WEBVTT 00:00:00.020 --> 00:00:04.019 In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. 00:00:04.019 --> 00:00:09.429 Mawaddah Association presents: 00:00:09.429 --> 00:00:12.429 "Events in Ramadan." 00:00:12.429 --> 00:00:15.720 By Abd al-Rahman Ra'fat al-Basha. 00:00:15.720 --> 00:00:19.100 The Battle of Amorium. 00:00:19.100 --> 00:00:24.289 In the year 223 AH. 00:00:24.289 --> 00:00:26.289 During the blessed month of Ramadan. 00:00:26.289 --> 00:00:30.289 Al-Mu'tasim ibn al-Rashid stormed the fortresses of Amorium. 00:00:30.289 --> 00:00:33.289 With 150,000 of his soldiers. 00:00:33.289 --> 00:00:36.289 He conquered the city that had defied all conquerors. 00:00:36.289 --> 00:00:40.289 From the era of Alexander the Great until his own day. 00:00:40.289 --> 00:00:44.420 The Battle of Amorium was a shining star on the forehead of time. 00:00:44.420 --> 00:00:47.420 A pearl in the history of Islam. 00:00:47.420 --> 00:00:50.420 And a crown that adorned the brow of al-Mu'tasim. 00:00:50.420 --> 00:00:53.640 Regarding the impregnable, fortified Amorium. 00:00:53.640 --> 00:00:56.640 And its glorious, celebrated day. 00:00:56.640 --> 00:00:59.640 And the Caliph who shook its foundations. 00:00:59.640 --> 00:01:01.640 And dismantled its structures. 00:01:01.640 --> 00:01:04.640 It is an exciting story, whose warp is faith. 00:01:04.640 --> 00:01:06.739 And whose woof is chivalry. 00:01:06.739 --> 00:01:09.739 So come, let us contemplate this great day. 00:01:09.739 --> 00:01:12.739 For it is one of the magnificent days of Allah. 00:01:12.739 --> 00:01:15.959 This story begins. 00:01:15.959 --> 00:01:17.959 The day Babak al-Khurrami sent a letter. 00:01:17.959 --> 00:01:19.959 One of the tyrants of the Persians. 00:01:19.959 --> 00:01:22.959 Who rebelled against Islam and the Muslims. 00:01:22.959 --> 00:01:25.959 A letter to Theophilus, the King of the Romans. 00:01:25.959 --> 00:01:28.090 In which he said: 00:01:28.090 --> 00:01:31.090 "I have resisted the Muslims for twenty years. 00:01:31.090 --> 00:01:34.090 And I have finished off 250,000. 00:01:34.090 --> 00:01:36.090 Of their finest soldiers. 00:01:36.090 --> 00:01:39.090 And I have defeated seven of their greatest commanders. 00:01:39.090 --> 00:01:42.090 And I have exhausted thousands upon thousands. 00:01:42.090 --> 00:01:44.090 Of their precious wealth. 00:01:44.090 --> 00:01:47.090 And I have stood between them and their ability to tread upon the mountain passes. 00:01:47.090 --> 00:01:50.090 Of the region located in the highlands of Persia. 00:01:50.090 --> 00:01:53.090 And al-Mu'tasim al-'Abbasi. 00:01:53.090 --> 00:01:55.090 Wanted to take revenge for himself. 00:01:55.090 --> 00:01:57.090 And al-Ma'mun had carried out [campaigns] before him. 00:01:57.090 --> 00:02:00.090 So he sent all his armies to fight me. 00:02:00.090 --> 00:02:03.090 And he dispatched his elite men to combat me. 00:02:03.090 --> 00:02:06.090 To the point that among their soldiers. 00:02:06.090 --> 00:02:09.090 Was his tailor who sews his clothes. 00:02:09.090 --> 00:02:12.469 And his cook who prepares his food. 00:02:12.469 --> 00:02:15.469 So if you wish to take revenge for your religion and your people. 00:02:15.469 --> 00:02:17.469 Against the Muslims and their Caliph. 00:02:17.469 --> 00:02:20.469 Then seize this opportunity that will not be repeated. 00:02:20.469 --> 00:02:23.469 And beware of letting it slip away, for you will regret it. 00:02:23.469 --> 00:02:26.919 Where regret will be of no avail." 00:02:26.919 --> 00:02:29.919 Theophilus became certain of the truth of what was reported to him. 00:02:29.919 --> 00:02:31.919 By Babak al-Khurrami. 00:02:31.919 --> 00:02:33.919 And he knew that the Caliph of the Muslims. 00:02:33.919 --> 00:02:36.919 Had resolved to put an end to Babak's movement. 00:02:36.919 --> 00:02:39.949 No matter how high the price. 00:02:39.949 --> 00:02:42.949 So Theophilus did not want to miss this opportunity. 00:02:42.949 --> 00:02:44.949 For himself and his people. 00:02:44.949 --> 00:02:48.949 And he resolved to take revenge on the Caliphs of the Muslims. 00:02:48.949 --> 00:02:51.949 Who had forced them more than once. 00:02:51.949 --> 00:02:54.949 To pay the jizya while they were in a state of humiliation. 00:02:54.949 --> 00:02:57.949 So Theophilus prepared his equipment for the matter. 00:02:57.949 --> 00:02:59.949 And made his preparations. 00:02:59.949 --> 00:03:02.949 And headed toward the city of Zibatra. 00:03:02.949 --> 00:03:04.949 The birthplace of al-Mu'tasim. 00:03:04.949 --> 00:03:07.949 With 170,000 of his soldiers. 00:03:07.949 --> 00:03:11.949 And he descended upon the stricken city like death itself. 00:03:11.949 --> 00:03:13.949 He demolished its fortresses. 00:03:13.949 --> 00:03:15.949 And violated its land. 00:03:15.949 --> 00:03:17.949 And took its defenders captive. 00:03:17.949 --> 00:03:20.949 And enslaved its women and children. 00:03:20.949 --> 00:03:24.020 And all of that did not quench the rage in his chest. 00:03:24.020 --> 00:03:27.020 Until he mutilated his captives in the worst possible way. 00:03:27.020 --> 00:03:29.020 He gouged out their eyes. 00:03:29.020 --> 00:03:32.020 And cut off their noses and ears. 00:03:32.020 --> 00:03:35.020 And paraded them throughout his lands. 00:03:35.020 --> 00:03:38.110 Meanwhile, the Khurrami movement. 00:03:38.110 --> 00:03:40.110 Had breathed its last. 00:03:40.110 --> 00:03:43.110 Under the weight of al-Mu'tasim's massive armies. 00:03:43.110 --> 00:03:46.110 And its idol, Babak. 00:03:46.110 --> 00:03:50.110 Had fallen captive into the hands of the brave Muslim soldiers. 00:03:50.110 --> 00:03:54.110 And the Caliph al-Mu'tasim would go out to review his victorious army. 00:03:54.110 --> 00:03:59.110 And would bestow upon his triumphant commander two jeweled scarves. 00:03:59.110 --> 00:04:04.110 And would reward him and his soldiers with 20,000,000 dirhams. 00:04:04.110 --> 00:04:09.110 And while the celebrations were reaching their peak throughout the lands of the Muslims. 00:04:09.110 --> 00:04:14.110 And the soldiers were parading the head of Babak al-Khurrami. 00:04:14.110 --> 00:04:18.110 News of the Zibatra catastrophe reached al-Mu'tasim. 00:04:18.110 --> 00:04:23.110 And it was reported to him that a Muslim woman, one of the chaste and virtuous. 00:04:23.110 --> 00:04:26.110 Had fallen into the hands of a brute from among the Romans. 00:04:26.110 --> 00:04:29.110 And when he intended to enslave her, she cried out: 00:04:29.110 --> 00:04:32.110 "Wa Mu'tasima!" (Oh, Mu'tasim!) 00:04:32.110 --> 00:04:36.110 The call shook his chivalry and stirred his manhood. 00:04:36.110 --> 00:04:39.110 And he rose from his throne saying: 00:04:39.110 --> 00:04:41.110 "At your service, at your service!" 00:04:41.110 --> 00:04:44.240 Al-Mu'tasim rose immediately. 00:04:44.240 --> 00:04:47.240 And donned his armor and girded his weapon. 00:04:47.240 --> 00:04:50.240 And carried a bag and placed his provisions in it. 00:04:50.240 --> 00:04:52.240 And mounted his horse. 00:04:52.240 --> 00:04:55.240 And called for mobilization while at the gates of his palace. 00:04:55.240 --> 00:05:00.240 And swore not to return to it except as a martyr carried on shoulders. 00:05:00.240 --> 00:05:05.240 Or victorious, avenging the precious, stricken city. 00:05:05.240 --> 00:05:08.240 And the wronged Muslim woman. 00:05:08.240 --> 00:05:11.399 Then he left the Caliphate palace immediately. 00:05:11.399 --> 00:05:15.399 And stayed ten nights in the public house in Baghdad. 00:05:15.399 --> 00:05:19.399 To prepare the equipment, draw up the plan, and mobilize the army. 00:05:19.399 --> 00:05:26.459 And when he had prepared an equipment the likes of which no Caliph of the Muslims had ever prepared. 00:05:26.459 --> 00:05:30.459 He brought the judge of Baghdad, 'Abd al-Rahman ibn Ishaq. 00:05:30.459 --> 00:05:34.459 And brought with him three hundred men of integrity. 00:05:34.459 --> 00:05:38.459 And he had them witness his will and the distribution of his estate. 00:05:38.459 --> 00:05:40.459 He gave a third of his wealth to Allah. 00:05:40.459 --> 00:05:44.459 And the rest to his wives, children, and freedmen. 00:05:44.459 --> 00:05:48.459 And he took from all his wealth only his shroud. 00:05:48.459 --> 00:05:54.750 Al-Mu'tasim set out to meet the enemy of Allah and his own enemy with a massive army. 00:05:54.750 --> 00:05:57.750 In it, as the historians say. 00:05:57.750 --> 00:05:59.750 Were 80,000 piebald horses. 00:05:59.750 --> 00:06:02.750 And 80,000 black horses. 00:06:02.750 --> 00:06:06.750 And whatever Allah willed of catapults, equipment, and war machinery. 00:06:06.750 --> 00:06:10.750 And that is in addition to what the soldiers needed. 00:06:10.750 --> 00:06:13.750 Of leather water basins, water skins, and flasks. 00:06:13.750 --> 00:06:16.750 And he set his destination for Amorium. 00:06:16.750 --> 00:06:19.750 That is because it was the heart of Christianity. 00:06:19.750 --> 00:06:22.750 And the road leading to Constantinople. 00:06:22.750 --> 00:06:25.750 And the city that conquerors had desired. 00:06:25.750 --> 00:06:28.750 From the era of Alexander until the day of al-Mu'tasim. 00:06:28.750 --> 00:06:32.750 But it defied them and turned them back defeated. 00:06:32.750 --> 00:06:37.750 And that was only because it had fortified walls. 00:06:37.750 --> 00:06:39.750 And towering battlements. 00:06:39.750 --> 00:06:42.750 And furthermore, it was the city of the ruling family. 00:06:42.750 --> 00:06:46.750 And the birthplace of Theophilus, the Emperor of the Romans. 00:06:46.750 --> 00:06:51.850 Al-Mu'tasim sent a large division of his massive army to Ankara. 00:06:51.850 --> 00:06:54.850 To confront Theophilus and distract him from himself. 00:06:54.850 --> 00:06:58.850 And he headed with the rest of his army toward Amorium. 00:06:58.850 --> 00:07:01.850 And when he approached the great city. 00:07:01.850 --> 00:07:04.850 He divided his army into three armies. 00:07:04.850 --> 00:07:08.850 And assigned to each of them a commander to lead it. 00:07:08.850 --> 00:07:13.850 And designated for each army a day to fight in rotation. 00:07:13.850 --> 00:07:15.850 And when the first army arrived. 00:07:15.850 --> 00:07:18.850 It circled Amorium twice. 00:07:18.850 --> 00:07:21.850 Then took its position at its walls. 00:07:21.850 --> 00:07:23.879 Then the second army followed it. 00:07:23.879 --> 00:07:25.879 And circled it once. 00:07:25.879 --> 00:07:28.879 And occupied its designated position. 00:07:28.879 --> 00:07:30.879 Then the third army followed them. 00:07:30.879 --> 00:07:33.879 And settled in the place allotted to it. 00:07:33.879 --> 00:07:38.040 And in the first week of the blessed month of Ramadan. 00:07:38.040 --> 00:07:41.040 In the year 223 AH. 00:07:41.040 --> 00:07:47.040 The catapults had been set up around the walls of Amorium on every side. 00:07:47.040 --> 00:07:50.040 And the three Muslim armies. 00:07:50.040 --> 00:07:52.040 Were surrounding the fortified city. 00:07:52.040 --> 00:07:56.040 Like waves surrounding an island in the sea. 00:07:56.040 --> 00:08:00.100 And encircling it like shackles on wrists. 00:08:00.100 --> 00:08:03.100 The first army fought in its turn. 00:08:03.100 --> 00:08:06.100 And performed the greatest of deeds in its fighting. 00:08:06.100 --> 00:08:09.100 Then the second army followed them in its turn. 00:08:09.100 --> 00:08:12.100 And exceeded the first army and surpassed it. 00:08:12.100 --> 00:08:15.100 Then the third army followed them. 00:08:15.100 --> 00:08:18.100 And it was under the command of al-Mu'tasim himself. 00:08:18.100 --> 00:08:21.100 And he displayed such forms of courage and types of skill. 00:08:21.100 --> 00:08:25.100 That it almost made people forget the merit of the two previous armies. 00:08:25.100 --> 00:08:30.100 And the fighting continued in this manner for several days. 00:08:30.100 --> 00:08:33.100 However, the city's towering walls. 00:08:33.100 --> 00:08:37.100 Stood firm against the blows of the Muslims' catapults. 00:08:37.100 --> 00:08:40.100 And were not significantly affected by them. 00:08:40.100 --> 00:08:44.100 But that did not weaken the resolve of al-Mu'tasim and his army. 00:08:44.100 --> 00:08:47.100 And it did not trouble them, due to their confidence in victory. 00:08:47.100 --> 00:08:50.100 Rather, they were troubled by another matter. 00:08:50.100 --> 00:08:53.100 Which Abu Bakr al-Suli narrated, saying: 00:08:53.100 --> 00:08:57.100 Ya'qub ibn Ja'far ibn Sulayman narrated, saying: 00:08:57.100 --> 00:09:00.100 "I campaigned with al-Mu'tasim on the day of Amorium. 00:09:00.100 --> 00:09:03.100 And there was a man from the Romans who would stand every day. 00:09:03.100 --> 00:09:06.100 On one of the walls of the city. 00:09:06.100 --> 00:09:09.100 And would insult the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him. 00:09:09.100 --> 00:09:12.100 In Arabic, with the most vile insults. 00:09:12.100 --> 00:09:14.100 And would mention his name and lineage. 00:09:14.100 --> 00:09:17.100 This weighed heavily on the Muslims. 00:09:17.100 --> 00:09:19.100 And stirred their emotions. 00:09:19.100 --> 00:09:23.100 And they began to shoot arrows at him, but they would not hit him. 00:09:23.100 --> 00:09:26.100 And I was a good archer. 00:09:26.100 --> 00:09:29.100 So while the man was performing that heinous act. 00:09:29.100 --> 00:09:31.100 I aimed at him with an arrow. 00:09:31.100 --> 00:09:33.100 And I hit his throat. 00:09:33.100 --> 00:09:35.100 He fell from atop the wall. 00:09:35.100 --> 00:09:37.100 The Muslims shouted 'Allahu Akbar' and praised Allah. 00:09:37.100 --> 00:09:40.100 And al-Mu'tasim was pleased and said: 00:09:40.100 --> 00:09:42.100 'Bring me the man who shot him.' 00:09:42.100 --> 00:09:44.100 So I stood before him. 00:09:44.100 --> 00:09:47.100 And he welcomed me most warmly. 00:09:47.100 --> 00:09:49.100 And praised me most generously. 00:09:49.100 --> 00:09:51.100 Then he said: 00:09:51.100 --> 00:09:52.100 'Who are you?' 00:09:52.100 --> 00:09:54.100 So I told him my lineage. 00:09:54.100 --> 00:09:56.100 And I was from Banu Hashim. 00:09:56.100 --> 00:09:57.100 So he said: 00:09:57.100 --> 00:10:00.100 'Praise be to Allah who made the reward for this arrow. 00:10:00.100 --> 00:10:03.100 For a man from my own family.' 00:10:03.100 --> 00:10:05.100 Then he turned to me and said: 00:10:05.100 --> 00:10:08.100 'Sell me your reward for this arrow.' 00:10:08.100 --> 00:10:09.100 I said: 00:10:09.100 --> 00:10:13.100 'The reward is not something that can be sold, O Commander of the Faithful.' 00:10:13.100 --> 00:10:14.100 He said: 00:10:14.100 --> 00:10:16.100 I desire to reward you. 00:10:16.100 --> 00:10:18.100 He offered me one hundred thousand dirhams. 00:10:18.100 --> 00:10:21.100 I said, "I will not sell my reward." 00:10:21.100 --> 00:10:23.100 He kept increasing the amount, 00:10:23.100 --> 00:10:26.100 until it reached five hundred thousand dirhams. 00:10:26.100 --> 00:10:27.100 I said, 00:10:27.100 --> 00:10:30.100 "I will not sell my reward for the world and all that is in it." 00:10:30.100 --> 00:10:34.100 "However, I have gifted you half the reward of this specific military campaign." 00:10:34.100 --> 00:10:37.100 "And Allah is my witness to that." 00:10:37.100 --> 00:10:40.100 Al-Mu'tasim was overjoyed and said, 00:10:40.100 --> 00:10:42.100 "May Allah reward you with goodness." 00:10:42.100 --> 00:10:46.100 He then turned away from me to fight the enemy of Allah and his own enemy. 00:10:46.100 --> 00:10:49.299 The Muslim siege engines continued, 00:10:49.299 --> 00:10:53.299 striking the city for ten consecutive days. 00:10:53.299 --> 00:10:57.299 Hoping to create a breach in it, but they did not succeed. 00:10:57.299 --> 00:11:02.299 Then, destiny aided Al-Mu'tasim through a man from among the Muslims. 00:11:02.299 --> 00:11:05.299 The Byzantines had captured him some years prior. 00:11:05.299 --> 00:11:08.299 He had converted to Christianity and resided in Amorium. 00:11:08.299 --> 00:11:13.389 But as soon as he saw the Islamic army raising the call to prayer across the horizon, 00:11:13.389 --> 00:11:16.389 and heard the declaration of Allah's oneness and greatness, 00:11:16.389 --> 00:11:19.389 his soul yearned for the religion of Allah. 00:11:19.389 --> 00:11:22.389 Faith in Allah awakened in his heart. 00:11:22.389 --> 00:11:25.389 He snuck out of the fortified city, 00:11:25.389 --> 00:11:27.389 and sought refuge with the Muslim armies. 00:11:27.389 --> 00:11:29.389 He declared the two testimonies of faith. 00:11:29.389 --> 00:11:32.389 He revealed a great secret to Al-Mu'tasim. 00:11:32.389 --> 00:11:34.389 He informed Al-Mu'tasim, 00:11:34.389 --> 00:11:38.389 that a section of the city wall had collapsed, 00:11:38.389 --> 00:11:41.389 due to a violent flood that had swept through it. 00:11:41.389 --> 00:11:46.389 The Byzantine Emperor Theophilus had written to his governor in Amorium to rebuild it. 00:11:46.389 --> 00:11:48.389 The governor had been negligent in doing so. 00:11:49.389 --> 00:11:51.389 As soon as he learned of your approach, 00:11:51.389 --> 00:11:55.389 he rushed to build the outer face of the wall with stones, 00:11:55.389 --> 00:11:58.389 while leaving the interior deceptively hollow. 00:11:58.389 --> 00:12:01.389 He then guided Al-Mu'tasim to that exact spot. 00:12:01.389 --> 00:12:05.389 The Caliph directed the siege engines toward that location. 00:12:05.389 --> 00:12:09.389 He began to bombard it with a continuous, relentless barrage. 00:12:09.389 --> 00:12:11.389 Until the wall cracked, 00:12:11.389 --> 00:12:13.389 and a breach opened up in it. 00:12:13.389 --> 00:12:14.580 At that moment, 00:12:15.580 --> 00:12:18.580 the Muslim soldiers rushed toward the open breach, 00:12:18.580 --> 00:12:23.580 like the thirsty rushing to a cool spring on a scorching day. 00:12:23.580 --> 00:12:29.580 They crowded shoulder to shoulder to meet the enemy of Allah and their own enemy inside the city. 00:12:29.580 --> 00:12:34.580 A fierce battle ensued between the small group that managed to penetrate Amorium, 00:12:34.580 --> 00:12:37.580 and the vast multitude of the Byzantines. 00:12:37.580 --> 00:12:39.580 It was a brutal conflict. 00:12:39.580 --> 00:12:42.580 In which nothing could be heard but the clashing of swords, 00:12:42.580 --> 00:12:44.580 the murmurs of the combatants, 00:12:44.580 --> 00:12:48.649 the rattling of spears, and the groans of the wounded. 00:12:48.649 --> 00:12:52.649 The sun of the seventeenth day of Ramadan did not set, 00:12:52.649 --> 00:12:55.649 in the year two hundred and twenty-three after the Hijrah, 00:12:55.649 --> 00:12:59.649 until the ancient and formidable city, 00:12:59.649 --> 00:13:03.649 had been opened before the victorious Muslim armies. 00:13:03.649 --> 00:13:06.779 Al-Mu'tasim ibn al-Rashid was seen, 00:13:06.779 --> 00:13:11.779 entering the city of Amorium on the back of his reddish-brown horse. 00:13:11.779 --> 00:13:14.779 His head was bowed in submission to Allah, 00:13:14.779 --> 00:13:16.779 and in gratitude for His blessings. 00:13:16.779 --> 00:13:20.970 On this day of Amorium, the Muslims gained, 00:13:20.970 --> 00:13:24.970 spoils that could not be counted and were beyond price. 00:13:24.970 --> 00:13:27.970 They took seventy thousand of its inhabitants captive. 00:13:27.970 --> 00:13:31.970 They brought the spoils and the captives out to the outskirts of the city. 00:13:31.970 --> 00:13:34.970 Then Al-Mu'tasim ordered that Amorium be dealt with; 00:13:34.970 --> 00:13:36.970 its walls were leveled, 00:13:36.970 --> 00:13:38.970 its structures demolished, 00:13:38.970 --> 00:13:40.970 and its landmarks erased. 00:13:40.970 --> 00:13:43.970 Fires were set to burn in it for many days, 00:13:43.970 --> 00:13:46.970 until he left it as a barren, leveled plain, 00:13:46.970 --> 00:13:50.129 as if it had not flourished just yesterday. 00:13:50.129 --> 00:13:54.129 The victorious Caliph returned to Baghdad, the seat of his kingdom. 00:13:54.129 --> 00:13:58.129 The glad tidings of the great conquest had preceded him. 00:13:58.129 --> 00:14:00.129 The people came out in their entirety, 00:14:00.129 --> 00:14:03.129 welcoming him with the declaration of Allah's oneness, 00:14:03.129 --> 00:14:05.129 greeting him with the declaration of His greatness, 00:14:05.129 --> 00:14:09.129 and scattering basil and flowers upon his procession. 00:14:09.129 --> 00:14:12.129 Poets met him with panegyrics. 00:14:12.129 --> 00:14:17.129 Abu Tammam recited before him his famous ode that will endure for all time. 00:14:17.129 --> 00:14:20.129 Addressing him in it, he said: 00:14:20.129 --> 00:14:24.289 "O Caliph of Allah, may Allah reward your efforts on behalf of, 00:14:24.289 --> 00:14:27.289 the root of religion, Islam, and noble lineage." 00:14:27.289 --> 00:14:31.350 "You sought the greatest comfort, yet you saw it could not be, 00:14:31.350 --> 00:14:34.350 attained except upon a bridge of hardship." 00:14:34.350 --> 00:14:37.350 "If there is any kinship among the vicissitudes of time, 00:14:37.350 --> 00:14:41.350 that is connected or a bond that is not severed," 00:14:41.350 --> 00:14:44.350 "then between your days in which you were granted victory, 00:14:44.350 --> 00:14:48.350 and the days of Badr, there is the closest of kinships." 00:14:48.350 --> 00:14:50.419 And it is no wonder, 00:14:50.419 --> 00:14:53.419 for Badr was on the seventeenth of Ramadan, 00:14:53.419 --> 00:14:57.419 and Amorium was on the seventeenth of it as well. 00:14:57.419 --> 00:14:59.419 How excellent is Ramadan, 00:14:59.419 --> 00:15:03.419 and how excellent are its glorious, blessed days.