"The Day of closed doors and Brutality with the Arabs."

The Arabs had, in pre-Islamic days, documented by their poetry and passed down the famous days of “Day of the closed door”, to refer to the door of Mushqqar. This event occurred in Mushqqar in Hagr, Bahrain, east of the Arabian Peninsula, which suffered a lot under the abhorrent Persian Sasani occupation for a period of time. The reason for that event – as pointed out by Ibn al-Athir and other historians – is that Bathan, Abruiz’ prince in Yemen, a convoy was sent to him from Yemen. When the convoy reached the land of Banu Tamim, Banu Tamim  raided under the leadership of Asa ‘a bin Naji al-Mujai ‘i, who feared that Banu Bakr bin Wael would plunder it and fought them over it. They looted it and stole from the messengers, who fled and took refuge at Hotha in Al-Yamama, and he was good to them, and sent them with another convoy and went out with them to meet  Khosrow, who admired him, and ordered to give him a crown of jewelry, and so he was called Hotha with the Crown. And then, he asked him, whether there was a truce between his tribe and Banu Tamim. To which he answered, that he is looking for vengeance. Taking advantage, Khosrow said, “and I would like to help you with your vengeance,” and he wanted to send him his soldiers to invade Banu Tamim. Yet, Hotha said that the Arabs’ land suffers from water shortage that no foreigner can tolerate that state. Hence, Khosrow asked him to invade with the help of Al- Mukabar, who was known for cutting off hands.  And they headed to Mushqqar, but they feared to enter the land of Tamim as it was difficult for foreigners to tolerate the situation. So, they sent some of their men to invite Banu Tamim over for food. And they had to accept the invitation. And as they approached the gate, only five entered, in turn. However, as they were allowed to enter from one gate while leave from the other, none went out of that gate. Thus, on inquiring, Obaid bin Wahb cut off the chain on the door, so the rest of Banu Tamim can leave Mushqqar, but, immediately, Al-Mukabar ordered the closing of the gate and killed those stuck within the fortress, while Hotha released a hundred of them, as it was Easter.

And Ala’sha said, praising Hotha:    

Inquiring what happened to Tamim ever?

They have had a day in Mushqqar like never

Before, they have never seen such meanness.

And as a charitable deed, Hotha provided them with willingness

Obaid bin Wahab also said:

Has it become known about what happened to the gate

Of Mushqqar, that I hit its chain in such a straight

Strike that opened it wide before

Banu Tamim to leave through that door

Through our review of that terrible day that lacked the meaning of humanity, we presented a picture of the abhorrent brutality and opportunism, which exploited the people’s need for food supplies to take revenge in an unprecedented manner except in the Sasanian civilization. And perhaps Sabor should always be remembered for his deeds in that day as whoever knows what happened to Banu Tamim inside Mushqqar should fully aware of the extent of the malice with which he dealt with the Sasanian fracture with the Arabs, and the extent of treachery and deception, which is a despicable genetic trait for the Persian. Behind- stabbing and cold- blooded killing reflect on the inherent coward traits of the Persians. Besides, they used to break conflicts between the Arab tribes in the Arabian Peninsula and its neighbors for its own benefit, and to achieve its goals, and its revenge on them by using one against the other. This is the nature of cowards and mischief, and this cunning method continued even after Islam, their weapon was treachery and deception. The evidence is many in our Islamic history that they can’t be fully mentioned here. And still, the Persians with their treacherous traits continue to wreak havoc in the Arabian and Muslim countries.