WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.000 In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. 00:00:15.699 --> 00:00:17.699 Mawaddah Association is pleased 00:00:17.699 --> 00:00:19.699 to present to you 00:00:19.699 --> 00:00:21.699 "Portraits from the Lives of the Companions" 00:00:21.699 --> 00:00:23.699 by Abd al-Rahman 00:00:23.699 --> 00:00:25.730 Ra'fat al-Basha, 00:00:25.730 --> 00:00:30.190 may Allah have mercy on him. 00:00:30.190 --> 00:00:32.189 Al-Ala' ibn al-Hadrami, 00:00:32.189 --> 00:00:34.189 may Allah be pleased with him. 00:00:51.659 --> 00:00:53.659 The fleeing apostates sought refuge 00:00:53.659 --> 00:00:55.659 in the sanctuary of Darin Island, 00:00:55.659 --> 00:00:57.659 entrenching themselves behind the waves of the sea 00:00:57.659 --> 00:00:59.659 that encircled it like a bracelet 00:00:59.659 --> 00:01:01.659 around a wrist. 00:01:01.659 --> 00:01:03.659 They then gave free rein to their desires, 00:01:03.659 --> 00:01:05.659 settling comfortably into an aura of ease 00:01:05.659 --> 00:01:07.659 and reassurance, 00:01:07.659 --> 00:01:09.659 completely casting aside all caution and vigilance. 00:01:09.659 --> 00:01:11.659 That was because they were absolutely 00:01:11.659 --> 00:01:13.659 certain that the Muslim soldiers, 00:01:13.659 --> 00:01:15.659 raised in the heart of the desert, 00:01:15.659 --> 00:01:17.659 had never navigated the seas 00:01:17.659 --> 00:01:19.659 nor were they accustomed to the decks of ships; 00:01:19.659 --> 00:01:21.659 moreover, 00:01:21.659 --> 00:01:23.659 they did not possess 00:01:23.659 --> 00:01:25.730 a single vessel. 00:01:25.730 --> 00:01:27.730 But al-Ala' ibn al-Hadrami 00:01:27.730 --> 00:01:29.730 harbored within himself 00:01:29.730 --> 00:01:31.730 a momentous and daring plan, 00:01:31.730 --> 00:01:33.730 one that no commander had ever contemplated, 00:01:33.730 --> 00:01:35.730 nor had it ever crossed the mind 00:01:35.730 --> 00:01:37.730 of any Muslim. 00:01:37.730 --> 00:01:39.730 He firmly resolved 00:01:39.730 --> 00:01:41.730 to invade Darin 00:01:41.730 --> 00:01:43.730 and vanquish the apostates who sought refuge 00:01:43.730 --> 00:01:45.730 behind walls of water. 00:01:45.730 --> 00:01:47.730 Al-Ala' was not unaware 00:01:47.730 --> 00:01:49.730 that his soldiers, being sons of the desert, 00:01:49.730 --> 00:01:51.730 harbored a profound fear of the sea 00:01:51.730 --> 00:01:53.730 and dreaded its perils 00:01:53.730 --> 00:01:55.730 with the utmost dread. 00:01:55.730 --> 00:01:57.730 Nor was he in need of anyone to remind him 00:01:57.730 --> 00:01:59.730 that he did not possess 00:01:59.730 --> 00:02:01.730 a single ship to transport 00:02:01.730 --> 00:02:03.730 even one of his soldiers, 00:02:03.730 --> 00:02:05.730 let alone the fact that 00:02:05.730 --> 00:02:07.730 he would require a vast fleet 00:02:07.730 --> 00:02:09.729 to carry 00:02:09.729 --> 00:02:11.729 this entire great army, 00:02:11.729 --> 00:02:13.729 as well as floating bridges 00:02:13.729 --> 00:02:15.729 across which he and his men 00:02:15.729 --> 00:02:17.729 could cross to dry land. 00:02:17.729 --> 00:02:19.729 All of this 00:02:19.729 --> 00:02:21.729 was well known to al-Ala' ibn al-Hadrami, 00:02:21.729 --> 00:02:23.729 and he also knew 00:02:23.729 --> 00:02:25.729 that the island of Darin 00:02:25.729 --> 00:02:27.729 lay at a distance from the shores of Bahrain 00:02:27.729 --> 00:02:29.729 that sailboats would take 00:02:29.729 --> 00:02:31.729 a full day and night to traverse. 00:02:31.729 --> 00:02:33.729 Yet despite all of that, 00:02:33.729 --> 00:02:35.729 he did not hesitate 00:02:35.729 --> 00:02:37.729 for a single moment in executing 00:02:37.729 --> 00:02:39.729 what he had resolved to do. 00:02:39.729 --> 00:02:41.729 Once al-Ala' had thoroughly examined the plan 00:02:41.729 --> 00:02:43.729 within his own mind through deep reflection and study, 00:02:43.729 --> 00:02:45.729 and had carefully weighed 00:02:45.729 --> 00:02:47.729 its strategy and measures, 00:02:47.729 --> 00:02:49.729 he assembled his troops and stood among them 00:02:49.729 --> 00:02:51.729 to deliver a sermon. 00:02:51.729 --> 00:02:53.729 He praised Allah Almighty as He truly deserves to be praised, 00:02:53.729 --> 00:02:55.729 lauded Him with the most sublime laudation, 00:02:55.729 --> 00:02:57.729 invoked blessings upon His Prophet 00:02:57.729 --> 00:02:59.729 Muhammad with the most complete blessings, 00:02:59.729 --> 00:03:01.729 and saluted him with the purest greetings of peace. 00:03:01.729 --> 00:03:03.729 He then informed the army 00:03:03.729 --> 00:03:05.729 of his resolution to cross the sea 00:03:05.729 --> 00:03:07.729 and attack the apostates 00:03:07.729 --> 00:03:09.729 sheltering in Darin, 00:03:09.729 --> 00:03:11.729 fortified behind 00:03:11.729 --> 00:03:13.729 the walls of water. 00:03:13.729 --> 00:03:15.729 He then surveyed the faces of the soldiers 00:03:15.729 --> 00:03:17.729 and saw a hundred questions 00:03:17.729 --> 00:03:19.729 hovering on their lips, 00:03:19.729 --> 00:03:21.729 on the verge of bursting forth from their mouths. 00:03:21.729 --> 00:03:23.729 So he closed off before them 00:03:23.729 --> 00:03:25.729 any avenue of speech 00:03:25.729 --> 00:03:27.729 lest a single word escape from any of them 00:03:27.729 --> 00:03:29.729 that might weaken resolve 00:03:29.729 --> 00:03:31.729 and stir doubts. 00:03:31.729 --> 00:03:33.729 He continued, saying: 00:03:33.729 --> 00:03:35.729 "Do not say, 'How can we do this?' 00:03:35.729 --> 00:03:37.729 when Allah has already shown you signs on land 00:03:37.729 --> 00:03:39.729 which, if you were to reflect upon them, 00:03:39.729 --> 00:03:41.729 would make you certain of what awaits you 00:03:41.729 --> 00:03:43.729 of His signs at sea! 00:03:43.729 --> 00:03:45.729 Do not say, 'How?' 00:03:45.729 --> 00:03:47.729 when Allah is with you! 00:03:47.729 --> 00:03:49.729 Did He not fill the pool with sweet, pure water for you 00:03:49.729 --> 00:03:51.729 in the heart of the Dahna desert, 00:03:51.729 --> 00:03:53.729 quenching your thirst 00:03:53.729 --> 00:03:55.729 and delivering you from destruction? 00:03:55.729 --> 00:03:57.729 Did He not return to you the stray camels 00:03:57.729 --> 00:03:59.729 that had wandered off in the barren wilderness, 00:03:59.729 --> 00:04:01.729 lost in the open deserts, 00:04:01.729 --> 00:04:03.729 so that you saw them with your own eyes 00:04:03.729 --> 00:04:05.729 as though the angels of the Most Merciful were surrounding them 00:04:05.729 --> 00:04:07.729 with their wings 00:04:07.729 --> 00:04:09.729 and herding them straight to where you stood, 00:04:09.729 --> 00:04:11.729 without you losing 00:04:11.729 --> 00:04:13.729 a single measure of the provisions upon 00:04:13.729 --> 00:04:15.729 their backs or a single sip 00:04:15.729 --> 00:04:17.730 of the water they carried? 00:04:17.730 --> 00:04:19.730 Thus He fed you against hunger, 00:04:19.730 --> 00:04:21.730 secured you against fear, 00:04:21.730 --> 00:04:23.730 and rescued you from destruction. 00:04:23.730 --> 00:04:25.730 Truly, the God Who answered your supplication 00:04:25.730 --> 00:04:27.730 when you called upon Him in the depth of the desert 00:04:27.730 --> 00:04:29.730 in humble submission, 00:04:29.730 --> 00:04:31.730 full of hope and trust, 00:04:31.730 --> 00:04:33.730 will answer your supplication by His grace 00:04:33.730 --> 00:04:35.730 when you call upon Him while 00:04:35.730 --> 00:04:37.730 crossing the sea 00:04:37.730 --> 00:04:39.730 to meet His enemy with sincerity and devotion!" 00:04:39.730 --> 00:04:41.790 Then he concluded 00:04:41.790 --> 00:04:43.790 his speech, saying: 00:04:43.790 --> 00:04:45.790 "Prepare yourselves 00:04:45.790 --> 00:04:47.790 and advance to meet the enemy of Allah 00:04:47.790 --> 00:04:49.790 and your enemy! 00:04:49.790 --> 00:04:51.790 Mount the backs of your riding beasts and your horses, 00:04:51.790 --> 00:04:53.790 and cross upon them 00:04:53.790 --> 00:04:55.790 the waters of the Gulf, 00:04:55.790 --> 00:04:57.790 with the blessing and success granted by Allah!" 00:04:57.790 --> 00:04:59.790 Thereupon, they had no response 00:04:59.790 --> 00:05:01.790 except to say with one voice: 00:05:01.790 --> 00:05:03.790 "Yes! Yes! 00:05:03.790 --> 00:05:05.790 We shall do as you have commanded us, 00:05:05.790 --> 00:05:07.790 O inspired commander! 00:05:07.790 --> 00:05:09.790 By Allah, after the Dahna, we shall never fear 00:05:09.790 --> 00:05:11.980 anything except Allah!" 00:05:11.980 --> 00:05:13.980 The valiant warriors mounted 00:05:13.980 --> 00:05:15.980 the backs of noble steeds 00:05:15.980 --> 00:05:17.980 and purebred camels, 00:05:17.980 --> 00:05:19.980 and directed their course 00:05:19.980 --> 00:05:21.980 toward the seashore. 00:05:21.980 --> 00:05:23.980 When the feet of their mounts 00:05:23.980 --> 00:05:25.980 plunged into the water, 00:05:25.980 --> 00:05:27.980 the pious, pure, 00:05:27.980 --> 00:05:29.980 and faithful commander raised his hands toward the heavens 00:05:29.980 --> 00:05:31.980 and said to his soldiers: 00:05:31.980 --> 00:05:33.980 "Repeat after me!" 00:05:33.980 --> 00:05:35.980 He then prayed: 00:05:35.980 --> 00:05:37.980 "O Most Merciful of the merciful! 00:05:37.980 --> 00:05:39.980 O Eternal Refuge, O All-Powerful! 00:05:39.980 --> 00:05:41.980 O Ever-Living, O Sustainer of all existence! 00:05:41.980 --> 00:05:43.980 “And (mention) Dhu'n-Nun, when he went off in anger and deemed that We had no power over him, but he cried out in the darkness, saying: There is no Allah save Thee. Be Thou Glorified! Lo! I have been a wrong-doer.” (21:87) 00:05:43.980 --> 00:05:45.980 You alone, having no partner! 00:05:45.980 --> 00:05:47.980 In You we have placed our trust, 00:05:47.980 --> 00:05:49.980 by Your power we seek aid, 00:05:49.980 --> 00:05:51.980 and in Your bounty and might we seek protection!" 00:05:51.980 --> 00:05:53.980 He then crossed the sea before them 00:05:53.980 --> 00:05:55.980 and ordered them to follow behind him, 00:05:55.980 --> 00:05:57.980 so they followed him. 00:05:57.980 --> 00:05:59.980 On that day, the Gulf 00:05:59.980 --> 00:06:01.980 was at its calmest and at low tide, 00:06:01.980 --> 00:06:03.980 and so 00:06:03.980 --> 00:06:05.980 the horses and camels began striding 00:06:05.980 --> 00:06:07.980 across its still waters 00:06:07.980 --> 00:06:09.980 as though walking over smooth sand 00:06:09.980 --> 00:06:11.980 covered only by 00:06:11.980 --> 00:06:13.980 a shallow layer of water. 00:06:13.980 --> 00:06:15.980 When the army reached the shores of Darin, 00:06:15.980 --> 00:06:17.980 the soldiers leaped onto the land 00:06:17.980 --> 00:06:19.980 like lions pouncing upon their prey. 00:06:19.980 --> 00:06:21.980 They drew 00:06:21.980 --> 00:06:23.980 their sharp swords from their scabbards 00:06:23.980 --> 00:06:25.980 and proceeded to strike down 00:06:25.980 --> 00:06:27.980 the heads of Allah's enemies with relentless force. 00:06:27.980 --> 00:06:29.980 The apostates were completely bewildered, 00:06:29.980 --> 00:06:31.980 stunned by their own plight and what surrounded them, 00:06:31.980 --> 00:06:33.980 and stood dumbfounded at the sheer terror 00:06:33.980 --> 00:06:35.980 of this frightening surprise. 00:06:35.980 --> 00:06:37.980 They were utterly perplexed by these people, 00:06:37.980 --> 00:06:39.980 unable to fathom 00:06:39.980 --> 00:06:41.980 whether they had descended upon them from the sky 00:06:41.980 --> 00:06:43.980 or surged forth from the earth, 00:06:43.980 --> 00:06:45.980 for it was beyond their capacity 00:06:45.980 --> 00:06:47.980 even to conceive 00:06:47.980 --> 00:06:49.980 that they had come to them across the sea. 00:06:49.980 --> 00:06:52.110 Within a single day 00:06:52.110 --> 00:06:54.110 and night, al-Ala' 00:06:54.110 --> 00:06:56.110 and his troops cleansed the island of the apostates, 00:06:56.110 --> 00:06:58.110 span by span 00:06:58.110 --> 00:07:00.110 and cubit by cubit, 00:07:00.110 --> 00:07:02.110 sweeping it from coast 00:07:02.110 --> 00:07:04.110 to coast, back and forth. 00:07:04.110 --> 00:07:06.110 This was accomplished after 00:07:06.110 --> 00:07:08.110 they killed the combatants 00:07:08.110 --> 00:07:10.110 and took the dependents, women, 00:07:10.110 --> 00:07:12.110 wealth, and livestock as spoils. 00:07:12.110 --> 00:07:14.110 Then the victorious commander distributed 00:07:14.110 --> 00:07:16.110 the spoils of war among his soldiers, 00:07:16.110 --> 00:07:18.110 and each horseman received 00:07:18.110 --> 00:07:20.110 two thousand [dirhams]. 00:07:20.110 --> 00:07:22.110 During their crossing of the sea, the Muslims did not lose 00:07:22.110 --> 00:07:24.110 a single man, a single horse, 00:07:24.110 --> 00:07:26.110 or a single camel, 00:07:26.110 --> 00:07:28.110 except for a nosebag of a horse belonging to a man 00:07:28.110 --> 00:07:30.110 from among the Muslims; so al-'Ala' himself returned 00:07:30.110 --> 00:07:32.110 to retrieve it and gave it back 00:07:32.110 --> 00:07:34.139 to its owner. 00:07:34.139 --> 00:07:36.139 Moreover, on part of its march, 00:07:36.139 --> 00:07:38.139 the faithful army passed by 00:07:38.139 --> 00:07:40.139 the Christians of Hajar, 00:07:40.139 --> 00:07:42.139 where a monk asked Ibn al-Hadrami for permission 00:07:42.139 --> 00:07:44.139 to accompany them and seek protection 00:07:44.139 --> 00:07:46.139 with them, and he granted him permission. 00:07:46.139 --> 00:07:48.139 When the journey of the victorious army 00:07:48.139 --> 00:07:50.139 came to its conclusion, with all the toil, 00:07:50.139 --> 00:07:52.139 struggle, 00:07:52.139 --> 00:07:54.139 and decisive victory it had achieved, 00:07:54.139 --> 00:07:56.139 and after all the terrors and events 00:07:56.139 --> 00:07:58.139 that had transpired along the way, 00:07:58.139 --> 00:08:00.139 and all the divine aid and bounty 00:08:00.139 --> 00:08:02.139 that Allah had bestowed upon them, 00:08:02.139 --> 00:08:04.139 the monk's dormant feelings were deeply stirred, 00:08:04.139 --> 00:08:06.139 and his slumbering faith was awakened; 00:08:06.139 --> 00:08:08.139 thus, he declared his acceptance of Islam before the army 00:08:08.139 --> 00:08:10.139 and its commander. 00:08:10.139 --> 00:08:12.139 When he returned to his people, they said to him: 00:08:12.139 --> 00:08:14.139 "Woe to you! 00:08:14.139 --> 00:08:16.139 What drove you to abandon your religion 00:08:16.139 --> 00:08:18.139 and embrace Islam?" 00:08:18.139 --> 00:08:20.139 He replied: "Three 00:08:20.139 --> 00:08:22.139 matters; and indeed, I feared 00:08:22.139 --> 00:08:24.139 that Allah would transform me into a beast thereafter 00:08:24.139 --> 00:08:26.139 if I did not submit as a Muslim." 00:08:26.139 --> 00:08:28.139 They asked, "And what are they?" 00:08:28.139 --> 00:08:30.139 He said: "What I heard 00:08:30.139 --> 00:08:32.139 of their supplications before dawn, 00:08:32.139 --> 00:08:34.139 the gushing forth of water for them 00:08:34.139 --> 00:08:36.139 amidst the desert sands 00:08:36.139 --> 00:08:38.139 where there was neither water nor tree, 00:08:38.139 --> 00:08:40.139 and the subduing of the ocean waves 00:08:40.139 --> 00:08:42.139 beneath their feet. 00:08:42.139 --> 00:08:44.139 Thus, I became certain that they 00:08:44.139 --> 00:08:46.139 were aided by the angels only 00:08:46.139 --> 00:08:48.139 because they are upon the truth, 00:08:48.139 --> 00:08:50.429 and that they truly stand upon the truth." 00:08:50.429 --> 00:08:52.429 May Allah brighten the face of al-'Ala' 00:08:52.429 --> 00:08:54.429 Ibn al-Hadrami, 00:08:54.429 --> 00:08:56.429 for he lived as a striver in the cause of Allah 00:08:56.429 --> 00:08:58.429 with both his tongue and his spear, 00:08:58.429 --> 00:09:00.429 and he will forever remain throughout time 00:09:00.429 --> 00:09:02.429 the first Muslim commander 00:09:02.429 --> 00:09:04.429 to elevate the word of Allah 00:09:04.429 --> 00:09:10.690 across the land.