Page:William Muir, Thomas Hunter Weir - The Caliphate; Its Rise, Decline, and Fall (1915).djvu/198

 637–41] enemy from their ships. After a severe engagement, unable to disperse the gathering enemy, and turning as a last resource towards Al-Baṣra, they found the road in that direction barred. Messengers were hurried to Medina, and ʿOmar, incensed with Al-ʿAlā for his foolhardiness, despatched an urgent command to ʿOtba to relieve the beleaguered army. A force of 12,000 men set out immediately; and forming, not without difficulty, a junction with Al-ʿAla, beat back the Persians, and then retired on Al-Baṣra. The troops of ʿOtba gained a great name in this affair, and the special thanks of ʿOmar. This expedition of Al-ʿAlā is known as "the First Iṣṭakhar."

But the retreat, conducted with whatever skill and bravery, put heart into the hostile border. Al-Hormuzān, a Persian satrap, had escaped from Al-Ḳādisīya to his own province of Al-Ahwāz, on the lower mountain range, at no great distance from Al-Baṣra. He began now to make raids upon the Arab outposts, and ʿOtba resolved to attack him. Reinforcements were obtained from Al-Kūfa, and ʿOtba was fortunate enough to gain over a Bedawi tribe, which, though long settled near Al-Ahwāz, was by blood and sympathy allied to the garrison of Al-Baṣra. Thus strengthened, he dislodged the enemy from Al-Ahwāz, and drove him across the Kārūn River. A truce was called; and Al-Ahwāz, ceded to the Muslims, was placed by ʿOtba in the hands of his Bedawi allies. After one of his victories, the girdle of the defeated Marzubān, or Persian warden of the marches, was sent as a trophy to the Caliph. The envoy, pressed by ʿOmar, confessed that the Muslims were becoming luxurious in foreign parts;—"The love of this present life," he said, "increaseth upon them, gold and silver dazzling their sight." Concerned at the unwelcome avowal, ʿOmar summoned ʿOtba, who came, leaving a Bedawi chief in charge at Al-Baṣra. The arrangement was highly distasteful to ʿOmar,—"What!" he cried, "hast thou put a man of the Desert over the Companions of the Prophet? That may never be!" So Al-Moghīra was placed in charge; and ʿOtba dying on his journey back from pilgrimage, Al-Moghīra became Governor in his stead. Thus early do we see the spirit of antagonism rapidly breeding between the Bedawi chiefs and the men of Mecca and Medīna.