Arfaja al-Bariqi

Arfaja
Born	about 598 Bareq, Arabia
Died	654 mosul.
Allegiance	Rashidun Caliphate.
Service/branch	Rashidun army
Rank	Commander Governor of mosul (642–654).

Arfajah b. Harthama al-Bariqi^[1] (Arabic: عرفجة بن هرثمة البارقي‎‎) was a companion of Muhammad.^[2] He was governor of Mosul during the reign of Rashidun Caliph Umar.^[3] Abu Bakr dispatched Arfajah with Hudaifa bin Mihsan's corps to fight opponents of Islam in Oman.

Lineage

His full name was Arfaja b. Harthama b. Abd-al-Uzza b. Zuhayr b. Thailbh b. Amr b. Sa`d b. Thailbh b. Kinanah al-Bariqi Ibn Bariq Ibn Uday Ibn Haritha Ibn Amr Mazikiee Ibn Aamr bin Haritha Algtarif bin Imru al-Qais Thailb bin Mazen Ibn Al-Azd Ibn Al-Ghoth Ibn Nabit Ibn Malik bin Zaid Ibn Kahlan Ibn Saba'a ( Sheba ) Ibn Yashjub Ibn Yarab Ibn Qahtan Ibn Hud (prophet) (Eber)) .

Ridda wars

In 633, Abu Bakr dispatched Arfaja bin Harthama to Mahra ^[4] following the orders of Abu Bakr, Then sent Ikrimah marched to join Arfaja bin Harthama. As Arfaja had not yet arrived, Ikrimah, instead of waiting for him, tackled the local rebels on his own. At Jairut Ikrimah met two rebel armies preparing for battle. Here he persuaded the weaker to embrace Islam and then joined up with them to defeat their opponents. Having re-established Islam in Mahra, Ikrimah moved his corps to Abyan, where he rested his men and awaited further developments.^[5]

Mosul

Arfaja Al-Bariqi was appointed Wali (governor) of Mosul^[6][7] The area of Mosul was very sparsely populated when it was conquered by the Muslims. During the reign of Umar, the Muslim army found it a suitable place to construct a base. Later the area was settled and a mosque was erected, Umar ordered the resettlement of the 4000 settlers to Mosul. The new buildings were constructed from mud bricks, instead of reeds, a material that was popular in the regionand,Other already populated areas were greatly expanded. At Mosul, Harthama at the command of Umar, constructed a fort, few churches, a mosque and a locality for the Jewish populationhe used it as his headquarters for the northern military operations. Utba consolidated his position in Tikrit and later advanced to Bajurmi and Shahrazour where his troops settled there. At Mosul Arfaja at the command of Umar, constructed a fort, few churches, a mosque and a locality for the Jewish population.^[8]

References

1. The Great Arab Conquests by Hugh Kennedy،
2. Modernist Islam, 1840-1940: A Sourcebook،
3. Studies in early Islamic history،
4. Book of contention and strife concerning the relations between the Banū Umayya and the Banū Hāshim،
5. Conquest of Arabia-Alt10: The Conquest of Arabia: The Riddah Wars A.D. 632-633/A.H. 11 by Fred Donner،
6. Iraq After The Muslim Conquest،
7. Constructing Al-Azd: Tribal Identity and Society in the Early Islamic Centuriesد،
8. Nadvi (2000), pg. 418