Even in the ignorance era, Arabs considered acquiring extraordinary skills in archery, swordsmanship and horsemanship to be the most important duty of their lives.
This was the greatest quality of chieftaincy, womanhood, fame and renown.
Among the deserters, the greatest poet was considered to be the one who could best imagine the thrill of arrows and the clang of swords. Who is more moved by the sound of his patient horse's hoofs than the laughter of a desert maiden.
Islam transformed the individual bravery of the Arabs into the invincible power of the righteous.
Along with the wars of Rome and Iran, the arts of the Arabs increased.
The custom of wearing armor among the Arabs was earlier, but during the Roman wars, the armor itself became the most important part of the soldier's dress.
During the long sieges of fortified cities, the need for a tool that could break through stone walls was felt and this need led to the invention of the catapult. It was a wooden tool with which heavy stones could be thrown quite far.
Thanks to this, the attacking forces could protect the fortified archers and throw stones at the city. His imagination was derived from the bow.
But within a few years,the efforts of tacticians had made it a very important tool.
Another thing that the Arabs greatly practiced for the conquest of fortified cities.
It was a small wooden fort. Under which the wheels were placed.
Some soldiers would sit under the cover of wooden planks and some would push it against the wall of the city. The foot soldiers would advance under its cover and use it as a ladder to climb the rampart.
Like the infantry in the open field, the Arab horsemen were at first accustomed to preferring the sword to the spear, but they realized the importance of the spear more than the iron-clad soldiers, and within a few years archery and spears were introduced throughout the Arabian. Like, javelin carriage also became common.
The Muslims of Syria were more influenced by the proximity of Rome, and here spearing gradually came to be preferred over swordsmanship.
Arab horses and riders were famous all over the world.
Therefore, like other arts, they excelled over the neighboring countries in javelin.
In an open field outside Damascus, archery was practiced almost every day. The ancient Greek practice of javelin was gaining popularity.
Armored knights who tried their courage would stand in front of each other at some distance. Despite the use of armor, self and four mirrors, in addition to real spears, spears that were not made of iron were used and the next one. The tip should be blunt instead of sharp.
The arbitrator would stand in the middle with a flag and on his signal these riders would attack each other while running the horses at full speed. A defeated rider would lose his balance due to the pressure of the blunt lance and fall from his horse, becoming a laughing stock to the spectators. This year, as usual, these people had come from far and wide to take part in the art exhibition. A wide field was surrounded by a crowd of spectators.
Waleed bin Abdul Malik was sitting on a chair. On his right and left were sitting the great dignitaries of the Caliphate.
On the other side, in front of the row of spectators, Sulaiman bin Abdul Malik was sitting among his few devotees.
The exhibition began.
Arms experts won prizes by presenting modern models of the gun. The archers and fencing experts showed their talents and won the admiration of the spectators.
Three of Sulaiman'scompanions participated in the archery competition and one of them was judged the second best archer. His other companion, Saleh, had humiliated five famous wrestlers of Damascus one after the other in a sword contest, and was waiting for Amir-ul-Momineen to call him and bring him closer, but a young man suddenly came to the field and invited him to a contest. gave And after a long and hard fight took away his sword. This young man was Zubair.
Spectators were eager to see and shake hands with the young man who had overcome Saleh.
And Saleh was biting his lips in a state of anger and regret. Waleed got up and went forward and shook Zubair's hand and congratulated him and then turned to Saleh and said,
Saleh! If you didn't get angry, you might not have been defeated. In any case, like this young man, I consider you also deserving of the reward.
Finally, the javelin began.
After several competitions, eight improvement javelin throwers were selected and the final competition began.
As the number of contestants decreased. The excitement of the onlookers was increasing. Eventually, one side and two spearmen were left on the other side. The rider, who was left alone, knocked down his two opponents one after the other and took off his own, and the people recognized him and started raising slogans of appreciation and praise with more enthusiasm. This young man was a Greek non-Muslim and his name was Ayub.
Ayub triumphantly threw his spear
While raising it, it circled around the arena and after that it was thrown into the field.
Empire called out. There is someone who wants to compete with this young man.
People's eyes were focused on Sulaiman bin Abdul Malik. Sulaiman got up, holding himself on his head, and pointed to slave who was standing nearby holding a beautiful musk horse.Slave led the horse and Sulaiman mounted it. Sulaiman's armor was shining in the sunlight.
Sulaiman and Ayyub stood against each other and the people eagerly waited for the signal of the arbiter's flag. The arbitrator waved the flag and stood aside.
Horses moved towards each other, the riders approached each other and tried to avoid themselves and hit the other.
Before coming to the competition, Sulaiman had seen all the sages of his opponent and had thought of ways to avoid them.
So Ayub's blow was empty.
And Suleiman left a mark on himself. The arbitrator declared Suleiman's victory. Waleed got up and congratulated his brother and encouraged Ayub.
Suleiman took off and looked triumphantly at the spectators. And after going around the arena as usual, he stood in the field.
spearman called three times.
there is someone
Who has the courage to compete with Sulaiman bin Abdul Malik?"
But the people had already believed that the game was over and they were waiting for Amir-ul-Momineen to rise, but there was no end to their surprise. When a rider on a white horse came to the field with a spear in his hand. The spectators were not surprised that a spearman was inviting Sulaiman bin Abdul Malik to a contest, but they were surprised at this.
That there was no armor on the body of the unknown rider and no mirror. He was wearing a tight black dress. He had a white turban on his head and a black veil on his face except for his eyes.
Only those who were fully convinced of their opponent's inferiority entered contests without armor, but Sulaiman was the hero of the day, and people were impressed by the bravery of a rider who entered the arena without armor or himself to compete with Sulaiman. Instead, they were doubting his mental state.
No one except Waleed and Zubair knew who it was, but Waleed was also worried about his courage.
He said softly in Zubair's ear,
Is this Muhammad ibn al-Qasim or someone else?
Zubair replied. Amir-ul-Momineen! it's the same .
If his ribs are not of iron, I fear that the blunt end of wood will prove no less dangerous to him than the point of a spear. You go and call him and explain.
Zubair replied: "Amir-ul Momineen!" I have explained a lot to him.
He himself feels this danger, but he says that if he wins, it will have a positive effect on the youth and he will get an opportunity to persuade them to war by telling them about the situation in Sindh.
He also believes that a rider without armor can be more comfortable.
Zubair's answer did not satisfy Waleed.
He himself got up and went towards Muhammad ibn al- Qasim.
But what does he think of Sulaiman?
And the spectators began to express more concern. Muhammad was looking at Sulaiman. As soon as Waleed approached, he called out to attract him and said, Foolish!
I acknowledge your courage, but this courage is not ignorance. You are going against the best Arab spearman without armor and yourself, and if he thinks it his joke, I fear you will never be able to mount a horse again.
Muhammad ibn al-Qasim replied, "Amir-ul- Momineen!"
God knows that I do not intend to display myself. I am taking this risk for a good cause and it is not a big risk. I think that the rider is not agile when wearing a armor, "but if your agility can't save your ribs?"
Even so, I will not be sorry. I care more than my ribs about the girl in whose chest the arrow wound of our merciless enemy.
If God approves of this, I am sure that he will not allow me to become a laughing stock in front of the people of Damascus today, and it is possible that after winning the battle, I will be able to read His message to the crowd, which we did by individual preaching.
Can in months he will be in a on. Please allow me and pray that Allah help me.
Waleed said. But at least you would have covered your own head. Muhammad ibn al-Qasimreplied. Don't feel bad. The soldier who stops the javelin on the head. No good opinion can be given about it. This turban is enough for me."
Waleed said, son! If today you prevail over Sulaiman, then inshallah the flag of the army attacking Sindh will be in your hands. Waleed turned back and sat on his chair after explaining something to empire on the way.
On the other hand, some spectators were standing around Sulaiman. Saleh went ahead and drew Sulaiman towards him and said, "Amir-ul- Momineen wants to humiliate you." Be careful!" asked Sulaiman.
But who is that head?" I don't know, but whoever he is, I am sure that he is not riding a horse again
It won't happen."
Empire voiced the audience!
Now Sulaiman bin Abdul Malik and Muhammad ibn al- Qasim will compete. The age of the young man in black is less than seventeen years or the onlookers started looking at the young man in black in surprise.
The arbiter waved the flag and the spearmen ran away from each other at full speed, and the people shouted enthusiastically at each other. The young and the young continued to raise slogans of praise for Muhammad for a long time and the old people were saying, "He is a brave fighter, but he is no match for Sulaiman."
The first time Sulaiman has deliberately avoided it, but the second time if he is saved, it will be a miracle.
Where is the seventeen-year-old boy and where is the worldly-minded savant like Sulaiman!"
But the youths held the sky above their heads. Instead of Solomon, the seventeen-year-old stranger had become their hero. They were not ready to tolerate even a single word from anyone's language, some of the spectators came down to fistfight due to repetition.
As per custom, the spearmen were given a second chance and the two then faced off against each other. Children and youths were running towards the side where their childhood hero was standing. Everyone's eyes were eager to see the face hidden in the mask. The mediator ran and pushed the people back and then stood in his place. After the signal of the flag, the spectators were once again seen flying around the field. There was silence again for a while. Muhammad then suddenly bowed to one side and was killed by the blow of Sulaiman's spear. Sulaiman also tried to avoid his opponent's blow by bending to the left, but with much more movement, Muhammad changed the direction of his spear and struck him in the right rib, pushing him further to the left. gave
Sulaiman, after stumbling and falling down, got up immediately and placed his hand on his rib and looked around in a state of extreme helplessness. Loud shouts were heard from all sides. Muhammad ibn al-Qasim went a little further and turned his horse's reins and approached Sulaiman
Coming down, he extended his hand towards him to shake hands, but instead of shaking hands, Sulaiman turned away and stepped quickly to one side. Thousands of spectators gathered around Muhammad ibn al-Qasim. Ayub, the Greek knight, went forward and took the reins of the horse from the hand of Muhammad ibn al-Qasim and said, I congratulate you.
Now if there is no compulsion. So take off the mask from your face! Are all our eyes restless to see your face?
Muhammad was more calm and serious than people expected. Her beautiful black eyes dripped with innocence rather than swagger, showing her composure in response to people's chants and eager gazes. That even the biggest victory cannot affect him.
The youths who carried him on their shoulders, carried him in the streets of Damascus with the intention of carrying him in a magnificent procession. They were looking at him. Ayub said to one of his Arab friends. I truly say that I have not seen any figure in Greek statues so beautiful, innocent, simple and beautiful at the same time. An Arab asked, "Where did you come from?"
Muhammad replied. "From Basra."
Muhammad ibn al-Qasim thanked everyone and said that many people have come to us to pay this.
I have brought an important message to the people of Damascus, and I must return soon. It will be a great favor to me if you all listen to my message in silence.
People were now gathering around Muhammad ibn al-Qasim in large numbers. Walid bin Abdul Malik advanced with a party of officials.
When people saw Walid bin Abdul Malik, they moved around.
Waleed approached Muhammad ibn al-Qasim and said, I think it is the best opportunity for you to ride a horse, so that everyone can see your face.
Muhammad ibn al-Qasim rode a horse. This news had reached from ear to ear in the crowd.That the young man in black wanted to tell some important news and the people who were in the front rows were sitting on the ground one after the other.