Battle of Marj al-Saffar (634)

For other battles fought in Marj al-Saffar, see Battle of Marj al-Saffar.

Battle of Marj Al-Saffar
Part of the Muslim conquest of Syria and the Arab–Byzantine Wars the Campaigns of Khalid ibn al-Walid
Date 23 January 635 Location Marj al-Saffar, Syria Result Rashidun Caliphate victory
Belligerents
Rashidun Caliphate	Byzantine Empire
Commanders and leaders
Khalid ibn al-Walid	Thomas (son-in-law of Heraclius)

The Battle of Marj al-Saffar took place in 634. At Damascus, Thomas, son-in-law of Byzantine Emperor Heraclius, was in charge. Receiving the intelligence of Khalid's march towards Damascus he prepared the defences of Damascus. He wrote to Emperor Heraclius for reinforcement, who was at Emesa that time. Moreover, Thomas, in order to get more time to prepare for a siege, sent the armies to delay, or if possible, halt Khalid's march to Damascus. One such army was defeated at the Battle of Yaqusa in mid-August 634 near Lake Tiberias 150 km from Damascus, another army that halted the Muslim advance to Damascus was defeated in the Battle of Marj al-Saffar on 23 January 635. It is said that Umm Hakim bint al-Harith ibn Hisham, a Muslim heroine was involved in this battle and killed seven Byzantine soldiers.

Sources

• Adamec, Ludwig W. (2017). "Chronology:635". Historical Dictionary of Islam. Rowman & Littlefield.
• Ahmed, Leila (1992). Women and Gender in Islam: Historical Roots to a Modern Debate. Yale University Press.
• War and Religion: An Encyclopedia of Faith and Conflict [3 Volumes] by X - 2017