Kitab al-Fitan · Nu'aym ibn Hammad

So he told us about the Umayyads, even mentioning the emergence of Marwan. Then after Marin, who emerges from the Jazira, will come black flags. They will pour down upon you a torrent until they enter Damascus for three hours of the day, and mercy will be withdrawn from its people. Then mercy will return to it, and the sword will be removed from them, then they will march until they reach Morocco.

Black banners will come from the East, led by men like majestic ships, men of honor, whose lineages are villages, and whose names are nicknames. They will conquer the city of Damascus, and mercy will be spared from them for three hours.

Ibn Abi Hurairah told us, on the authority of his father, on the authority of Ali bin Abi Talha, who said: “They enter Damascus with great black banners, and there they fight a great battle. Their motto is: Baksh Baksh.”

Abdul Quddus told us, on the authority of Ibn Ayyash, on the authority of Umm Badr, she said: I heard Saeed bin Zar’ah saying: I heard Nawaf al-Bikali say to his companions: I find that this year Damascus is covered with sackcloth, brocade, and rags, and their dead are brought out on a calf, and their women’s bellies are open. So Ka’b said: “These are people who come from the East, unarmed, with black banners written on their banners: Your covenant and pledge of allegiance, and in us therein.” Then They broke it, and they came until they camped between Homs and Deir Mashal, and a squadron came out to them and they fought them like a battle, then they marched to Damascus and conquered it by force. Their motto was: “Aqbal, Aqbal,” meaning Baksh Baksh, and mercy would be spared from them for three hours of the day.”

The people of Syria were happiest with the emergence of the black flags, the people of Homs, and the people of Damascus were most miserable because of them