WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.000 In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. 00:00:15.289 --> 00:00:18.289 The Mawaddah Association is pleased 00:00:18.289 --> 00:00:22.289 to present to you "Glimpses from the Lives of the Companions" 00:00:22.289 --> 00:00:25.289 by 'Abd al-Rahman Ra'fat al-Basha, 00:00:25.289 --> 00:00:27.350 may Allah have mercy upon him. 00:00:27.350 --> 00:00:33.979 Al-Rabi' ibn Ziyad al-Harithi, may Allah be pleased with him. 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, 00:00:51.979 --> 00:00:55.979 still wiping away its tears of grief over the loss of al-Siddiq, 00:00:55.979 --> 00:01:01.020 as delegations from the regional provinces arrived daily in Yathrib, 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. 00:01:07.019 --> 00:01:12.019 One morning, the delegation from Bahrain arrived before the Commander of the Faithful, 00:01:12.019 --> 00:01:15.019 along with a number of other delegations. 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, 00:01:21.019 --> 00:01:25.019 hoping to find in what they said a profound admonition, 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. 00:01:31.019 --> 00:01:37.180 He called upon several of those present to speak, but they offered nothing of consequence. 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." 00:01:44.209 --> 00:01:48.209 The man praised Allah, extolled Him, and then said: 00:01:48.209 --> 00:01:53.209 "O Commander of the Faithful, you have not been granted authority over this Ummah 00:01:53.209 --> 00:01:57.209 except as a trial with which Allah, Exalted and Glorious is He, is testing you. 00:01:57.209 --> 00:01:59.209 So fear Allah regarding that which you have been entrusted with, 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, 00:02:03.209 --> 00:02:06.209 you will be questioned about it on the Day of Resurrection." 00:02:06.209 --> 00:02:09.210 Thereupon 'Umar burst into tears and said, 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. 00:02:13.210 --> 00:02:15.210 Who are you?" 00:02:15.210 --> 00:02:16.210 He replied, 00:02:16.210 --> 00:02:19.210 "Al-Rabi' ibn Ziyad al-Harithi." 00:02:19.210 --> 00:02:20.210 'Umar asked, 00:02:20.210 --> 00:02:22.210 "The brother of al-Muhajir ibn Ziyad?" 00:02:22.210 --> 00:02:24.210 "Yes," he replied. 00:02:24.210 --> 00:02:29.240 When the gathering dispersed, 'Umar ibn al-Khattab summoned Abu Musa al-Ash'ari 00:02:29.240 --> 00:02:30.240 and said, 00:02:30.240 --> 00:02:33.240 "Look into the matter of al-Rabi' ibn Ziyad; 00:02:33.240 --> 00:02:36.240 for if he is truthful, there is immense good in him 00:02:36.240 --> 00:02:39.240 and a great support for us in handling this governance. 00:02:39.240 --> 00:02:42.240 Appoint him to a post and write to me of his conduct." 00:02:42.240 --> 00:02:45.300 Only a short time passed after that day 00:02:45.300 --> 00:02:48.300 before Abu Musa al-Ash'ari mobilized an army 00:02:48.300 --> 00:02:51.300 to conquer Manadhir in the land of al-Ahwaz, 00:02:51.300 --> 00:02:53.300 in compliance with the Caliph's command. 00:02:53.300 --> 00:02:56.300 In this army, he placed al-Rabi' ibn Ziyad 00:02:56.300 --> 00:02:58.300 and his brother al-Muhajir. 00:02:58.300 --> 00:03:01.300 Abu Musa al-Ash'ari besieged Manadhir 00:03:01.300 --> 00:03:04.300 and fought fierce, grinding battles against its people, 00:03:04.300 --> 00:03:07.300 the likes of which warfare had rarely witnessed. 00:03:07.300 --> 00:03:10.340 The polytheists displayed such fierce valor 00:03:10.340 --> 00:03:12.340 and resolute determination 00:03:12.340 --> 00:03:14.340 as had never been imagined. 00:03:14.340 --> 00:03:17.340 Casualties among the Muslims mounted so heavily 00:03:17.340 --> 00:03:19.340 as to exceed all expectation. 00:03:19.340 --> 00:03:21.340 The Muslims were, during those days, 00:03:21.340 --> 00:03:24.340 fighting while observing the fast of Ramadan. 00:03:24.340 --> 00:03:27.340 When al-Muhajir, the brother of al-Rabi' ibn Ziyad, saw 00:03:27.340 --> 00:03:30.340 how heavily casualties were multiplying among the Muslim ranks, 00:03:30.340 --> 00:03:33.340 he resolved to sell his soul 00:03:33.340 --> 00:03:35.340 seeking the pleasure of Allah. 00:03:35.340 --> 00:03:38.340 He embalmed himself, donned his shroud, and gave his final counsel to his brother. 00:03:39.340 --> 00:03:42.340 So al-Rabi' went to Abu Musa and said, 00:03:42.340 --> 00:03:45.340 "Al-Muhajir has determined to lay down his life, 00:03:45.340 --> 00:03:47.340 yet he is fasting. 00:03:47.340 --> 00:03:49.340 The Muslims have been overcome 00:03:49.340 --> 00:03:51.340 by the brunt of war combined with the severity of fasting, 00:03:51.340 --> 00:03:53.340 which has weakened their resolve, 00:03:53.340 --> 00:03:55.340 yet they refuse to break their fast. 00:03:55.340 --> 00:03:57.460 Do, therefore, whatever you deem best." 00:03:57.460 --> 00:03:59.460 Abu Musa al-Ash'ari stood up 00:03:59.460 --> 00:04:01.460 and called out to the army, 00:04:01.460 --> 00:04:03.460 "O assembly of Muslims! 00:04:03.460 --> 00:04:05.460 I urge every fasting soldier 00:04:05.460 --> 00:04:08.460 to break his fast or cease fighting!" 00:04:08.460 --> 00:04:10.460 He then drank from a jug he had with him, 00:04:10.460 --> 00:04:12.460 so that the men would follow his lead and drink. 00:04:12.460 --> 00:04:15.590 When al-Muhajir heard his commander's proclamation, 00:04:15.590 --> 00:04:18.589 he swallowed a single gulp of water and said, 00:04:18.589 --> 00:04:21.589 "By Allah, I did not drink it out of thirst, 00:04:21.589 --> 00:04:24.589 but rather to honor the binding order of my commander." 00:04:24.589 --> 00:04:26.589 Then he unsheathed his sword, 00:04:26.589 --> 00:04:28.589 plunged forward, cleaving through the enemy lines, 00:04:28.589 --> 00:04:32.589 and cutting down their fighters without fear or hesitation. 00:04:32.589 --> 00:04:34.589 As he drove deep into the ranks of the enemy, 00:04:34.589 --> 00:04:37.589 they closed in on him from every side, 00:04:37.589 --> 00:04:41.589 striking him with their swords in turn from before him and behind him, 00:04:41.589 --> 00:04:43.589 until he fell slain. 00:04:43.589 --> 00:04:45.589 They then severed his head 00:04:45.589 --> 00:04:49.589 and mounted it upon a balcony overlooking the battlefield. 00:04:49.589 --> 00:04:52.620 Al-Rabi' looked up at him and said, 00:04:52.620 --> 00:04:55.620 "Glad tidings be yours, and a blessed return! 00:04:55.620 --> 00:04:57.620 By Allah, I shall avenge you, 00:04:57.620 --> 00:05:00.620 and avenge the slain of the Muslims, if Allah wills." 00:05:00.620 --> 00:05:02.720 When Abu Musa saw 00:05:02.720 --> 00:05:05.720 the profound sorrow that had gripped al-Rabi' over his brother, 00:05:05.720 --> 00:05:09.720 and realized the fiery indignation raging in his breast against the enemies of Allah, 00:05:09.720 --> 00:05:12.720 he yielded the command of the army to him 00:05:12.720 --> 00:05:15.819 and proceeded to Susa to conquer it. 00:05:15.819 --> 00:05:19.819 Al-Rabi' and his troops swept upon the polytheists like a whirlwind, 00:05:19.819 --> 00:05:24.819 hurtling down upon their fortresses like boulders dislodged by a torrential flood, 00:05:24.819 --> 00:05:27.819 shattering their lines and crushing their might. 00:05:27.819 --> 00:05:31.819 Thus Allah granted al-Rabi' ibn Ziyad the conquest of Manadhir by force; 00:05:31.819 --> 00:05:34.819 he slew their combatants, took their dependents captive, 00:05:34.819 --> 00:05:37.819 and took as spoils of war whatever Allah willed. 00:05:37.819 --> 00:05:41.939 The star of al-Rabi' ibn Ziyad shone brightly after the battle of Manadhir, 00:05:41.939 --> 00:05:44.939 his renown spread far and wide, 00:05:44.939 --> 00:05:50.939 and he became one of the eminent commanders relied upon for momentous undertakings. 00:05:50.939 --> 00:05:54.009 When the Muslims resolved to conquer Sijistan, 00:05:54.009 --> 00:05:57.009 they entrusted him with the leadership of the army, 00:05:57.009 --> 00:06:00.009 hoping for victory at his hands. 00:06:00.009 --> 00:06:05.199 Al-Rabi' ibn Ziyad marched with his army, campaigning in the cause of Allah toward Sijistan, 00:06:05.199 --> 00:06:09.199 across a desolate wasteland seventy-five farsakhs wide, 00:06:09.199 --> 00:06:14.199 which even the fiercest desert beasts would weary of crossing. 00:06:14.199 --> 00:06:19.230 The first territory he encountered was the district of Zaliq on the borders of Sijistan, 00:06:19.230 --> 00:06:22.230 a fertile district teeming with magnificent palaces, 00:06:22.230 --> 00:06:25.230 ringed by towering fortresses, 00:06:25.230 --> 00:06:28.230 and rich in bounty and abundant fruit. 00:06:28.230 --> 00:06:33.420 The shrewd commander dispatched his scouts through the district of Zaliq before reaching it, 00:06:33.420 --> 00:06:38.420 and learned that its people were soon to celebrate one of their festivals. 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, 00:06:43.420 --> 00:06:47.420 putting them to the sword and taking the settlement by force. 00:06:47.420 --> 00:06:49.420 He took twenty thousand captives from them, 00:06:49.420 --> 00:06:52.420 and their dehqan fell into his hands as a prisoner. 00:06:52.420 --> 00:06:56.550 Among the captives was a slave belonging to the dehqan, 00:06:56.550 --> 00:07:01.550 whom they found to have amassed three hundred thousand coins to carry to his master. 00:07:01.550 --> 00:07:05.550 Al-Rabi' asked him, "Where did this wealth come from?" 00:07:05.550 --> 00:07:09.550 He replied, "From one of my master's villages." 00:07:09.550 --> 00:07:15.550 He asked him, "Does a single village yield him such wealth every year?" 00:07:15.550 --> 00:07:18.550 "Yes," he answered. Al-Rabi' asked, "And how so?" 00:07:18.550 --> 00:07:23.649 He replied, "Through our mattocks, our scythes, and our sweat." 00:07:23.649 --> 00:07:26.649 When the battle came to an end, 00:07:26.649 --> 00:07:31.649 the dehqan approached al-Rabi', offering to ransom himself and his family. 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." 00:07:36.649 --> 00:07:38.649 He asked, "And how much do you demand?" 00:07:38.649 --> 00:07:42.649 He said, "I shall plant this spear into the ground, 00:07:42.649 --> 00:07:47.649 and you must pour gold and silver over it until it is completely submerged." 00:07:47.649 --> 00:07:49.649 The dehqan replied, "I agree." 00:07:49.649 --> 00:07:52.649 He brought forth all the gold and silver stored in his treasuries 00:07:52.649 --> 00:07:56.649 and kept pouring them over the spear until it was fully buried beneath them. 00:07:56.649 --> 00:08:01.740 Al-Rabi' ibn Ziyad pushed deeper with his victorious army into the lands of Sijistan, 00:08:01.740 --> 00:08:05.740 and fortresses began falling before the hooves of his cavalry 00:08:05.740 --> 00:08:10.740 just as leaves fall before the gusts of autumn winds. 00:08:10.740 --> 00:08:15.779 The inhabitants of towns and villages hastened out to meet him, seeking security and submitting peacefully, 00:08:15.779 --> 00:08:18.779 before he ever needed to draw a sword against them, 00:08:18.779 --> 00:08:22.779 until he reached the city of Zaranj, the capital of Sijistan. 00:08:22.779 --> 00:08:26.779 There, he found that the enemy had prepared extensively for war, 00:08:26.779 --> 00:08:28.779 marshaled battalions to meet him, 00:08:28.779 --> 00:08:31.779 summoned reinforcements to confront him, 00:08:31.779 --> 00:08:35.779 and firmly resolved to defend the great metropolis, 00:08:35.779 --> 00:08:40.779 intent on halting his advance through Sijistan whatever the cost might be. 00:08:40.779 --> 00:08:45.899 A grinding, ferocious battle then raged between al-Rabi' and his foes, 00:08:45.899 --> 00:08:50.899 in which neither side spared any sacrifice demanded of it. 00:08:50.899 --> 00:08:55.899 As the first signs of victory began to tip toward the Muslims, 00:08:55.899 --> 00:08:59.899 the local marzban, known as Parviz, 00:08:59.899 --> 00:09:02.899 saw fit to seek a truce with al-Rabi' 00:09:02.899 --> 00:09:05.899 while he still retained some measure of strength, 00:09:05.899 --> 00:09:09.899 hoping to secure better terms for himself and his people. 00:09:09.899 --> 00:09:13.899 He sent an emissary from his side to al-Rabi' ibn Ziyad, 00:09:13.899 --> 00:09:18.899 requesting an appointment to meet him and negotiate a peace settlement. 00:09:18.899 --> 00:09:20.899 Al-Rabi' granted his request. 00:09:20.899 --> 00:09:25.899 Al-Rabi' commanded his men to prepare the place to receive Parviz, 00:09:25.899 --> 00:09:30.899 instructing them to pile up heaps of slain Persian corpses around the council pavilion, 00:09:30.899 --> 00:09:35.899 and to cast along both sides of the path Parviz would traverse 00:09:35.899 --> 00:09:38.899 other corpses strewn in disarray. 00:09:38.899 --> 00:09:42.899 Al-Rabi' was a man of tall stature, commanding presence, 00:09:42.899 --> 00:09:45.899 deep brown complexion, and massive build, 00:09:45.899 --> 00:09:48.899 striking awe into the heart of whoever beheld him. 00:09:48.899 --> 00:09:51.000 When Parviz entered his presence, 00:09:51.000 --> 00:09:54.000 his limbs trembled in terror before him, 00:09:54.000 --> 00:09:58.000 and his heart was gripped with dread at the sight of the slain. 00:09:58.000 --> 00:10:00.000 He dared not draw near him, 00:10:00.000 --> 00:10:03.000 and was too frightened to step forward and shake his hand, 00:10:03.000 --> 00:10:07.000 addressing him instead with a faltering, stammering tongue. 00:10:07.000 --> 00:10:10.000 He concluded a peace treaty agreeing to deliver to him one thousand young servants, 00:10:10.000 --> 00:10:14.000 with each servant bearing upon his head a chalice of gold— 00:10:14.000 --> 00:10:16.000 that is, a goblet made of pure gold. 00:10:16.000 --> 00:10:20.100 Al-Rabi' accepted and concluded the peace with Parviz upon these terms. 00:10:20.100 --> 00:10:22.190 On the following day, 00:10:22.190 --> 00:10:25.190 al-Rabi' ibn Ziyad entered the city, 00:10:25.190 --> 00:10:28.190 flanked by this procession of servant-bearers, 00:10:28.190 --> 00:10:32.190 amidst the Muslims' acclamations of tahlil and takbir. 00:10:32.190 --> 00:10:35.190 It was indeed a momentous day among the glorious days of Allah. 00:10:36.350 --> 00:10:40.350 Al-Rabi' ibn Ziyad remained an unsheathed sword in the hand of the Muslims, 00:10:40.350 --> 00:10:43.350 with which they struck at the enemies of Allah, 00:10:43.350 --> 00:10:47.350 conquering cities for them and governing provinces, 00:10:47.350 --> 00:10:50.350 until rule passed to the Umayyads. 00:10:50.350 --> 00:10:54.350 Mu'awiyah ibn Abi Sufyan then appointed him governor over Khurasan, 00:10:54.350 --> 00:10:58.350 yet his heart was never truly at ease with this governorship. 00:10:58.350 --> 00:11:01.350 His aversion and distaste toward it only deepened 00:11:01.350 --> 00:11:03.350 when Ziyad ibn Abihi, 00:11:03.350 --> 00:11:06.350 one of the foremost governors of the Umayyads, 00:11:06.350 --> 00:11:09.350 sent him a letter stating: 00:11:09.350 --> 00:11:12.350 "The Commander of the Faithful, Mu'awiyah ibn Abi Sufyan, 00:11:12.350 --> 00:11:15.350 commands you to reserve all the gold and silver 00:11:15.350 --> 00:11:18.350 from the spoils of war for the public treasury of the Muslims, 00:11:18.350 --> 00:11:22.350 and to distribute whatever remains among the warriors." 00:11:22.350 --> 00:11:24.350 Thereupon al-Rabi' wrote back to him, saying: 00:11:24.350 --> 00:11:27.350 "Verily, I have found that the Book of Allah, Exalted and Glorious is He, 00:11:27.350 --> 00:11:29.350 decrees otherwise than what you have commanded me 00:11:29.350 --> 00:11:32.350 on behalf of the Commander of the Faithful." 00:11:32.350 --> 00:11:34.350 He then called out among the people: 00:11:34.350 --> 00:11:37.350 "Go forth to your spoils of war and take them." 00:11:37.350 --> 00:11:41.379 Then he sent the one-fifth share (Khums) to the seat of the Caliphate in Damascus. 00:11:41.379 --> 00:11:45.379 And when Friday came, following the arrival of this letter, 00:11:45.379 --> 00:11:49.379 Al-Rabi' Ibn Ziyad went out to prayer dressed in white garments. 00:11:49.379 --> 00:11:52.379 He delivered the Friday sermon to the people, and then said: 00:11:52.379 --> 00:11:54.379 "O people! 00:11:54.379 --> 00:11:56.379 I have grown weary of this worldly life, 00:11:56.379 --> 00:12:01.379 and I am about to make a supplication, so say 'amin' to it." 00:12:01.379 --> 00:12:02.379 He then said: 00:12:02.379 --> 00:12:05.379 "O Allah, if You intend good for me, 00:12:05.379 --> 00:12:08.379 take my soul to You swiftly, without delay." 00:12:08.379 --> 00:12:11.379 So the people said "amin" to his supplication. 00:12:11.379 --> 00:12:14.419 And the sun of that very day had not set 00:12:14.419 --> 00:12:18.419 before Al-Rabi' Ibn Ziyad passed into the presence of his Lord. 00:12:18.419 --> 00:12:24.750 "No one has been as sincere and truthful with me since I assumed the caliphate 00:12:24.750 --> 00:12:28.549 as was Al-Rabi' Ibn Ziyad." 00:12:28.549 --> 00:12:31.480 — 'Umar Ibn al-Khattab. 00:12:35.480 --> 00:12:37.480 O poetry, assist me and pour forth, 00:12:37.480 --> 00:12:40.480 in their praise, or can I ever add more?