The Sword of Allah: Khalid Bin Al-Waleed, His Life and Campaigns Khalid bin Al-Waleed was one of the greatest generals in history, and one of the greatest heroes of history. Besides him, Genghis Khan was the only other general to remain undefeated in his entire military life. Khalid was sent to the Persian Empire with an army consisting of 18,000 volunteers to conquer the richest province of the Persian empire, Euphrates region of lower Mesopotamia, (present day Iraq). Khalid entered lower Mesopotamia with this force. He won quick victories in four consecutive battles: the Battle of Chains, fought in April 633; the Battle of River, fought in the third week of April 633; the Battle of Walaja, fought in May 633 (where he successfully used a double envelopment manoeuvre), and Battle of Ullais, fought in the mid-May 633. In the last week of May 633, al-Hira, the regional capital city of lower Mesopotamia, fell to Khalid. The inhabitants were given peace on the terms of annual payment of jizya (tribute) and agreed to provide intelligence for Muslims. After resting his armies, in June 633, Khalid laid siege to Anbar which despite fierce resistance fell in July 633 as a result of the siege imposed on the town. Khalid then moved towards the south, and captured Ein ul Tamr in the last week of July, 633.

Khalid ibn Walid was also known as Sayf Allah al-Maslūl (Drawn Sword of God), a companion of the Prophet and noted for his military tactics and prowess. It was under his military leadership that Arabia, for the first time in history, was united under a single political entity, the Caliphate. His strategic achievements include the conquest of Arabia, Persian Mesopotamia and Roman Syria. He is also remembered for his decisive victories at Yamamah, Ullais and Firaz, and his tactical successes at Walaja and Yarmouk.

The crossbow is an iconic weapon of the Middle Ages and, alongside the longbow, one of the most effective ranged weapons of the pre-gunpowder era. Unfortunately, despite its general fame it has been decades since an in-depth history of the medieval crossbow has been published, which is why Stuart Ellis-Gorman's detailed, accessible, and highly illustrated study is so valuable. The Medieval Crossbow approaches the history of the crossbow from two directions. The first is a technical study of the design and construction of the medieval crossbow, the many different kinds of crossbows used during the Middle Ages, and finally a consideration of the relationship between crossbows and art. The second half of the book explores the history of the crossbow, from its origins in ancient China to its decline in sixteenth-century Europe. Along the way it explores the challenges in deciphering the crossbow's early medieval history as well as its prominence in warfare and sport shooting in the High and Later Middle Ages. This fascinating book brings together the work of a wide range of accomplished crossbow scholars and incorporates the author's own original research to create an account of the medieval crossbow that will appeal to anyone looking to gain an insight into one of the most important weapons of the Middle Ages.

"'Umar bin Khattab is one of the great Companions of the Prophet and second Caliph of Islam. He was so firm in his practice of Islam that he usually could sense what was right or wrong before the Prophet had informed others of it. He used to say to this friends: if a mule stumbles near the Euphrates River, I fear being questioned by Allah as to why I had not paved the road for it. This book sheds light on the life and struggle of the greatest example of a just ruler. We should follow his footsteps to maintain justice in every walk of our life." -- Back of book.

"Most people have a best friend who they favor amongs all of the people. The best friend of Prophet Muhammad was Abu Bakr As-Siddiq. He was the only person, other than the Prophet's own wife, who accepted Islam immediately and believed in Muhammad from the first movement that he announced his Prophethood. Abu Bakr always remained at the Prophet's side and he had no reservations about spending his wealth for the sake of Islam and the Muslims. The Prophet's companions all recognized his superiority, yet he always remained humble and sincere towards all. This is the story of Abu Bakr and his rise to leadership of the Muslim Ummah."--Page 4 of cover.

According to history books, the Roman Empire ended in 476 CE with the fall of Rome. But if you asked most people alive at that time, they would have pointed you to what they considered the continuation of the Roman Empire—the civilization we now call the Byzantine Empire. The Byzantines, however, were more than just a remnant of Roman glory. At its geographical peak, the Byzantine Empire stretched out across the Mediterranean world. Culturally, the Byzantines both preserved the knowledge of the classical world, much of which was lost in the West, and added to it. Inside you will read about... ✓ A Divided Empire ✓ The Fall of the West ✓ Rising to Glory ✓ An Age of War ✓ The Destruction of Icons ✓ The House of Macedon ✓ The Comnenian Revival ✓ The Final Decline And much more! Shaped by its classical roots, its Christian religion, and the changing medieval world, the story of the Byzantine Empire is one of both glorious victories and terrible defeats, of a civilization that rose from the brink of destruction again and again, and of the development of a culture whose vestiges remain today.

Reviews the biography of the Prophet (pbuh) and tracks the places honored by his visits, the battles he fought, and the expeditions and envoys he directed. This atlas gives the Seerah in a brief form, and includes maps, diagrams and photographs to show the places and directions of various events that took place in the life of Prophet degree (S).

“An indispensable guide for anyone who wants to live to age 100—by making sure there’s a livable world when you get there.” —Dan Buettner, New York Times–bestselling author of The Blue Zones Do you consider yourself an environmental ally? Maybe you recycle your household goods, ride a bike, and avoid too much air travel. But did you know that the primary driver of climate change isn’t plastics, or cars, or airplanes? Did you know that it’s actually our industrialized food system? In this fascinating new book, authors Nil Zacharias and Gene Stone share new research, intriguing infographics, and compelling arguments that support what scientists across the world are beginning to affirm and uphold: By making even minimal dietary changes, anyone can have a positive, lasting impact on our planet. If you love the planet, the only way to save it is by switching out meat for plant-based meals, one bite at a time. “This fascinating, easy-to-read book will give you still another reason to eat plants and not animals: you will be doing a world of good—literally!” —Rip Esselstyn, #1 New York Times–bestselling author of Plant-Strong “Eating plants is not just good for your own health, it’s imperative for the health of the planet. This well-argued, well-written book makes it clear why everyone should consider a plant-based diet today.” —Michael Greger, MD, New York Times–bestselling author of How Not to Die “Possibly the single most important environmental book I’ve read in years. A must for everyone.” —Kathy Freston, New York Times–bestselling author of The Lean

Short biographies of the most influential Muslims in history and today. A must-have book.