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 . Muḥammad ibn-Saʿd states on the authority of al-Wâḳidi that the most authentic report he heard regarding ʿIyâḍ was that abu-ʿUbaidah, in the year 18, fell victim to the plague of Emmaus [ʿAmawâs] after appointing ʿIyâḍ as his successor [over Syria]. ʿIyâd received a letter from ʿUmar, conferring upon him the governorship of Ḥimṣ, Ḳinnasrîn and Mesopotamia. On Thursday the middle of Shaʿbân, year 18, he marched to Mesopotamia at the head of 5,000 men, the van of the army being led by Maisarah ibn-Masrûḳ al-ʿAbsi, the right wing by Saʿîd ibn-ʿÂmir ibn-Ḥidhyam al-Jumaḥi and the left by Ṣafwân ibn-al-Muʿaṭṭal as-Sulami. Khâlid ibn-al-Walîd was on the left wing. Others assert that after Abu-ʿUbaidah, Khâlid never marched under any man's flag but remained in Ḥimṣ, where he died in the year 21 after designating ʿUmar to execute his will. Some claim that he died in al-Madînah; but that he died in Ḥimṣ is the more authentic report.

. The van of ʿIyâḍ's army arrived in ar-Raḳḳah and made a raid on its environ where Beduin Arabs were encamped with a group of peasants, carrying off much booty. Those who escaped took to flight and entered the city of ar-Raḳḳah. ʿIyâḍ advanced with his troops until he arrived, with his troops in military array, at Bâb ar-Ruha—one of the gates of the city. For an hour the Moslems were shot at, and some of them were wounded. In order to escape the enemy's stones and arrows, ʿIyâḍ withdrew, and, after going round the city on