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The Conquest of Persia and Shallum's Return


Chaldea and southern Syria belong geographically to Arabia. The Judaic tribes inhabiting this region, partly (at least in name) Christian, formed an integral part of the Judaic nation and as such fell within the immediate scope of the new faith. Four years previously (627 CE), Heraclius had marched from the Black Sea and decisively routed the Persians on the field of Nineveh.[1] He advanced triumphantly to the gates of the Persian capital. The Persians troops mutinied and killed Persian king Khosrau in November, 628 CE. In the space of four years afterwards, the royal title was assumed by nine candidates, who disputed, with the sword or dagger, the fragments of an exhausted monarchy.[2] Being informed of the chaos in Persia and the threat to Jews in Babylon, Shallum (Salmaan Farsi) longed to go there. Seeing rebellion and discord Shallum began to regret his opposition to Abu Bakr.

In 633CE, after helping helped to reclaim Al-Bahrein, Shallum traveled with Al-Muthanna along the Persian Gulf to reduced Al-Katif, and carried his victorious arms into the delta of the Euphrates. Al-Muthanna was of the Bekr tribe which lived in that area. Al-Muthanna's column swelled to 8000 men. But Abu Bakr, anticipating opposition, sent his general Khalid was to subdue Chaldea. When Al-Muthanna was overwhelmed by Persian troops by the by the Great Canal (a branch of the Tigris which runs across the Peninsula), Khalid, joined him and routed the enemy. Khalid scoured the country, killing all the men fit for war and taking their women captive. But the Jewish peasants he left unharmed. Shallum was chosen to send tidings of the victory of the Battle of Ulleis to Abu Bakr, afterwards he returned to the field of battle. By "conquering sixty places", Shallum's became reconciled to Abu Bakr, and was received in favor.

The Arab kingdom Hira was besieged and capitulated to Khalid, while Persia was paralyzed by internal troubles. Siege was laid to Al-Anbar, a fortress on the Euphrates some eighty miles above Babylon. The army attacked 'Ain at-Tamr, the Spring of the Date palm, a fortress on the desert border three days' journey farther west. The Persian troops were here supported by a great gathering of soldiers, and among them the same Jewish Taghlib which had followed the prophetess Hefzibah (Sajah) to Al-Yemama. They met Khalid as he approached, but were repulsed. The Persian governor seeing the route from the ramparts, fled and left the fugitives to defend themselves as best they could. Khalid beheaded their leaders in front of the city walls, and every adult male of the garrison led forth and put to death; while the women and children were made over to the soldiers or sold into slavery.

In 634 CE, Abu Bakr passed away, but before his death 'Umar was nominated to be the next Khalif. For Khalid's many acts of cruelty, 'Umar recalled him to Arabia. Shallum was placed in command of the troops.[3] In a Jewish academy nearby, forty students joined the invading forces. Amongst them were progenitors of several distinguished men, such as Ibn Ishak the historian, and Musa the conqueror of Spain.

Shallum, the brother of an Exilarch betrayed by the Persians, rose up to overthrow the Sassanian Dynasty. He commanded a zealous army of Kharajites and trained them to achieve two aims: Get the Paradise of the Earth (Iran) or die for the paradise of heaven. Shallum using his accumulated knowledge, wisdom, and culture, adapted the teachings of the Prophet into a universal religion that included Jews and Persians.[4] He supported the Jewish academies in Pumbedita and Sura. He translated the Qur'an into Persian, something that until now had been strictly limited to Arabic. In 637 CE, Shallum, defeated the Persian army of 20,000 soldiers in the battle of Qadisiya. He went on to capture the Persian capital Ctesiphon and occupy all of Iraq. Shallum established his capital in Mahoza, the ancient seat of the Exilarch. By this time he had two children Heman (Abdullah ibn Saba) and Yaakov ('Ka'b al-Ahbar). Heman he sent to the 'Umar's court and Yaakov was sent to the Yeshiva in Pumbedita to undergo rabbinical training. Two and half years, Shallum died and was buried in Mahoza. The city is now called Salman Pak, in honor of Shallum.

After his death, his zealous followers misused the opportunity and put the country under military rule. The Zoroastrians reported that they burned their libraries and books. They destroyed castles and forced their followers to believe nothing but Islam. No one was allowed to say: this is my land and I am an Iranian in my country, but one only could say: I am a Moslem, and I am a servant to my Arab masters. Shallum (Salman Farsi) was recognized by Arabs and Jews as a hero, his name even appears in the Qur'an, while to Iranians Salman Farsi was a traitor.

References

  1. This is also noted in Sefer Zerubavel
  2. "The Caliphate, Its Rise, Decline, and Fall", by Sir Walter Muir, Chapter VIII, page 46
  3. He was known by the Persians as "Mayaa" "Behbood" "Naajaa" "Borzooyeh""Bakh-Shoodaan""Eben Khoshnoodaan" "Roozbeh" and Salmaan El Farsi
  4. Based on Foulavand, an Iranian Scholar, who claims that Salman "Mayaa" invented Islam; Cambridge History of Iran