1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:03,000 In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. 2 00:00:15,580 --> 00:00:17,579 The Mawaddah Association is pleased 3 00:00:17,579 --> 00:00:21,579 to present to you glimpses from the lives of the Companions. 4 00:00:21,579 --> 00:00:25,579 By Abd al-Rahman Ra'fat al-Basha, 5 00:00:25,579 --> 00:00:30,460 may Allah have mercy upon him. 6 00:00:30,460 --> 00:00:35,289 'Amr ibn al-'As, may Allah be pleased with him. 7 00:00:51,140 --> 00:00:54,140 "O Allah, You commanded us, but we disobeyed; 8 00:00:54,140 --> 00:00:57,140 You forbade us, but we did not desist; 9 00:00:57,140 --> 00:01:01,140 and nothing can encompass us but Your forgiveness, O Most Merciful of the merciful." 10 00:01:01,140 --> 00:01:04,500 With this humble and hopeful supplication, 11 00:01:04,500 --> 00:01:07,500 'Amr ibn al-'As bade farewell to life 12 00:01:07,500 --> 00:01:10,140 and welcomed death. 13 00:01:10,140 --> 00:01:14,359 The life story of 'Amr ibn al-'As is rich and eventful; 14 00:01:14,359 --> 00:01:19,359 through it, he gained for Islam two great regions of the inhabited world: 15 00:01:19,359 --> 00:01:22,420 namely, Palestine and Egypt. 16 00:01:22,420 --> 00:01:26,420 He left behind for the Muslims a monumental legacy that filled the world 17 00:01:26,420 --> 00:01:29,420 and occupied people for a long time. 18 00:01:29,420 --> 00:01:32,709 This story begins before the Hijrah 19 00:01:32,709 --> 00:01:35,709 by about half a century, 20 00:01:35,709 --> 00:01:37,709 when 'Amr was born, 21 00:01:37,709 --> 00:01:41,709 and it ends in the year 43 after the Hijrah, 22 00:01:41,709 --> 00:01:43,939 when certainty (death) came to him. 23 00:01:43,939 --> 00:01:47,939 As for his father, he was al-'As ibn Wa'il, 24 00:01:47,939 --> 00:01:50,939 one of the leaders of the Arabs during the Jahiliyyah (pre-Islamic era), 25 00:01:50,939 --> 00:01:53,939 and a prominent noble among their nobles, 26 00:01:53,939 --> 00:01:58,939 one whose lineage traced back to the elite of Quraysh. 27 00:01:58,939 --> 00:02:01,939 As for his mother, she was not of such status; 28 00:02:01,939 --> 00:02:04,939 rather, she was a captive slave woman. 29 00:02:04,939 --> 00:02:07,939 Therefore, his envious rivals would pursue him by mentioning her 30 00:02:07,939 --> 00:02:10,939 while he sat on the throne of leadership 31 00:02:10,939 --> 00:02:13,939 or ascended the pulpits of oratory. 32 00:02:13,939 --> 00:02:17,969 So much so that one of them incited a man to approach him 33 00:02:17,969 --> 00:02:19,969 while he was ascending the pulpit 34 00:02:19,969 --> 00:02:21,969 and ask him about his mother, 35 00:02:21,969 --> 00:02:26,969 in exchange for a generous sum of money he lavished upon him. 36 00:02:26,969 --> 00:02:29,030 The man stood up and said, 37 00:02:29,030 --> 00:02:31,030 "Who is the mother of the Amir?" 38 00:02:31,030 --> 00:02:33,030 'Amr restrained himself, 39 00:02:33,030 --> 00:02:36,030 exercised his forbearance, and then said, 40 00:02:36,030 --> 00:02:39,030 "She is al-Nabighah bint 'Abd Allah; 41 00:02:39,030 --> 00:02:42,030 she was struck by the spears of the Arabs during the Jahiliyyah, 42 00:02:42,030 --> 00:02:44,030 so she was sold in the market of 'Ukaz. 43 00:02:44,030 --> 00:02:47,030 'Abd Allah ibn Jud'an bought her, 44 00:02:47,030 --> 00:02:50,030 then gifted her to al-'As ibn Wa'il," 45 00:02:50,030 --> 00:02:52,030 meaning his father, 46 00:02:52,030 --> 00:02:54,030 "so she bore him and gave birth to me. 47 00:02:54,030 --> 00:02:57,030 If some of those whose hearts are torn by envy 48 00:02:57,030 --> 00:02:59,030 have given you some money, 49 00:02:59,030 --> 00:03:01,030 then take it." 50 00:03:01,030 --> 00:03:04,379 When the persecuted Muslims began 51 00:03:04,379 --> 00:03:06,379 to migrate to Abyssinia 52 00:03:06,379 --> 00:03:09,379 to escape the oppression and torment of Quraysh, 53 00:03:09,379 --> 00:03:11,379 and settled in its lands, 54 00:03:11,379 --> 00:03:13,379 fleeing from their own kin, 55 00:03:13,379 --> 00:03:16,379 Quraysh resolved to bring them back to Makkah 56 00:03:16,379 --> 00:03:19,379 and subject them to various forms of torture. 57 00:03:19,379 --> 00:03:21,379 They chose 'Amr ibn al-'As 58 00:03:21,379 --> 00:03:23,379 to carry out this mission, 59 00:03:23,379 --> 00:03:26,379 because of the bonds of old friendship 60 00:03:26,379 --> 00:03:28,379 that existed between him and the Negus. 61 00:03:28,379 --> 00:03:31,379 They provided him with what the Negus 62 00:03:31,379 --> 00:03:33,379 and his patriarchs favored in terms of gifts. 63 00:03:33,379 --> 00:03:36,379 When he arrived before the Negus, 64 00:03:36,379 --> 00:03:38,379 he greeted and honored him, 65 00:03:38,379 --> 00:03:39,379 and said to him, 66 00:03:39,379 --> 00:03:41,379 "A group of our people 67 00:03:41,379 --> 00:03:44,379 have disbelieved in the religion of their fathers and grandfathers 68 00:03:44,379 --> 00:03:47,379 and have invented a new religion for themselves. 69 00:03:47,379 --> 00:03:49,379 Quraysh has sent me 70 00:03:49,379 --> 00:03:52,379 to seek your permission to return them to their people, 71 00:03:52,379 --> 00:03:54,379 so they may restore them to their religion 72 00:03:54,379 --> 00:03:57,379 and bring them back to their creed." 73 00:03:57,379 --> 00:04:00,449 The Negus summoned a group of the Companions, 74 00:04:00,449 --> 00:04:03,449 asked them about the religion they followed, 75 00:04:03,449 --> 00:04:06,449 the God in whom they believed, 76 00:04:06,449 --> 00:04:09,449 and the Prophet who brought them this religion. 77 00:04:09,449 --> 00:04:12,449 He heard from their speech what filled his heart 78 00:04:12,449 --> 00:04:14,449 with certainty and tranquility, 79 00:04:14,449 --> 00:04:17,449 and he grasped from their creed what filled his soul 80 00:04:17,449 --> 00:04:20,449 with attachment to them and belief in their religion. 81 00:04:20,449 --> 00:04:23,449 So he refused to hand them over to 'Amr ibn al-'As 82 00:04:23,449 --> 00:04:24,449 with the firmest refusal, 83 00:04:24,449 --> 00:04:25,449 the firmest refusal, 84 00:04:25,449 --> 00:04:29,480 and returned to him the gifts he had presented. 85 00:04:29,480 --> 00:04:33,480 When 'Amr ibn al-'As resolved to depart for Makkah, 86 00:04:33,480 --> 00:04:35,480 the Negus said to him, 87 00:04:35,480 --> 00:04:38,480 "How can the matter of Muhammad escape you, O 'Amr, 88 00:04:38,480 --> 00:04:42,480 given the soundness of your mind and your far-sightedness that I know of? 89 00:04:42,480 --> 00:04:46,480 By Allah, he is indeed the Messenger of Allah to you in particular, 90 00:04:46,480 --> 00:04:48,480 and to all people." 91 00:04:48,480 --> 00:04:50,480 'Amr said to him, 92 00:04:50,480 --> 00:04:53,480 "Do you say that, O King?" 93 00:04:53,480 --> 00:04:55,480 The Negus replied, 94 00:04:55,480 --> 00:04:56,480 "Yes, by Allah. 95 00:04:56,480 --> 00:04:58,480 So obey me, O 'Amr, 96 00:04:58,480 --> 00:05:02,480 and believe in Muhammad and the truth he has brought you." 97 00:05:02,829 --> 00:05:05,829 'Amr ibn al-'As left Abyssinia 98 00:05:05,829 --> 00:05:08,829 and went on his way, not knowing what to do, 99 00:05:08,829 --> 00:05:13,829 for the words of the Negus had begun to shake his heart deeply. 100 00:05:13,829 --> 00:05:17,829 The talk about Muhammad and the truth he brought 101 00:05:17,829 --> 00:05:20,829 kept pushing him toward meeting him. 102 00:05:20,829 --> 00:05:23,829 However, that was not destined for him 103 00:05:23,829 --> 00:05:26,829 until the eighth year of the Hijrah, 104 00:05:26,829 --> 00:05:29,829 when Allah opened his heart to the new religion. 105 00:05:29,829 --> 00:05:33,829 He set out, quickening his pace toward Medina 106 00:05:33,829 --> 00:05:37,829 to meet the noble Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, 107 00:05:37,829 --> 00:05:40,829 and declare his Islam before him. 108 00:05:40,829 --> 00:05:42,829 While he was on his way, 109 00:05:42,829 --> 00:05:44,829 he met Khalid ibn al-Walid 110 00:05:44,829 --> 00:05:46,829 and 'Uthman ibn Talhah, 111 00:05:46,829 --> 00:05:49,829 and they were heading where he was heading, 112 00:05:49,829 --> 00:05:51,829 and intending what he was intending. 113 00:05:51,829 --> 00:05:54,829 So he joined them and they went together. 114 00:05:54,829 --> 00:05:59,829 When they came to the Prophet, may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, 115 00:05:59,829 --> 00:06:02,829 Khalid ibn al-Walid pledged allegiance, 116 00:06:02,829 --> 00:06:04,829 as did 'Uthman ibn Talhah. 117 00:06:04,829 --> 00:06:09,829 Then the noble Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, extended his hand to 'Amr, 118 00:06:09,829 --> 00:06:13,829 but 'Amr withdrew his hand from the Prophet. 119 00:06:13,829 --> 00:06:16,829 The Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said to him, 120 00:06:16,829 --> 00:06:18,829 "What is the matter with you, O 'Amr?" 121 00:06:18,829 --> 00:06:23,829 He said, "I pledge allegiance to you on the condition that my past sins be forgiven." 122 00:06:23,829 --> 00:06:26,829 The Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said, 123 00:06:26,829 --> 00:06:30,829 "Indeed, Islam and Hijrah wipe away what came before them." 124 00:06:30,829 --> 00:06:33,829 So he pledged allegiance to him at that moment. 125 00:06:33,829 --> 00:06:38,829 But this incident left its mark on the soul of 'Amr ibn al-'As, 126 00:06:38,829 --> 00:06:44,829 for he used to say, "By Allah, I could not fill my eyes with the Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, 127 00:06:44,829 --> 00:06:47,829 nor could I satisfy myself with looking at his face, 128 00:06:47,829 --> 00:06:49,829 until he joined his Lord." 129 00:06:49,829 --> 00:06:53,860 The Messenger had looked at 'Amr ibn al-'As with the light of Prophethood 130 00:06:53,860 --> 00:06:57,860 and recognized the unique capabilities he possessed, 131 00:06:57,860 --> 00:07:01,860 so he appointed him commander over the Muslim army in the Battle of Dhat al-Salasil, 132 00:07:01,860 --> 00:07:06,860 despite the presence in the army of the Muhajirun and the Ansar, 133 00:07:06,860 --> 00:07:09,860 and those who were foremost in Islam. 134 00:07:09,860 --> 00:07:13,959 When Allah took His Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, to Himself, 135 00:07:13,959 --> 00:07:17,959 and the mantle of the Caliphate passed to al-Siddiq, may Allah be pleased with him, 136 00:07:17,959 --> 00:07:21,959 'Amr ibn al-'As performed the greatest service in the Wars of Apostasy, 137 00:07:21,959 --> 00:07:27,959 and confronted the sedition with a firmness reminiscent of the firmness of al-Siddiq, may Allah be pleased with them both. 138 00:07:27,959 --> 00:07:30,959 'Amr ibn al-'As arrived among the Banu 'Amir, 139 00:07:30,959 --> 00:07:33,959 and their leader, Qurrah ibn Hubayrah, 140 00:07:33,959 --> 00:07:36,959 was contemplating apostasy and said to him, 141 00:07:36,959 --> 00:07:43,959 "O 'Amr, the Arabs are not pleased with this tribute you have imposed upon the people," 142 00:07:43,959 --> 00:07:45,959 meaning the zakat. 143 00:07:45,959 --> 00:07:49,959 "If you exempt them from it, they will listen to you and obey." 144 00:07:49,959 --> 00:07:53,959 "And if you refuse, they will not gather under you after today." 145 00:07:53,959 --> 00:07:57,990 'Amr shouted at the leader of Banu 'Amir and said, 146 00:07:57,990 --> 00:08:00,990 "Woe to you! Have you apostatized, O Qurrah? 147 00:08:00,990 --> 00:08:03,990 Are you threatening us with the apostasy of the Arabs? 148 00:08:03,990 --> 00:08:07,990 By Allah, I will trample you with horses inside your mother's tent!" 149 00:08:07,990 --> 00:08:11,540 When al-Siddiq answered the call of his Lord, 150 00:08:11,540 --> 00:08:14,540 and handed over the reins to al-Faruq (Umar), 151 00:08:14,540 --> 00:08:17,540 the best hand to which reins could be handed, 152 00:08:17,540 --> 00:08:21,540 al-Faruq sought the help of 'Amr ibn al-'As's capabilities and expertise, 153 00:08:21,540 --> 00:08:25,540 and placed them in the service of Islam and the Muslims. 154 00:08:25,540 --> 00:08:28,540 Allah granted victory at his hands in the coasts of Palestine, 155 00:08:28,540 --> 00:08:30,540 land after land, 156 00:08:30,540 --> 00:08:33,539 and he defeated the Roman armies, army after army. 157 00:08:33,539 --> 00:08:36,539 Then he turned to besiege Jerusalem, 158 00:08:36,539 --> 00:08:40,539 and 'Amr tightened the siege on the first of the two Qiblahs 159 00:08:40,539 --> 00:08:43,539 and the third of the Sacred Mosques, 160 00:08:43,539 --> 00:08:46,539 until he planted despair in the soul of Artabun, 161 00:08:46,539 --> 00:08:48,539 the commander of the Roman army, 162 00:08:48,539 --> 00:08:51,539 and compelled him to abandon the Holy City 163 00:08:51,539 --> 00:08:54,539 and flee for his life. 164 00:08:54,539 --> 00:08:57,539 So Jerusalem surrendered to the Muslims. 165 00:08:57,539 --> 00:09:00,600 At that point, its Patriarch desired 166 00:09:00,600 --> 00:09:03,600 that the surrender take place in the presence of the Caliph himself. 167 00:09:03,600 --> 00:09:07,600 So 'Amr ibn al-'As wrote to al-Faruq, may Allah be pleased with him, 168 00:09:07,600 --> 00:09:10,600 summoning him to receive Jerusalem. 169 00:09:10,600 --> 00:09:14,600 He came and signed the surrender document, 170 00:09:14,600 --> 00:09:19,600 and Jerusalem passed to the Muslims in the fifteenth year of the Hijrah 171 00:09:19,600 --> 00:09:22,600 at the hands of 'Amr ibn al-'As, may Allah be pleased with him. 172 00:09:22,600 --> 00:09:27,600 Whenever the siege of Jerusalem was mentioned before al-Faruq, 173 00:09:27,600 --> 00:09:31,600 and the brilliance 'Amr ibn al-'As displayed therein, he would say, 174 00:09:31,600 --> 00:09:35,600 "We have countered the Artabun of the Romans with the Artabun of the Arabs." 175 00:09:35,600 --> 00:09:40,600 Then 'Amr ibn al-'As crowned his great victories with the conquest of Egypt, 176 00:09:40,600 --> 00:09:44,600 and added this precious pearl to the necklace of Islam. 177 00:09:44,600 --> 00:09:48,600 Thereby, he opened the doors of Africa to the Muslim armies, 178 00:09:48,600 --> 00:09:50,600 and the lands of the Maghreb, 179 00:09:50,600 --> 00:09:53,600 and then Spain after that. 180 00:09:53,600 --> 00:09:57,600 They achieved all of this in about half a century. 181 00:09:57,600 --> 00:10:02,820 These are not all the merits of 'Amr ibn al-'As, may Allah be pleased with him, 182 00:10:02,820 --> 00:10:06,820 for 'Amr was one of the renowned geniuses of the Arabs, 183 00:10:06,820 --> 00:10:11,820 and one of their rare, exceptional talents. 184 00:10:11,820 --> 00:10:14,820 Perhaps one of the most intriguing examples of his genius and intelligence 185 00:10:14,820 --> 00:10:17,820 is the approach he took in the conquest of Egypt. 186 00:10:17,820 --> 00:10:22,820 He kept encouraging al-Faruq, may Allah be pleased with him, to conquer it until he gave him permission, 187 00:10:22,820 --> 00:10:26,820 and commissioned him with four thousand of the Muslim soldiers. 188 00:10:26,820 --> 00:10:30,820 'Amr set out with his soldiers, not turning back for anything. 189 00:10:30,820 --> 00:10:34,820 But not long after his departure, 190 00:10:34,820 --> 00:10:38,820 'Uthman ibn 'Affan entered upon 'Umar and said to him, 191 00:10:38,820 --> 00:10:40,820 "O Commander of the Faithful, 192 00:10:40,820 --> 00:10:43,820 'Amr is indeed a bold and daring man, 193 00:10:43,820 --> 00:10:45,820 and he has a love for leadership. 194 00:10:45,820 --> 00:10:50,820 I fear that he has set out for Egypt without sufficient equipment or numbers, 195 00:10:50,820 --> 00:10:53,820 thus exposing the Muslims to destruction." 196 00:10:53,820 --> 00:10:57,820 Al-Faruq regretted his permission to 'Amr to conquer Egypt, 197 00:10:57,820 --> 00:11:02,820 and sent a messenger after him carrying a letter from him regarding this matter. 198 00:11:02,820 --> 00:11:07,919 The messenger caught up with the Muslim army in Rafah in the land of Palestine. 199 00:11:07,919 --> 00:11:11,919 When 'Amr learned of the messenger's arrival from the Commander of the Faithful, 200 00:11:11,919 --> 00:11:14,919 and that he was carrying a letter for him, 201 00:11:14,919 --> 00:11:17,919 he felt a sense of apprehension regarding the letter he carried. 202 00:11:17,919 --> 00:11:21,919 He did not delay in setting out to meet him, traveling with great haste, 203 00:11:21,919 --> 00:11:25,919 until he reached a village near 'Arish in Egypt. 204 00:11:25,919 --> 00:11:30,919 There, he met him, took the letter he had brought, and broke its seal. 205 00:11:30,919 --> 00:11:31,919 It read: 206 00:11:31,919 --> 00:11:35,919 "If this letter reaches you before you enter the land of Egypt, 207 00:11:35,919 --> 00:11:37,919 then return to your position. 208 00:11:37,919 --> 00:11:41,919 But if you have already entered its land, then proceed with your mission." 209 00:11:41,919 --> 00:11:45,919 He then called the Muslims together and read the letter of the Commander of the Faithful to them. 210 00:11:45,919 --> 00:11:49,919 He asked, "Do you not know that we are in the land of Egypt?" 211 00:11:49,919 --> 00:11:51,919 They replied, "Yes." 212 00:11:51,919 --> 00:11:55,919 He said, "Then let us proceed with the blessing and success of Allah." 213 00:11:55,919 --> 00:11:59,919 And so, Allah granted the conquest of Egypt at his hands. 214 00:11:59,919 --> 00:12:03,950 Among the examples of his intelligence and shrewdness as well 215 00:12:03,950 --> 00:12:07,950 is that when he was besieging one of the fortified citadels of Egypt, 216 00:12:07,950 --> 00:12:11,950 the Roman patrician sent a request to the commander of the Muslim army 217 00:12:11,950 --> 00:12:14,950 asking him to send a man from his side 218 00:12:14,950 --> 00:12:16,950 to debate and negotiate with him. 219 00:12:16,950 --> 00:12:20,950 Some of the Muslims volunteered for this, 220 00:12:20,950 --> 00:12:22,950 but 'Amr said, 221 00:12:22,950 --> 00:12:25,950 "I shall be the messenger of my people to him." 222 00:12:25,950 --> 00:12:27,950 He then went to the patrician, 223 00:12:27,950 --> 00:12:32,950 and entered the citadel as an envoy sent by the Muslim commander. 224 00:12:32,950 --> 00:12:36,950 The Roman patrician met with 'Amr, not recognizing him, 225 00:12:36,950 --> 00:12:40,950 and a conversation took place between them that revealed the genius of 'Amr, 226 00:12:40,950 --> 00:12:42,950 his sagacity, and his intelligence. 227 00:12:42,950 --> 00:12:45,950 The Roman patrician resolved to betray him, 228 00:12:45,950 --> 00:12:48,950 and provided him with a generous gift, 229 00:12:48,950 --> 00:12:53,950 ordering the guards of the citadel to kill him before he left the trench. 230 00:12:53,950 --> 00:12:57,950 However, 'Amr saw something in the eyes of the guards that aroused his suspicion, 231 00:12:57,950 --> 00:13:00,950 so he turned back and said to the patrician, 232 00:13:00,950 --> 00:13:04,950 "The gift you have bestowed upon me, O master, 233 00:13:04,950 --> 00:13:07,950 is not enough for all my cousins. 234 00:13:07,950 --> 00:13:11,950 Would you permit me to bring ten of them to you, 235 00:13:11,950 --> 00:13:14,950 so that they may receive from your generous bounty what I have received?" 236 00:13:14,950 --> 00:13:16,980 The patrician was pleased by this, 237 00:13:16,980 --> 00:13:21,980 and imagined he would kill ten of them instead of one. 238 00:13:21,980 --> 00:13:25,980 He signaled to the guards of the citadel to let him pass. 239 00:13:25,980 --> 00:13:28,980 Thus, 'Amr ibn al-'As was saved. 240 00:13:28,980 --> 00:13:34,139 When Egypt was conquered and surrendered to the Muslims, 241 00:13:34,139 --> 00:13:37,139 the Roman patrician met with 'Amr ibn al-'As, 242 00:13:37,139 --> 00:13:39,139 and asked him in astonishment, 243 00:13:39,139 --> 00:13:41,139 "Is it you?" 244 00:13:41,139 --> 00:13:44,139 He replied, "Yes, despite your treachery." 245 00:13:44,139 --> 00:13:47,370 'Amr ibn al-'As was, in addition to that, 246 00:13:47,370 --> 00:13:49,370 one of the most eloquent of people, 247 00:13:49,370 --> 00:13:51,370 and the most articulate in speech, 248 00:13:51,370 --> 00:13:54,370 to the point that the Commander of the Faithful, may Allah be pleased with him, 249 00:13:54,370 --> 00:13:59,370 saw in his eloquence a sign of the power of Allah, the Exalted. 250 00:13:59,370 --> 00:14:02,370 Whenever he saw a man who stammered, 251 00:14:02,370 --> 00:14:04,370 he would say, "I believe in Allah; 252 00:14:04,370 --> 00:14:08,370 the Creator of this man and the Creator of 'Amr ibn al-'As is One." 253 00:14:09,370 --> 00:14:12,399 Among the eloquent sayings of 'Amr ibn al-'As is his statement: 254 00:14:12,399 --> 00:14:14,399 "Men are of three types: 255 00:14:14,399 --> 00:14:19,399 a complete man, half a man, and one who is nothing. 256 00:14:19,399 --> 00:14:21,429 As for the complete man, 257 00:14:21,429 --> 00:14:24,429 he is the one whose religion and intellect are perfect; 258 00:14:24,429 --> 00:14:26,429 when he intends to decide on a matter, 259 00:14:26,429 --> 00:14:28,429 he consults those of sound judgment, 260 00:14:28,429 --> 00:14:30,429 and he remains successful. 261 00:14:30,429 --> 00:14:32,460 As for half a man, 262 00:14:32,460 --> 00:14:36,460 he is the one whom Allah has perfected in religion and intellect, 263 00:14:36,460 --> 00:14:38,460 but when he intends to decide on a matter, 264 00:14:38,460 --> 00:14:40,460 he consults no one, 265 00:14:40,460 --> 00:14:45,460 saying, 'Which person should I follow, abandoning my own opinion for theirs?' 266 00:14:45,460 --> 00:14:47,460 So he is sometimes right and sometimes wrong. 267 00:14:47,460 --> 00:14:49,460 As for the one who is nothing, 268 00:14:49,460 --> 00:14:52,460 he is the one who has neither religion nor intellect, 269 00:14:52,460 --> 00:14:55,460 so he remains mistaken and failing. 270 00:14:55,460 --> 00:14:59,460 By Allah, I even consult my servants regarding my affairs." 271 00:14:59,460 --> 00:15:02,720 When 'Amr ibn al-'As fell ill with his final illness, 272 00:15:02,720 --> 00:15:05,720 and felt the approach of death, 273 00:15:05,720 --> 00:15:07,720 he was overcome with emotion, 274 00:15:07,720 --> 00:15:09,720 and said to his son, 275 00:15:09,720 --> 00:15:13,720 "I have been in three states in which I have known myself: 276 00:15:13,720 --> 00:15:16,850 First, I was a disbeliever, 277 00:15:16,850 --> 00:15:18,850 and had I died then, 278 00:15:18,850 --> 00:15:20,850 the Fire would have been my certain fate. 279 00:15:21,039 --> 00:15:24,039 Then, when I pledged allegiance to the Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, 280 00:15:24,039 --> 00:15:27,039 I was the shyest of people before him, 281 00:15:27,039 --> 00:15:31,039 to the point that I never once filled my eyes with his sight. 282 00:15:31,039 --> 00:15:33,039 Had I died then, 283 00:15:33,039 --> 00:15:35,039 people would have said, 284 00:15:35,039 --> 00:15:37,039 'Congratulations to 'Amr, 285 00:15:37,039 --> 00:15:40,039 he embraced Islam in goodness and died in goodness.' 286 00:15:40,039 --> 00:15:43,039 Then I became involved in matters thereafter, 287 00:15:43,039 --> 00:15:46,039 and I do not know if they are for me or against me." 288 00:15:46,039 --> 00:15:50,039 Then he turned his face toward the wall, saying, 289 00:15:50,039 --> 00:15:53,039 "O Allah, You commanded us, but we disobeyed; 290 00:15:53,039 --> 00:15:56,039 You forbade us, but we did not refrain. 291 00:15:56,039 --> 00:16:01,039 Nothing can save us but Your pardon, O Most Merciful of the merciful." 292 00:16:01,039 --> 00:16:05,259 Then he placed his hand on his neck, 293 00:16:05,259 --> 00:16:08,259 raised his gaze to the sky, and said, 294 00:16:08,259 --> 00:16:11,259 "O Allah, I am not powerful, so I cannot seek victory; 295 00:16:11,259 --> 00:16:14,259 I am not innocent, so I cannot offer an excuse; 296 00:16:14,259 --> 00:16:16,259 and I am not arrogant, 297 00:16:16,259 --> 00:16:19,259 but I am a seeker of forgiveness. 298 00:16:19,259 --> 00:16:22,259 So forgive me, O Oft-Forgiving." 299 00:16:22,259 --> 00:16:26,360 He continued to repeat this until his soul departed. 300 00:16:33,470 --> 00:16:36,950 The greatest Messenger, 301 00:16:36,950 --> 00:16:39,950 peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, had said of him: 302 00:16:39,950 --> 00:16:42,950 "The people have embraced Islam, 303 00:16:42,950 --> 00:16:46,690 and 'Amr ibn al-'As has believed."