Conquest of Iraq

Dhiraar participated in the first Muslim conquest of Persia under Khalid ibn al-Walid, which immediately occurred after Ridda wars.^[14] Dhiraar played pivotal role in the battle of Walaja as he was assigned as one of two cavalry commanders that tasked to lead detachments of Rashidun cavalries to struck the advancing Sassanid army from the rear and trap themin double envelopment maneuver strategy designed by Khalid.^[15]

• 
  Khalid led main army to engage and bait the Sassanid while cavalry of Dhiraar and Suwaid ibn Muqrin hiding behind the hill
• 
  Sassanids launched counter-attack, on Khalid's instructions the Muslim withdrawing their position to lure the Sassanid advance.
• 
  Dhiraar and Suwaid ibn Muqrin cavalry launching envelopment attack.
• 
  Muslim cavalry and infantry complete the encirclement of the Persian army.

In the year of 12 Hijr during the battle of Hira, Dhiraar and Ayas ibn Qubaisah were tasked to subdue the fortress of al-Qasr al-Abyad where he asked the fortress to surrender.^[16][14] However, the fortress garrison resisting and throwing the Rashidun soldiers under Dhiraar with "cylindrical ceramic rollers".^{[Notes 3]} Dhiraar in response ordering his soldiers to showering the fortress wall with arrows, and continued to storming the peoples outside the fortress, before they breach inside and captured the houses and monasteries inside al-Qasr al-Abyad.^[14] This caused the residents to immediately surrender to Dhiraar.^[14]

Later, Dhiraar were recorded along with Dhiraar ibn al-Khattab, Al-Muthanna ibn Haritha, and Dhiraar ibn al-Muqarrin to be appointed as quarter commanders of Rashidun garrison in al-Sib.^[14] Dhiraar and the others mounted raids that penetrated into area that reached the bank of Tigris river.^[14]

Conquest of Levant

The Rashidun army left the capital Medina probably in the autumn of 633 or at the beginning of 634. They first engaged and defeated the Byzantines at Dathin on February 4; after that, Emperor Heraclius, then stationed in Emesa (now Homs, Syria), had reinforcements sent south to protect Caesarea Maritima. As a possible reaction, commander Khalid ibn al-Walid was ordered to aid Abu Ubayda ibn al-Jarrah in Syria.^{[citation needed]} At sometime before the Siege of Emesa city, a Byzantine commander from Baalbek named Harbees collided with patrolling troops of Rashidun which led by Dhiraar, Amr ibn Ma'adi Yakrib, Abdul Rahman ibn Abi Bakr, Rabia ibn Amr, Malik Al-Ashtar.^[17] The forces of Harbees swiftly demolished by the Rashidun troops of Amr, which caused the city of Emesa captured in no time as there are no more adequate defense left.^[18] Dhiraar and Amr then continues by leading more than 5,000 cavalry troops joining Maysarah ibn Masruq to besiege Homs.^[19]

Battle of Yarmuk

In the battle of Yarmouk, Dhiraar were placed on the left wing which commanded by Yazid ibn Abi Sufyan, leading his personal squadron among other dozen squadrons of the left wing.^[33] Dhiraar serving largely during this battle in the unit of elite cavalry which called the Mobile Guards, which specifically tasked to plugging the gaps between Muslim ranks to avoid enemy penetration.^[34] It is recorded that in one particular clash, as a rank of Muslims fell back at the Byzantine onslaught, Dhiraar then gathered together with Ikrimah ibn Abi Jahl, stood firm with 400 men holding the deserted line and successfully defending the Muslim position until the fleeing Muslim ranks returned to the battlefield and reinforced the position again.^[35][36] The circumstances were expounded on in Tabari's comprehensive history wherein Ikrimah is recorded as saying:

"Would I fight the Messenger of God in every place, yet flee from you today?! Who will take an oath (to fight) to the death?!"^[14]

Al-Harith ibn Hisham and Diraar ibn Al-Azwar both swore an oath along with 400 of notable men and knights. They fought in front of Khalid's command tent until all of them were disabled by wounds. Many of them died after the clash due to heavy wounds including Ikrimah, Although some like Dhiraar were able to recover.^[14]

In the final day of the battle, Dhiraar played a prominent role when Khalid assigned him to capture a bridge at Ayn al-Dhakar to safely cross the deep gorges of the ravines of Wadi-ur-Ruqqad with 500 soldiers at the night of the fifth day. He was then ordered by Khalid to set an ambush there to eliminate the Byzantine armies who had been routed and who intended to use this bridge as a way to withdraw.^[37] The next day, Dhiraar moved with 500 mounted troops around the northern flank of the Byzantines and captured the bridge. The plan was successful as the Byzantines retreated onto this path, where Dhiraar had been waiting for them in Wadi ar-Raqqad Bridge.^[27] The Byzantines were surrounded from all sides now. Some fell into the deep ravines off the steep slopes, others tried to escape in the waters, only to be smashed on the rocks below and again others were killed in their flight.^[38]

Battle of Qadisiyyah

Later, Caliph Umar instructed a portion of the Rashidun troops from Yarmouk to be transferred to Iraq as reinforcements to assist Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas in the Battle of al-Qādisiyyah against the Sassanid Empire and Dhiraar was counted among them. At this stage, Ya'qubi has recorded, that, along with Dhiraar bin Al-Azwar, Amr ibn Ma'adi Yakrib, Tulayha, and Kurt ibn Jammah al-Abdi has discovered the corpse of Rostam farrokhzad, the highest commander of Sassanid army during this battle.^[39] The death of Rostam shocked the entire Sassanid, which prompted Sa'd to instruct general assault to all the Muslim soldiers.^[40]

Conquest of Africa

Later, According to Waqidi, during the Muslim conquest of Egypt, Dhiraar participated the campaign under Miqdad ibn Aswad and pacified several areas in al-Gharbia region, started from Kafr Tanah (area in modern day Dakahlia Governorate), and Tennis.^[41] Then Miqdad continued his march leading forty horsemen which included Dhiraar.^[42] Then as they reached Damietta, Miqdad found the city was fortified by a man named al-Hammuk, an uncle of Al-Muqawqis.^[43] Al-Hammuk fortified the city and closed the gates, as Miqdad besieged the city.^[43] As Damietta subdued, Miqdad were appointed to govern the city.^[44]

Later, Dhiraar were mentioned again involved in the Muslim campaign to Bahnasa.^[45] Amr ibn al-Aas sent Dhiraar and Muslim army under his command to meet with mustered Sudanese christian auxiliaries of Beja.^{[Notes 6]} Before the battle, the Rashidun army camped in a place which called Dashur.^[48] Benjamin Hendrickx reported that the African christians has mustered around 20,000 Sudanese symmachoi corps,^{[Notes 7]} 1,300 elephants mounted archers, and anti cavalry units named al-Quwwad which armed with iron sticks,^[47]which led by a Patrician named Batlus. Meanwhile, al-Maqqari even stated 50,000 christian army of Byzantine Sudanese christian alliance in the "Battle of Darishkur".^[46][47] the record of al-Maqrizi stated in this conflict, Dhiraar along with Miqdad ibn Aswad, Zubayr ibn al-Awwam, and Uqba ibn Amir each commanding muslims cavalry facing the Elephant corps led by Byzantine exarchate commander named Batlus.^[46] The Rashidun cavalry armed with spears ignited in flames that tip soaked in Santonin plants and Sulphur which were used drive the elephants flee in terror, scared with the flaming spears.^[48] while the elephant riders were toppled from the elephant's back and crushed underfoot on the ground.^[48] Meanwhile, the al-Quwwad warriors who used iron staffs were routed by the Rashidun cavalry soldiers who used a seized chain weapons to disarm the staff weapons of the al-Quwwad corps of Byzantine.^[48]

Historical death controversy

It is widely accepted by the consensus of historians that Dhiraar died in Syria from the Plague of Emmaus, the plague that killed many other Companions of Muhammad, including Abu Ubaidah ibn al-Jarrah. The year of his death is believed to be 18 AH/640 AD^[54] and his final resting place is in Syria.^[55] The tomb shrine believed belong to Dhiraar were located in the town of Deir Alla in the Central Jordan Valley, northwest of Jordan. It is a modern mosque, a wide courtyard, and a garden decorated with trees.^[56]

Yet, other accounts of Dhiraar ibn al-Azwar's death exist. For instance, Ibn 'Abd al-Barr said he fell at the Battle of Ajnadayn. This is contrary to al-Waqidi's report which said he fell at the Battle of Yamama.^[57][58] Also, it was reported by Ibn Hajjar that after Dhiraar murdered Malik ibn Nuwayrah and committed adultery with a female slave taken from the campaign, General Khalid was ordered by Caliph Umar to execute him due to his crimes. However, before Khalid received the order to execute Dhiraar, he was already dead.^[59] There is some controversy regarding the textual translations, which make it difficult to discern if Dhiraar died at that time or not (regardless of the cause),^[60] as it is recorded by Bayhaqi.^[61] On the other hand, al-Tabari explained in his book regarding the conflicted report where there are two version of his death. the first was Dhiraar was said killed in battle of Ajnadayn, while the other saying he has been fallen in the battle of Yamama^[1] that Dhiraar appeared at the battle of Yarmouk.^[62] Ya'qubi even wrote that he lived long enough to witness the Battle of Qadisiyah and that together with Tulayha, Amru ibn Ma'adi Yakrib and Kurt ibn Jammah al-Abdi, he discovered the corpse of Rostam Farrokhzād.^[12] Having said that, the chronicle of Ya'qubi was plagued with skepticism due to his excessive Shi'i sympathies.^{[Notes 10]}

Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani recorded in his work Fath al-Bari about Muhammad al-Bukhari commentary that the weakness in the narrative chain of the death of Dhiraar in Yamamah.^[64] Ibn Hajar further surmised that there were two different persons called Dhiraar. The first was Dhiraar ibn al-Azwar from the Asad tribe and the other named Dhiraar ibn al-Khattab. Thus, some chroniclers like Abd al-Barr made the mistake of identifying those two different persons as one.^[65] Although the confusion was evident here, the older chroniclers such as Abu Ismail al-Azdi and Sayf ibn Umar were conscious of the existence of two different Dhiraars but they also recorded that both Dhiraar al-Azwar and Dhiraar ibn al-Khattab were present in the Syrian campaign, particularly at the Battle of Yarmouk, thus dismissing al-Barr and al-Waqidi's claims.^[66] Mashhoor bin Hassan Al Salman [ar], Jordanian Hadith expert and pupil of Muhammad Nasiruddin al-Albani, has warned in his book against the tradition which authored from Waqidi regarding the death of Dhiraar in the battle of Yamama as inauthentic narration.^[67] Meanwhile, Mahmud Shakir also recorded both Dhiraar ibn al Azwar and Dhiraar ibn al Khattab had lived long enough passing battle of Yamama and attended the battle of Qadisiyyah.^[68]

Socio-political

There is records regarding the modern era historiography study of the conquest of al-Bahnasa, as Sudan history researchers said the old chronicles from traditional History of Bahnasa conquest, supported al-Maqrizi narration of the background for this Arabic invasions to Sudan.^{[46][Notes 11]}, though MacMichaels doubt it.^{[Notes 12]} Nevertheless, al Dukhayli mentioned there are several battle poetries regarding the battle of Darishkur that allegedly recited by several Muslim leaders during the battle, such as Dhiraar, Zubayr ibn al-Awwam, al-Qa'qa' ibn Amr al-Tamimi, and others.^[73] Meanwhile, modern era excavation and archaeological research teams from Egyptian ministry also put interests to the tombs of the Muslims fallen during the battle, and alleged encampment of the Rashidun army during the campaign, where Dhiraar has participated.^[74] Dhiraar was fluently accomplished poet who attributed many of his poetic narration to fuel up his expression towards Jihad and Islamic stance.^[75] It was studied as the historical heritage of Iraq.^[75]

The Dharri clan or also known as the Zarari were Arabian tribe in modern day Iraq who are allegedly traced their ancestry as descendant of Dhiraar ibn al-Azwar.^[76]

In popular culture

Several 20th-century films made about Muslim conquests included Dhiraar as one of the cast:

• Syrian actor Ahmed Slan played the role of Dhiraar ibn al-Azwar in the first season of the series Khalid ibn al-Walid, directed by the Jordanian Mohammed Azizia.^{[citation needed]}
• Egyptian actor Abdullah Ghaith played the role in the series Under the Shade of Swords,^{[77][better source needed]} by the Egyptian director Saeed Al-Rashidi.