Failed Byzantine Attempt to Recapture Syria
With regard to the Byzantine attempt to recapture Syria, it is written that in 17 AH, the Byzantine forces launched a last attempt to recapture Syria. The Christians, Iranians, Bedouins and Kurds residing in the areas of northern Syria, Al Jazira, northern Iraq and Armenia, went to the Heraclius [Byzantine Emperor] and appealed to him for help against the Muslims. He sent an army of 30,000 soldiers for this task. Even though Hazrat Sa‘d bin Abi Waqas (ra) had conquered most of the Al Jazira region; however, up until then, he did not have rule over the Bedouins. Furthermore, the Byzantine Emperor still had a strong naval presence. Seizing the opportunity, he sent a large naval fleet to attack whilst the Bedouins raised a large army and besieged Homs. Some cities in northern Syria also rebelled. Hazrat Abu Ubaidah (ra) sent a letter to Hazrat Umar (ra) asking for reinforcements. Hazrat Umar (ra) immediately ordered Hazrat Sa‘d bin Abi Waqas (ra) to send reinforcements from Kufa. Hazrat Sa‘d bin Abi Waqas (ra) sent an army from Kufa under the command of Qa‘qa‘ bin Amr; however, despite all this, the Muslim army was heavily outnumbered as compared to the Byzantine forces. Hazrat Abu Ubaidah (ra) delivered a passionate address before the soldiers of the army saying, “O Muslims! Whoever remains steadfast today and lives to see the light of day will be granted victory and wealth. But whosoever is killed will be granted the fortune that is martyrdom and I bear witness that I heard the Holy Prophet (sa) say that whoever dies in a state whereby he is not an idolater, will certainly enter paradise.”
Subsequently, a battle ensued between the two sides. After a short while, the Byzantine army suffered losses and retreated to Marj al-Debaj, which is the name of a mountainous region in the frontier area of Syria, situated approximately 10 miles from the town of Masisa. Following this, the Byzantine Emperor never managed to launch another attack to capture Syria.
(Asharah Mubasharah, Bashir Sajid, p. 816-817, al-Badr Publications, Lahore, 2000) (Sheikh Shah Moinuddin Ahmad Nadvi, Siyar al-Sahabah, Vol. 2 [Karachi, Pakistan: Dar al-Isha’ah, 2004] 131) (Yaqut Ibn Abd Allah al-Hamawi, Mu‘jam al-Buldan, Vol. 5 [Beirut, Lebanon: Dar al-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah] 118)