The Story of Nebuchadnezzar's Raid Against the Arabs

According to Hisham b. Muhammad: It is mentioned and God knows best that the settlement of
the Arabs in Iraq, their establishment there, and their taking of al-Hirah and al-Anbar as their
domicile, began when God inspired Berechiah b. Hananiah b. Zerubabel b. Shealtiel (Hisham
said that al-Shargi said Shealtiel is the first who made the dish tifshil [dish of grains]),"' of the
tribe of Judah, saying, "Go to Nebuchadnezzar and command him to raid the Arabs whose
houses have no locks, nor gates."' Let him conquer their land with soldiers, slay their fighting
men, and despoil their wealth. Tell him that they do not believe in Me, that they have taken
other deities, and that they deny My prophets and messenger.

Berechiah proceeded from Najran, until he reached Nebuchadnezzar at Babylon - his name was
Nebuchad Nazr but the Arabs arabicized it. The prophet announced the revelation, and told him
as he was charged. That was at the time of Ma'add b. 'Adnan.

Nebuchadnezzar pounced upon the Arab merchants who were in his land. They used to come
to buy and sell, securing grain, figs, clothes, and so forth. He assembled those whom he
succeeded in seizing and built an enclosure around them on a sand hill. The king fortified it,
concentrated them therein, and appointed guards and watchmen over them. Thereupon he
announced the expedition against the Arabs. While the expedition was in preparation, the news
spread to the neighboring Arabs. Groups (tawa'if) of them came out to him suing for peace and
guarantees of safety. Nebuchadnezzar consulted Berechiah about them, and the latter said,
"Their coming out of their land to meet you before you start to march upon them is a sign of
repentence over their practices; accept it and treat them kindly." So Nebuchadnezzar settled
them in the Sawad, on the bank of the Euphrates, where they later developed the site of their
military encampment into the city of al-Anbar." He left the people of al-Hirah undisturbed, and
the Arabs settled there during the lifetime of Nebuchadnezzar. When he died, they joined the
people of al-Anbar, and that fenced-off area (al-Hirah) remained a ruin.

Apart from Hisham, another scholar versed in antiquity mentioned that when Ma'add b. 'Adnan
was born, the Israelites began slaying their prophets. The last of those slain was John b.
Zechariah (the Baptist). This does not include those slain by the men of al-Rass and the people
of Hadur. When they had the audacity to attack God's prophets, He decreed the destruction of
that generation, to whose prophets Ma'ad b. 'Adnan belonged. So God set Nebuchadnezzar
upon the Israelites. After the destruction of the Temple and the towns, and the dispersion of
the Israelites and their captivity in Babylon, the king was urged in a dream - or some prophet
was instructed to command him to do it to enter Arabia, wipe out man and beast, and
obliterate it completely, leaving no sign of life there. Nebuchadnezzar concentrated cavalry and
infantry between Aylah and al-Ubullah. They entered Arabia and massacred every living being
they had come upon and seized. God had revealed to Jeremiah and Berechiah, "God has
warned your people but they did not desist, so after having had a kingdom they became slaves,
and after an affluent life, they became beggars. Similarly I warned the people of 'Arabah but
they were obstinate. I imposed Nebuchadnezzar's rule over them to take revenge upon them.
Now rush to Ma'ad b. 'Adnan of whose progeny will be Muhammad, whom I shall bring forth at
the end of time to seal prophethood and lift humility." Setting out, the two rushed through the
land as the earth folded under them miraculously."' They preceded Nebuchadnezzar and met
'Adnan who received them, whereupon they rushed him to Ma'ad who was then twelve years
old. Berechiah carried him on al-Burag and sat behind him. At once they reached Harran. The
earth miraculously folded up and rushed Jeremiah to Harran. Thus 'Adnan and Nebuchadnezzar
met in battle. Nebuchadnezzar put 'Adnan to flight, and he proceeded through Arabia down to
Hadur in pursuit of 'Adnan. Most of the Arabs of the 'Arabah area gathered at Hadur, and the
two forces established defensive trenches.... Nebuchadnezzar set an ambush, some assert the
very first ambush ever. A heavenly voice called out, "Woe to the slayers of the prophets."
Swords struck them from behind and in front. They repented their sins and called out in distress.
'Adnan was prevented from reaching Nebuchadnezzar, and the latter from reaching 'Adnan. Of
those who were not at Hadur and had escaped before the defeat split into two groups, one
force betook itself to Raysut' under 'Akk, the other set out for Wabar and a group of settled
Arabs.

It is to them that the Qur'anic passage refers: "How many a city that was evildoing We have
shattered [of miscreants; yet when the chastisement descended upon the cities and engulfed
them at the last blow, they were about to flee but failed to do so]. Then when they perceived
Our might [to take revenge of them], behold, they ran headlong out of it [fleeing; swords struck
them in front and from behind]. Run not! [Do not flee!] Return to the luxury that you exulted in,
[to the pleasant life for which you were not grateful], and to your dwelling places; haply you
shall be questioned.""'

When they understood what was striking them, they admitted their sins, exclaiming, "'Alas for
us! We have been evildoers.' So they ceased not to cry, until We made them stubble, silent and
still [dead and slain by the sword]."

Nebuchadnezzar returned to Babylon with captives from the land of the Arabs ('Arabah), and
placed them at al-Anbar; as a result it was called al-Anbar of the Arabs. Later the Aramaic
speakers mingled with them. When Nebuchadnezzar returned, 'Adnan died, and Arabia
remained in ruins during Nebuchadnezzar's lifetime . After Nebuchadnezzar's death, Ma'add b.
'Adnan marched with the prophets, that is, the prophets of the Israelites, until he came to
Mecca . He restored its landmarks and performed the pilgrimage, as did the prophets with him.
He then marched on until he came to Raysut. Ma'add questioned its people, inquiring about the
remnant of the clan of al-Harith b. Mudad al-Jurhumi - he was the one who had fought Daws al-
'Atq. Most of the Jurhum had been wiped out by Daws; however, he was told that Jusham b.
Julhumah was alive. Ma'add married his daughter Mu`anah, and she bore him Nizar b. Ma'add.