṣ capitulated, and he guaranteed the safety of their lives, possessions, city-wall, churches, and wells excluding one-fourth of St. John's Church which was to be turned into a mosque. He made it a condition on those of them who would not embrace Islâm to pay kharâj.

According to certain reports, it was as-Simṭ ibn-al-Aswad al-Kindi who made the terms with the people of Ḥimṣ. When abu-ʿUbaidah arrived, he caused the terms to take effect. As-Simṭ divided the city into lots, each marked for one Moslem to build his house. He also made them settle in every place whose occupants had evacuated it and in every yard that was deserted.

. Abu-Ḥafṣ ad-Dimashḳi from Saʿîd ibn-ʿAbd-al-ʿAzîz:—When abu-ʿUbaidah ibn-al-Jarrâḥ effected the conquest of Damascus, he left over it as his lieutenant Yazîd ibn-abi-Sufyân; over the province of Palestine, ʿAmr ibn-al-ʿÂṣi; and over the province of the Jordan, Shuraḥbîl. He then advanced to Ḥimṣ whose people capitulated on the same terms as those of Baʿlabakk. Leaving over Ḥimṣ ʿUbâdah ibn-aṣ-Ṣâmit al-Anṣâri, he pushed towards Ḥamâh [Epiphania] whose people met him offering their submission. He made terms with them, stipulating that they pay tax on their heads and kharâj on their land. Thence he proceeded towards Shaizar. The people of Shaizar [Larissa] went out to meet him bowing before him and