Dhirarr ibn al-Azwar Al-Asadi (Arabic: ضرار بن الأزور الأسدي) also spelled as Diraar or Dirarr (original name Diraar ibn Malik), was a skilled warrior since before the time of Islam who participated in the Early Muslim conquests and a companion of the Islamic prophet Muhammad.
Diraar was a member of the elite Rashidun cavalry unit and also a dueling specialist of the Rashidun Army operating mostly under the famous general Khalid ibn al-Walid, who trusted him in various tasks during Ridda wars, Muslim conquest of the Levant, Persia, North Africa and Muslim conquest of Egypt.
Muslim scholars and chroniclers honored Dhiraar due to his status as Companion of Muhammad and during the modern era his descendants known as Dharri tribe were spread mostly in Iraq.
[14] The Levant Egypt North Africa Anatolia & Constantinople Border conflicts Sicily and Southern Italy Naval warfare Byzantine reconquest 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.
[17] The forces of Harbees swiftly demolished by the Rashidun troops of Amr, which caused the city of Emesa captured in no time as there are no more adequate defense left.
[18] Dhiraar and Amr then continues by leading more than 5,000 cavalry troops joining Maysarah ibn Masruq to besiege Homs.
[19] According to George Nafziger, Dhiraar accomplished several impressive feats during the Battle of Ajnadayn, where he reportedly slew multiple Byzantine champions including two provincial governors.
[29][30] During the siege of al-Rastan, it is recorded that the supreme commander of Rashidun, Abu Ubaydah, employing a certain plan that allowed Dhiraar and about 20 warriors which included Al-Musayyab bin Najba, Dhul-Kalaa Al-Himyari, Amr bin Ma;di Yakrib Al-Zubaidi, Hashim ibn Utba, Qays ibn Makshuh, Abd Al-Rahman bin Abi Bakr Al-Siddiq, Malik bin Al-Ashtar, and others to enter the city, and causing riot inside which thrown the entire city to confusion, and opening the gate from inside to allow the Muslim forces waiting outside to overwhelm the defense,[31] thus allowing the city to be captured despite it has very strong fortification defense.
[33] Dhiraar serving largely during this battle in the unit of elite cavalry which called the Mobile Guards, which specifically tasked to plugging the gaps between Muslim ranks to avoid enemy penetration.
[35][36] 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?!
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.
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.
[38] Later, 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.
[39] The death of Rostam shocked the entire Sassanid, which prompted Sa'd to instruct general assault to all the Muslim soldiers.
[45] Amr ibn al-Aas sent Dhiraar and Muslim army under his command to meet with mustered Sudanese christian auxiliaries of Beja.
[59] There is some controversy regarding the textual translations, which make it difficult to discern if Dhiraar died at that time or not (regardless of the cause),[60] as it is recorded by Bayhaqi.
[Notes 10] Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani recorded in his work Fath al-Bari about Muhammad al-Bukhari commentary that the weakness in the narrative chain of the death of Dhiraar in Yamamah.
[66] Mashhoor bin Hassan Al Salman [ar], Jordanian Hadith expert and pupil of Muhammad Nasiruddin al-Albani, has warned in his book against the tradition which authored from Waqidi regarding the death of Dhiraar in the battle of Yamama as inauthentic narration.
[69] Dhiraar also narrated a hadith straightly from Muhammad regarding wealth and possessions in view of Islam, which recorded in Al-Mustadrak ala al-Sahihayn written by Al-Hakim al-Nishapuri.
27 Tactical Attack Sqn also has adopted Al-Zarrar as their Call Sign, and his warrior sketch outline as their Squadron insignia.
[73] Meanwhile, modern era excavation and archaeological research teams from Egyptian ministry also put interests to the tombs of the Muslims fallen during the battle, and alleged encampment of the Rashidun army during the campaign, where Dhiraar has participated.
[74] Dhiraar was fluently accomplished poet who attributed many of his poetic narration to fuel up his expression towards Jihad and Islamic stance.
[75] The Dharri clan or also known as the Zarari were Arabian tribe in modern day Iraq who are allegedly traced their ancestry as descendant of Dhiraar ibn al-Azwar.