The First Conquest of Diyar-i Bekr bij Muslims

Jamadhiyyal Awwal 17/27 May 638

Abstract

Diyar-i Bekr is the name of the city of Diyarbak1r with its surroundings, the borders whereof extend as far as the city of Siirt. The original name is the city of Amid or Amid Castle. It is also called Amid-i Sevda due to the black fields of Diyarbak1r. The primary source of the information we will give is what Nawfal bin Abdullah heard from Waqidi in person and narrated directly. Given that the father of Nawfal bin Abdullah, Abdullah bin Nawfal, was one of the Companions of the Prophet Muham- mad (Peace be Upon Him - PbUH), who died in 83 A.H., only his son was between him and Waqidi. Amid was conquered by the Muslim commander Iyadh bin Gha- nam, who arrived at Amid Castle, i.e. when the siege started, on 7 Jamadhiyyal Aw- wal, 17 A.H./ 27 May, 638 A.C., Friday. If we add the five months long siege period to this date, we could estimate that the conquest was completed on 7 Shawwal A.H. 17, 22 October, 638 A.C. Nevertheless, 7 Jamadhiyyal Awwal, 17 A.H./ 27 May, 638

A.C. might be regarded as the date of conquest as well. The edict sent by Omar (may Allah be pleased with him) to Abu Ubaidah bin Al-Jarrah for the conquest of the regions of Diyar-i Bekr and Arz al-Rabi' is important for us. We opine that we will have corrected a great number of misknown issues with this article.