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 The Mawaddah Association is pleased 00:00:17.579 --> 00:00:21.579 to present to you glimpses from the lives of the Companions. 00:00:21.579 --> 00:00:25.579 By Abd al-Rahman Ra'fat al-Basha, 00:00:25.579 --> 00:00:30.460 may Allah have mercy upon him. 00:00:30.460 --> 00:00:35.289 'Amr ibn al-'As, may Allah be pleased with him. 00:00:51.140 --> 00:00:54.140 "O Allah, You commanded us, but we disobeyed; 00:00:54.140 --> 00:00:57.140 You forbade us, but we did not desist; 00:00:57.140 --> 00:01:01.140 and nothing can encompass us but Your forgiveness, O Most Merciful of the merciful." 00:01:01.140 --> 00:01:04.500 With this humble and hopeful supplication, 00:01:04.500 --> 00:01:07.500 'Amr ibn al-'As bade farewell to life 00:01:07.500 --> 00:01:10.140 and welcomed death. 00:01:10.140 --> 00:01:14.359 The life story of 'Amr ibn al-'As is rich and eventful; 00:01:14.359 --> 00:01:19.359 through it, he gained for Islam two great regions of the inhabited world: 00:01:19.359 --> 00:01:22.420 namely, Palestine and Egypt. 00:01:22.420 --> 00:01:26.420 He left behind for the Muslims a monumental legacy that filled the world 00:01:26.420 --> 00:01:29.420 and occupied people for a long time. 00:01:29.420 --> 00:01:32.709 This story begins before the Hijrah 00:01:32.709 --> 00:01:35.709 by about half a century, 00:01:35.709 --> 00:01:37.709 when 'Amr was born, 00:01:37.709 --> 00:01:41.709 and it ends in the year 43 after the Hijrah, 00:01:41.709 --> 00:01:43.939 when certainty (death) came to him. 00:01:43.939 --> 00:01:47.939 As for his father, he was al-'As ibn Wa'il, 00:01:47.939 --> 00:01:50.939 one of the leaders of the Arabs during the Jahiliyyah (pre-Islamic era), 00:01:50.939 --> 00:01:53.939 and a prominent noble among their nobles, 00:01:53.939 --> 00:01:58.939 one whose lineage traced back to the elite of Quraysh. 00:01:58.939 --> 00:02:01.939 As for his mother, she was not of such status; 00:02:01.939 --> 00:02:04.939 rather, she was a captive slave woman. 00:02:04.939 --> 00:02:07.939 Therefore, his envious rivals would pursue him by mentioning her 00:02:07.939 --> 00:02:10.939 while he sat on the throne of leadership 00:02:10.939 --> 00:02:13.939 or ascended the pulpits of oratory. 00:02:13.939 --> 00:02:17.969 So much so that one of them incited a man to approach him 00:02:17.969 --> 00:02:19.969 while he was ascending the pulpit 00:02:19.969 --> 00:02:21.969 and ask him about his mother, 00:02:21.969 --> 00:02:26.969 in exchange for a generous sum of money he lavished upon him. 00:02:26.969 --> 00:02:29.030 The man stood up and said, 00:02:29.030 --> 00:02:31.030 "Who is the mother of the Amir?" 00:02:31.030 --> 00:02:33.030 'Amr restrained himself, 00:02:33.030 --> 00:02:36.030 exercised his forbearance, and then said, 00:02:36.030 --> 00:02:39.030 "She is al-Nabighah bint 'Abd Allah; 00:02:39.030 --> 00:02:42.030 she was struck by the spears of the Arabs during the Jahiliyyah, 00:02:42.030 --> 00:02:44.030 so she was sold in the market of 'Ukaz. 00:02:44.030 --> 00:02:47.030 'Abd Allah ibn Jud'an bought her, 00:02:47.030 --> 00:02:50.030 then gifted her to al-'As ibn Wa'il," 00:02:50.030 --> 00:02:52.030 meaning his father, 00:02:52.030 --> 00:02:54.030 "so she bore him and gave birth to me. 00:02:54.030 --> 00:02:57.030 If some of those whose hearts are torn by envy 00:02:57.030 --> 00:02:59.030 have given you some money, 00:02:59.030 --> 00:03:01.030 then take it." 00:03:01.030 --> 00:03:04.379 When the persecuted Muslims began 00:03:04.379 --> 00:03:06.379 to migrate to Abyssinia 00:03:06.379 --> 00:03:09.379 to escape the oppression and torment of Quraysh, 00:03:09.379 --> 00:03:11.379 and settled in its lands, 00:03:11.379 --> 00:03:13.379 fleeing from their own kin, 00:03:13.379 --> 00:03:16.379 Quraysh resolved to bring them back to Makkah 00:03:16.379 --> 00:03:19.379 and subject them to various forms of torture. 00:03:19.379 --> 00:03:21.379 They chose 'Amr ibn al-'As 00:03:21.379 --> 00:03:23.379 to carry out this mission, 00:03:23.379 --> 00:03:26.379 because of the bonds of old friendship 00:03:26.379 --> 00:03:28.379 that existed between him and the Negus. 00:03:28.379 --> 00:03:31.379 They provided him with what the Negus 00:03:31.379 --> 00:03:33.379 and his patriarchs favored in terms of gifts. 00:03:33.379 --> 00:03:36.379 When he arrived before the Negus, 00:03:36.379 --> 00:03:38.379 he greeted and honored him, 00:03:38.379 --> 00:03:39.379 and said to him, 00:03:39.379 --> 00:03:41.379 "A group of our people 00:03:41.379 --> 00:03:44.379 have disbelieved in the religion of their fathers and grandfathers 00:03:44.379 --> 00:03:47.379 and have invented a new religion for themselves. 00:03:47.379 --> 00:03:49.379 Quraysh has sent me 00:03:49.379 --> 00:03:52.379 to seek your permission to return them to their people, 00:03:52.379 --> 00:03:54.379 so they may restore them to their religion 00:03:54.379 --> 00:03:57.379 and bring them back to their creed." 00:03:57.379 --> 00:04:00.449 The Negus summoned a group of the Companions, 00:04:00.449 --> 00:04:03.449 asked them about the religion they followed, 00:04:03.449 --> 00:04:06.449 the God in whom they believed, 00:04:06.449 --> 00:04:09.449 and the Prophet who brought them this religion. 00:04:09.449 --> 00:04:12.449 He heard from their speech what filled his heart 00:04:12.449 --> 00:04:14.449 with certainty and tranquility, 00:04:14.449 --> 00:04:17.449 and he grasped from their creed what filled his soul 00:04:17.449 --> 00:04:20.449 with attachment to them and belief in their religion. 00:04:20.449 --> 00:04:23.449 So he refused to hand them over to 'Amr ibn al-'As 00:04:23.449 --> 00:04:24.449 with the firmest refusal, 00:04:24.449 --> 00:04:25.449 the firmest refusal, 00:04:25.449 --> 00:04:29.480 and returned to him the gifts he had presented. 00:04:29.480 --> 00:04:33.480 When 'Amr ibn al-'As resolved to depart for Makkah, 00:04:33.480 --> 00:04:35.480 the Negus said to him, 00:04:35.480 --> 00:04:38.480 "How can the matter of Muhammad escape you, O 'Amr, 00:04:38.480 --> 00:04:42.480 given the soundness of your mind and your far-sightedness that I know of? 00:04:42.480 --> 00:04:46.480 By Allah, he is indeed the Messenger of Allah to you in particular, 00:04:46.480 --> 00:04:48.480 and to all people." 00:04:48.480 --> 00:04:50.480 'Amr said to him, 00:04:50.480 --> 00:04:53.480 "Do you say that, O King?" 00:04:53.480 --> 00:04:55.480 The Negus replied, 00:04:55.480 --> 00:04:56.480 "Yes, by Allah. 00:04:56.480 --> 00:04:58.480 So obey me, O 'Amr, 00:04:58.480 --> 00:05:02.480 and believe in Muhammad and the truth he has brought you." 00:05:02.829 --> 00:05:05.829 'Amr ibn al-'As left Abyssinia 00:05:05.829 --> 00:05:08.829 and went on his way, not knowing what to do, 00:05:08.829 --> 00:05:13.829 for the words of the Negus had begun to shake his heart deeply. 00:05:13.829 --> 00:05:17.829 The talk about Muhammad and the truth he brought 00:05:17.829 --> 00:05:20.829 kept pushing him toward meeting him. 00:05:20.829 --> 00:05:23.829 However, that was not destined for him 00:05:23.829 --> 00:05:26.829 until the eighth year of the Hijrah, 00:05:26.829 --> 00:05:29.829 when Allah opened his heart to the new religion. 00:05:29.829 --> 00:05:33.829 He set out, quickening his pace toward Medina 00:05:33.829 --> 00:05:37.829 to meet the noble Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, 00:05:37.829 --> 00:05:40.829 and declare his Islam before him. 00:05:40.829 --> 00:05:42.829 While he was on his way, 00:05:42.829 --> 00:05:44.829 he met Khalid ibn al-Walid 00:05:44.829 --> 00:05:46.829 and 'Uthman ibn Talhah, 00:05:46.829 --> 00:05:49.829 and they were heading where he was heading, 00:05:49.829 --> 00:05:51.829 and intending what he was intending. 00:05:51.829 --> 00:05:54.829 So he joined them and they went together. 00:05:54.829 --> 00:05:59.829 When they came to the Prophet, may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, 00:05:59.829 --> 00:06:02.829 Khalid ibn al-Walid pledged allegiance, 00:06:02.829 --> 00:06:04.829 as did 'Uthman ibn Talhah. 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, 00:06:09.829 --> 00:06:13.829 but 'Amr withdrew his hand from the Prophet. 00:06:13.829 --> 00:06:16.829 The Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said to him, 00:06:16.829 --> 00:06:18.829 "What is the matter with you, O 'Amr?" 00:06:18.829 --> 00:06:23.829 He said, "I pledge allegiance to you on the condition that my past sins be forgiven." 00:06:23.829 --> 00:06:26.829 The Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said, 00:06:26.829 --> 00:06:30.829 "Indeed, Islam and Hijrah wipe away what came before them." 00:06:30.829 --> 00:06:33.829 So he pledged allegiance to him at that moment. 00:06:33.829 --> 00:06:38.829 But this incident left its mark on the soul of 'Amr ibn al-'As, 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, 00:06:44.829 --> 00:06:47.829 nor could I satisfy myself with looking at his face, 00:06:47.829 --> 00:06:49.829 until he joined his Lord." 00:06:49.829 --> 00:06:53.860 The Messenger had looked at 'Amr ibn al-'As with the light of Prophethood 00:06:53.860 --> 00:06:57.860 and recognized the unique capabilities he possessed, 00:06:57.860 --> 00:07:01.860 so he appointed him commander over the Muslim army in the Battle of Dhat al-Salasil, 00:07:01.860 --> 00:07:06.860 despite the presence in the army of the Muhajirun and the Ansar, 00:07:06.860 --> 00:07:09.860 and those who were foremost in Islam. 00:07:09.860 --> 00:07:13.959 When Allah took His Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, to Himself, 00:07:13.959 --> 00:07:17.959 and the mantle of the Caliphate passed to al-Siddiq, may Allah be pleased with him, 00:07:17.959 --> 00:07:21.959 'Amr ibn al-'As performed the greatest service in the Wars of Apostasy, 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. 00:07:27.959 --> 00:07:30.959 'Amr ibn al-'As arrived among the Banu 'Amir, 00:07:30.959 --> 00:07:33.959 and their leader, Qurrah ibn Hubayrah, 00:07:33.959 --> 00:07:36.959 was contemplating apostasy and said to him, 00:07:36.959 --> 00:07:43.959 "O 'Amr, the Arabs are not pleased with this tribute you have imposed upon the people," 00:07:43.959 --> 00:07:45.959 meaning the zakat. 00:07:45.959 --> 00:07:49.959 "If you exempt them from it, they will listen to you and obey." 00:07:49.959 --> 00:07:53.959 "And if you refuse, they will not gather under you after today." 00:07:53.959 --> 00:07:57.990 'Amr shouted at the leader of Banu 'Amir and said, 00:07:57.990 --> 00:08:00.990 "Woe to you! Have you apostatized, O Qurrah? 00:08:00.990 --> 00:08:03.990 Are you threatening us with the apostasy of the Arabs? 00:08:03.990 --> 00:08:07.990 By Allah, I will trample you with horses inside your mother's tent!" 00:08:07.990 --> 00:08:11.540 When al-Siddiq answered the call of his Lord, 00:08:11.540 --> 00:08:14.540 and handed over the reins to al-Faruq (Umar), 00:08:14.540 --> 00:08:17.540 the best hand to which reins could be handed, 00:08:17.540 --> 00:08:21.540 al-Faruq sought the help of 'Amr ibn al-'As's capabilities and expertise, 00:08:21.540 --> 00:08:25.540 and placed them in the service of Islam and the Muslims. 00:08:25.540 --> 00:08:28.540 Allah granted victory at his hands in the coasts of Palestine, 00:08:28.540 --> 00:08:30.540 land after land, 00:08:30.540 --> 00:08:33.539 and he defeated the Roman armies, army after army. 00:08:33.539 --> 00:08:36.539 Then he turned to besiege Jerusalem, 00:08:36.539 --> 00:08:40.539 and 'Amr tightened the siege on the first of the two Qiblahs 00:08:40.539 --> 00:08:43.539 and the third of the Sacred Mosques, 00:08:43.539 --> 00:08:46.539 until he planted despair in the soul of Artabun, 00:08:46.539 --> 00:08:48.539 the commander of the Roman army, 00:08:48.539 --> 00:08:51.539 and compelled him to abandon the Holy City 00:08:51.539 --> 00:08:54.539 and flee for his life. 00:08:54.539 --> 00:08:57.539 So Jerusalem surrendered to the Muslims. 00:08:57.539 --> 00:09:00.600 At that point, its Patriarch desired 00:09:00.600 --> 00:09:03.600 that the surrender take place in the presence of the Caliph himself. 00:09:03.600 --> 00:09:07.600 So 'Amr ibn al-'As wrote to al-Faruq, may Allah be pleased with him, 00:09:07.600 --> 00:09:10.600 summoning him to receive Jerusalem. 00:09:10.600 --> 00:09:14.600 He came and signed the surrender document, 00:09:14.600 --> 00:09:19.600 and Jerusalem passed to the Muslims in the fifteenth year of the Hijrah 00:09:19.600 --> 00:09:22.600 at the hands of 'Amr ibn al-'As, may Allah be pleased with him. 00:09:22.600 --> 00:09:27.600 Whenever the siege of Jerusalem was mentioned before al-Faruq, 00:09:27.600 --> 00:09:31.600 and the brilliance 'Amr ibn al-'As displayed therein, he would say, 00:09:31.600 --> 00:09:35.600 "We have countered the Artabun of the Romans with the Artabun of the Arabs." 00:09:35.600 --> 00:09:40.600 Then 'Amr ibn al-'As crowned his great victories with the conquest of Egypt, 00:09:40.600 --> 00:09:44.600 and added this precious pearl to the necklace of Islam. 00:09:44.600 --> 00:09:48.600 Thereby, he opened the doors of Africa to the Muslim armies, 00:09:48.600 --> 00:09:50.600 and the lands of the Maghreb, 00:09:50.600 --> 00:09:53.600 and then Spain after that. 00:09:53.600 --> 00:09:57.600 They achieved all of this in about half a century. 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, 00:10:02.820 --> 00:10:06.820 for 'Amr was one of the renowned geniuses of the Arabs, 00:10:06.820 --> 00:10:11.820 and one of their rare, exceptional talents. 00:10:11.820 --> 00:10:14.820 Perhaps one of the most intriguing examples of his genius and intelligence 00:10:14.820 --> 00:10:17.820 is the approach he took in the conquest of Egypt. 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, 00:10:22.820 --> 00:10:26.820 and commissioned him with four thousand of the Muslim soldiers. 00:10:26.820 --> 00:10:30.820 'Amr set out with his soldiers, not turning back for anything. 00:10:30.820 --> 00:10:34.820 But not long after his departure, 00:10:34.820 --> 00:10:38.820 'Uthman ibn 'Affan entered upon 'Umar and said to him, 00:10:38.820 --> 00:10:40.820 "O Commander of the Faithful, 00:10:40.820 --> 00:10:43.820 'Amr is indeed a bold and daring man, 00:10:43.820 --> 00:10:45.820 and he has a love for leadership. 00:10:45.820 --> 00:10:50.820 I fear that he has set out for Egypt without sufficient equipment or numbers, 00:10:50.820 --> 00:10:53.820 thus exposing the Muslims to destruction." 00:10:53.820 --> 00:10:57.820 Al-Faruq regretted his permission to 'Amr to conquer Egypt, 00:10:57.820 --> 00:11:02.820 and sent a messenger after him carrying a letter from him regarding this matter. 00:11:02.820 --> 00:11:07.919 The messenger caught up with the Muslim army in Rafah in the land of Palestine. 00:11:07.919 --> 00:11:11.919 When 'Amr learned of the messenger's arrival from the Commander of the Faithful, 00:11:11.919 --> 00:11:14.919 and that he was carrying a letter for him, 00:11:14.919 --> 00:11:17.919 he felt a sense of apprehension regarding the letter he carried. 00:11:17.919 --> 00:11:21.919 He did not delay in setting out to meet him, traveling with great haste, 00:11:21.919 --> 00:11:25.919 until he reached a village near 'Arish in Egypt. 00:11:25.919 --> 00:11:30.919 There, he met him, took the letter he had brought, and broke its seal. 00:11:30.919 --> 00:11:31.919 It read: 00:11:31.919 --> 00:11:35.919 "If this letter reaches you before you enter the land of Egypt, 00:11:35.919 --> 00:11:37.919 then return to your position. 00:11:37.919 --> 00:11:41.919 But if you have already entered its land, then proceed with your mission." 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. 00:11:45.919 --> 00:11:49.919 He asked, "Do you not know that we are in the land of Egypt?" 00:11:49.919 --> 00:11:51.919 They replied, "Yes." 00:11:51.919 --> 00:11:55.919 He said, "Then let us proceed with the blessing and success of Allah." 00:11:55.919 --> 00:11:59.919 And so, Allah granted the conquest of Egypt at his hands. 00:11:59.919 --> 00:12:03.950 Among the examples of his intelligence and shrewdness as well 00:12:03.950 --> 00:12:07.950 is that when he was besieging one of the fortified citadels of Egypt, 00:12:07.950 --> 00:12:11.950 the Roman patrician sent a request to the commander of the Muslim army 00:12:11.950 --> 00:12:14.950 asking him to send a man from his side 00:12:14.950 --> 00:12:16.950 to debate and negotiate with him. 00:12:16.950 --> 00:12:20.950 Some of the Muslims volunteered for this, 00:12:20.950 --> 00:12:22.950 but 'Amr said, 00:12:22.950 --> 00:12:25.950 "I shall be the messenger of my people to him." 00:12:25.950 --> 00:12:27.950 He then went to the patrician, 00:12:27.950 --> 00:12:32.950 and entered the citadel as an envoy sent by the Muslim commander. 00:12:32.950 --> 00:12:36.950 The Roman patrician met with 'Amr, not recognizing him, 00:12:36.950 --> 00:12:40.950 and a conversation took place between them that revealed the genius of 'Amr, 00:12:40.950 --> 00:12:42.950 his sagacity, and his intelligence. 00:12:42.950 --> 00:12:45.950 The Roman patrician resolved to betray him, 00:12:45.950 --> 00:12:48.950 and provided him with a generous gift, 00:12:48.950 --> 00:12:53.950 ordering the guards of the citadel to kill him before he left the trench. 00:12:53.950 --> 00:12:57.950 However, 'Amr saw something in the eyes of the guards that aroused his suspicion, 00:12:57.950 --> 00:13:00.950 so he turned back and said to the patrician, 00:13:00.950 --> 00:13:04.950 "The gift you have bestowed upon me, O master, 00:13:04.950 --> 00:13:07.950 is not enough for all my cousins. 00:13:07.950 --> 00:13:11.950 Would you permit me to bring ten of them to you, 00:13:11.950 --> 00:13:14.950 so that they may receive from your generous bounty what I have received?" 00:13:14.950 --> 00:13:16.980 The patrician was pleased by this, 00:13:16.980 --> 00:13:21.980 and imagined he would kill ten of them instead of one. 00:13:21.980 --> 00:13:25.980 He signaled to the guards of the citadel to let him pass. 00:13:25.980 --> 00:13:28.980 Thus, 'Amr ibn al-'As was saved. 00:13:28.980 --> 00:13:34.139 When Egypt was conquered and surrendered to the Muslims, 00:13:34.139 --> 00:13:37.139 the Roman patrician met with 'Amr ibn al-'As, 00:13:37.139 --> 00:13:39.139 and asked him in astonishment, 00:13:39.139 --> 00:13:41.139 "Is it you?" 00:13:41.139 --> 00:13:44.139 He replied, "Yes, despite your treachery." 00:13:44.139 --> 00:13:47.370 'Amr ibn al-'As was, in addition to that, 00:13:47.370 --> 00:13:49.370 one of the most eloquent of people, 00:13:49.370 --> 00:13:51.370 and the most articulate in speech, 00:13:51.370 --> 00:13:54.370 to the point that the Commander of the Faithful, may Allah be pleased with him, 00:13:54.370 --> 00:13:59.370 saw in his eloquence a sign of the power of Allah, the Exalted. 00:13:59.370 --> 00:14:02.370 Whenever he saw a man who stammered, 00:14:02.370 --> 00:14:04.370 he would say, "I believe in Allah; 00:14:04.370 --> 00:14:08.370 the Creator of this man and the Creator of 'Amr ibn al-'As is One." 00:14:09.370 --> 00:14:12.399 Among the eloquent sayings of 'Amr ibn al-'As is his statement: 00:14:12.399 --> 00:14:14.399 "Men are of three types: 00:14:14.399 --> 00:14:19.399 a complete man, half a man, and one who is nothing. 00:14:19.399 --> 00:14:21.429 As for the complete man, 00:14:21.429 --> 00:14:24.429 he is the one whose religion and intellect are perfect; 00:14:24.429 --> 00:14:26.429 when he intends to decide on a matter, 00:14:26.429 --> 00:14:28.429 he consults those of sound judgment, 00:14:28.429 --> 00:14:30.429 and he remains successful. 00:14:30.429 --> 00:14:32.460 As for half a man, 00:14:32.460 --> 00:14:36.460 he is the one whom Allah has perfected in religion and intellect, 00:14:36.460 --> 00:14:38.460 but when he intends to decide on a matter, 00:14:38.460 --> 00:14:40.460 he consults no one, 00:14:40.460 --> 00:14:45.460 saying, 'Which person should I follow, abandoning my own opinion for theirs?' 00:14:45.460 --> 00:14:47.460 So he is sometimes right and sometimes wrong. 00:14:47.460 --> 00:14:49.460 As for the one who is nothing, 00:14:49.460 --> 00:14:52.460 he is the one who has neither religion nor intellect, 00:14:52.460 --> 00:14:55.460 so he remains mistaken and failing. 00:14:55.460 --> 00:14:59.460 By Allah, I even consult my servants regarding my affairs." 00:14:59.460 --> 00:15:02.720 When 'Amr ibn al-'As fell ill with his final illness, 00:15:02.720 --> 00:15:05.720 and felt the approach of death, 00:15:05.720 --> 00:15:07.720 he was overcome with emotion, 00:15:07.720 --> 00:15:09.720 and said to his son, 00:15:09.720 --> 00:15:13.720 "I have been in three states in which I have known myself: 00:15:13.720 --> 00:15:16.850 First, I was a disbeliever, 00:15:16.850 --> 00:15:18.850 and had I died then, 00:15:18.850 --> 00:15:20.850 the Fire would have been my certain fate. 00:15:21.039 --> 00:15:24.039 Then, when I pledged allegiance to the Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, 00:15:24.039 --> 00:15:27.039 I was the shyest of people before him, 00:15:27.039 --> 00:15:31.039 to the point that I never once filled my eyes with his sight. 00:15:31.039 --> 00:15:33.039 Had I died then, 00:15:33.039 --> 00:15:35.039 people would have said, 00:15:35.039 --> 00:15:37.039 'Congratulations to 'Amr, 00:15:37.039 --> 00:15:40.039 he embraced Islam in goodness and died in goodness.' 00:15:40.039 --> 00:15:43.039 Then I became involved in matters thereafter, 00:15:43.039 --> 00:15:46.039 and I do not know if they are for me or against me." 00:15:46.039 --> 00:15:50.039 Then he turned his face toward the wall, saying, 00:15:50.039 --> 00:15:53.039 "O Allah, You commanded us, but we disobeyed; 00:15:53.039 --> 00:15:56.039 You forbade us, but we did not refrain. 00:15:56.039 --> 00:16:01.039 Nothing can save us but Your pardon, O Most Merciful of the merciful." 00:16:01.039 --> 00:16:05.259 Then he placed his hand on his neck, 00:16:05.259 --> 00:16:08.259 raised his gaze to the sky, and said, 00:16:08.259 --> 00:16:11.259 "O Allah, I am not powerful, so I cannot seek victory; 00:16:11.259 --> 00:16:14.259 I am not innocent, so I cannot offer an excuse; 00:16:14.259 --> 00:16:16.259 and I am not arrogant, 00:16:16.259 --> 00:16:19.259 but I am a seeker of forgiveness. 00:16:19.259 --> 00:16:22.259 So forgive me, O Oft-Forgiving." 00:16:22.259 --> 00:16:26.360 He continued to repeat this until his soul departed. 00:16:33.470 --> 00:16:36.950 The greatest Messenger, 00:16:36.950 --> 00:16:39.950 peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, had said of him: 00:16:39.950 --> 00:16:42.950 "The people have embraced Islam, 00:16:42.950 --> 00:16:46.690 and 'Amr ibn al-'As has believed."