WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.000 In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. 00:00:15.580 --> 00:00:17.579 Mawaddah Association is pleased 00:00:17.579 --> 00:00:22.579 to present to you glimpses from the lives of the Companions, 00:00:22.579 --> 00:00:25.579 by Abd al-Rahman Ra'fat al-Basha, 00:00:25.579 --> 00:00:29.620 may Allah have mercy upon him. 00:00:29.620 --> 00:00:32.619 Jarir ibn Abd Allah al-Bajali, 00:00:32.619 --> 00:00:34.619 may Allah be pleased with you. 00:00:51.049 --> 00:00:56.049 We are here in the mosque of the noble Messenger, peace be upon him, 00:00:56.049 --> 00:00:59.049 shortly before the Farewell Pilgrimage. 00:00:59.049 --> 00:01:02.049 The people have taken their places within its pure courtyards, 00:01:02.049 --> 00:01:05.049 preparing to hear the Friday sermon. 00:01:05.049 --> 00:01:10.049 And here is the noble Prophet, peace be upon him, ascending the pulpit, 00:01:10.049 --> 00:01:16.049 and everyone in the mosque turns into attentive ears and conscious hearts, 00:01:16.049 --> 00:01:20.049 with eyes fixed upon him and attached to him, 00:01:20.049 --> 00:01:23.049 not turning away or wavering. 00:01:23.049 --> 00:01:28.049 The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, began to warn and give glad tidings, 00:01:28.049 --> 00:01:30.049 to exhort and remind, 00:01:30.049 --> 00:01:35.049 and to address the affairs of the Muslims as he was wont to do. 00:01:35.049 --> 00:01:37.049 While they were in this state, 00:01:37.049 --> 00:01:41.049 a large delegation from the Bajilah tribe arrived at the mosque, 00:01:41.049 --> 00:01:43.049 coming from Yemen, 00:01:43.049 --> 00:01:48.049 to declare their Islam before the Messenger, peace be upon him, 00:01:48.049 --> 00:01:52.049 and to pledge allegiance to him to listen and obey in times of ease and hardship. 00:01:52.049 --> 00:01:57.109 The men of the delegation took their places among the throngs of Muslims, 00:01:57.109 --> 00:02:01.109 and at their head was Jarir ibn Abd Allah al-Bajali, 00:02:01.109 --> 00:02:05.109 the master of Bajilah and its obeyed leader. 00:02:05.109 --> 00:02:11.110 Suddenly, the Muslims—who would let nothing distract them from the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him— 00:02:11.110 --> 00:02:15.110 turned their eyes toward Jarir ibn Abd Allah. 00:02:15.110 --> 00:02:20.110 They began to gaze at him for a long time and fix their eyes upon him, 00:02:20.110 --> 00:02:24.110 until it seemed to them as if they had an appointment with him, 00:02:24.110 --> 00:02:27.110 or as if someone had described him to them. 00:02:27.110 --> 00:02:32.180 They wanted to confirm his identity and verify his description. 00:02:32.180 --> 00:02:34.180 No sooner had the prayer ended 00:02:34.180 --> 00:02:40.180 than Jarir leaned toward a man from the Muslims sitting next to him and said, 00:02:40.180 --> 00:02:45.180 "Why are the people turning their eyes toward me and staring at me? 00:02:45.180 --> 00:02:48.180 It is as if they have some need of me. 00:02:48.180 --> 00:02:52.180 Is it just a coincidence, or is there something to the matter?" 00:02:52.180 --> 00:02:57.180 The man replied, "The people have not turned their eyes toward you 00:02:57.180 --> 00:03:02.180 except because the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, told us a short while ago 00:03:02.180 --> 00:03:05.180 of your arrival at the head of a delegation from your people. 00:03:05.180 --> 00:03:07.180 He mentioned your description to us and said, 00:03:07.180 --> 00:03:11.180 'A man will enter upon you who is among the best of the people of Yemen, 00:03:11.180 --> 00:03:13.180 on whose face is the mark of royalty.'" 00:03:13.180 --> 00:03:18.370 The features of Jarir ibn Abd Allah al-Bajali brightened when he heard this, 00:03:18.370 --> 00:03:21.370 his face beamed with joy, 00:03:21.370 --> 00:03:27.530 and his soul was gladdened by the description the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, had bestowed upon him. 00:03:27.530 --> 00:03:33.530 Once the Prophet, peace be upon him, had finished his prayer, glorification, and supplication, 00:03:33.530 --> 00:03:36.530 Jarir stood before him, 00:03:36.530 --> 00:03:39.530 and the Prophet, peace be upon him, said to him, 00:03:39.530 --> 00:03:42.530 "What brought you, O Jarir?" 00:03:42.530 --> 00:03:47.530 He replied, "I have come to embrace Islam at your hands, I and my people, O Messenger of Allah, 00:03:47.530 --> 00:03:49.530 and to pledge allegiance to you." 00:03:49.530 --> 00:03:52.530 The Prophet, peace be upon him, said to him, 00:03:52.530 --> 00:03:56.530 "I pledge your allegiance on the condition that you testify that there is no god but Allah, 00:03:56.530 --> 00:03:58.530 and that I am the Messenger of Allah, 00:03:58.530 --> 00:04:00.530 that you establish prayer, 00:04:00.530 --> 00:04:02.530 pay the zakat, 00:04:02.530 --> 00:04:04.530 fast Ramadan, 00:04:04.530 --> 00:04:05.530 perform the pilgrimage to the House, 00:04:05.530 --> 00:04:07.530 offer sincere counsel to every Muslim, 00:04:07.530 --> 00:04:09.530 and obey the ruler, 00:04:09.530 --> 00:04:11.530 even if he be an Abyssinian slave." 00:04:11.530 --> 00:04:14.560 He said, "Yes, O Messenger of Allah." 00:04:14.560 --> 00:04:17.560 He extended his right hand to him and pledged his allegiance. 00:04:17.560 --> 00:04:19.779 From that day on, 00:04:19.779 --> 00:04:23.779 the bonds of affection were strengthened between the Prophet, peace be upon him, 00:04:23.779 --> 00:04:27.779 and his companion, Jarir ibn Abd Allah al-Bajali. 00:04:27.779 --> 00:04:31.779 He attained such honor from the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, 00:04:31.779 --> 00:04:32.779 and such esteem, 00:04:32.779 --> 00:04:37.779 as only a rare few of his early companions in Islam enjoyed. 00:04:37.779 --> 00:04:41.819 The Prophet, peace be upon him, never barred him 00:04:41.819 --> 00:04:43.819 from entering upon him until he passed away, 00:04:43.819 --> 00:04:49.850 and he never met him without smiling and beaming at him. 00:04:49.850 --> 00:04:54.980 Once, he entered upon the Prophet, peace be upon him, in his house, 00:04:54.980 --> 00:04:56.980 and he welcomed him. 00:04:56.980 --> 00:04:59.980 When he could not find anything for him to sit upon, 00:04:59.980 --> 00:05:01.980 he took his own cloak, 00:05:01.980 --> 00:05:04.980 folded it, and threw it for him to sit on. 00:05:04.980 --> 00:05:07.980 Jarir took the cloak, 00:05:07.980 --> 00:05:09.980 pressed it to his chest, 00:05:09.980 --> 00:05:12.980 and began to kiss it, saying, 00:05:12.980 --> 00:05:16.980 "May Allah honor you, O Messenger of Allah, as you have honored me, 00:05:16.980 --> 00:05:19.980 and may Allah cherish you as you have cherished me." 00:05:19.980 --> 00:05:25.230 The Prophet, peace be upon him, turned to those with him and said, 00:05:25.230 --> 00:05:29.230 "If a noble person of a people comes to you, then honor him." 00:05:29.230 --> 00:05:32.519 No sooner had Jarir ibn Abd Allah al-Bajali embraced Islam 00:05:32.519 --> 00:05:35.519 and joined the battalions of faith 00:05:35.519 --> 00:05:39.519 than he became a person of trust for the Prophet, peace be upon him, 00:05:39.519 --> 00:05:42.519 and for his caliphs after him. 00:05:42.519 --> 00:05:45.519 They entrusted him with momentous affairs 00:05:45.519 --> 00:05:48.519 and relied upon him for great tasks. 00:05:48.519 --> 00:05:52.550 Shortly before the death of the noble Prophet, peace be upon him, 00:05:52.550 --> 00:05:55.550 he called Jarir to him and said, 00:05:55.550 --> 00:05:59.550 "Will you relieve me of Dhu al-Khalasah, O Jarir?" 00:05:59.550 --> 00:06:01.550 He said, "Yes, O Messenger of Allah." 00:06:01.550 --> 00:06:07.649 This Dhu al-Khalasah, which the noble Prophet, peace be upon him, wanted 00:06:07.649 --> 00:06:10.649 to be relieved of before he departed this life, 00:06:10.649 --> 00:06:14.649 was a group of idols in the city of Tabalah, 00:06:14.649 --> 00:06:18.649 a seven-night journey from Makkah on the way to Yemen. 00:06:18.649 --> 00:06:20.649 They were painted white, 00:06:20.649 --> 00:06:24.649 and inscriptions were carved upon them like crowns. 00:06:24.649 --> 00:06:28.649 Dhu al-Khalasah was tended by the sons of Umamah, 00:06:28.649 --> 00:06:33.649 and it was venerated by the tribes of Khath'am, Bajilah, and Azd. 00:06:33.649 --> 00:06:37.649 They would make pilgrimage to it, circumambulate it, and sacrifice before it, 00:06:37.649 --> 00:06:42.649 to the point that they called it the "Yemeni Ka'bah." 00:06:42.649 --> 00:06:48.649 The Prophet, may the blessings and peace of Allah be upon him, chose Jarir for this mission 00:06:48.649 --> 00:06:53.649 because of his leadership in Bajilah and his status among the Yemeni tribes. 00:06:53.649 --> 00:06:58.649 Jarir carried out the command of the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, 00:06:58.649 --> 00:07:04.649 and chose for this expedition one hundred and fifty brave, seasoned horsemen. 00:07:04.649 --> 00:07:11.649 When he was about to depart, he came to bid farewell to the Prophet, may the blessings and peace of Allah be upon him, 00:07:11.649 --> 00:07:18.649 and complained to him that he could not stay steady on horseback due to his great height and stature. 00:07:18.649 --> 00:07:23.649 The noble Prophet, peace be upon him, struck his chest and said, 00:07:23.649 --> 00:07:28.649 "O Allah, make him steady and make him a guide who is rightly guided." 00:07:28.649 --> 00:07:34.649 After that, he was among the steadiest of horsemen on the backs of thoroughbred steeds. 00:07:34.649 --> 00:07:41.649 Jarir proceeded with his men to Dhu al-Khalasah, killed its attendants, and smashed its structures. 00:07:41.649 --> 00:07:48.649 He set fire to its idols, then sent a messenger to the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, 00:07:48.649 --> 00:07:54.649 to bring him the good news of the destruction of that idol which had grieved and concerned him, 00:07:54.649 --> 00:08:00.649 and the site of which later became the threshold of the great mosque of Tabalah. 00:08:00.649 --> 00:08:07.970 Jarir did not return to Madinah after the destruction of Dhu al-Khalasah, but continued his journey to Yemen 00:08:07.970 --> 00:08:13.970 to invite its kings to Islam by the command of the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him. 00:08:13.970 --> 00:08:20.029 He arrived at Dhu al-Kala' al-Asfar, the greatest king of Yemen at that time, 00:08:20.029 --> 00:08:28.029 presented to him the virtues of Islam, read some of the Qur'an to him, and warned and gave him glad tidings. 00:08:28.029 --> 00:08:35.159 Allah opened the king's heart to faith, and he soon testified that there is no god but Allah 00:08:35.159 --> 00:08:38.159 and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. 00:08:38.159 --> 00:08:45.159 Dhu al-Kala' rejoiced greatly at the faith with which Allah had honored him after his polytheism, 00:08:45.159 --> 00:08:51.159 so on the day he embraced Islam, he freed four thousand slaves, then migrated with his people to Madinah. 00:08:51.159 --> 00:08:56.159 He found that the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, had already passed away, 00:08:56.159 --> 00:09:02.159 so he and his people settled in Hims and made it their home and residence. 00:09:02.159 --> 00:09:06.220 When the caliphate passed to al-Siddiq, may Allah be pleased with him, 00:09:06.220 --> 00:09:12.220 Jarir ibn Abd Allah placed himself, his sword, and his people at his command. 00:09:12.220 --> 00:09:18.220 Abu Bakr dispatched him to crush the sedition of apostasy in the lands of Yemen, 00:09:18.220 --> 00:09:21.220 and Jarir performed the task in the best possible manner. 00:09:21.220 --> 00:09:29.220 He continued to fight the apostates until he broke their power and brought them back into the fold of Islam. 00:09:29.220 --> 00:09:33.320 When the caliphate passed to Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, 00:09:33.320 --> 00:09:38.320 Jarir was for him an excellent companion, advisor, and commander. 00:09:38.320 --> 00:09:41.320 Umar found great comfort in him, 00:09:41.320 --> 00:09:47.320 and he admired his sharp intelligence and his ready wit in critical situations. 00:09:47.320 --> 00:09:52.379 Among these was when Umar was in a gathering with Jarir ibn Abd Allah, 00:09:52.379 --> 00:09:56.379 and a group of Muslims were waiting for prayer. 00:09:56.379 --> 00:09:59.419 Someone among the people passed wind, 00:09:59.419 --> 00:10:02.419 and the people fell silent and still, 00:10:02.419 --> 00:10:05.419 each fearing that it might be thought to have come from him. 00:10:05.419 --> 00:10:08.419 Umar feared that embarrassment might drive the person who passed wind 00:10:08.419 --> 00:10:11.419 to enter the prayer without performing ablution. 00:10:11.419 --> 00:10:16.419 So he said, "I command the one who passed wind to stand up and perform ablution." 00:10:16.419 --> 00:10:20.419 The people began to look at one another, 00:10:20.419 --> 00:10:23.509 so Jarir ibn Abd Allah stepped forward and said, 00:10:23.509 --> 00:10:27.509 "Command us, O Commander of the Faithful, to all perform ablution." 00:10:27.509 --> 00:10:30.539 Umar was relieved and said, 00:10:30.539 --> 00:10:33.539 "Yes, all of you perform ablution." 00:10:33.539 --> 00:10:36.539 Then he turned to Jarir and said, 00:10:36.539 --> 00:10:40.539 "May Allah have mercy on you; you were a noble man in the Age of Ignorance, 00:10:40.539 --> 00:10:43.539 and you are a noble man in Islam." 00:10:43.539 --> 00:10:46.539 Then the people all performed ablution. 00:10:46.539 --> 00:10:53.259 You were a noble man in the Age of Ignorance, 00:10:53.259 --> 00:10:56.259 and you are a noble man in Islam. 00:10:56.259 --> 00:11:00.259 Umar ibn al-Khattab, 00:11:08.539 --> 00:11:10.539 and what a noble man.