According to Muslim chronicles, a Greek man,…
September 634 CE
According to Muslim chronicles, a Greek man, Jonah, was to be married but when the Muslim army launched the siege of the city, the marriage was postponed until peace was restored.
Frustrated with the long siege and delayed marriage, Jonah had come to Khalid and informed him about a weak post on the Wall of Damascus where that night security was to be weak.
Khalid with other Muslim warriors climbs up the wall and opens the gates and the Muslim army positioned at the Eastern gate enters the city.
The imperial commander Thomas, commander in chief and governor of Damascus and son in law of Emperor Heraclius, after hearing that Muslim troops had entered Damascus at the Eastern gate, wisely tricks the Muslim corps commanders at the other gates by suing for peace.
The peace offer is then accepted by them.
Khalid argues that he has conquered the city of Damascus by force.
Abu Ubaidah maintains the city had capitulated, through the peace agreement between him and Thomas.
The corps commanders discuss the situation, and reportedly tell Khalid that the peace agreement must be honored.
Their rationale had logic: if the Muslims give a guarantee of safety to a surrendered city and then slaughter those whose safety has been guaranteed, no other city will ever surrender to the Muslims.
This would make the task of conquering Syria immeasurably more difficult.
Khalid, though not happy, agrees to honor the peace agreement.
The terms of the peace agreement are that no one will be enslaved, no harm will be done to the city’s temples, nothing will be taken as booty and that safe passage will be given to Thomas and every citizen of Damascus who is not willing to live under Muslim rule.
The peace agreement also states that the peace will end after three days and that the Muslims can attack after these three days without violating the agreement.
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