The Conquest of Qumis and Jurjan

Then, there is the Conquest of Qumis and Jurjan, which took place in the 22 AH. When the emissary informed Hazrat Umar (ra) about the conquest of Rayy, Hazrat Umar (ra) wrote to Nu‘aim bin Muqarrin that he should send his brother, Suwaid bin Muqarrin, in order to conquer Qumis.

This city is located between Rayy and Nishapur, near the end of the mountain range of Tabaristan. The people of Qumis did not oppose them and Suwaid wrote them an oath of protection and reconciliation. Jurjan was situated close by, it was a large city between Tabaristan and Khorasan. The people of Tabaristan also sent their people to Suwaid and they too accepted the treaty on the condition of paying the jizya. Subsequently, Suwaid wrote an oath of protection for the people of the entire area.

(Ali Muhammad al-Sallabi, Sirat Ameerul Momineen Umar bin Khattab [Beirut, Lebanon: Dar al-Ma‘rifah, 2007], p. 432)

There was no discussion about religion. Those who wanted a settlement were granted protection.

Then, there is the conquest of Azerbaijan, which also took place in the 22 AH. As has previously been mentioned, Hazrat Umar (ra) gave the flag for the campaign towards Azerbaijan to Utbah bin Farqad and Bukair bin Abdillah and he instructed them to launch their individual attacks from different locations.

Bukair bin Abdillah advanced with his army and when he reached near Jurmizan, Rustam’s brother, Isfandyaz bin Farrukhzad, who had fled after being defeated in the battle of Waj Ruz, came forward in order to confront the army. This was Bukair’s first attack on Azerbaijan. A battle ensued, the enemy was defeated and Isfandyaz was captured.

Isfandyaz asked Bukair, the commander of the Muslims, whether he preferred a peace settlement or war? Bukair replied, “I prefer a peace settlement.” He then said, “You should keep me with you as your captive. They will not accept any peace settlement until I am made their representative. They will continue to fight until they are scattered in the surrounding mountains, or besieged in their fortresses.”

Hence, Bukair kept Isfandyaz with him and they gradually seized more and more of the area.

Utbah bin Farqad attacked from another side. Bahram, the brother of Isfandyaz, confronted him on the way, but fled after suffering defeat in battle. When Isfandyaz heard of this, he said, “The flame of battle has now been extinguished and the time for entering a peace treaty has approached.”

Hence, he entered into a settlement and the people of Azerbaijan supported him. An oath of reconciliation was written and the words of this oath were as follows:

“In the name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful. This is the settlement which Utbah bin Farqad, a servant of the Leader of the Faithful, Umar bin Khattab (ra), gives to the inhabitants of Azerbaijan. This settlement applies to all people living in the open plains, mountainous regions and neighbouring areas of Azerbaijan and to the adherents of all religions. All of them are granted protection of their lives, their wealth, their religion and their religious laws on the condition that they pay the jizya according to their means. However, the jizya will not be taken from a child, a woman, someone who is permanently ill and does not have any wealth nor a hermit who does not possess any wealth. This applies to the natives of this land as well as to those, who come from elsewhere and settle here (i.e. for future inhabitants). They [the inhabitants] are responsible for the hospitality of the Muslim army for the duration of one day and to show them the way [for their onward journey]. If anyone is asked to render military duties, he will be exempt from paying the jizya. These are the conditions for anyone living here and whoever wishes to leave will remain under protection until they reach their place of safety. This settlement has been penned by Jundub and Bukair bin Abdillah and Simak bin Kharsha are witnesses to it.”

(Mir Mahmud Ahmad Nasir, Muqala Tarikh-e-Islam bi-Ehd-e-Hazrat Umar (ra), pp. 176-179) (Muhammad Ibn Jarir al-Tabari, Tarikh al-Tabari, Vol. 2 [Beirut, Lebanon: Dar al-Kutub al-‘Ilmiyyah, 2012], pp. 539-540)

Regarding the settlements with Armenia, it is stated that after the victory of Azerbaijan, Bukair bin Abdillah advanced toward Armenia. In order to assist them, Hazrat Umar (ra) sent an army under the command of Suraqa bin Malik bin Amr, and in this expedition, Suraqa bin Malik was also to serve as overall commander-in-chief, while the vanguard was to be led by Abdur Rahman bin Rabi‘ah. Huzayfa bin Usaid Ghiffari was assigned as the commander of one flank of the army and was told that when this army meets up with the army heading to Armenia under the command of Bukair bin Abdillah, the second wing of the overall army should be given to Bukair bin Abdillah.

This army began its journey, and its vanguard commander, Abdur Rahman bin Rabi‘ah moved with such speed that they advanced ahead of Bukair bin Abdillah’s army and reached the outskirts of a place called Baab, where the ruler of Armenia, Shahrbaraz, resided. Shahrbaraz was an Iranian, he sought protection from Abdur Rahman in a letter and came to see him. He was Iranian and hated the Armenians. He negotiated with Abdur Rahman, proposing that the jizya not be levied upon him, but instead he would provide military assistance wherever needed – this is a different kind of settlement. He made a peace treaty, but requested that no jizya be taken from him. Instead, he would provide them with military support.

Suraqa accepted this offer, and Armenia was conquered without any fighting.

When this incident of reconciliation was reported to Hazrat Umar (ra), not only did he approve of it, but expressed great approval and joy. Suraqa presented them with the following settlement:

“In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Ever-Merciful.

“This is the settlement which Suraqa bin Amr, the Governor representing Umar bin Khattab (ra), Leader of the Faithful, has made over to Shahrbaraz, Armenia, and the inhabitants of Armenia. The Leader of the Faithful hereby grants them protection of their lives, wealth and religion, guaranteeing that none of these things shall be harmed. In the event of an attack, they will serve in the army, and whenever the commander deems fit, they will help in every important task. The jizya will not be levied upon them; rather, their military services will be accepted in its place. However, those who refuse to provide military support will be required to pay the jizya, just like the inhabitants of Azerbaijan. They [i.e. the Muslim army] should guide them along their journey. They have to provide an entire day’s hospitality. But if military help is rendered, then the jizya will not be taken from them. If military assistance is not taken, then the jizya will be levied upon them.”

The witnesses for this agreement were Abdur Rahman bin Rabi‘ah, Salman bin Rabi‘ah and Bukair bin Abdillah. It was written by Mardi bin Muqarrin, who was also a witness.

After this, Suraqa began to send armies to the mountains surrounding Armenia. Hence, Bukair bin Abdillah, Habeeb bin Maslamah, Hudhaifa bin Usaid, and Salman bin Rabi‘ah led these forces into the mountains. Bukair bin Abdillah was sent to Mauqan, Habeeb was sent to Tiflis, and Huzayfa bin Usaid was sent to meet with the inhabitants residing in the mountains of La‘n.

Of these forces sent by Suraqa, Bukair bin Abdillah, who was sent to Mauqan saw the greatest victory. He issued a written proclamation of peace to the inhabitants of Mauqan, which was as follows:

“In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Ever-Merciful.

“This is the settlement issued to the people of Mauqan in the mountains of Qabah, by Bukair bin Abdillah. They are hereby extended protection concerning their persons, wealth, their religion and religious laws, on the condition that every adult pays the jizya of one dinar or its equivalent value […]”.

Among all the peace settlements which were formed in these new places, the freedom to profess and practice religion was safeguarded. As for those who allege that Islam was forced upon the masses by the sword – no one from among these people was forcefully converted to Islam.

“[…] and that they will act with goodwill, help the Muslims, and incur the expenses of hosting the army for one night. They will enjoy this protection for as long as they are loyal to this agreement and support it, and our responsibility will be to remain loyal to them.

وَاللّٰهُ‭ ‬الْمُسْتَعَانْ‬

“‘And Allah Alone is the Helper.’ If there is any breach in this agreement, or the slightest deception from their side, then they will lose their protection. Rather, anyone witnessing this will hand over the perpetrators of any deception to the Islamic government; otherwise those people will also be considered as their accomplices.” This settlement was also signed and attested for by four or five individuals.

(Mir Mahmud Ahmad Nasir, Muqala Tarikh-e-Islam bi-ehd-e-Hazrat Umar (ra), pp. 180-184)