Mubarizun

A duel between Ali and Amr ibn Abd al-Wud in the Battle of the Trench

The Mubarizun (Arabic: مبارزون, "duelists", or "champions") formed a special unit of the Rashidun army during the Muslim conquests of the 7th century. The Mubarizun were a recognized part of the Muslim army with the purpose of engaging enemy champions in single combat.^[1] In Arab, Byzantine, and Sassanian warfare, battles usually began with duels between the champion warriors of the opposing armies.^[2]

The Muslim army would typically begin battle with its soldiers first equipping their armor, assembling their units to their positions and lastly dispatching the Mubarizun.^[2] Mubarizun fighters were instructed to refrain from pursuing any defeated enemy champions more than two-thirds of the way to the enemy lines to avoid the risk of being cut off.^[3] After the conclusion of the dueling phase, the army would launch its general advance.^[2]

List of notable Mubarizun

• Ali ibn Abi Talib
• Khalid ibn al-Walid
• Dhiraar bin Al-Azwar
• Al-Qa'qa'a ibn Amr al-Tamimi
• Asim ibn 'Amr al-Tamimi
• Abd al-Rahman ibn Abu Bakr (Son of Caliph Abu Bakr)
• Al-Bara' ibn Malik^[4][5]
• Zubayr ibn al-Awwam

See also

• Mard o mard
• Muslim conquest of Syria

References

1. Nicolle, 1994, p. 37.
2. Nicolle, 1994, p. 36.
3. Nicolle, 1998, p. 24.
4. al Jazari, Ali 'Izz al-Din Ibn al-Athir. "Usd al-ghābah fi ma'rifat al-ṣaḥābah: "The Lions of the Forest and the knowledge about the Companions"". al Eman. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
5. al Dhahabi, Shams ad-Dīn. "Siyar A'lam Nubala". Retrieved 15 January 2021.

Bibliography

• Nicolle, David (1994). Yarmuk AD 636: The Muslim conquest of Syria. Osprey Publishing. ISBN 1855324148.
• Nicolle, David (1998). Armies of the Caliphates 862-1098. Osprey Publishing. ISBN 1855327708.