Before fighting the Persians Khalid Ibn Walid RAe sent letters to the Persians.When Khalid reached the edge of the Persian lands, he didn’t attack right away. Instead he sent a letter to their governors.
The letter was very short and concise and it had the content clear enough for any reader to understand what the intention of the one writing it.
It basically told who he was, why he had come, and what choices they had. They could accept Islam, or keep their own faith and live under Muslim rule with tax (Jizya), or refuse and choose war.
The Persian leaders were offended. They were used to being treated like the great empire they were and the idea that a commander from the desert who was an obscure figure to them could write in such a fashion. They ignored the warning.
Before things turned into battle, Khalid sent one more letter. It was basically the same message again. He repeated their choices and made it clear that they still had a chance to avoid war. It’s interesting because he didn’t have to send so many warnings. Most generals at that time would’ve fought after the first refusal. But Khalid seemed to believe that people should be given every chance to choose peace, even if he knew they likely wouldn’t.
But the Persians still refused. Their pride, their history, and their fear of looking weak all played a role. And so the fighting eventually came.
In the end the letters didn’t stop the battles. But they show that Khalid didn’t come looking to fight without giving people a chance to think. He spoke first, fought only when they insisted, and his words tell as much about him as any victory ever did.
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