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The prisoners had been captured on their way to join their beleaguered companions in a village that lay a few miles to the east. That village, with its surrounding neighborhood, had recently been transformed into a battleground, and was then witnessing a miraculous drama. Approximately three hundred members of an obscure and persecuted "sect", which had appeared some four years previously, had been traveling through the countryside when they were attacked by the area's inhabitants who had been persuaded by the fanatical Muslim clergy that these men wished to bring down all that is good and holy. The victims retreated to a small shrine and made of it a fort for their defense. They were to remain in that fort, under violent siege, for seven months (153:7) Untrained in swordsmanship, horsemanship, or any such skills - for they were, for the most part, students of theology, humble and self-effacing - these were not men of physical prowess. Yet, though weakened by months of hardship and deprivation, at the call "Mount your steeds, O heroes of God!" , they would rush forth into battle and manifested a courage and ability which struck fear among the camp of the enemy and spread ruin among its troops
(153:8)
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