Qualla: Siege of Herat (652) https://qualla.com/siege-of-herat-652 en-us © 2026 Bendyline Mon, 20 Jul 2026 10:21:32 GMT Qualla serial false Qualla support@bendyline.com yes https://qualla.com/_res/siteimages/rsslogo.png Qualla: Siege of Herat (652) https://qualla.com/siege-of-herat-652 Siege of Herat (652): Introduction https://qualla.com/siege-of-herat-652/ Herat surrendered the first time without a fight. The terms were straightforward: accept the new Arab authority, pay the jizya tax, and carry on. It was 651 CE, the Sasanian Empire had just collapsed after six centuries of rule, and pragmatism seemed wiser than resistance. But agreements made under duress rarely hold. Within a year, Herat revolted, and Ahnaf ibn Qais was marching back to settle the matter by force.

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]]> Sat, 28 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://qualla.com/_m/t/q/h/5/siege-of-herat-652-wp/tqh5-siege-of-herat-652-intro.mp3 0:06 1 full Siege of Herat (652): An Empire Falls https://qualla.com/siege-of-herat-652/ The Sasanian Persian Empire, which had dominated the region since the third century, crumbled rapidly in the 640s. Caliph Umar launched his offensive in 642, and by 651 the last Sasanian king was dead. Yet the empire's eastern provinces did not submit quietly. Khorasan -- the vas...

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]]> Sat, 28 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://qualla.com/_m/t/q/h/5/siege-of-herat-652-wp/tqh5-siege-of-herat-652-an-empire-falls.mp3 0:06 2 full Siege of Herat (652): The First Submission https://qualla.com/siege-of-herat-652/ Ahnaf led the vanguard -- warriors of the Banu Tamim along with 1,000 Asawira, converted Persian cavalry -- through the rugged terrain of Quhistan. Along the way, the people of Tabasyin submitted, then revolted, then were reconquered. Ahnaf imposed heavier taxes the second time a...

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]]> Sat, 28 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://qualla.com/_m/t/q/h/5/siege-of-herat-652-wp/tqh5-siege-of-herat-652-the-first-submission.mp3 0:06 3 full Siege of Herat (652): Revolt and Reckoning https://qualla.com/siege-of-herat-652/ By 652, Herat was in open rebellion. The details are sparse in the surviving sources, but the pattern is clear: the city's ruler broke the treaty and challenged Arab authority. Ahnaf returned and defeated him, forcing another agreement. This second peace proved no more durable th...

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]]> Sat, 28 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://qualla.com/_m/t/q/h/5/siege-of-herat-652-wp/tqh5-siege-of-herat-652-revolt-and-reckoning.mp3 0:06 4 full Siege of Herat (652): The Hinge of History https://qualla.com/siege-of-herat-652/ The siege of 652 was a small event in the vast sweep of the early Islamic conquests, which reshaped civilization from Spain to Central Asia within a single century. For Herat, it marked the beginning of a transformation that would unfold over generations. The city would become a ...

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]]> Sat, 28 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://qualla.com/_m/t/q/h/5/siege-of-herat-652-wp/tqh5-siege-of-herat-652-the-hinge-of-history.mp3 0:06 5 full