Expansion of Muslim Empire during the caliphate of Abu Bakr

Caliph Abu Bakr was elected as the first caliph of Islam in 632 AD. Through his excellent administrative qualities, Abu
Bakr was able to expand and consolidate the Muslim empire to the far distant areas of the Persian and the Roman empires.

The Arabian Peninsula was then surrounded by the two great Empires of that time. On the north-eastern side was the
border of Persian Empire (Sassanid) while the northern part of the Peninsula was bordered by the Byzantine Empire (the eastern
Roman Empire). In 633 AD, when the rebels broke out in the apostasy movement they were supported by the Persians. The
Persian Empire wanted to wipe out the increasing power and authority of Islam. Abu Bakr sent an army of 10000 Muslims under
the leadership of Khalid bin Walid, who met the Persian force at Kazima. Khalid bin Walid invited the Persian commander,
Hurmuz, to accept Islam or pay Jizya or be ready to fight. Hurmuz accepted the third alternative. Persians were defeated in this
battle and their commander was killed. In this battle the Persian soldiers had tied themselves to one another with chains that
showed their do or die state of mind. Due to this, the battle is known as battle of Chains (also known as battle of Kazima).

After this battle, Khalid bin Walid and his army advanced further into Iraq. The emperor of Iran Uradsher sent a troop
under the command of famous general Qaran. On the way he learnt the Persian defeat. The two armies met at Mazar - a place in
the neighborhood of modern Basra. In this battle, 30,000 of Persian men were killed and the Muslims won the battle. After Mazar
the Muslims defeated the Persians at Ulleis and Walajah. After these conquests, Khalid bin Walid conquered Hira, Dumatal-
Jandal and Firaz one after another. After the fall of Hira, the whole of south and most of north Iraq came under the rule of
Muslims.

Towards the end of June 633AD, Khalid along with his army marched towards Anbar, which is an important town
protected by walls and a large moat. Khalid selected a point where the moat was the narrowest. The old and weak camels of the
army were slaughtered and their carcasses were dumped into the moat. As the carcasses rose, it formed a bridge over which the
Muslim army crossed the moat and attacked the fort of Anbar. Finding his position insecure, the governor offered to surrender
and the Muslims occupied the town. After this Khalid conquered Ein-ut-Tamr.

Heraclius was an enemy of Islam even during the lifetime of the Holy Prophet (S.A.W). in alliance with the Bedouin
tribes on the Syrian boarders, he started conspiring against Islam during the caliphate of Abu Bakr. Abu Bakr raised a big army
and divided it into four forces. Each force was put under the command of an experienced general. The first battle took place at
Basra in 634 AD, in which the Muslims were victorious. Then the famous battle of Ajnadain took place in which a huge Roman
army of two hundred fifty thousand men was pitched against only forty thousand Muslims. Again the Romans were badly
defeated.

After this success the Muslim army advanced towards Damascus and laid siege to it. In the meantime, Abu Bakr fell sick. He
received the victory of Ajnadain when he was confined to bed. Till the death of Caliph Abu Bakr 634AD, Muslims conquered
almost all territories of eastern and western Iraq.