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 and crossed over to Takrît from which they carried away camels and goats.

"One of the things told me by abu-Masʿûd," said ʿAttâb ibn-Ibrâhîm, "was that an-Nusair and Ḥudhaifah promised security to the people of Takrît and wrote a statement which was carried out by ʿUtbah ibn-Farḳad as-Sulami when he reduced aṭ-Ṭîrhân [or Ṭîrahân] and al-Mauṣil. He also mentioned the fact that an-Nusair, directed by Khâlid ibn-al-Walîd, made a raid against villages in Maskin and Ḳaṭrabbul [or Ḳuṭrubbul] from which he carried off large booty." From ʿAin at-Tamr, Khâlid advanced to Syria and said to al-Muthanna ibn-Ḥârithah, "Return [to al-Ḥîrah?]—may Allah have mercy on thee—to thy Sultan, untired and unfailing."

The departure of Khâlid for Syria took place in Rabîʿ II, according to others, Rabîʿ I, year 13. It is claimed by some that Khâlid came from ʿAin at-Tamr to Dûmah, which he reduced, and after that he proceeded to al-Ḥîrah and thence to Syria. That he departed for Syria from ʿAin at-Tamr, is, however, more reliable.