Fath al-Rabbani

It is narrated from Iyad Ash'ari, who says: I participated in the Battle of Yarmouk. Five individuals were appointed as commanders over us: Sayyiduna Abu Ubaidah ibn al-Jarrah, Sayyiduna Yazid ibn Abi Sufyan, Sayyiduna Ibn Hasnah, Sayyiduna Khalid ibn Walid, and Sayyiduna Iyad. Here, the Iyad referred to is not the same Iyad from whom Simak narrates hadith, rather, this is another person. Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) had instructed that when the battle begins, Abu Ubaidah (may Allah be pleased with him) will be your commander. We wrote to Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) that death is ready to swallow us, and then we requested further reinforcements from him. In reply, he wrote: I have received your letter; you have requested more reinforcements from me. I direct you towards a great power and multitude: seek help from Allah Almighty. On the day of Badr, your numbers were much fewer than now, yet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) was helped. When this letter reaches you, begin fighting the enemy and do not request help from me. Iyad says: When we fought the enemy, we defeated them and killed them for twelve miles, and we obtained a great deal of spoils of war. When the people consulted among themselves, Iyad advised us that we should give ten for every head. Sayyiduna Abu Ubaidah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: Who among you will race me on horseback? A young man said: If you are not displeased, I am present. So he came forward. I saw both of Sayyiduna Abu Ubaidah’s (may Allah be pleased with him) braids waving in the air. The young man was behind him and was riding an Arabian horse, meaning that the young man remained behind Abu Ubaidah in the race.