ভূমিকা

Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Battle of Harrah The Syrian Army’s Savage Invasion of Medinan Houses As to the exact date of the Harrah event, some of the historians have reported it to be the year 62 A.H. (682 C.E.) [^1] and some 63 A.H.

(683 C.E.)[^2]; of which, of course, the majority of the historians have taken the latter as more accurate and asserted the abominable day to be Wednesday 27th or 28th of Dhū'l Hijja 63 A.H.[^3] which is according to solar calendar to be August 27, 683 C.E.16 Referring to the historical sources and adding up and analyzing the various views will strengthen the notion that the Syrian army actually entered the battle region at the outskirts of Medina - i.e.

Harrah - on Monday 24th of Dhū'l Hijja 63 A.H. (August 23, 683 C.E.)[^4], and after three days respite, the Syrian army's invasion of Medina started from Harrah region at dawn on 27th of Dhū'l Hijja, and later, on the same day, the defenders of Medina were killed at the end of the same day, and the Syrian army seized the city of Medina overnight.

Narration of all the aspects of the battle of Harrah must be considered on one side and this tragic part (the crimes of the Syrian army in Medina) of the history of Yazīd's Caliphate, as the heaviest and the most heinous of all the dreadful events that took place in this battle, on the other. Dīnawarī puts it this way: “Entrance of Syrian army into Medina took place on 27th of Dhū'l Hijja 63 A.H.

and Medina was in the clutches of Syrian army until the rise of the new crescent of Muharram.”[^5] As Yazīd b. Mu'āwiyah had advised, Muslim b. 'Uqba ordered the Syrian army after conquering Medina: “Your hands are open! Do whatever you wish!

Plunder Medina for three days.”[^6] This way, the city of Medina was allowed as permissible to the Syrian troops to exploit and plunder in whatever way they wished, leaving no man or woman on their way secure from their carnage, killing the people, and pillaging their properties.[^7]129 More grievous than the Syrian's plundering and slaying the people of Medina and the remaining generation of the companions of Prophet (s) as well as the Muhājirin and Ansār , was the rash and avaricious Syrians troops' assault upon the chastity of the women of Medina!