1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:03,000 In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. 2 00:00:15,289 --> 00:00:18,289 The Mawaddah Association is pleased 3 00:00:18,289 --> 00:00:22,289 to present to you "Glimpses from the Lives of the Companions" 4 00:00:22,289 --> 00:00:25,289 by 'Abd al-Rahman Ra'fat al-Basha, 5 00:00:25,289 --> 00:00:27,350 may Allah have mercy upon him. 6 00:00:27,350 --> 00:00:33,979 Al-Rabi' ibn Ziyad al-Harithi, may Allah be pleased with him. 7 00:00:47,979 --> 00:00:51,979 This was the City of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, 8 00:00:51,979 --> 00:00:55,979 still wiping away its tears of grief over the loss of al-Siddiq, 9 00:00:55,979 --> 00:01:01,020 as delegations from the regional provinces arrived daily in Yathrib, 10 00:01:01,020 --> 00:01:07,019 pledging allegiance to his successor, 'Umar ibn al-Khattab, to hear and obey in times of ease and hardship. 11 00:01:07,019 --> 00:01:12,019 One morning, the delegation from Bahrain arrived before the Commander of the Faithful, 12 00:01:12,019 --> 00:01:15,019 along with a number of other delegations. 13 00:01:15,019 --> 00:01:21,019 Al-Faruq, may Allah be pleased with him, was ever eager to hear the words of those who came to him, 14 00:01:21,019 --> 00:01:25,019 hoping to find in what they said a profound admonition, 15 00:01:25,019 --> 00:01:31,019 a beneficial idea, or sincere counsel for the sake of Allah, His Book, and the Muslim community at large. 16 00:01:31,019 --> 00:01:37,180 He called upon several of those present to speak, but they offered nothing of consequence. 17 00:01:37,180 --> 00:01:44,209 Then he turned to a man in whom he perceived goodness, gestured toward him, and said, "Speak what you have to say." 18 00:01:44,209 --> 00:01:48,209 The man praised Allah, extolled Him, and then said: 19 00:01:48,209 --> 00:01:53,209 "O Commander of the Faithful, you have not been granted authority over this Ummah 20 00:01:53,209 --> 00:01:57,209 except as a trial with which Allah, Exalted and Glorious is He, is testing you. 21 00:01:57,209 --> 00:01:59,209 So fear Allah regarding that which you have been entrusted with, 22 00:01:59,209 --> 00:02:03,209 and know that if a single lost ewe should wander stray along the bank of the Euphrates, 23 00:02:03,209 --> 00:02:06,209 you will be questioned about it on the Day of Resurrection." 24 00:02:06,209 --> 00:02:09,210 Thereupon 'Umar burst into tears and said, 25 00:02:09,210 --> 00:02:13,210 "No one has spoken to me with such candid truth since I assumed the Caliphate as you have just done. 26 00:02:13,210 --> 00:02:15,210 Who are you?" 27 00:02:15,210 --> 00:02:16,210 He replied, 28 00:02:16,210 --> 00:02:19,210 "Al-Rabi' ibn Ziyad al-Harithi." 29 00:02:19,210 --> 00:02:20,210 'Umar asked, 30 00:02:20,210 --> 00:02:22,210 "The brother of al-Muhajir ibn Ziyad?" 31 00:02:22,210 --> 00:02:24,210 "Yes," he replied. 32 00:02:24,210 --> 00:02:29,240 When the gathering dispersed, 'Umar ibn al-Khattab summoned Abu Musa al-Ash'ari 33 00:02:29,240 --> 00:02:30,240 and said, 34 00:02:30,240 --> 00:02:33,240 "Look into the matter of al-Rabi' ibn Ziyad; 35 00:02:33,240 --> 00:02:36,240 for if he is truthful, there is immense good in him 36 00:02:36,240 --> 00:02:39,240 and a great support for us in handling this governance. 37 00:02:39,240 --> 00:02:42,240 Appoint him to a post and write to me of his conduct." 38 00:02:42,240 --> 00:02:45,300 Only a short time passed after that day 39 00:02:45,300 --> 00:02:48,300 before Abu Musa al-Ash'ari mobilized an army 40 00:02:48,300 --> 00:02:51,300 to conquer Manadhir in the land of al-Ahwaz, 41 00:02:51,300 --> 00:02:53,300 in compliance with the Caliph's command. 42 00:02:53,300 --> 00:02:56,300 In this army, he placed al-Rabi' ibn Ziyad 43 00:02:56,300 --> 00:02:58,300 and his brother al-Muhajir. 44 00:02:58,300 --> 00:03:01,300 Abu Musa al-Ash'ari besieged Manadhir 45 00:03:01,300 --> 00:03:04,300 and fought fierce, grinding battles against its people, 46 00:03:04,300 --> 00:03:07,300 the likes of which warfare had rarely witnessed. 47 00:03:07,300 --> 00:03:10,340 The polytheists displayed such fierce valor 48 00:03:10,340 --> 00:03:12,340 and resolute determination 49 00:03:12,340 --> 00:03:14,340 as had never been imagined. 50 00:03:14,340 --> 00:03:17,340 Casualties among the Muslims mounted so heavily 51 00:03:17,340 --> 00:03:19,340 as to exceed all expectation. 52 00:03:19,340 --> 00:03:21,340 The Muslims were, during those days, 53 00:03:21,340 --> 00:03:24,340 fighting while observing the fast of Ramadan. 54 00:03:24,340 --> 00:03:27,340 When al-Muhajir, the brother of al-Rabi' ibn Ziyad, saw 55 00:03:27,340 --> 00:03:30,340 how heavily casualties were multiplying among the Muslim ranks, 56 00:03:30,340 --> 00:03:33,340 he resolved to sell his soul 57 00:03:33,340 --> 00:03:35,340 seeking the pleasure of Allah. 58 00:03:35,340 --> 00:03:38,340 He embalmed himself, donned his shroud, and gave his final counsel to his brother. 59 00:03:39,340 --> 00:03:42,340 So al-Rabi' went to Abu Musa and said, 60 00:03:42,340 --> 00:03:45,340 "Al-Muhajir has determined to lay down his life, 61 00:03:45,340 --> 00:03:47,340 yet he is fasting. 62 00:03:47,340 --> 00:03:49,340 The Muslims have been overcome 63 00:03:49,340 --> 00:03:51,340 by the brunt of war combined with the severity of fasting, 64 00:03:51,340 --> 00:03:53,340 which has weakened their resolve, 65 00:03:53,340 --> 00:03:55,340 yet they refuse to break their fast. 66 00:03:55,340 --> 00:03:57,460 Do, therefore, whatever you deem best." 67 00:03:57,460 --> 00:03:59,460 Abu Musa al-Ash'ari stood up 68 00:03:59,460 --> 00:04:01,460 and called out to the army, 69 00:04:01,460 --> 00:04:03,460 "O assembly of Muslims! 70 00:04:03,460 --> 00:04:05,460 I urge every fasting soldier 71 00:04:05,460 --> 00:04:08,460 to break his fast or cease fighting!" 72 00:04:08,460 --> 00:04:10,460 He then drank from a jug he had with him, 73 00:04:10,460 --> 00:04:12,460 so that the men would follow his lead and drink. 74 00:04:12,460 --> 00:04:15,590 When al-Muhajir heard his commander's proclamation, 75 00:04:15,590 --> 00:04:18,589 he swallowed a single gulp of water and said, 76 00:04:18,589 --> 00:04:21,589 "By Allah, I did not drink it out of thirst, 77 00:04:21,589 --> 00:04:24,589 but rather to honor the binding order of my commander." 78 00:04:24,589 --> 00:04:26,589 Then he unsheathed his sword, 79 00:04:26,589 --> 00:04:28,589 plunged forward, cleaving through the enemy lines, 80 00:04:28,589 --> 00:04:32,589 and cutting down their fighters without fear or hesitation. 81 00:04:32,589 --> 00:04:34,589 As he drove deep into the ranks of the enemy, 82 00:04:34,589 --> 00:04:37,589 they closed in on him from every side, 83 00:04:37,589 --> 00:04:41,589 striking him with their swords in turn from before him and behind him, 84 00:04:41,589 --> 00:04:43,589 until he fell slain. 85 00:04:43,589 --> 00:04:45,589 They then severed his head 86 00:04:45,589 --> 00:04:49,589 and mounted it upon a balcony overlooking the battlefield. 87 00:04:49,589 --> 00:04:52,620 Al-Rabi' looked up at him and said, 88 00:04:52,620 --> 00:04:55,620 "Glad tidings be yours, and a blessed return! 89 00:04:55,620 --> 00:04:57,620 By Allah, I shall avenge you, 90 00:04:57,620 --> 00:05:00,620 and avenge the slain of the Muslims, if Allah wills." 91 00:05:00,620 --> 00:05:02,720 When Abu Musa saw 92 00:05:02,720 --> 00:05:05,720 the profound sorrow that had gripped al-Rabi' over his brother, 93 00:05:05,720 --> 00:05:09,720 and realized the fiery indignation raging in his breast against the enemies of Allah, 94 00:05:09,720 --> 00:05:12,720 he yielded the command of the army to him 95 00:05:12,720 --> 00:05:15,819 and proceeded to Susa to conquer it. 96 00:05:15,819 --> 00:05:19,819 Al-Rabi' and his troops swept upon the polytheists like a whirlwind, 97 00:05:19,819 --> 00:05:24,819 hurtling down upon their fortresses like boulders dislodged by a torrential flood, 98 00:05:24,819 --> 00:05:27,819 shattering their lines and crushing their might. 99 00:05:27,819 --> 00:05:31,819 Thus Allah granted al-Rabi' ibn Ziyad the conquest of Manadhir by force; 100 00:05:31,819 --> 00:05:34,819 he slew their combatants, took their dependents captive, 101 00:05:34,819 --> 00:05:37,819 and took as spoils of war whatever Allah willed. 102 00:05:37,819 --> 00:05:41,939 The star of al-Rabi' ibn Ziyad shone brightly after the battle of Manadhir, 103 00:05:41,939 --> 00:05:44,939 his renown spread far and wide, 104 00:05:44,939 --> 00:05:50,939 and he became one of the eminent commanders relied upon for momentous undertakings. 105 00:05:50,939 --> 00:05:54,009 When the Muslims resolved to conquer Sijistan, 106 00:05:54,009 --> 00:05:57,009 they entrusted him with the leadership of the army, 107 00:05:57,009 --> 00:06:00,009 hoping for victory at his hands. 108 00:06:00,009 --> 00:06:05,199 Al-Rabi' ibn Ziyad marched with his army, campaigning in the cause of Allah toward Sijistan, 109 00:06:05,199 --> 00:06:09,199 across a desolate wasteland seventy-five farsakhs wide, 110 00:06:09,199 --> 00:06:14,199 which even the fiercest desert beasts would weary of crossing. 111 00:06:14,199 --> 00:06:19,230 The first territory he encountered was the district of Zaliq on the borders of Sijistan, 112 00:06:19,230 --> 00:06:22,230 a fertile district teeming with magnificent palaces, 113 00:06:22,230 --> 00:06:25,230 ringed by towering fortresses, 114 00:06:25,230 --> 00:06:28,230 and rich in bounty and abundant fruit. 115 00:06:28,230 --> 00:06:33,420 The shrewd commander dispatched his scouts through the district of Zaliq before reaching it, 116 00:06:33,420 --> 00:06:38,420 and learned that its people were soon to celebrate one of their festivals. 117 00:06:38,420 --> 00:06:43,420 He lay in wait for them until he took them completely by surprise on the night of the festival, 118 00:06:43,420 --> 00:06:47,420 putting them to the sword and taking the settlement by force. 119 00:06:47,420 --> 00:06:49,420 He took twenty thousand captives from them, 120 00:06:49,420 --> 00:06:52,420 and their dehqan fell into his hands as a prisoner. 121 00:06:52,420 --> 00:06:56,550 Among the captives was a slave belonging to the dehqan, 122 00:06:56,550 --> 00:07:01,550 whom they found to have amassed three hundred thousand coins to carry to his master. 123 00:07:01,550 --> 00:07:05,550 Al-Rabi' asked him, "Where did this wealth come from?" 124 00:07:05,550 --> 00:07:09,550 He replied, "From one of my master's villages." 125 00:07:09,550 --> 00:07:15,550 He asked him, "Does a single village yield him such wealth every year?" 126 00:07:15,550 --> 00:07:18,550 "Yes," he answered. Al-Rabi' asked, "And how so?" 127 00:07:18,550 --> 00:07:23,649 He replied, "Through our mattocks, our scythes, and our sweat." 128 00:07:23,649 --> 00:07:26,649 When the battle came to an end, 129 00:07:26,649 --> 00:07:31,649 the dehqan approached al-Rabi', offering to ransom himself and his family. 130 00:07:31,649 --> 00:07:36,649 Al-Rabi' told him, "I will ransom you only if you offer a lavish ransom to the Muslims." 131 00:07:36,649 --> 00:07:38,649 He asked, "And how much do you demand?" 132 00:07:38,649 --> 00:07:42,649 He said, "I shall plant this spear into the ground, 133 00:07:42,649 --> 00:07:47,649 and you must pour gold and silver over it until it is completely submerged." 134 00:07:47,649 --> 00:07:49,649 The dehqan replied, "I agree." 135 00:07:49,649 --> 00:07:52,649 He brought forth all the gold and silver stored in his treasuries 136 00:07:52,649 --> 00:07:56,649 and kept pouring them over the spear until it was fully buried beneath them. 137 00:07:56,649 --> 00:08:01,740 Al-Rabi' ibn Ziyad pushed deeper with his victorious army into the lands of Sijistan, 138 00:08:01,740 --> 00:08:05,740 and fortresses began falling before the hooves of his cavalry 139 00:08:05,740 --> 00:08:10,740 just as leaves fall before the gusts of autumn winds. 140 00:08:10,740 --> 00:08:15,779 The inhabitants of towns and villages hastened out to meet him, seeking security and submitting peacefully, 141 00:08:15,779 --> 00:08:18,779 before he ever needed to draw a sword against them, 142 00:08:18,779 --> 00:08:22,779 until he reached the city of Zaranj, the capital of Sijistan. 143 00:08:22,779 --> 00:08:26,779 There, he found that the enemy had prepared extensively for war, 144 00:08:26,779 --> 00:08:28,779 marshaled battalions to meet him, 145 00:08:28,779 --> 00:08:31,779 summoned reinforcements to confront him, 146 00:08:31,779 --> 00:08:35,779 and firmly resolved to defend the great metropolis, 147 00:08:35,779 --> 00:08:40,779 intent on halting his advance through Sijistan whatever the cost might be. 148 00:08:40,779 --> 00:08:45,899 A grinding, ferocious battle then raged between al-Rabi' and his foes, 149 00:08:45,899 --> 00:08:50,899 in which neither side spared any sacrifice demanded of it. 150 00:08:50,899 --> 00:08:55,899 As the first signs of victory began to tip toward the Muslims, 151 00:08:55,899 --> 00:08:59,899 the local marzban, known as Parviz, 152 00:08:59,899 --> 00:09:02,899 saw fit to seek a truce with al-Rabi' 153 00:09:02,899 --> 00:09:05,899 while he still retained some measure of strength, 154 00:09:05,899 --> 00:09:09,899 hoping to secure better terms for himself and his people. 155 00:09:09,899 --> 00:09:13,899 He sent an emissary from his side to al-Rabi' ibn Ziyad, 156 00:09:13,899 --> 00:09:18,899 requesting an appointment to meet him and negotiate a peace settlement. 157 00:09:18,899 --> 00:09:20,899 Al-Rabi' granted his request. 158 00:09:20,899 --> 00:09:25,899 Al-Rabi' commanded his men to prepare the place to receive Parviz, 159 00:09:25,899 --> 00:09:30,899 instructing them to pile up heaps of slain Persian corpses around the council pavilion, 160 00:09:30,899 --> 00:09:35,899 and to cast along both sides of the path Parviz would traverse 161 00:09:35,899 --> 00:09:38,899 other corpses strewn in disarray. 162 00:09:38,899 --> 00:09:42,899 Al-Rabi' was a man of tall stature, commanding presence, 163 00:09:42,899 --> 00:09:45,899 deep brown complexion, and massive build, 164 00:09:45,899 --> 00:09:48,899 striking awe into the heart of whoever beheld him. 165 00:09:48,899 --> 00:09:51,000 When Parviz entered his presence, 166 00:09:51,000 --> 00:09:54,000 his limbs trembled in terror before him, 167 00:09:54,000 --> 00:09:58,000 and his heart was gripped with dread at the sight of the slain. 168 00:09:58,000 --> 00:10:00,000 He dared not draw near him, 169 00:10:00,000 --> 00:10:03,000 and was too frightened to step forward and shake his hand, 170 00:10:03,000 --> 00:10:07,000 addressing him instead with a faltering, stammering tongue. 171 00:10:07,000 --> 00:10:10,000 He concluded a peace treaty agreeing to deliver to him one thousand young servants, 172 00:10:10,000 --> 00:10:14,000 with each servant bearing upon his head a chalice of gold— 173 00:10:14,000 --> 00:10:16,000 that is, a goblet made of pure gold. 174 00:10:16,000 --> 00:10:20,100 Al-Rabi' accepted and concluded the peace with Parviz upon these terms. 175 00:10:20,100 --> 00:10:22,190 On the following day, 176 00:10:22,190 --> 00:10:25,190 al-Rabi' ibn Ziyad entered the city, 177 00:10:25,190 --> 00:10:28,190 flanked by this procession of servant-bearers, 178 00:10:28,190 --> 00:10:32,190 amidst the Muslims' acclamations of tahlil and takbir. 179 00:10:32,190 --> 00:10:35,190 It was indeed a momentous day among the glorious days of Allah. 180 00:10:36,350 --> 00:10:40,350 Al-Rabi' ibn Ziyad remained an unsheathed sword in the hand of the Muslims, 181 00:10:40,350 --> 00:10:43,350 with which they struck at the enemies of Allah, 182 00:10:43,350 --> 00:10:47,350 conquering cities for them and governing provinces, 183 00:10:47,350 --> 00:10:50,350 until rule passed to the Umayyads. 184 00:10:50,350 --> 00:10:54,350 Mu'awiyah ibn Abi Sufyan then appointed him governor over Khurasan, 185 00:10:54,350 --> 00:10:58,350 yet his heart was never truly at ease with this governorship. 186 00:10:58,350 --> 00:11:01,350 His aversion and distaste toward it only deepened 187 00:11:01,350 --> 00:11:03,350 when Ziyad ibn Abihi, 188 00:11:03,350 --> 00:11:06,350 one of the foremost governors of the Umayyads, 189 00:11:06,350 --> 00:11:09,350 sent him a letter stating: 190 00:11:09,350 --> 00:11:12,350 "The Commander of the Faithful, Mu'awiyah ibn Abi Sufyan, 191 00:11:12,350 --> 00:11:15,350 commands you to reserve all the gold and silver 192 00:11:15,350 --> 00:11:18,350 from the spoils of war for the public treasury of the Muslims, 193 00:11:18,350 --> 00:11:22,350 and to distribute whatever remains among the warriors." 194 00:11:22,350 --> 00:11:24,350 Thereupon al-Rabi' wrote back to him, saying: 195 00:11:24,350 --> 00:11:27,350 "Verily, I have found that the Book of Allah, Exalted and Glorious is He, 196 00:11:27,350 --> 00:11:29,350 decrees otherwise than what you have commanded me 197 00:11:29,350 --> 00:11:32,350 on behalf of the Commander of the Faithful." 198 00:11:32,350 --> 00:11:34,350 He then called out among the people: 199 00:11:34,350 --> 00:11:37,350 "Go forth to your spoils of war and take them." 200 00:11:37,350 --> 00:11:41,379 Then he sent the one-fifth share (Khums) to the seat of the Caliphate in Damascus. 201 00:11:41,379 --> 00:11:45,379 And when Friday came, following the arrival of this letter, 202 00:11:45,379 --> 00:11:49,379 Al-Rabi' Ibn Ziyad went out to prayer dressed in white garments. 203 00:11:49,379 --> 00:11:52,379 He delivered the Friday sermon to the people, and then said: 204 00:11:52,379 --> 00:11:54,379 "O people! 205 00:11:54,379 --> 00:11:56,379 I have grown weary of this worldly life, 206 00:11:56,379 --> 00:12:01,379 and I am about to make a supplication, so say 'amin' to it." 207 00:12:01,379 --> 00:12:02,379 He then said: 208 00:12:02,379 --> 00:12:05,379 "O Allah, if You intend good for me, 209 00:12:05,379 --> 00:12:08,379 take my soul to You swiftly, without delay." 210 00:12:08,379 --> 00:12:11,379 So the people said "amin" to his supplication. 211 00:12:11,379 --> 00:12:14,419 And the sun of that very day had not set 212 00:12:14,419 --> 00:12:18,419 before Al-Rabi' Ibn Ziyad passed into the presence of his Lord. 213 00:12:18,419 --> 00:12:24,750 "No one has been as sincere and truthful with me since I assumed the caliphate 214 00:12:24,750 --> 00:12:28,549 as was Al-Rabi' Ibn Ziyad." 215 00:12:28,549 --> 00:12:31,480 — 'Umar Ibn al-Khattab. 216 00:12:35,480 --> 00:12:37,480 O poetry, assist me and pour forth, 217 00:12:37,480 --> 00:12:40,480 in their praise, or can I ever add more?