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 Jabalah what he was ordered by ʿUmar to propose; but Jabalah refused the offer and insisted on staying in the land of the Greeks. ʿUmair then came into a place called al-Ḥimâr—a valley—which he destroyed putting its inhabitants to the sword. Hence the proverb, "In a more ruined state than the hollow of Ḥimâr."

. When Heraclius received the news about the troops in al-Yarmûk and the destruction of his army by the Moslems, he fled from Antioch to Constantinople, and as he passed ad-Darb he turned and said, "Peace unto thee, O Syria, and what an excellent country this is for the enemy!" —referring to the numerous pastures in Syria.

The battle of al-Yarmûk took place in Rajab, year 15.

. According to Hishâm ibn-al-Kalbi, among those who witnessed the battle of al-Yarmûk was Ḥubâsh ibn-Ḳais al-Ḳushairi, who killed many of the "uncircumcised" and lost his leg without feeling it. At last he began to look for it. Hence the verse of Sauwâr ibn-Aufa:

—referring to dhu-l-Ruḳaibah.

. Abu-Ḥafṣ ad-Dimashḳi from Saʿîd ibn-ʿAbd-al-ʿAzîz:—When Heraclius massed his troops against the Moslems and the