WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.000 In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. 00:00:15.669 --> 00:00:17.670 Mawaddah Association is pleased 00:00:17.670 --> 00:00:19.670 to present to you 00:00:19.670 --> 00:00:21.670 "Glimpses from the Lives of the Companions," 00:00:21.670 --> 00:00:23.670 by 'Abd al-Rahman 00:00:23.670 --> 00:00:25.739 Ra'fat al-Basha, 00:00:25.739 --> 00:00:30.359 may Allah have mercy on him. 00:00:30.359 --> 00:00:32.359 Salamah ibn Qays, 00:00:32.359 --> 00:00:34.520 may Allah be pleased with him. 00:00:48.100 --> 00:00:53.659 Al-Faruq spent his night— 00:00:53.659 --> 00:00:55.659 that very night—awake, 00:00:55.659 --> 00:00:57.659 patrolling the quarters of Medina 00:00:57.659 --> 00:00:59.659 so that the people might sleep peacefully, 00:00:59.659 --> 00:01:01.659 secure and at ease. 00:01:01.659 --> 00:01:03.659 During his rounds among the homes 00:01:03.659 --> 00:01:05.659 and markets, 00:01:05.659 --> 00:01:07.659 he was considering in his mind the men of glory, 00:01:08.659 --> 00:01:10.659 intending to entrust one of them 00:01:10.659 --> 00:01:12.659 with the banner over the army departing 00:01:12.659 --> 00:01:14.659 to conquer al-Ahwaz. 00:01:14.659 --> 00:01:15.659 Before long, he exclaimed, 00:01:15.659 --> 00:01:16.659 saying: 00:01:16.659 --> 00:01:17.659 "I have found him!" 00:01:17.659 --> 00:01:18.659 "Yes, 00:01:18.659 --> 00:01:20.659 I have found him, Allah willing!" 00:01:20.659 --> 00:01:22.659 When morning came upon him, 00:01:22.659 --> 00:01:24.659 he summoned Salamah ibn Qays 00:01:24.659 --> 00:01:25.659 al-Ashja'i 00:01:25.659 --> 00:01:26.659 and said to him: 00:01:26.659 --> 00:01:28.659 "I have appointed you commander over the army 00:01:28.659 --> 00:01:30.659 heading to al-Ahwaz. 00:01:30.659 --> 00:01:32.659 So march in the name of Allah, 00:01:32.659 --> 00:01:34.659 and fight in the cause of Allah 00:01:34.659 --> 00:01:35.659 against those who disbelieve in Allah. 00:01:35.659 --> 00:01:38.659 When you meet your enemy among the polytheists, 00:01:38.659 --> 00:01:40.659 invite them to Islam. 00:01:40.659 --> 00:01:41.659 If they accept Islam, 00:01:41.659 --> 00:01:44.659 they may choose either to remain in their lands 00:01:44.659 --> 00:01:47.659 without participating with you in fighting others, 00:01:47.659 --> 00:01:49.659 in which case they owe nothing except zakat 00:01:49.659 --> 00:01:52.659 and have no share in the spoils of war (*fay'*); 00:01:52.659 --> 00:01:55.659 or they may choose to fight alongside you, 00:01:55.659 --> 00:01:57.659 in which case they shall have the same rights as you 00:01:57.659 --> 00:02:00.659 and the same duties as you. 00:02:00.659 --> 00:02:02.659 If they refuse Islam, 00:02:02.659 --> 00:02:04.659 call upon them to pay the jizyah. 00:02:04.659 --> 00:02:06.659 If they agree, leave them be, 00:02:06.659 --> 00:02:08.659 protect them from their enemies, 00:02:08.659 --> 00:02:11.659 and do not burden them beyond their capacity. 00:02:11.659 --> 00:02:14.659 But if they refuse, then fight them, 00:02:14.659 --> 00:02:17.659 for Allah will grant you victory over them. 00:02:17.659 --> 00:02:19.719 If they take refuge in a fortress 00:02:19.719 --> 00:02:23.719 and then ask you to let them surrender under the judgment of Allah and His Messenger, 00:02:23.719 --> 00:02:25.719 do not grant them that, 00:02:25.719 --> 00:02:29.719 for you do not know what the judgment of Allah and His Messenger would be. 00:02:29.719 --> 00:02:33.719 And if they ask you to grant them the protection (*dhimmah*) of Allah and His Messenger, 00:02:33.719 --> 00:02:36.719 do not grant them the protection of Allah and His Messenger; 00:02:36.719 --> 00:02:39.719 rather, grant them your own protection. 00:02:39.719 --> 00:02:41.719 When you triumph in battle, 00:02:41.719 --> 00:02:44.719 do not be extravagant, do not act treacherously, 00:02:44.719 --> 00:02:47.719 do not mutilate, and do not kill a child." 00:02:47.719 --> 00:02:49.719 Salamah replied, 00:02:49.719 --> 00:02:52.719 "To hear and obey, O Commander of the Faithful!" 00:02:52.719 --> 00:02:54.750 Then 'Umar bade him a warm farewell, 00:02:54.750 --> 00:02:56.750 grasped his hands firmly, 00:02:56.750 --> 00:02:58.750 and prayed fervently for him, 00:02:58.750 --> 00:03:01.780 for he fully appreciated the magnitude of the task 00:03:01.780 --> 00:03:05.780 he had placed upon his shoulders and those of his soldiers. 00:03:05.780 --> 00:03:09.780 That was because al-Ahwaz was a mountainous region with rugged paths 00:03:09.780 --> 00:03:11.780 and fortified strongholds, 00:03:11.780 --> 00:03:14.780 situated between Basra and the borders of Persia, 00:03:14.780 --> 00:03:18.780 inhabited by a fierce people from among the Kurds. 00:03:18.780 --> 00:03:22.780 The Muslims had no choice but to conquer or control it 00:03:22.780 --> 00:03:26.780 to protect their rear from Persian attacks on Basra, 00:03:26.780 --> 00:03:29.780 and to prevent them from using it as a staging ground for their troops, 00:03:29.780 --> 00:03:33.780 which would jeopardize the safety and security of Iraq. 00:03:33.780 --> 00:03:38.780 Salamah ibn Qays set out at the head of his army, campaigning in the cause of Allah. 00:03:38.780 --> 00:03:42.780 However, no sooner had they penetrated a short distance into the land of al-Ahwaz 00:03:42.780 --> 00:03:46.780 than they entered into a bitter struggle with its harsh terrain. 00:03:46.780 --> 00:03:51.819 The army began to suffer from its crumbling mountains as they climbed, 00:03:51.819 --> 00:03:55.819 endure its disease-ridden swamps as they traversed the plains, 00:03:56.819 --> 00:04:02.819 and fight off its deadly snakes and venomous scorpions, awake or asleep. 00:04:02.819 --> 00:04:06.939 Yet the pure, faithful spirit of Salamah ibn Qays 00:04:06.939 --> 00:04:10.939 hovered with its wings over his troops, 00:04:10.939 --> 00:04:15.169 making hardship feel sweet and difficulties feel smooth. 00:04:15.169 --> 00:04:20.170 He would regularly uplift them with admonitions that stirred their souls, 00:04:20.170 --> 00:04:23.170 and fill their nights with the fragrance of the Qur'an, 00:04:23.170 --> 00:04:28.170 so that they were immersed in its light and swimming in its radiance, 00:04:28.170 --> 00:04:31.170 forgetting the exhaustion and toil that had touched them. 00:04:31.170 --> 00:04:35.170 Salamah ibn Qays obeyed the command of the Caliph of the Muslims. 00:04:35.170 --> 00:04:41.170 As soon as he encountered the people of al-Ahwaz, he invited them to enter the religion of Allah, 00:04:41.170 --> 00:04:43.170 but they turned away and recoiled. 00:04:43.170 --> 00:04:47.170 He then called upon them to pay the jizyah, but they refused and grew arrogant. 00:04:47.170 --> 00:04:51.170 Thus, nothing remained for the Muslims except to take up spearheads, 00:04:51.170 --> 00:04:54.170 so they mounted their steeds as fighters in the cause of Allah, 00:04:54.170 --> 00:04:57.170 desiring the fair reward that is with Him. 00:04:57.170 --> 00:05:02.199 Fierce battles broke out, burning with raging heat and scattering sparks, 00:05:02.199 --> 00:05:05.199 in which both sides displayed such feats of valor 00:05:05.199 --> 00:05:07.199 as warfare had rarely witnessed, 00:05:07.199 --> 00:05:09.199 except on the rarest of occasions. 00:05:09.199 --> 00:05:13.199 Before long, the battles culminated in a decisive victory 00:05:13.199 --> 00:05:17.199 for the believers fighting to elevate the Word of Allah, 00:05:17.199 --> 00:05:21.199 and a crushing defeat for the polytheists, the enemies of Allah. 00:05:21.199 --> 00:05:24.199 When the war laid down its burdens, 00:05:24.199 --> 00:05:28.199 Salamah ibn Qays hastened to distribute the spoils of war among his soldiers. 00:05:28.199 --> 00:05:31.199 Among the spoils, he found a precious piece of jewelry, 00:05:31.199 --> 00:05:34.199 and he wished to present it as a gift to the Commander of the Faithful. 00:05:34.199 --> 00:05:36.199 He said to his soldiers, 00:05:36.199 --> 00:05:38.199 "If this piece of jewelry were divided among you, 00:05:38.199 --> 00:05:41.199 it would amount to nothing for each of you. 00:05:41.199 --> 00:05:45.199 Would you be pleased if we send it to the Commander of the Faithful?" 00:05:45.199 --> 00:05:47.259 They said, "Yes." 00:05:47.259 --> 00:05:49.259 So he placed the jewelry in a small chest— 00:05:49.259 --> 00:05:51.259 that is, a small container— 00:05:51.259 --> 00:05:54.259 and dispatched a man from his tribe, Banu Ashja', 00:05:54.259 --> 00:05:55.259 saying to him: 00:05:55.259 --> 00:05:58.259 "Go to Medina, you and your servant, 00:05:58.259 --> 00:06:00.259 give the Commander of the Faithful the glad tidings of victory, 00:06:00.259 --> 00:06:03.420 and present him with this gift of jewelry." 00:06:03.420 --> 00:06:06.420 The Ashja'i man's encounter with 'Umar ibn al-Khattab 00:06:06.420 --> 00:06:09.420 contains a story filled with lessons and admonitions. 00:06:09.420 --> 00:06:11.420 Let us leave the narration to him, so that he may recount 00:06:11.420 --> 00:06:13.420 his story himself. 00:06:13.420 --> 00:06:15.490 The Ashja'i man said: 00:06:15.490 --> 00:06:18.490 My servant and I proceeded to Basra, 00:06:18.490 --> 00:06:22.490 where we bought two mounts using what Salamah ibn Qays had given us, 00:06:22.490 --> 00:06:24.490 and loaded our surplus provisions onto them. 00:06:24.490 --> 00:06:27.490 Then we set our faces toward Medina. 00:06:27.490 --> 00:06:30.490 When we reached it, I inquired about the Commander of the Faithful, 00:06:30.490 --> 00:06:33.490 and found him standing, feeding the Muslims, 00:06:33.490 --> 00:06:37.490 leaning on his staff as a shepherd does. 00:06:37.490 --> 00:06:39.490 He was going around the large serving platters, 00:06:39.490 --> 00:06:42.490 saying to his servant, Yarfa': 00:06:42.490 --> 00:06:45.490 "O Yarfa', give these people more meat! 00:06:45.490 --> 00:06:48.490 O Yarfa', give these people more bread! 00:06:48.490 --> 00:06:51.490 O Yarfa', give these people more broth!" 00:06:51.490 --> 00:06:54.490 When I approached him, he said, "Sit down." 00:06:54.490 --> 00:06:56.490 So I sat among the lowest-ranking of the people, 00:06:56.490 --> 00:06:59.490 and food was brought to me, so I ate. 00:06:59.490 --> 00:07:01.490 When the people finished their meal, 00:07:01.490 --> 00:07:04.490 he said, "O Yarfa', clear the platters." 00:07:04.490 --> 00:07:07.490 Then he walked away, and I followed him. 00:07:07.490 --> 00:07:10.490 When he entered his home, I asked permission to enter, 00:07:10.490 --> 00:07:12.490 and he granted me permission. 00:07:12.490 --> 00:07:15.490 There he was, sitting on a piece of haircloth, 00:07:15.490 --> 00:07:19.490 leaning on two leather cushions stuffed with palm fiber. 00:07:19.490 --> 00:07:22.490 He tossed one of them to me, so I sat upon it. 00:07:22.490 --> 00:07:25.490 Behind him was a curtain, 00:07:25.490 --> 00:07:27.490 so he turned toward the curtain and said: 00:07:27.490 --> 00:07:30.490 "O Mother of Kalthum, bring us our lunch!" 00:07:30.490 --> 00:07:32.490 I said to myself: 00:07:32.490 --> 00:07:35.490 "What could the lunch of the Commander of the Faithful possibly be, 00:07:35.490 --> 00:07:37.709 which he has reserved for himself?" 00:07:37.709 --> 00:07:39.709 She handed him a loaf of bread with oil, 00:07:39.709 --> 00:07:41.709 sprinkled with coarse, unground salt. 00:07:41.709 --> 00:07:43.899 He turned to me and said: 00:07:43.899 --> 00:07:45.899 "Eat." 00:07:45.899 --> 00:07:47.899 I obeyed and ate a little, 00:07:47.899 --> 00:07:49.899 while he ate. 00:07:49.899 --> 00:07:52.899 I have never seen anyone eat with better manners than him. 00:07:52.899 --> 00:07:54.899 Then he said, "Give us something to drink." 00:07:54.899 --> 00:07:58.899 They brought him a cup containing a drink made of barley gruel (*sawiq*). 00:07:58.899 --> 00:08:01.899 He said, "Give the man first." 00:08:01.899 --> 00:08:03.899 So they gave it to me, 00:08:03.899 --> 00:08:06.899 and I took the cup and drank a little from it, 00:08:06.899 --> 00:08:09.939 for my own barley meal back home was tastier and of better quality. 00:08:09.939 --> 00:08:12.939 Then he took it and drank from it until his thirst was quenched. 00:08:12.939 --> 00:08:14.939 Then he said: 00:08:14.939 --> 00:08:17.939 "Praise be to Allah, who has fed us and satisfied us, 00:08:17.939 --> 00:08:19.939 and given us drink and quenched our thirst." 00:08:19.939 --> 00:08:23.000 At that point, I turned to him and said: 00:08:23.000 --> 00:08:26.000 "I have come to you with a message, O Commander of the Faithful." 00:08:26.000 --> 00:08:29.000 He asked, "From where?" 00:08:29.000 --> 00:08:32.000 I replied, "From Salamah ibn Qays." 00:08:32.000 --> 00:08:33.000 He said: 00:08:33.000 --> 00:08:36.000 "Welcome to Salamah ibn Qays, and welcome to his messenger! 00:08:36.000 --> 00:08:39.000 Tell me about the Muslim army." 00:08:39.000 --> 00:08:42.000 I said, "It is as you would wish, O Commander of the Faithful: 00:08:42.000 --> 00:08:46.000 safety and victory over their enemy and the enemy of Allah." 00:08:46.000 --> 00:08:48.000 I gave him the glad tidings of victory 00:08:48.000 --> 00:08:52.000 and informed him of the army's news in full detail. 00:08:52.000 --> 00:08:55.000 He said, "Praise be to Allah, 00:08:55.000 --> 00:08:59.000 Who bestows favor out of grace and confers blessings abundantly." 00:08:59.000 --> 00:09:02.000 Then he asked, "Did you pass through Basra?" 00:09:02.000 --> 00:09:05.000 I replied, "Yes, O Commander of the Faithful." 00:09:05.000 --> 00:09:08.000 He asked, "How are the Muslims doing?" 00:09:08.000 --> 00:09:11.000 I said, "In good condition, by the grace of Allah." 00:09:11.000 --> 00:09:14.100 He asked, "How are the prices?" 00:09:14.100 --> 00:09:17.100 I said, "Their prices are the cheapest of prices." 00:09:17.100 --> 00:09:20.159 He asked, "And how is the meat? 00:09:20.159 --> 00:09:23.159 For meat is the staple of the Arabs, 00:09:23.159 --> 00:09:26.159 and the Arabs do not thrive without their staple." 00:09:26.159 --> 00:09:29.159 I said, "Meat is plentiful and abundant." 00:09:29.159 --> 00:09:32.190 Then he turned to the chest I had with me and asked: 00:09:32.190 --> 00:09:34.190 "What is this in your hand?" 00:09:34.190 --> 00:09:38.190 I said, "When Allah granted us victory over our enemy, 00:09:38.190 --> 00:09:40.190 we gathered the spoils of war. 00:09:40.190 --> 00:09:42.190 Salamah saw this piece of jewelry among them, 00:09:42.190 --> 00:09:44.190 He said to the army, 00:09:44.190 --> 00:09:48.190 "If this were to be distributed among you, it would amount to almost nothing for each of you. 00:09:48.190 --> 00:09:52.190 Would you be willing to let me send it to the Commander of the Faithful?" 00:09:52.190 --> 00:09:54.190 They replied, "Yes." 00:09:54.190 --> 00:09:56.259 "I then handed the casket over to him. 00:09:56.259 --> 00:09:58.350 When he opened it 00:09:58.350 --> 00:10:03.350 and saw the gems inside—red, yellow, and green— 00:10:03.350 --> 00:10:05.350 he leapt up from his seat, 00:10:05.350 --> 00:10:07.350 placed his hand on his hip, 00:10:07.350 --> 00:10:09.350 and threw the casket onto the ground, 00:10:09.350 --> 00:10:13.350 scattering its contents to the right and to the left. 00:10:13.350 --> 00:10:16.350 The women thought I intended to assassinate him, 00:10:16.350 --> 00:10:18.350 so they rushed toward the curtain. 00:10:18.350 --> 00:10:21.350 Then he turned to me and said, 'Gather it up!' 00:10:21.350 --> 00:10:23.419 And he said to his servant, Yarfa', 00:10:23.419 --> 00:10:25.419 'Beat him, and make it painful!' 00:10:25.419 --> 00:10:27.419 So I began gathering what had scattered from the casket 00:10:27.419 --> 00:10:29.419 while Yarfa' was beating me. 00:10:29.419 --> 00:10:31.639 Then he said, 00:10:31.639 --> 00:10:34.639 'Leave, unpraised—neither you nor your companion!' 00:10:34.639 --> 00:10:36.700 I said, 00:10:36.700 --> 00:10:39.700 'Then grant me a mount to carry me and my servant back to Ahvaz, 00:10:39.700 --> 00:10:42.700 for your servant has taken my riding camel.' 00:10:42.700 --> 00:10:44.700 He said, 00:10:44.700 --> 00:10:46.700 'O Yarfa', 00:10:46.700 --> 00:10:49.700 give him two riding camels from the zakat camels, for him and his servant.' 00:10:49.700 --> 00:10:51.700 Then he said to me, 00:10:51.700 --> 00:10:53.700 'When you have fulfilled your need with them 00:10:53.700 --> 00:10:56.700 and find someone in greater need of them than you, 00:10:56.700 --> 00:10:58.700 hand them over to him.' 00:10:58.700 --> 00:10:59.700 I said, 00:10:59.700 --> 00:11:01.700 'I shall do so, O Commander of the Faithful. 00:11:01.700 --> 00:11:02.700 Yes, 00:11:02.700 --> 00:11:04.769 I shall do so, Allah willing.' 00:11:04.769 --> 00:11:06.769 Then he turned to me and said, 00:11:06.769 --> 00:11:11.769 'By Allah, if the army disperses before these jewels are distributed among them, 00:11:11.769 --> 00:11:14.769 I will surely inflict a crushing calamity upon you and your companion!' 00:11:14.769 --> 00:11:17.929 So I departed immediately until I reached Salamah, 00:11:17.929 --> 00:11:18.929 and I said, 00:11:18.929 --> 00:11:21.929 'May Allah not bless what you singled me out with! 00:11:21.929 --> 00:11:23.929 Distribute these jewels among the army 00:11:23.929 --> 00:11:26.929 before a disaster befalls me and you!' 00:11:26.929 --> 00:11:28.929 I informed him of what had happened, 00:11:28.929 --> 00:11:33.019 and he did not leave his seat until he had distributed them among the men."