WEBVTT

00:00:00.020 --> 00:00:03.540
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

00:00:03.540 --> 00:00:09.150
Treasures of the Prophetic biography.

00:00:09.150 --> 00:00:15.169
The story of Abu Muhammad al-Mayurqi.

00:00:15.169 --> 00:00:19.570
It is a remarkable story, quite similar to this one.

00:00:19.570 --> 00:00:24.050
Abu Muhammad 'Abdullah al-Mayurqi relates it to us.

00:00:24.050 --> 00:00:27.410
"Al-Mayurqi" refers to Majorca, in Spain.

00:00:27.410 --> 00:00:30.449
He was formerly a Christian who embraced Islam.

00:00:30.449 --> 00:00:32.929
He recounted the story of his conversion,

00:00:33.229 --> 00:00:34.350
saying:

00:00:34.350 --> 00:00:37.390
"When I reached six years of age,

00:00:37.390 --> 00:00:41.469
my father entrusted me to a instructor among the priests.

00:00:41.469 --> 00:00:43.630
I read the Gospel under his tutelage,

00:00:43.630 --> 00:00:47.630
until I had memorized more than half of it over a period of two years.

00:00:47.630 --> 00:00:53.229
Then I spent six years learning the language of the Gospel and logic.

00:00:53.229 --> 00:00:58.429
After that, I traveled from my hometown to the city of Lleida in Catalonia,

00:00:58.429 --> 00:01:01.789
which was the seat of learning among the Christians.

00:01:01.869 --> 00:01:07.469
I took up residence in a church belonging to an elderly priest of great prestige among them,

00:01:07.469 --> 00:01:10.030
named Nicolau Martí.

00:01:10.030 --> 00:01:15.870
His standing among them in knowledge, devotion, and asceticism was exceedingly high—

00:01:15.870 --> 00:01:20.829
unmatched in his time by any of the adherents of Christianity.

00:01:20.829 --> 00:01:25.390
Inquiries regarding their religion used to pour in to him from all horizons,

00:01:25.390 --> 00:01:27.870
from kings and commoners alike.

00:01:27.950 --> 00:01:32.109
These inquiries were accompanied by numerous lavish gifts,

00:01:32.109 --> 00:01:37.150
as everyone sought his blessing and hoped he would accept their offerings,

00:01:37.150 --> 00:01:39.629
considering it an honor.

00:01:39.629 --> 00:01:44.030
I studied foundational theology and legal rulings under this priest,

00:01:44.030 --> 00:01:49.469
and I continually sought his favor through my service and by fulfilling many of his duties,

00:01:49.469 --> 00:01:52.909
until he made me one of his closest confidants.

00:01:52.909 --> 00:01:56.349
My dedicated service and closeness to him eventually reached a point

00:01:56.510 --> 00:01:59.549
where he handed over to me the keys to his residence,

00:01:59.549 --> 00:02:02.349
as well as the storerooms for his food and drink;

00:02:02.349 --> 00:02:05.469
all of it was placed under my management.

00:02:05.469 --> 00:02:07.469
He made no exception to this,

00:02:07.469 --> 00:02:09.789
save for the key to a small room

00:02:09.789 --> 00:02:11.629
inside his private residence,

00:02:11.629 --> 00:02:14.030
in which he used to retreat by himself.

00:02:14.030 --> 00:02:20.189
I remained with him, continuing my studies under his guidance and serving him as mentioned, for ten years.

00:02:20.189 --> 00:02:23.310
Then, one day, he was stricken with an illness,

00:02:23.310 --> 00:02:26.349
causing him to miss the assembly of his fellow scholars.

00:02:26.349 --> 00:02:28.509
The members of the assembly waited for him,

00:02:28.509 --> 00:02:31.789
discussing various scholarly issues among themselves,

00:02:31.789 --> 00:02:35.710
until their conversation led them to the word of Allah Almighty,

00:02:35.710 --> 00:02:37.710
delivered on the tongue of Jesus,

00:02:37.710 --> 00:02:40.349
that there would come after him a prophet

00:02:40.349 --> 00:02:42.539
named the Paraclete.

00:02:42.539 --> 00:02:45.099
They engaged in a debate to identify this prophet,

00:02:45.099 --> 00:02:47.180
asking who among the prophets he might be.

00:02:47.180 --> 00:02:51.500
Each of them offered an opinion according to his knowledge and understanding,

00:02:51.580 --> 00:02:54.699
and their debate on the matter grew intense,

00:02:54.699 --> 00:02:56.620
leading to lengthy arguments.

00:02:56.620 --> 00:03:01.659
Ultimately, they departed without reaching any definitive conclusion on the issue.

00:03:01.659 --> 00:03:05.340
I then went to the lodging of the master scholar who led the aforementioned lesson,

00:03:05.340 --> 00:03:06.699
and he asked me:

00:03:06.699 --> 00:03:11.500
'What was the topic of your debate today in my absence?'

00:03:11.500 --> 00:03:15.340
I informed him of their disagreement regarding the name Paraclete,

00:03:15.340 --> 00:03:18.060
telling him that so-and-so had answered with such-and-such,

00:03:18.060 --> 00:03:20.860
and so-and-so had answered with another view,

00:03:20.860 --> 00:03:23.259
detailing their responses to him.

00:03:23.259 --> 00:03:24.699
He said to me:

00:03:24.699 --> 00:03:26.939
'And how did you answer?'

00:03:26.939 --> 00:03:28.139
I replied:

00:03:28.139 --> 00:03:30.139
'I offered the answer of Judge So-and-So

00:03:30.139 --> 00:03:32.460
from his commentary on the Gospel.'

00:03:32.460 --> 00:03:33.900
He said to me:

00:03:33.900 --> 00:03:36.379
'You did not fall too short and came close;

00:03:36.379 --> 00:03:38.060
so-and-so was mistaken,

00:03:38.060 --> 00:03:40.939
and so-and-so was nearly correct.'

00:03:40.939 --> 00:03:43.659
'Abdullah al-Mayurqi continues:

00:03:43.659 --> 00:03:45.500
When he said to me,

00:03:45.500 --> 00:03:46.860
'So-and-so was mistaken,

00:03:46.860 --> 00:03:48.539
and so-and-so came close,

00:03:48.539 --> 00:03:51.900
but the truth is entirely different from all of that,

00:03:51.900 --> 00:03:54.539
because the interpretation of this noble knowledge

00:03:54.539 --> 00:03:58.539
is known only to those deeply rooted in knowledge,

00:03:58.539 --> 00:04:02.500
and you have attained only a small fraction of knowledge,'

00:04:02.500 --> 00:04:05.780
I quickly fell to his feet and kissed them,

00:04:05.780 --> 00:04:08.099
saying to him: 'O my master,

00:04:08.099 --> 00:04:11.860
you know that I traveled to you from a distant land,

00:04:11.860 --> 00:04:14.580
and I have been in your service for ten years,

00:04:14.580 --> 00:04:18.500
acquiring from you an unquantifiable amount of knowledge.

00:04:18.500 --> 00:04:20.980
Perhaps, out of your gracious benevolence,

00:04:20.980 --> 00:04:24.579
you might bestow upon me the knowledge of this name.'

00:04:24.579 --> 00:04:27.060
The old scholar wept and said to me:

00:04:27.060 --> 00:04:28.420
'O my son,

00:04:28.420 --> 00:04:31.620
by Allah, you are indeed very dear to me

00:04:31.620 --> 00:04:35.220
because of your service to me and your devotion to my company.

00:04:35.220 --> 00:04:37.699
In knowing this noble name

00:04:37.699 --> 00:04:39.620
there is immense benefit,

00:04:39.620 --> 00:04:42.019
but I fear for you;

00:04:42.019 --> 00:04:43.939
for if that knowledge becomes apparent from you,

00:04:43.939 --> 00:04:46.819
the Christian populace will slay you.'

00:04:46.899 --> 00:04:49.139
I said to him: 'O my master,

00:04:49.139 --> 00:04:50.660
by Allah the Almighty,

00:04:50.660 --> 00:04:53.459
and by the truth of the Gospel and the one who brought it,

00:04:53.459 --> 00:04:56.980
I shall not utter a single word of what you entrust to me

00:04:56.980 --> 00:04:58.899
except by your command.'

00:04:58.899 --> 00:05:00.339
He said to me:

00:05:00.339 --> 00:05:01.699
'O my son,

00:05:01.699 --> 00:05:05.620
when you first came to me, I asked you about your homeland,

00:05:05.620 --> 00:05:08.420
whether it was close to the Muslims,

00:05:08.420 --> 00:05:11.379
and whether they raided you or you raided them,

00:05:11.379 --> 00:05:15.620
in order to test the extent of your aversion to Islam.

00:05:15.620 --> 00:05:17.379
Know, my son,

00:05:17.379 --> 00:05:19.139
that the Paraclete

00:05:19.139 --> 00:05:22.500
is one of the names of their Prophet, Muhammad,

00:05:22.500 --> 00:05:25.060
unto whom was revealed the fourth scripture,

00:05:25.060 --> 00:05:29.220
mentioned on the tongue of Daniel, peace be upon him.'

00:05:29.220 --> 00:05:32.019
I said to him: 'O my master,

00:05:32.019 --> 00:05:35.620
what then do you say regarding the religion of these Christians?'

00:05:35.620 --> 00:05:36.819
He said to me:

00:05:36.819 --> 00:05:38.259
'O my son,

00:05:38.259 --> 00:05:42.259
had the Christians remained upon the original religion of Jesus,

00:05:42.259 --> 00:05:44.579
they would have been upon the religion of Allah.'

00:05:44.740 --> 00:05:47.540
He added that Jesus and all the prophets

00:05:47.540 --> 00:05:49.620
followed the religion of Allah,

00:05:49.620 --> 00:05:52.259
'but they altered it and fell into disbelief.'

00:05:52.259 --> 00:05:53.540
I asked him:

00:05:53.540 --> 00:05:55.060
'O my master,

00:05:55.060 --> 00:05:57.620
how can one find salvation from this predicament?'

00:05:57.620 --> 00:05:58.819
He replied:

00:05:58.819 --> 00:06:00.259
'O my son,

00:06:00.259 --> 00:06:03.139
by entering the religion of Islam.'

00:06:03.139 --> 00:06:04.500
I asked him:

00:06:04.500 --> 00:06:06.819
'Will one who enters it be saved?'

00:06:06.819 --> 00:06:08.420
He said to me: 'Yes,

00:06:08.420 --> 00:06:11.139
he will be saved in this world and the Hereafter.'

00:06:11.139 --> 00:06:12.100
So I said:

00:06:12.100 --> 00:06:13.699
'O my master,

00:06:13.779 --> 00:06:18.019
a wise person chooses for himself only the best of what he knows;

00:06:18.019 --> 00:06:20.819
since you know the superiority of the religion of Islam,

00:06:20.819 --> 00:06:22.740
what prevents you from embracing it?'

00:06:22.740 --> 00:06:24.019
He said to me:

00:06:24.019 --> 00:06:25.459
'O my son,

00:06:25.459 --> 00:06:31.220
Allah did not disclose to me the reality of what I have told you regarding the virtue of Islam

00:06:31.220 --> 00:06:33.860
and the honor of the Prophet of the Muslims

00:06:33.860 --> 00:06:37.379
except in my old age and after my body had grown feeble.

00:06:37.379 --> 00:06:39.139
Yet we have no excuse;

00:06:39.139 --> 00:06:42.339
rather, it remains an established proof against us.

00:06:42.420 --> 00:06:46.019
Had Allah guided me to this while I was your age,

00:06:46.019 --> 00:06:50.000
I would have abandoned everything and entered the religion of truth.

00:06:50.000 --> 00:06:53.439
But love of the world is the root of all sin;

00:06:53.439 --> 00:06:56.560
and you see the status I hold among the Christians—

00:06:56.560 --> 00:06:59.439
the high prestige, honor, luxury,

00:06:59.439 --> 00:07:01.759
and abundant worldly possessions.

00:07:01.759 --> 00:07:06.240
Were the slightest inclination toward the religion of Islam to appear from me,

00:07:06.240 --> 00:07:09.439
the common folk would kill me in the shortest time.

00:07:09.519 --> 00:07:12.879
Suppose I were to escape and reach the Muslims,

00:07:12.879 --> 00:07:14.480
and say to them:

00:07:14.480 --> 00:07:16.879
"I have come to you as a Muslim."

00:07:16.879 --> 00:07:18.560
They would say to me:

00:07:18.560 --> 00:07:22.879
"You have benefited only yourself by entering the religion of truth,

00:07:22.879 --> 00:07:25.920
so do not confer a favor upon us by embracing a religion

00:07:25.920 --> 00:07:29.120
through which you saved yourself from the punishment of Allah."

00:07:29.120 --> 00:07:32.480
I would then remain among them as a destitute old man,

00:07:32.480 --> 00:07:34.480
ninety years of age,

00:07:34.480 --> 00:07:38.240
unable to understand their language while they do not recognize my true worth,

00:07:38.319 --> 00:07:40.800
and I would die among them of hunger.

00:07:40.800 --> 00:07:43.920
Whereas I—praise be to Allah—am upon the religion of Jesus

00:07:43.920 --> 00:07:46.000
and upon that which he brought;

00:07:46.000 --> 00:07:48.560
Allah knows that of me.'

00:07:48.560 --> 00:07:50.000
I said to him:

00:07:50.000 --> 00:07:51.360
'O my master,

00:07:51.360 --> 00:07:54.959
do you advise me to travel to the lands of the Muslims

00:07:54.959 --> 00:07:57.040
and enter their religion?'

00:07:57.040 --> 00:07:58.480
He said to me:

00:07:58.480 --> 00:08:01.600
'If you are wise and seeking salvation,

00:08:01.600 --> 00:08:03.360
hasten to do so,

00:08:03.360 --> 00:08:06.399
and you will gain both this world and the Hereafter.'

00:08:06.399 --> 00:08:08.160
Now, regarding his statement:

00:08:08.160 --> 00:08:11.199
'I am, praise be to Allah, upon the religion of Jesus,'

00:08:11.199 --> 00:08:13.519
he was lying to himself,

00:08:13.519 --> 00:08:15.519
because he had also said:

00:08:15.519 --> 00:08:17.920
'They altered it and fell into disbelief'—

00:08:17.920 --> 00:08:21.040
unless he was secretly a Muslim concealing his Islam,

00:08:21.040 --> 00:08:24.319
affirming monotheism, disbelieving in the Trinity,

00:08:24.319 --> 00:08:29.420
and hiding his belief in Muhammad, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him.

00:08:29.420 --> 00:08:31.019
Then the priest said to me:

00:08:31.019 --> 00:08:32.779
'However, my son,

00:08:32.779 --> 00:08:36.139
this matter was not witnessed by anyone else with us,

00:08:36.220 --> 00:08:38.539
so conceal it to the utmost of your ability.

00:08:38.539 --> 00:08:41.019
For if anything of it should be exposed about you,

00:08:41.019 --> 00:08:43.500
the common folk will slay you instantly,

00:08:43.500 --> 00:08:45.740
and I will be unable to benefit you.

00:08:45.740 --> 00:08:48.940
Nor will it benefit you to report this from me,

00:08:48.940 --> 00:08:50.539
for I will deny it,

00:08:50.539 --> 00:08:52.779
and my word will be believed against you,

00:08:52.779 --> 00:08:55.919
while your word will not be believed against me.'

00:08:55.919 --> 00:08:58.320
Thereupon, I made preparations for the journey,

00:08:58.320 --> 00:09:01.600
until I subsequently traveled to Tunis,

00:09:01.600 --> 00:09:05.600
where I entered the religion of Allah, Blessed and Exalted.

00:09:05.600 --> 00:09:08.080
Regarding this word, 'Paraclete',

00:09:08.080 --> 00:09:11.679
Ustadh 'Abd al-Wahhab al-Najjar says:

00:09:11.679 --> 00:09:15.039
'I sat with Dr. Carlo Nallino

00:09:15.039 --> 00:09:16.320
and said to him:

00:09:16.320 --> 00:09:17.679
"Dr.,

00:09:17.679 --> 00:09:20.080
what is the meaning of Paracletos?"

00:09:20.080 --> 00:09:22.080
He replied to me saying:

00:09:22.080 --> 00:09:24.240
"The priests say

00:09:24.240 --> 00:09:27.679
"Indeed, this word means 'the Comforter.'"

00:09:27.679 --> 00:09:29.039
So I said to him,

00:09:29.039 --> 00:09:32.240
"I am asking Dr. Carlo Nallino,

00:09:32.240 --> 00:09:34.159
holder of a doctorate

00:09:34.240 --> 00:09:37.440
in Ancient Greek literature;

00:09:37.440 --> 00:09:39.840
I am not asking a priest."

00:09:39.840 --> 00:09:41.039
So he said,

00:09:41.039 --> 00:09:44.080
"Its meaning is 'the one who is greatly praised.'"

00:09:44.080 --> 00:09:45.519
So I said to him,

00:09:45.519 --> 00:09:47.679
"Does that correspond to the superlative form

00:09:47.679 --> 00:09:49.679
derived from praise (*ḥamd*)?"

00:09:49.679 --> 00:09:51.120
He said, "Yes."

00:09:51.120 --> 00:09:52.159
I said,

00:09:52.159 --> 00:09:54.960
"Indeed, among the names of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him)

00:09:54.960 --> 00:09:57.279
is Aḥmad."

00:09:57.279 --> 00:09:58.720
Thereupon he said to me,

00:09:58.720 --> 00:10:01.759
"My brother, you possess much knowledge!"

00:10:01.759 --> 00:10:04.580
and then he fell silent.

00:10:04.580 --> 00:10:07.539
Ibn 'Abbās said regarding the delegation of Najrān:

00:10:07.539 --> 00:10:11.139
The Christians of Najrān and the Jewish rabbis gathered

00:10:11.139 --> 00:10:14.740
before the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him)

00:10:14.740 --> 00:10:16.179
and began arguing with one another.

00:10:16.179 --> 00:10:18.019
The rabbis said,

00:10:18.019 --> 00:10:21.379
"Abraham was nothing but a Jew!"

00:10:21.379 --> 00:10:23.299
While the Christians said,

00:10:23.299 --> 00:10:26.100
"He was nothing but a Christian!"

00:10:26.100 --> 00:10:29.059
So Allah (blessed and exalted be He) revealed:

00:10:29.059 --> 00:10:30.820
"O People of the Book!

00:10:30.820 --> 00:10:37.740
Why do you argue concerning Abraham,

00:10:37.740 --> 00:10:41.980
“O People of the Scripture! Why will ye argue about Abraham, when the Torah and the Gospel were not revealed till after him? Have ye then no sense?” (3:65)

00:10:41.980 --> 00:10:44.460
except after him?

00:10:44.460 --> 00:10:46.779
Do you not then understand?

00:10:46.779 --> 00:10:49.980
Here you are!

00:10:49.980 --> 00:10:54.139
You have argued about that of which you have knowledge;

00:10:54.139 --> 00:11:01.759
“Lo! ye are those who argue about that whereof ye have some knowledge: Why then argue ye concerning that whereof ye have no knowledge? Allah knoweth. Ye know not.” (3:66)

00:11:01.759 --> 00:11:03.679
and Allah knows,

00:11:03.679 --> 00:11:07.039
while you do not know.

00:11:07.039 --> 00:11:10.399
“Abraham was not a Jew, nor yet a Christian; but he was an upright man who had surrendered (to Allah), and he was not of the idolaters.” (3:67)

00:11:10.399 --> 00:11:12.639
nor a Christian,

00:11:12.639 --> 00:11:16.480
“Abraham was not a Jew, nor yet a Christian; but he was an upright man who had surrendered (to Allah), and he was not of the idolaters.” (3:67)

00:11:16.480 --> 00:11:19.519
and he was not of the polytheists.

00:11:19.519 --> 00:11:23.279
“Lo! those of mankind who have the best claim to Abraham are those who followed him, and this Prophet and those who believe (with him); and Allah is the Protecting Guardian of the believers.” (3:68)

00:11:23.279 --> 00:11:25.279
are those who followed him,

00:11:25.279 --> 00:11:31.600
“Lo! those of mankind who have the best claim to Abraham are those who followed him, and this Prophet and those who believe (with him); and Allah is the Protecting Guardian of the believers.” (3:68)

00:11:31.679 --> 00:11:34.799
and Allah is the Guardian of the believers."

00:11:53.200 --> 00:11:59.200
“Lo! the likeness of Jesus with Allah is as the likeness of Adam. He created him of dust, then He said unto him: Be! and he is.” (3:59)

00:11:59.279 --> 00:12:04.720
“Lo! the likeness of Jesus with Allah is as the likeness of Adam. He created him of dust, then He said unto him: Be! and he is.” (3:59)

00:12:04.720 --> 00:12:06.320
"Be!" and it is.

00:12:06.320 --> 00:12:11.519
“(This is) the truth from thy Lord (O Muhammad), so be not thou of those who waver.” (3:60)

00:12:11.519 --> 00:12:19.700
“And whoso disputeth with thee concerning him, after the knowledge which hath come unto thee, say (unto him): Come! We will summon our sons and your sons, and our women and your women, and ourselves and yourselves, then we will pray humbly (to our Lord) and (solemnly) invoke the curse of Allah upon those who lie.” (3:61)

00:12:19.700 --> 00:12:25.700
"Say: 'Come, let us call our sons

00:12:25.700 --> 00:12:29.700
and your sons, our women

00:12:29.700 --> 00:12:31.700
and your women,

00:12:31.700 --> 00:12:33.700
our women

00:12:33.700 --> 00:12:35.700
and your women,

00:12:35.700 --> 00:12:37.700
and ourselves

00:12:37.700 --> 00:12:39.700
and yourselves,

00:12:39.700 --> 00:12:41.700
then let us pray humbly

00:12:41.700 --> 00:12:43.700
and invoke solemnly,

00:12:43.700 --> 00:12:45.700
invoking the curse of Allah

00:12:45.700 --> 00:12:47.700
upon the liars.'"

00:12:47.700 --> 00:12:50.740
So the Prophet (peace be upon him) challenged them

00:12:50.740 --> 00:12:52.740
to the mutual imprecation (*mubāhalah*),

00:12:52.740 --> 00:12:54.740
and they initially agreed to the mutual imprecation.

00:12:55.700 --> 00:12:58.740
So the Prophet (peace be upon him) summoned

00:12:58.740 --> 00:13:00.740
'Alī, Fāṭimah,

00:13:00.740 --> 00:13:02.740
al-Ḥasan, and al-Ḥusayn (may Allah be pleased with them)

00:13:02.740 --> 00:13:04.740
to perform the mutual imprecation with them.

00:13:04.740 --> 00:13:08.740
But when they saw the truthfulness of the Prophet (peace be upon him)

00:13:08.740 --> 00:13:10.740
and that he truly intended to execute the imprecation,

00:13:10.740 --> 00:13:12.740
they said to him,

00:13:12.740 --> 00:13:14.740
"Rather, send with us someone who will teach us

00:13:14.740 --> 00:13:16.740
this religion."

00:13:16.740 --> 00:13:18.740
And Sharahbīl said to his two companions,

00:13:18.740 --> 00:13:20.740
"You both know well

00:13:20.740 --> 00:13:22.740
that whenever this entire valley gathers—

00:13:22.740 --> 00:13:24.740
its upper part and its lower part—

00:13:24.740 --> 00:13:26.740
they neither issue forth nor decide

00:13:26.740 --> 00:13:28.740
except upon my counsel.

00:13:28.740 --> 00:13:30.740
And by Allah, I foresee

00:13:30.740 --> 00:13:32.740
a momentous matter approaching!

00:13:32.740 --> 00:13:34.740
By Allah, if this man is

00:13:34.740 --> 00:13:36.740
a king who has been dispatched,

00:13:36.740 --> 00:13:38.740
then we would be the first of the Arabs to defy him to his face

00:13:38.740 --> 00:13:40.740
and reject his authority,

00:13:40.740 --> 00:13:42.740
and his resentment will never leave his chest

00:13:42.740 --> 00:13:44.740
nor the chests of his people

00:13:44.740 --> 00:13:46.740
until he afflicts us with a devastating calamity,

00:13:46.740 --> 00:13:48.740
especially since I am the closest of the Arabs to them in neighborly proximity.

00:13:48.740 --> 00:13:50.740
On the other hand, if this man is—"

00:13:50.740 --> 00:13:52.740
Then the man said: "—a messenger sent as a prophet,

00:13:52.740 --> 00:13:54.740
and we invoke curses upon him,

00:13:54.740 --> 00:13:56.740
then there will not remain upon the face of the earth

00:13:56.740 --> 00:13:58.740
a single hair or fingernail of ours

00:13:58.740 --> 00:14:00.830
but that it will perish!"

00:14:00.830 --> 00:14:02.830
His two companions said to him,

00:14:02.830 --> 00:14:04.830
"So what is your opinion?

00:14:04.830 --> 00:14:06.830
Matters have become critical,

00:14:06.830 --> 00:14:08.830
so give us your counsel."

00:14:08.830 --> 00:14:10.830
He said, "My counsel

00:14:10.830 --> 00:14:12.830
is that I appoint him as arbiter over me;

00:14:12.830 --> 00:14:14.830
for I see a man who would never judge

00:14:14.830 --> 00:14:16.830
unjustly or tyrannically."

00:14:16.830 --> 00:14:18.830
They said to him, "The choice is yours."

00:14:18.830 --> 00:14:20.830
So he met the Prophet (peace be upon him)

00:14:20.830 --> 00:14:22.830
and said,

00:14:22.830 --> 00:14:24.830
"I have seen a better course

00:14:24.830 --> 00:14:26.830
than engaging in mutual imprecation with you."

00:14:26.830 --> 00:14:28.830
He asked, "And what is that?"

00:14:28.830 --> 00:14:30.830
He replied, "Your judgment today until nightfall,

00:14:30.830 --> 00:14:32.830
and your night until morning;

00:14:32.830 --> 00:14:34.830
whatever you decree concerning us,

00:14:34.830 --> 00:14:36.830
it shall be binding and permissible."

00:14:36.830 --> 00:14:38.830
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said,

00:14:38.830 --> 00:14:40.830
"Perhaps behind you

00:14:40.830 --> 00:14:42.830
is someone who will criticize or overrule you?"

00:14:42.830 --> 00:14:44.830
He said,

00:14:44.830 --> 00:14:46.830
"Ask my two companions."

00:14:46.830 --> 00:14:48.830
So he asked them both,

00:14:48.830 --> 00:14:50.830
and they replied,

00:14:50.830 --> 00:14:52.830
"The valley neither issues forth nor decides

00:14:52.830 --> 00:14:54.830
except upon the counsel of Sharahbīl."

00:14:54.830 --> 00:14:56.830
Thereupon the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said,

00:14:56.830 --> 00:14:58.830
"A disbeliever,

00:14:58.830 --> 00:15:00.830
yet granted divine accord (*muwaffaq*)."

00:15:00.830 --> 00:15:02.830
So the Prophet (peace be upon him) returned

00:15:02.830 --> 00:15:04.830
and did not perform the mutual imprecation with them.

00:15:04.830 --> 00:15:06.830
He wrote a lengthy decree for them

00:15:06.830 --> 00:15:08.830
and then sent

00:15:08.830 --> 00:15:10.830
Abū 'Ubaydah 'Āmir Ibn al-Jarrāḥ

00:15:10.830 --> 00:15:12.830
to instruct them in the religion of Allah

00:15:12.830 --> 00:15:14.830
(blessed and exalted be He).

00:15:14.830 --> 00:15:16.830
He had previously said to them,

00:15:16.830 --> 00:15:18.830
"I will surely send with you

00:15:18.830 --> 00:15:20.830
a trustworthy man, truly trustworthy."

00:15:20.830 --> 00:15:22.830
So he sent Abū 'Ubaydah

00:15:22.830 --> 00:15:24.830
and said, "This is the trustworthy man of

00:15:24.830 --> 00:15:27.409
this Ummah."

00:15:27.409 --> 00:15:29.409
*Treasures of the Seerah*

00:15:29.409 --> 00:15:33.870
The Delegation of the Tribe of

00:15:33.870 --> 00:15:37.950
Sa'd Ibn Bakr

00:15:37.950 --> 00:15:39.950
On the authority of Ibn 'Abbās (may Allah be pleased with him and his father),

00:15:39.950 --> 00:15:41.950
who said: The tribe

00:15:41.950 --> 00:15:43.950
of Sa'd Ibn Bakr sent

00:15:43.950 --> 00:15:45.950
Ḍimām Ibn Tha'labah

00:15:45.950 --> 00:15:47.950
as an envoy to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him).

00:15:47.950 --> 00:15:49.950
So he came to him,

00:15:49.950 --> 00:15:51.950
made his camel kneel

00:15:51.950 --> 00:15:53.950
at the gate of the mosque, hobbled it,

00:15:53.950 --> 00:15:56.049
and then entered

00:15:56.049 --> 00:15:58.049
upon the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him)

00:15:58.049 --> 00:16:00.049
while he was in the mosque sitting among

00:16:00.049 --> 00:16:02.049
his Companions.

00:16:02.049 --> 00:16:04.049
He said, "Which of you is

00:16:04.049 --> 00:16:06.049
the son of 'Abd al-Muṭṭalib?"

00:16:06.049 --> 00:16:08.049
—And this was characteristic of the Bedouins' roughness.

00:16:08.049 --> 00:16:10.049
So the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) replied,

00:16:10.049 --> 00:16:12.049
"I am

00:16:12.049 --> 00:16:14.049
the son of 'Abd al-Muṭṭalib."

00:16:14.049 --> 00:16:16.049
He asked, "Muḥammad?"

00:16:16.049 --> 00:16:18.049
He said, "Yes."

00:16:18.049 --> 00:16:20.049
He said,

00:16:20.049 --> 00:16:22.049
"O son of 'Abd al-Muṭṭalib!

00:16:22.049 --> 00:16:24.049
I am going to ask you and be stern with you

00:16:24.049 --> 00:16:26.049
in my questioning,

00:16:26.049 --> 00:16:28.110
so take no offense in your heart."

00:16:28.110 --> 00:16:30.110
He (peace be upon him) said,

00:16:30.110 --> 00:16:32.110
"I shall take no offense in my heart;

00:16:32.110 --> 00:16:34.110
ask whatever seems fit to you."

00:16:34.110 --> 00:16:36.240
So he said,

00:16:36.240 --> 00:16:38.240
"I adjure you by Allah, your God,

00:16:38.240 --> 00:16:40.240
the God of your family,

00:16:40.240 --> 00:16:42.240
the God of those before you,

00:16:42.240 --> 00:16:44.240
and the God of those who will come after you:

00:16:44.240 --> 00:16:46.269
Has Allah sent you

00:16:46.269 --> 00:16:48.269
to us as a messenger?"

00:16:48.269 --> 00:16:50.269
He said,

00:16:50.269 --> 00:16:52.269
"O Allah, yes!"

00:16:52.269 --> 00:16:54.269
He said,

00:16:54.269 --> 00:16:56.269
"I adjure you by Allah, your God,

00:16:56.269 --> 00:16:58.269
the God of your family,

00:16:58.269 --> 00:17:00.269
the God of those before you,

00:17:00.269 --> 00:17:02.269
and the God of those who will come after you:

00:17:02.269 --> 00:17:04.269
Has Allah commanded you

00:17:04.269 --> 00:17:06.269
that we worship Him alone and not associate

00:17:06.269 --> 00:17:08.269
anything with Him,

00:17:08.269 --> 00:17:10.269
and that we cast off these idols

00:17:10.269 --> 00:17:12.269
that our forefathers used to worship?"

00:17:12.269 --> 00:17:14.269
He (peace be upon him) said,

00:17:14.269 --> 00:17:16.269
"O Allah, yes!"

00:17:16.269 --> 00:17:18.269
Then he proceeded to mention

00:17:18.269 --> 00:17:20.269
the obligatory duties of Islam, one obligation

00:17:20.269 --> 00:17:22.269
after another:

00:17:22.269 --> 00:17:24.269
prayer, zakat, Hajj,

00:17:24.269 --> 00:17:26.269
and fasting,

00:17:26.269 --> 00:17:28.269
asking him about each in this manner.

00:17:28.269 --> 00:17:30.269
Then he said,

00:17:30.269 --> 00:17:32.269
"I bear witness that there is no god

00:17:32.269 --> 00:17:34.269
except Allah,

00:17:34.269 --> 00:17:36.269
and I bear witness that Muḥammad is His servant

00:17:36.269 --> 00:17:38.269
and His Messenger;

00:17:38.269 --> 00:17:40.269
and I shall fulfill these obligations,

00:17:40.269 --> 00:17:42.269
abstain from what you have forbidden me,

00:17:42.269 --> 00:17:44.269
and add nothing nor diminish anything."

00:17:44.269 --> 00:17:46.269
Then he turned away toward his camel.

00:17:46.269 --> 00:17:48.269
Thereupon

00:17:48.269 --> 00:17:50.269
the Prophet (peace be upon him) said,

00:17:50.269 --> 00:17:52.269
"If the man with the two braids speaks the truth,

00:17:52.269 --> 00:17:54.299
he will enter Paradise."

00:17:54.299 --> 00:17:56.299
In another narration,

00:17:56.299 --> 00:17:58.299
this man said,

00:17:58.299 --> 00:18:00.299
"By Allah, I will not add anything to these,

00:18:00.299 --> 00:18:02.299
nor will I subtract anything from them."

00:18:02.299 --> 00:18:04.299
Thereupon, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:

00:18:04.299 --> 00:18:06.299
"By Allah, he will succeed if he is truthful."

00:18:06.299 --> 00:18:08.339
Then Dhimam

00:18:08.339 --> 00:18:10.339
returned to his people,

00:18:10.339 --> 00:18:12.339
and they gathered around him.

00:18:12.339 --> 00:18:14.339
The very first thing he uttered was:

00:18:14.339 --> 00:18:16.339
"Wretched are al-Lat and al-'Uzza!"

00:18:16.339 --> 00:18:18.339
They exclaimed,

00:18:18.339 --> 00:18:20.339
"Hold your tongue, O Dhimam!

00:18:20.339 --> 00:18:22.339
Beware of vitiligo, madness, and leprosy!"

00:18:22.339 --> 00:18:24.339
He replied,

00:18:24.339 --> 00:18:26.339
"Woe to you! Indeed, they

00:18:26.339 --> 00:18:28.339
can neither harm nor benefit anyone!

00:18:28.339 --> 00:18:30.339
Allah has truly sent a Messenger

00:18:30.339 --> 00:18:32.339
and revealed a Book to him,

00:18:32.339 --> 00:18:34.339
delivering you through it

00:18:34.339 --> 00:18:36.339
from the state you were in.

00:18:36.339 --> 00:18:38.339
I bear witness that there is no god but Allah,

00:18:38.339 --> 00:18:40.339
and that Muhammad

00:18:40.339 --> 00:18:42.339
is His servant and His Messenger.

00:18:42.339 --> 00:18:44.339
I have come to you from him

00:18:44.339 --> 00:18:46.339
with what he has commanded you to do

00:18:46.339 --> 00:18:48.339
and what he has forbidden you from."

00:18:48.339 --> 00:18:50.339
By Allah, before the evening of that very day arrived,

00:18:50.339 --> 00:18:52.339
not a single man

00:18:52.339 --> 00:18:54.339
or woman in his settlement remained except that they had embraced Islam.

00:18:54.339 --> 00:18:56.339
This is among the blessings

00:18:56.339 --> 00:18:58.339
that some individuals bring to their people:

00:18:58.339 --> 00:19:00.339
they embrace Islam through the virtue of

00:19:00.339 --> 00:19:02.339
their preaching to them,

00:19:02.339 --> 00:19:04.339
or their people's love for them,

00:19:04.339 --> 00:19:06.339
or their sincere counsel to them,

00:19:06.339 --> 00:19:08.339
or other such reasons.

00:19:18.400 --> 00:19:20.400
When the Prophet (peace be upon him) departed

00:19:20.400 --> 00:19:22.400
from al-Ji'ranah,

00:19:22.400 --> 00:19:24.400
he dispatched several expeditions.

00:19:24.400 --> 00:19:26.400
He prepared an expedition

00:19:26.400 --> 00:19:28.400
and placed Qays ibn Sa'd

00:19:28.400 --> 00:19:30.400
ibn 'Ubadah in command of it,

00:19:30.400 --> 00:19:32.400
binding a white banner for him,

00:19:32.400 --> 00:19:34.400
handing him a black flag,

00:19:34.400 --> 00:19:36.400
and assembling under his command

00:19:36.400 --> 00:19:38.400
four hundred of the Muslims.

00:19:38.400 --> 00:19:40.400
The Prophet

00:19:40.400 --> 00:19:42.400
(peace be upon him) ordered him

00:19:42.400 --> 00:19:44.400
to march into an area of Yemen

00:19:44.400 --> 00:19:46.400
inhabited by Suda',

00:19:46.400 --> 00:19:48.400
a clan of Kahlan

00:19:48.400 --> 00:19:50.400
from Qahtan.

00:19:50.400 --> 00:19:52.400
Then a man from them

00:19:52.400 --> 00:19:54.400
came to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him),

00:19:54.400 --> 00:19:56.400
named Ziyad

00:19:56.400 --> 00:19:58.400
ibn al-Harith,

00:19:58.400 --> 00:20:00.400
who had learned that the army was going to raid his people.

00:20:00.400 --> 00:20:02.400
He said to the Messenger of Allah

00:20:02.400 --> 00:20:04.400
(peace be upon him):

00:20:04.400 --> 00:20:06.400
"O Messenger of Allah,

00:20:06.400 --> 00:20:08.430
I have come to you as an envoy

00:20:08.430 --> 00:20:10.430
representing those I left behind.

00:20:10.430 --> 00:20:12.430
So call back the army,

00:20:12.430 --> 00:20:14.430
and I guarantee you my people."

00:20:14.430 --> 00:20:16.430
Thus the Messenger (peace be upon him) recalled

00:20:16.430 --> 00:20:18.430
Qays ibn Sa'd,

00:20:18.430 --> 00:20:20.430
and the man of Suda' returned to his people.

00:20:20.430 --> 00:20:22.430
Afterwards, there came to the Messenger of Allah

00:20:22.430 --> 00:20:24.430
(peace be upon him)

00:20:24.430 --> 00:20:26.430
fifteen men from them.

00:20:26.430 --> 00:20:28.430
Sa'd ibn 'Ubadah said,

00:20:28.430 --> 00:20:30.430
"O Messenger of Allah,

00:20:30.430 --> 00:20:32.430
let them stay with me."

00:20:32.430 --> 00:20:34.430
So they stayed with him,

00:20:34.430 --> 00:20:36.430
and he welcomed them, honored them,

00:20:36.430 --> 00:20:38.430
and provided them with clothes.

00:20:38.430 --> 00:20:40.430
He then brought them to the Messenger of Allah

00:20:40.430 --> 00:20:42.430
(peace be upon him),

00:20:42.430 --> 00:20:44.430
and they pledged allegiance to him upon Islam.

00:20:44.430 --> 00:20:46.430
They said,

00:20:46.430 --> 00:20:48.430
"We guarantee for you those who are behind us

00:20:48.430 --> 00:20:50.430
among our people."

00:20:50.430 --> 00:20:52.430
They then returned to their people,

00:20:52.430 --> 00:20:54.430
and Islam spread among them,

00:20:54.430 --> 00:20:56.430
so much so that there joined the Messenger (peace be upon him)

00:20:56.430 --> 00:20:58.430
from them

00:20:58.430 --> 00:21:00.430
one hundred men during the Farewell Pilgrimage.

00:21:00.430 --> 00:21:02.559
There were also other delegations

00:21:02.559 --> 00:21:04.559
that arrived to meet the Messenger

00:21:04.559 --> 00:21:06.559
(peace be upon him),

00:21:06.559 --> 00:21:08.559
but what we have mentioned

00:21:08.559 --> 00:21:10.559
regarding these delegations is sufficient.

00:21:10.559 --> 00:21:12.660
Treasures of the Prophetic Biography (Seerah).
