Saudis Retrace Route of Abraha’s Army that Came to Destroy Kaaba

[WaaliCas]

Rambie,

Not really. Habesha was any dark person. For example any kid with tan or darker tone was called al Habasha and many Arabs have that as a name. The Habesha as people are ethnic group not state. Ethiopia is 88 groups not just Habesha.

The Israeli army has many Habesha so who is here to say it won't be one of them?

What about Eritrea? Majority of them are ethnic Habesha. The Arab conspiracy theory is politically motivated.

Back in the days Eritrea was the epic center of this great civilization.

[gegiroor]

All we know he is Habesha from Abyssinia. Who is he working for and where will he originate from Ethiopia or Eritrea, it remains to be seen. No one knows if these entities will be around at that time, or if they break into new ones or became one. Only Allah knows. However, what we know the man who will destroy the Ka'ba is an Abyssinian.

It is also not a conspiracy theory, but a prophesy that will be fulfilled. We have seen many Muslim prophesies fulfilled and this one will be fulfilled as well. Those who deny it will be in a long sorrow in the day of judgement. Make no mistake about it.

[metamorphosis]

^ And by an Ethiopian too!

Not true because because the arabs called anyone with dark skin and who descends from east Africa a habash. It could be a Somali that destroys the Ka'ba for all we know and the prophet did say this gentleman will have skinny legs.

[Basra-]

http://www.arabnews.com/news/641556

JEDDAH: P.K. ABDUL GHAFOUR
Published — Thursday 9 October 2014

A group of young Saudi history enthusiasts has retraced the path of the People of the Elephant who tried to destroy the Holy Kaaba centuries ago.

The Holy Qur’an, in a short chapter, briefly refers to the story of the army of elephants led by Abraha Al-Ashram, who was a governor of Yemen. God destroyed Abraha and his army that included 13 elephants, by sending flocks of birds that dropped small stones on them.

“There never fell a stone on a soldier except it dissolved his flesh and burst it into pieces … Abraha Al-Ashram fled while his flesh was bursting into pieces and died on the way back to Yemen,” said the 14th century scholar Ibn Kathir, an authentic Qur’an commentator.

During their tiring journey across mountains and rough terrain, the young Saudi men took photographs of important landmarks, beginning from north of Najran, to the east of Asir, and then east of Baha.

Some of the most important historical sites along the way included inscriptions of elephants on rocks in the Al-Qahr Mountain, southeast of Tathlith; an old well in Hafaer, east of Asir; and a paved road near Kara in Aqeeq principality in the Baha region.

Mohammed Al-Amry, head of the geology department at King Saud University, said he had seen the path of Abraha and his army in Tathlith and Baha. “The army had passed the Arabian shield region comprising rocks and there were writings in the Humairiya language on some mountains,” he said.

According to historical Islamic sources, Abraha, who was a Christian, had thought of building a church similar to the Kaaba in Sanaa. He wanted the Arabs to perform the pilgrimage in Sanaa instead of Makkah, with the intention of diverting trade and benefits to Yemen. He presented the idea to the then king of Ethiopia who agreed to it.

Abraha built the church but the Arabs refused to come for pilgrimage in Sanaa. This infuriated him, prompting him to form an army to invade Makkah and demolish the Kaaba. He defeated all Arab armies on the way until he reached Makkah where he was attacked by the flocks of birds sent by the Almighty.

Wow. Arabs then, and NOW --are incompetent. Militarily or any activity that requires potent masculinity and Raaganiimo---it is an impossible mission for them. They are most comfortable in their dress like Khamiis, rhyming with Khaniis mind u, and their desert tents. I mean-- God All mighty saw -had to send Elephants and birds to protect Ka'abah! Is there more proof and uselessness of this race: Arabs????????????

[gegiroor]

Wow. Arabs then, and NOW --are incompetent. Militarily or any activity that requires potent masculinity and Raaganiimo---it is an impossible mission for them. They are most comfortable in their dress like Khamiis, rhyming with Khaniis mind u, and their desert tents. I mean-- God All mighty saw -had to send Elephants and birds to protect Ka'abah! Is there more proof and uselessness of this race: Arabs????????????

Shut up Basra. Your world revolves around throwing insults and vulgar language while not providing facts in your arguments. Arab Muslims defeated two empires - Persian empire and Byzntium empire - in such a short time, and conquered the whole of Arabian peninsula through Jihad, and here you're bragging about a small-time Habash general. Read below about Arab and Muslim warrior Khalid Binu Walid (ra) and all of the Jihad he took part:

• • • Khalid ibn al-Walid undefeated in over 100 battles

Khalid ibn al-Walid (a.k.a. The Sword of Allah) ; Muslim Arab soldier and general during the Muslim conquests of the 7th century, remained undefeated in over 100 battles against the numerically superior forces of the Roman Empire (under Heraclius), Persian Empire (under Yazdgerd III) and their allies during his conquest of the Persian Empire and conquest of Eastern Roman Empire


Conquest of Persian Empire

After entering Iraq (Mesopotamia) with his army of 18,000, Khalid won decisive victories in four consecutive battles: Battle of Chains, fought in April 633 CE; Battle of River, fought in the 3rd week of April 633 CE; Battle of Walaja, fought in May 633 CE (where he successfully used a double envelopment manoeuvre), and Battle of Ullais, fought in the mid of May, 633 CE. By now the Persian court was down and out. In the last week of May 633 CE, the capital city of Iraq fell to the Muslims after resistance in the Battle of Hira. After resting his armies, Khalid moved in June 633 CE towards Al Anbar, which resisted and was defeated in the Battle of Al-Anbar, and eventually surrendered after a siege of a few weeks in July 633 CE. Khalid then moved towards the south, and conquered the city of Ein ul Tamr after the Battle of ein-ul-tamr in the last week of July, 633 CE. By now, almost the whole of Iraq was under Islamic control. Khalid got a call of help from northern Arabia at daumat-ul-jandal, where another Muslim Arab general, Ayaz bin Ghanam, was trapped among the rebel tribes. Khalid went to Daumat-ul-jandal and defeated the rebels in the Battle of Daumat-ul-jandal in the last week of August, 633 CE. Returning from Arabia, he got news of the assembling of a large Persian army. Within a few weeks, he decided to defeat them all separately to avoid the risk of defeat to a large unified Persian army. Four divisions of Persian and Christian Arab auxiliaries were present at Hanafiz, Zumiel, Sanni and Muzieh. Khalid divided his army in three units, and decided to attack these auxiliaries one by one from three different sides at night, starting from the Battle of Muzieh, then the Battle of Sanni, and finally the Battle of Zumail. In November 633 CE, Khalid defeated those armies in his series of three sided attacks at night. These devastating defeats ended Persian control over Iraq. In December 633 CE, Khalid reached the border city of Firaz, where he defeated the combined forces of the Persians, Romans and Christian Arabs in the Battle of Firaz. This was the last battle in his conquest of Iraq.

Conquest of Eastern Roman Empire

Caliph Abu Bakr congratulated Khalid over his victories and gave him a new task to enter the Byzantine province of Syria and command Islamic armies there. The Byzantine province of Syria in those days consisted of modern day Syria, Jordan, Israel, Palestine, Lebanon and Southern Turkey. Passing through the Syrian Desert, Khalid with his half army of 9000 warriors entered Syria in June 634 A.D and commanded the 23000 Muslim army present there under the command of 4 generals, Abu Ubaidah ibn al-Jarrah, Yazid bin Abu-Sufyan, Sharjeel bin Hosanna and Amr ibn al-A'as. After only one day of his arrival, Khalid set out for conquest of Syria. He reached the town of Sawa, and defiant forces present there resisted a bit but later in the evening surrendered the city and agreed to pay tribute. He moved to Aarak city in the same day, and this city too surrendered and agreed to pay tribute. The next day Khalid moved to Tarmad city, which surrendered as well. He moved further and cities of Sakhna and Qadma also surrendered and agree to pay tribute. The next day city of Qarteen and Hawwareen were captured after small battle of Qarteen and battle of Hawareen. After dealing with all these cities, Khalid moved towards Damascus, after three days journey he reached a mountain pass, 20 miles from Damascus which is now known asSanita-al-Uqab( Uqab pass) after the name of Khalid's army standard. From here he moved away from Damascus towards rest of the Islamic armies which were still near the Syrian-Arabia border. At Maraj-al-Rahab, Khalid defeated a Ghassanid army of Christian Arabs in a short Battle of Marj-al-Rahit. By now he was moving away from Damascus, the stronghold of Byzantines, and towards the city of Basra. Khalid reached Basra after 3 days at a time when Sharjeel bin Hassana's 4000 army was fighting the 12000 Roman army. As soon as Khalid reached there with his 9000 warriors, the Roman army retreated and fortified themselves in the castle. After few days they came out and were defeated in the Battle of Basra and again retreated to castle and surrendered the city. 130 Muslims died, and by now it was almost mid of July 634 A.D. Muslims soon heard of gathering of 90,000 Roman army at Ajnadayn, after which all the divisions of Muslim army joined Khalid at Ajnadayn on 24 July 634, and the Muslim army became 32,000 in number. Khalid defeated Roman there on 30 July 634 A.D in Battle of Ajnadayn. After one week Khalid moved to Damascus, and on his way there he defeated an other Roman army in the battle of Yakosa in mid-august 634 A.D. Tomur, the son-in-law of Emperor Heraclius, sent another army to stop Khalid but they too were defeated in the battle of Maraj-al-Safar on 19 August 634 A.D. The next day Khalid finally reached Damascus and besieged the city for 30 days, having defeated the Roman reinforcement sent by emperor Heraclius at battle of Sanita-al-Uqab 20 miles from Damascus. Khalid's forces withstood 3 Roman attacks that tried to break the siege, and finally attacked and conquered the city on 18 September 634 A.D after Battle of Damascus. The Roman army was given a deadline of 3 days to go as far as they can, with their families and treasure, or simply agree to stay in Damascus and pay tribute. After the three days deadline was over, the Muslim cavalry under Khalid's command attacked the Roman army by catching up to them using an unknown shortcut at battle of Maraj-al-Debaj.

Battles for Emesa and 2nd Battle of Damascus

After the battle, Abu Ubaida moved towards Emesa with Khalid, who was commanding the cavalry. Meanwhile, Emperor Heraclius sent General Theodras to Damascus to recapture it, as there was only a weak defensive army in the city. Theodras met the Muslim army at Maraj-al-Rome, and moved with half of his army towards Damascus at night, while Abu Ubaida and Khalid were engaged with the remaining Byzantine army. Khalid's spy informed him about the move, and Khalid asked Abu Ubaida to give him the permission to defend Damascus. While Abu Ubaida fought and defeated the Roman army in the battle of Maraj-al-Rome, Khalid moved to Damascus with his cavalry and attacked and defeated Theodrus in the 2nd battle of Damascus. A week later, Abu Ubaida himself moved towards Balaq, while he sent Khalid straight towards Emesa. Both cities surrendered and agreed to pay tribute. Emesa and Qinasareen signed a one year peace treaty. In November 635, Khalid and Abu Ubaida moved towards Hamma city, which surrendered and agreed to pay tribute. Later, Abu Ubaida sent Khalid to Shairzer, Afamia and Matar-al-Hamz which all surrendered. Meanwhile Qinasareen and Emesa broke the peace treaty. In response, Abu Ubaida decided to conquer Emesa first and sent Khalid who defeated the Byzantine army in the 1st Battle of Emesa. The Byzantines retreated to the castle of Emesa and were subsequently besieged. Soon, Abu Ubaida reached Emesa with rest of his army, and he gave the command of the siege to Khalid, who once more defeated the Byzantine army in the 2nd Battle of Emessa. After two months of the siege, the city was finally conquered on March 636 CE after the 3rd Battle of Emesa.


Battle of Yarmouk

Abu Ubaida sent Khalid to conquer northern Syria. Khalid defeated a small Roman army in a skirmish and took many prisoners. These prisoners informed him about Emperor Heraclius's final effort to take back Syria. They told him that an army possibly two hundred thousand (200,000) strong would soon emerge to recapture their territory. Khalid stopped there on June 636 CE. This huge army set out for their destination. As soon as Abu Ubaida got the news, he gathered all his officers to plan their next move. Khalid suggested that they should call all of their forces present in Syria (Syria, Jordan, Palestine) to make a powerful joint force and then move towards the plain of Yarmouk for the battle. Abu Ubaida ordered all the Muslim commanders to withdraw from all the conquered areas, return the tributes that they previously gathered, and move towards Yarmuk. Hercules army also moved towards Yarmuk. The Muslim armies reached there in July 636 CE. A week or two later, around mid July, the Byzantine army arrived. Khalid's cavalry defeated Christian Arab auxiliaries of the Roman army in a skirmish . Nothing happened until the third week of August in which the Battle of Yarmouk was fought. The battle lasted 6 days during which Abu-Ubaida transferred the command of the entire army to Khalid. The Byzantine army was defeated on October 636 CE.


Capturing Jerusalem

Abu Ubaida held a meeting with his high command officers, including Khalid to decide of future conquests. They decided to conquer Jerusalem. The siege of Jerusalem lasted four months after which the city agreed to surrender, but only to caliph Umar Ibn Al Khattab in person. Amr-bin al-eas suggested that Khalid should be sent as caliph, because of his very strong resemblance with Caliph Umar. Khalid was recognized and eventually, Caliph Umar Ibn Al Khattab came and the city surrendered on April 637 CE. Abu Ubaida sent the commanders Amr bin al-As, Yazid bin Abu Sufyan, and Sharjeel bin Hassana back to their areas to reconquer them. Most of the areas submitted without a fight. Abu Ubaida himself along with Khalid moved to northern Syria once again to conquer them with a 17000 strong army. Khalid along with his cavalry was sent to Hazir and Abu Ubaidah moved to Qasreen city.


Conquest in northern Syria and southern Turkey

Khalid defeated a strong Byzantine army in the Battle of Hazir and reached Qasreen before Abu Ubaidah. The city surrendered to Khalid. Soon, Abu Ubaidah arrived in June 637 CE. Abu Ubaidah then moved against Aleppo. As usual Khalid was commanding the cavalry. After the Battle of Aleppo the city finally agreed to surrender in October 637 CE. Abu Ubaidah and Khalid then moved towards Antioch. In their way to Antioch, a Roman army blocked them near a river on which there was an iron bridge. Because of this, the following battle is known as the Battle of Iron bridge. The Muslim army defeated the Byzantine army and Antioch surrendered on 30 October 637 CE. Abu Ubaida sent Khalid to conquer the remaining cities within the area. In a series of minor battles, Khalid conquered the cities of Lazkia, Jabla and Tertoos. Abu Ubaidah sent Khalid to conquer north eastern Syria. All the areas up to Munbij were conquered, and all resistance suppressed up to the Euphrates. After these conquests Khalid returned to Abu Ubaidah at Aleppo in January 637 CE. Later within the year, Abu Ubaida sent Khalid and another general Ayaz bin Ghanam at the head of two separate armies against Maresh, which was conquered in autumn 638 CE. Khalid returned to Aleppo and Abu-Ubaida appointed him Governor of Qasreen city. The conquest of Maresh city represented the end of Khalid's military career.

Campaigns of Khalid ibn al-Walid

Conquest of Arabia
Uhud; Trench; Mu'tah; Mecca; Hunayn; Ta'if

Ridda Wars
Yamama; Zafar; Daumat-ul-Jandal; Buzakha; Ghamra; Naqra

Conquest of the Persian Empire
Chains; River; Walaja; Ullais; Hira; Al-Anbar;
Ein-ul-tamr; Daumat-ul-Jandal; Muzayyah; Saniyy; Zumail; Firaz

Conquest of Roman Syria
Mu'tah; Firaz; Qarteen; Bosra; Ajnadayn;
Marj-al-Rahit; Fahl; Yarmouk; Hazir; Aleppo

Conquest of Antioch
Iron Bridge
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khalid_ibn_al-Walid