Dhiraar bin Al-Azwar

During the initial period of the Ridda Wars, Dhiraar acted as a tax collector, but later, he participated in many Ridda battles as a common soldier. He later served as a scout for the elite mobile cavalry guard led by the famous general Khalid bin al-Walid. At one point, there was an apostasy revolt in his clan led by Tulayha. As a result, he was sent by Prophet Muhammad to quell this rebellion.[8]

Dhiraar was sent by Khalid to lead a detachment consisting of Banu Tamim warriors to confront Malik ibn Nuwayrah, chief of the Bani Yarbu', a Banu Tamim clan, on accusations of apostasy.[9]

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 interrupt operations against the Sassanian Empire and reach Syria, which brought him to engage the opposition.

During the middle of the battle, it is recorded that the impetuous Dhiraar confronted Khalid and said:

"Why are we waiting when Allah, the Most High, is on our side? By Allah, our enemies will think that we are afraid of them. Order the attack, and we shall attack with you."[10][Notes 1]

Waqidi recorded that one particular event when Dhiraar Goes on man to man duel against Vahan. Dhiraar opened and throwing his armor and upper garments during the duel, thus continued in very fierce duel until Dhiraar spear penetrated chest of Vahan. As he killed the commander, Dhiraar as said to goes on charging the Byzantine rank, as witness saying Dhiraar killing at least three dozens of Byzantine soldiers alone.[13]

Their deaths, due to Dhiraar's actions, sowed disorder among the Byzantine ranks, and led to a breakdown of morale, which Khalid used to his strategic advantage.[14]

After the defeat of the Byzantine-allied Ghassanids by April 24, Khalid's force was able to enter Bosra, Syria almost unopposed. Thus, Khalid's forces went to join with Amr ibn al-A'as's forces in a place known traditionally as Adjnadayn.

Later in the battle of Yarmouk, Dhiraar was appointed most of the time as the Muslim army's scout, usually screening the battlefield with small groups of horsemen to determine the best way to deal with the Byzantine forces.

It is recorded by Ibn Taymiyyah and Muhammad Yusuf Al Dihlawi, author of Hayatus Sahabah, that in one particular clash, a rank of Muslims fell back at the Byzantine onslaught, while he, along 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.[15][16] 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?!"[17]

Al-Harith bin Hisham and Diraar bin 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.[17]

Deployment of troops on the fifth day. Dhiraar's troops were waiting on the far left to ambush routed Byzantine army.

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.[18]

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. 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. Although a large number of the soldiers managed to escape the slaughter, some may have been captured during the subsequent pursuit. The Muslims took no prisoners in this battle. The Byzantine general, Theodore Trithyrius, and some other generals were among the casualties.

After this battle, 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.

He was captured by Byzantine forces during the Battle of Eagle Pass, which precluded the Siege of Damascus. Shortly later, he was rescued by a team led by his sister, Khawlah bint al-Azwar.[19] Some commentaries criticize the authenticity of Khawlah's rescue because it was recorded without citations approved by the scholars of that era and only by al-Waqidi, who has been criticized by Ahmad ibn Hanbal, al-Shafi’i, al-Bukhari and others as unreliable.[11][12]

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

• Syrian actor Ahmed Slan played the role of Dhiraar bin al-Azwar in the first season of the series Khalid ibn al-Walid, directed by the Jordanian Mohammed Azizia
• Egyptian actor Abdullah Ghaith played the role in the series Under the Shade of Swords,[32] by the Egyptian director Saeed Al-Rashidi

• Mustadrak al-Hakim
• Abu Ismail al Azdi
• Tarikh al Rusul wal Muluk by Muhammad ibn Jarir al-Tabari
• Futuh Al Sham Waqidi
• Ibn Hajar
• Sayf ibn Umar
• Sahih al-Bukhari
• Ibn 'Abd al-Barr

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