how to govern his passions than to command the army; though, to most great generals, the latter frequently proves the easier task of the two.  In this hazardous enterprise his success was beyond all expectation, for he threw Jabalah’s Arabs into disorder and killed a great many, losing very few of his own men on the field, besides five prisoners, three of whom were Yezid Ebn Abu Sofian, Rafi Ebn Omeira, and Derar Ebn Al Alzwar, all men of great note.  Abu Obeidah sent Abdallah Ebn Kort with an express to Omar, acquainting him with their circumstances, begging his prayers and some fresh recruits of Unitarians, a title they glory in, as reckoning themselves the only asserters of the unity of the Deity.  Omar and the whole court were extremely surprised, but comforted themselves with the promises made to them in the Koran, which seemed now to be all they had left to trust to.  To encourage the people, he went into the pulpit and showed them the excellency of fighting for the cause of God, and afterward returned an answer to Abu Obeidah, full of such spiritual consolation as the Koran could afford.  Omar commanded Abdallah, as soon as ever he came near the camp and before he delivered the letter, to cry out, “Good news!” in order to comfort the Mussulmans and ease them in some measure of the perplexing apprehensions they labored under.  As soon as he received this letter and message, together with Omar’s blessing, he prepared to set out on his return to the army; but suddenly he remembered that he had omitted to pay his respects at Mahomet’s tomb, which it was very uncertain whether he should ever see again.  Upon this he hastened to Ayesha’s house (the place where Mahomet was buried), and found her sitting by the tomb with Ali and Abbas, and Ali’s two sons, Hasan and Hosein, one sitting upon Ali’s lap, the other upon Abbas’.  Ali was reading the chapter of beasts, being the sixth of the Koran, and Abbas the chapter of Hud, which is the eleventh.  Abdallah, having paid his respects to Mahomet, Ali asked him whether he did not think of going?  He answered, “Yes,” but he feared he should not get to the army before the battle, which yet he greatly wished to do, if possible.  “If you desired a speedy journey,” answered Ali, “why did not you ask Omar to pray for you?  Don’t you know that the prayers of Omar will not be turned back?  Because the apostle of God said of him:  ’If there were a prophet to be expected after me, it would be Omar, whose judgment agrees with the book of God.’  The prophet said of him besides, ’If an [universal] calamity were to come from heaven upon mankind, Omar would escape from it.’  Wherefore, if Omar prayed for thee, thou shalt not stay long for an answer from God.”  Abdallah told him that he had not spoken one word in praise of Omar but what he was very sensible of before.  Only he desired to have not only his prayers but also those of all the Mussulmans, and especially of those who were at the tomb of the prophet.  At these