Page:William Muir, Thomas Hunter Weir - The Caliphate; Its Rise, Decline, and Fall (1915).djvu/197



once more to the eastern provinces of the Caliphate, we find the cautious policy of ʿOmar still tending to restrain the Muslim arms within the limits of the Arabian ʿIrāḳ, or the country bounded by the western slopes of the Persian range, But they were soon, by the force of events, to burst the barrier.

To the north of Al-Medāin, the Muslim border was securely defended by Ḥolwān and other strongholds planted along the hilly range. In Lower ʿIrāḳ, ʿOtba had, after repeated encounters, established himself at Al-Baṣra, from whence he held securely the country at the head of the Gulf. But the Persian satraps were still in strength at Al-Ahwāz and Rām Hormuz, within a hundred miles of him.

Hostilities in this direction were precipitated by a rash and unsuccessful raid upon Iṣṭakhr (Persepolis). Al-ʿAlā, who had distinguished himself by crushing the rebellion in Al-Baḥrein, saw with jealous eye the conquests in Al-ʿIrāḳ of Saʿd and ʿOtba. Tempted by the nearness of the Persian shore across the narrow strait, he set on foot an expedition to seize the district lying opposite. This was done, not only without permission, but against the known unwillingness of ʿOmar to trust the treacherous element. Success might have justified the project; but it fell out otherwise. The troops, landing on the Persian coast, met for a time with no check in their advance upon Iṣṭakhr. But before long they were drawn into a trap. Advancing altogether, they had neglected to secure their base, and were cut off by the 168