Al-Qa'qa' ibn Amr al-Tamimi
Al-Qaʿqāʿ ibn ʿAmr ibn Mālik al-Tamimī (Arabic: القعقاع بن عمرو بن مالك التميمي) was a sahabi of Banu Tamim. He and his tribe converted to Islam possibly during the time of Ahnaf ibn Qais. He is known as a successful Military Commander who took part in two important victorious battles in early Muslim Conquest, the Battle of Yarmouk against the Byzantine Empire (commanded by Khalid ibn al-Walid) and the Battle of al-Qadisiyyah against the Sassanian Empire which was led by Sa`d ibn Abi Waqqas. The Caliph Abu Bakr praised him as an equal to eleven thousand men so in return the caliph predecessor, caliph Umar only sent him and a handful bodyguards as reinforcement to Al-Qadissiyah as the first wave as reinforcement.[1] making him one of the most Illustrious military figures in that era.
Al-Qaʿqāʿ ibn ʿAmr al-Tamimī | |
|---|---|
| Personal details | |
| Born | Arabian Peninsula |
| Died | Kufa, Iraq |
| Parents | ʿAmr ibn Mālik al-Tamimī |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Rashidun Caliphate |
| Branch/service | Rashidun army |
| Rank | General |
| Unit | Mobile guard |
| Battles/wars | |
Life
Ridda wars
Qa'qa ibn Amr converted along with his tribe, in the Year of the delegations, 631. But, for a brief period, he and other Tamim joined the force of false prophetess Sajah bint al-Harith before she was subdued during Ridda wars later on he carried successful military career under Khalid bin Walid suppressing another false prophet Tulayha in the Battle of Buzakha.[2] after the Ridda wars has been ended he continued to follow Khalid's campaign to Syria and Iraq.
Battle of Chains
Qa'qa is taking part in the Battle of Chains and in one occasion when Qa'qa saw Khalid duelling the Sassanid champion Hormozd, he rushed to help his superior when the Sassanid sent aid to intercept the duel, killing all the Sassanid soldiers who intended to kill Khalid amid the duel in the process.[3] During this battle its reported that Qa'qa said "We did trample Hormuz with fury restrained..."[4]
Battle of Yarmouk
In the famous battle of Yarmouk under Khalid he served as his subordinate Officer in Mobile guard elite cavalry. subsequently taking part as 'Fire Brigade' role, plugging all weak points or reinforcing the routed line within the Muslim ranks.
Battle of al-Qādisiyyah
The Caliph Umar ibn al-Khattāb sent Al-Qa'qa' ibn 'Amr to take part in the battle of Qadisiyya. On 17 November 636, his units reached the battlefield at noon. Before arriving, Qa’qa divided his troops into several smaller groups and instructed them to appear on the battlefield one after the other, giving the impression that large reinforcements were arriving. Qa'qa was busy raising morale and arranging his companions to the place from where he parted from them in previous day. The Persian army's elephants were a serious obstacle for the Muslims. To solve this problem, Qa’qa resorted to an ingenious device. The camels in his army were disguised to look like weird monsters. These "monsters" were moved to the Sassanid front and, upon seeing them, the Sassanid horses turned and fled. With the disorganization of the Sassanid cavalry, the Persian infantry at the left and center became exposed and vulnerable. Saad ordered an all-out attack by the Muslims. After the Persian army was routed Qa’qa ibn Amr went into pursuit and killed the Persian general Bahman, who commanded the Sasanian army at the Battle of the Bridge.
When the battle resumed on 18 November 636, al-Qa'qa' led a vanguard cavalry of three hundred accompanied by Qays bin Hazim who led the Hashim tribe kinsmen who came from Syria together with local Iraqi tribal warriors. This time they were involved in melee combat against the Sassanid elephant corps. The Muslim cavalry blinded the elephants and severed their trunks with spears and other melee weapons while the Muslim archers struck down the elephant riders. The situation became dire for the Muslims later on that day, despite having already annihilated the elephant corps, because the Sassanids fought even more ferociously, resulting in al-Qa'qa's fellow kinsmen, Khalid bin Yamar al-Tamimi, being killed in the night. Consequently, al-Qa'qa' was tasked with the initiative of reinvigorating the Muslim army.
At sunrise of 19 November 636, the fighting had ceased, but the battle was still inconclusive. Al-Qa'qa, with the consent of Saad, was now acting as a field commander of the Muslim troops. He is reported to have addressed his men as follows:
"If we fight for an hour or so more, the enemy will be defeated. So, warriors of the Bani Tameem, make one more attempt and victory will be yours."
The Muslims' left center led by al-Qa’qa' surged forward and attacked the Sassanid right center, followed by the general attack of the Muslim corps. The Sassanids were taken by surprise at the resumption of battle. The Sassanids' left wing and left center were pushed back. Al-Qa’qa' again led a group of Mubarizun against the Sassanids' left center and by noon, he and his men were able to pierce through the Sassanid center.[5]
Battle of Jalula
During the Battle of Jalula Mihran engaged his troops in an open battlefield, Hashim ibn Utbah decided to carry out his maneuver. He dispatched a strong cavalry regiment under one of his most illustrious cavalry commanders; Qaqa ibn Amr to capture the bridge over the entrenchments. The bridge was not heavily guarded as virtually all the Persian troops available were used to assault Muslim army's main rank. Qaqa maneuvered around Persian right flank quickly captured the bridge at their rear. The news of a strong Muslim cavalry detachment in their rear was a serious setback to Persian morale. Hashim launched a frontal attack with Muslim infantry while Qaqa stuck at Persian rear with his cavalry. Thus resulted the Sassanid Army trapped and routed in result.
After the campaign in Jalula was ended he stayed and held a military post for a while in Kufa.
First Muslim civil war
During the uprising against the rule of Caliph Uthman, Qa'qa quickly suppress the revolt potential brought by Yazid bin Qays al-Arhabi to heel. Many times he went using his own reputation as the hero of Caliphate who respected and feared by peoples of Kufa to cool down the heated political atmosphere before and after caliph Uthman was murdered. he even tried to mediate the factions of Ali and Aisha to ensuing peaceful negotiation although his attempt bear fruitless and the Battle of the Camel unavoided[6]
After the civil war was ended he was purged by Caliph Muawiyah I together with other Ali supporter from Kufa and exiled to Jerusalem[7][8]
Death
Despite the exile he later went back to live in Kufa, where he allegedly died later in retirement[2]
References
- "ÇáãæÓæÚÉ ÇáÔÇãáÉ - ÇáÅÕÇÈÉ Ýí ÊãííÒ ÇáÕÍÇÈÉ". Retrieved 22 April 2015.
- Ibn al-Athir , Usd al-Ghaba fī ma'rifat al-Sahaba ("The lions of the forest in the knowledge of the Companions "), 7 vols., Muhammad Ibrahim al-Banna, Muhammad Ahmad 'Ashur, Mahmud al Wahhab Fā'id (edd.), Cairo , Kitab al-Sha'b, 1393/1973, IV, p. 409, n. 4309.
- "Chapter 19: The Battle of Chains". Sword of Allah. Archived from the original on 2016-08-18.
- Ibn Kathir, Al-Bidayah wan-Nihayah, Dar Abi Hayyan, Cairo, 1st ed. 1416/1996, Vol. 6 P. 425.
- ?Abar?; Tabari (January 1992). The History of al-Tabari Vol. 12. ISBN 9780791407332. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
- Anthony, Sean (25 November 2011). The Caliph and the Heretic. ISBN 9789004216068. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
- Morony, Michael G. (2005). Iraq After the Muslim Conquest. ISBN 9781593333157. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
- Gil, Moshe (27 February 1997). A History of Palestine, 634-1099. ISBN 9780521599849. Retrieved 22 April 2015.