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 --> 00:00:22,579 to present to you glimpses from the lives of the Companions. 4 00:00:22,579 --> 00:00:25,579 By Abd al-Rahman Ra'fat al-Basha, 5 00:00:25,579 --> 00:00:30,390 may Allah have mercy upon him. 6 00:00:30,390 --> 00:00:35,390 Abu 'Aqil al-Aniqi, may Allah be pleased with him. 7 00:00:50,750 --> 00:00:54,750 The affair of Musaylimah the Liar grew grave and intensified. 8 00:00:54,750 --> 00:00:58,750 Forty thousand of his people, the Banu Hanifah, had gathered for him, 9 00:00:58,750 --> 00:01:02,750 and they were supported by about twenty thousand from their allies. 10 00:01:02,750 --> 00:01:07,750 His army was the greatest army the Arabs had known up to that day, 11 00:01:07,750 --> 00:01:14,750 and at the same time, it was many times larger than the army of the Caliph of the Muslims, 12 00:01:14,750 --> 00:01:17,750 Abu Bakr al-Siddiq, may Allah be pleased with him. 13 00:01:17,750 --> 00:01:22,819 The imminent danger that had befallen the Muslims at that time 14 00:01:22,819 --> 00:01:25,819 was not limited to Musaylimah the Liar 15 00:01:25,819 --> 00:01:28,819 and his massive, unified, and cohesive army; 16 00:01:28,819 --> 00:01:33,819 rather, this danger also manifested in the other apostates 17 00:01:33,819 --> 00:01:37,819 who, in their entirety, believed in Allah, 18 00:01:37,819 --> 00:01:40,819 testified that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, 19 00:01:40,819 --> 00:01:43,819 and did not dispute the establishment of prayer. 20 00:01:43,819 --> 00:01:49,819 However, they demanded that the Caliph cease requiring them to pay the zakat. 21 00:01:49,819 --> 00:01:52,939 As for Musaylimah the Liar and those with him, 22 00:01:52,939 --> 00:01:58,939 they denied the prophethood of Muhammad, may the best of prayers and purest of peace be upon him, 23 00:01:58,939 --> 00:02:02,939 disbelieved in the Noble Book that Allah had revealed to him, 24 00:02:02,939 --> 00:02:06,939 and believed in a prophet who fabricated lies against Allah. 25 00:02:06,939 --> 00:02:10,939 If this immense force were destined to be victorious, 26 00:02:10,939 --> 00:02:15,939 it would lead to the eradication of Islam and its people, 27 00:02:15,939 --> 00:02:19,939 and Allah would not be worshipped in the Arabian Peninsula after that day. 28 00:02:19,939 --> 00:02:24,039 Al-Siddiq, may Allah be pleased with him, dispatched against Musaylimah the Liar 29 00:02:24,039 --> 00:02:28,039 an army led by 'Ikrimah ibn Abi Jahl. 30 00:02:28,039 --> 00:02:32,039 'Ikrimah, if you do not know, was a knight of the battlefield, 31 00:02:32,039 --> 00:02:35,039 a hero of conflicts, and a son of wars. 32 00:02:35,039 --> 00:02:39,169 Furthermore, he placed under his banner heroic, formidable men, 33 00:02:39,169 --> 00:02:43,169 brave warriors whose swords were accustomed to victory. 34 00:02:43,169 --> 00:02:48,259 But Musaylimah dealt them a blow that shook the Muslims' composure 35 00:02:48,259 --> 00:02:52,259 and stirred the anger of their Caliph, Abu Bakr al-Siddiq. 36 00:02:52,259 --> 00:02:56,259 He quickly sent a messenger to prevent the defeated army 37 00:02:56,259 --> 00:03:01,259 from returning to Medina, so as not to weaken the resolve of the Muslims, 38 00:03:01,259 --> 00:03:04,259 and ordered him to remain where he was. 39 00:03:04,259 --> 00:03:09,259 Then he wrote him a letter blaming him for his haste 40 00:03:09,259 --> 00:03:12,259 before completing his numbers and equipment, 41 00:03:12,259 --> 00:03:15,259 telling him, "Do not let me see you, and do not let me see you, 42 00:03:15,259 --> 00:03:18,259 and do not return to Medina, 43 00:03:18,259 --> 00:03:21,259 lest you weaken the resolve of the Muslims 44 00:03:21,259 --> 00:03:23,259 and break their spirit." 45 00:03:23,259 --> 00:03:27,620 The defeat of 'Ikrimah shook the consciences of the Muslims deeply, 46 00:03:27,620 --> 00:03:32,620 and opened their eyes more than ever before to the impending disaster. 47 00:03:32,620 --> 00:03:36,620 The Caliph rose to save Islam and the Muslims 48 00:03:36,620 --> 00:03:38,620 from this surrounding danger. 49 00:03:38,620 --> 00:03:41,620 He cleared some fronts of the Muslim soldiers 50 00:03:41,620 --> 00:03:46,620 and temporarily overlooked the apostates who refused to pay the zakat, 51 00:03:46,620 --> 00:03:51,620 all to mobilize for Musaylimah the largest army he could muster, 52 00:03:51,620 --> 00:03:57,620 and to provide this army with the greatest power to ensure victory, by the permission of Allah. 53 00:03:57,620 --> 00:04:01,680 Al-Siddiq formed his army from three legions: 54 00:04:01,680 --> 00:04:04,680 The first was the legion of the Muhajirun (Emigrants), 55 00:04:04,680 --> 00:04:10,680 who had endured what they endured for the sake of Allah and His Messenger, peace be upon him. 56 00:04:10,680 --> 00:04:13,680 They suffered for the sake of the call what they suffered, 57 00:04:13,680 --> 00:04:17,680 and built with their own hands the edifice of Islam, brick by brick, 58 00:04:17,680 --> 00:04:20,680 mixing its soil with their sweat and tears. 59 00:04:20,680 --> 00:04:24,680 The second was the legion of the righteous Ansar, 60 00:04:24,680 --> 00:04:28,680 who supported the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, 61 00:04:28,680 --> 00:04:33,680 aided him, protected him, and fought the enemies of Allah alongside him, 62 00:04:33,680 --> 00:04:36,680 as the wars bore witness to them. 63 00:04:36,680 --> 00:04:40,709 The third was the legion of the sons of the desert, 64 00:04:40,709 --> 00:04:43,709 the people of strength, might, and courage. 65 00:04:43,709 --> 00:04:46,709 He then placed in the army a group of the Qur'an reciters 66 00:04:46,709 --> 00:04:49,709 who carried the Book of Allah, 67 00:04:49,709 --> 00:04:52,709 and he was protective of them and cherished them. 68 00:04:52,709 --> 00:04:55,709 Then he added to them the veterans of Badr, 69 00:04:55,709 --> 00:04:58,709 even though he used to say about them: 70 00:04:58,709 --> 00:05:04,709 "I do not employ this elite group of the Companions of the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, in war; 71 00:05:04,709 --> 00:05:07,709 rather, I keep them for righteous deeds, 72 00:05:07,709 --> 00:05:10,709 for Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He, 73 00:05:10,709 --> 00:05:12,709 may avert calamity through them 74 00:05:12,709 --> 00:05:16,709 more than the victory that comes by their hands." 75 00:05:16,709 --> 00:05:19,709 Then he entrusted the banner of the army to the Drawn Sword of Allah, 76 00:05:19,709 --> 00:05:21,709 Khalid ibn al-Walid. 77 00:05:21,709 --> 00:05:24,709 The two hosts met on the land of Yamamah. 78 00:05:24,709 --> 00:05:28,709 Musaylimah arrayed his soldiers at 'Aqraba, 79 00:05:28,709 --> 00:05:32,709 and placed the women, children, and wealth behind the army. 80 00:05:32,709 --> 00:05:36,740 Khalid arrayed his soldiers opposite his enemy's army, 81 00:05:36,740 --> 00:05:41,740 and the two armies stood waiting for the moment of the crushing attack. 82 00:05:41,740 --> 00:05:46,740 Each of the two parties saw with the certainty of faith that this battle 83 00:05:46,740 --> 00:05:49,740 was a battle of annihilation or survival. 84 00:05:49,740 --> 00:05:54,060 Sharhabil ibn Musaylimah the Liar stood, 85 00:05:54,060 --> 00:05:58,060 stirring the feelings of pride and tribal zeal among his people. 86 00:05:58,060 --> 00:05:59,060 He said: 87 00:05:59,060 --> 00:06:01,060 "O Banu Hanifah, 88 00:06:01,060 --> 00:06:04,060 this day is a day of jealousy and defense of honor. 89 00:06:04,060 --> 00:06:06,060 If you are defeated, 90 00:06:06,060 --> 00:06:10,060 you will see the women who sought protection with you taken as captives. 91 00:06:10,060 --> 00:06:13,060 So defend your women and children, 92 00:06:13,060 --> 00:06:16,060 fight for your lineage and ancestry, 93 00:06:16,060 --> 00:06:19,060 and charge at your enemy." 94 00:06:19,060 --> 00:06:21,060 He had barely finished his words 95 00:06:21,060 --> 00:06:24,060 when his people poured onto the ranks of the Muslims 96 00:06:24,060 --> 00:06:26,060 like the falling of rocks, 97 00:06:26,060 --> 00:06:29,060 and flowed upon them like a torrent. 98 00:06:29,060 --> 00:06:32,060 The rank of the Muslims bent in defeat, 99 00:06:32,060 --> 00:06:35,060 and Khalid ibn al-Walid was displaced from his tent, 100 00:06:35,060 --> 00:06:39,060 and his wife, Umm Tamim, fell into their grasp. 101 00:06:39,060 --> 00:06:41,060 They intended to kill her, 102 00:06:41,060 --> 00:06:45,129 were it not for a man among them who granted her protection, so she was spared. 103 00:06:45,129 --> 00:06:49,129 Khalid received the shock with a steady heart and firm resolve, 104 00:06:49,129 --> 00:06:53,129 because no doubt had entered his heart regarding the victory of Allah, 105 00:06:53,129 --> 00:06:56,129 nor had any despair touched him regarding His support. 106 00:06:56,129 --> 00:06:58,129 So he thought and consulted, 107 00:06:58,129 --> 00:07:02,129 and his thinking and consultation led him to realize that the cause of the defeat 108 00:07:02,129 --> 00:07:07,129 was the three legions of the Muslims relying upon one another. 109 00:07:07,129 --> 00:07:09,259 So he shouted to the army: 110 00:07:09,259 --> 00:07:11,259 "Separate, O soldiers! 111 00:07:11,259 --> 00:07:15,259 Separate, so that the valor of each group among you may be known, 112 00:07:15,259 --> 00:07:18,259 and so the Muslims may know from where they were attacked." 113 00:07:18,259 --> 00:07:24,259 The shout of Khalid ibn al-Walid stirred the Muslims' zeal for the religion of Allah, 114 00:07:24,259 --> 00:07:28,259 ignited their longing for martyrdom in the way of Allah, 115 00:07:28,259 --> 00:07:31,259 and lifted the veils from their eyes, 116 00:07:31,259 --> 00:07:36,259 so they saw the palaces of Paradise with their doors open to receive the martyrs. 117 00:07:36,259 --> 00:07:40,259 At that moment, there emerged in the ranks of the Muslims acts of heroism 118 00:07:40,259 --> 00:07:44,259 that the hand of history has never recorded anything more magnificent or greater. 119 00:07:44,259 --> 00:07:47,259 There appeared among the soldiers of Allah acts of manhood 120 00:07:47,259 --> 00:07:51,259 that the annals of history have never known anything more noble or honorable. 121 00:07:51,259 --> 00:07:54,259 At the forefront of these heroes 122 00:07:54,259 --> 00:07:56,259 was the hero of this story of ours, 123 00:07:56,259 --> 00:08:00,259 'Abd al-Rahman ibn 'Abd Allah ibn Tha'labah al-Ansari, 124 00:08:00,259 --> 00:08:03,259 known by the kunya Abu 'Aqil al-Aniqi. 125 00:08:03,259 --> 00:08:07,420 Let us listen to 'Abd Allah ibn 'Umar ibn al-Khattab, 126 00:08:07,420 --> 00:08:11,420 for he is the one who will narrate to us his wonderful story. 127 00:08:11,420 --> 00:08:13,639 'Abd Allah ibn 'Umar said: 128 00:08:13,639 --> 00:08:17,639 "When the Muslims lined up for battle on the day of Yamamah, 129 00:08:17,639 --> 00:08:21,639 Abu 'Aqil al-Aniqi was boiling like a cauldron, 130 00:08:21,639 --> 00:08:23,639 and leaping like a lion. 131 00:08:23,639 --> 00:08:25,639 No sooner had the fighting broken out 132 00:08:25,639 --> 00:08:29,639 than he placed his own neck before the necks of the Muslims, 133 00:08:29,639 --> 00:08:32,639 and held his chest before their chests. 134 00:08:32,639 --> 00:08:36,700 He was the first to be struck by an arrow that day. 135 00:08:36,700 --> 00:08:40,700 The arrow entered the chest of Abu 'Aqil al-Aniqi 136 00:08:40,700 --> 00:08:42,700 and lodged between his shoulders, 137 00:08:42,700 --> 00:08:44,700 without touching his heart; 138 00:08:44,700 --> 00:08:47,700 had it touched it, he would have died instantly. 139 00:08:47,700 --> 00:08:49,700 He reached his hand toward the arrow, 140 00:08:49,700 --> 00:08:51,700 pulled it out from between his shoulders, 141 00:08:51,700 --> 00:08:53,700 and stood fighting, 142 00:08:53,700 --> 00:08:56,700 until the wound weakened his left side. 143 00:08:56,700 --> 00:08:59,700 Then, it was not long before his strength failed, 144 00:08:59,700 --> 00:09:02,700 and he fell in his place, advancing and not retreating. 145 00:09:02,700 --> 00:09:06,740 We carried him to his tent and placed him inside it, 146 00:09:06,740 --> 00:09:09,769 and he was not far from us. 147 00:09:09,769 --> 00:09:11,769 When the heat of the battle intensified, 148 00:09:11,769 --> 00:09:13,769 and the Muslims were hard-pressed, 149 00:09:13,769 --> 00:09:17,769 Abu 'Aqil heard al-Bara' ibn Malik al-Ansari calling out: 150 00:09:17,769 --> 00:09:20,769 'Where are you, O company of the Ansar? 151 00:09:20,769 --> 00:09:22,769 Where are you? 152 00:09:22,769 --> 00:09:24,769 I am al-Bara' ibn Malik al-Ansari! 153 00:09:24,769 --> 00:09:27,769 Come to me, O company of the Ansar!' 154 00:09:27,769 --> 00:09:30,799 Then he saw Ma'n ibn 'Adi al-Ansari 155 00:09:30,799 --> 00:09:32,799 breaking the scabbard of his sword, 156 00:09:32,799 --> 00:09:34,799 leaping to the front, 157 00:09:34,799 --> 00:09:37,799 climbing a rise of land, and shouting: 158 00:09:37,799 --> 00:09:40,799 'For the sake of Allah, O company of the Ansar! 159 00:09:40,799 --> 00:09:43,799 Charge! Charge at your enemy! 160 00:09:43,799 --> 00:09:47,799 O you who supported the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him!'" 161 00:09:47,799 --> 00:09:49,860 'Abd Allah ibn 'Umar said: 162 00:09:49,860 --> 00:09:51,860 "I looked at Abu 'Aqil, 163 00:09:51,860 --> 00:09:54,860 and I saw him rising to his feet. 164 00:09:54,860 --> 00:09:56,860 I approached him and said: 165 00:09:56,860 --> 00:09:58,860 'What do you want, O uncle?' 166 00:09:58,860 --> 00:09:59,860 He said: 167 00:09:59,860 --> 00:10:02,860 'Did you not hear al-Bara' ibn Malik al-Ansari 168 00:10:02,860 --> 00:10:05,860 and Ma'n ibn 'Adi calling me?' 169 00:10:05,860 --> 00:10:08,860 I said: 'They did not call you, 170 00:10:08,860 --> 00:10:11,860 nor did they name anyone specifically. 171 00:10:11,860 --> 00:10:14,860 Besides, they do not mean the wounded.' 172 00:10:14,860 --> 00:10:15,860 He said: 173 00:10:15,860 --> 00:10:17,860 'They are calling the Ansar, 174 00:10:17,860 --> 00:10:20,860 and I am one of them, 175 00:10:20,860 --> 00:10:23,860 and it is upon me to answer them, even if by crawling.' 176 00:10:23,860 --> 00:10:25,860 Then he girded himself, 177 00:10:25,860 --> 00:10:27,860 took the sword in his right hand, 178 00:10:27,860 --> 00:10:29,860 and began to call out: 179 00:10:29,860 --> 00:10:32,860 'O Ansar! Charge! Charge like the day of Hunayn!' 180 00:10:32,860 --> 00:10:36,860 'O Ansar! Charge! Charge like the day of Hunayn!' 181 00:10:36,860 --> 00:10:39,860 The Ansar gathered and aligned, 182 00:10:39,860 --> 00:10:42,860 advanced before the Muslims, and fought selflessly, 183 00:10:42,860 --> 00:10:46,860 until they forced Musaylimah and those with him into the Garden of Death. 184 00:10:46,860 --> 00:10:49,860 We, the Muhajirun, mingled with them, 185 00:10:49,860 --> 00:10:52,860 and our swords joined their swords. 186 00:10:52,860 --> 00:10:54,860 Then, I caught a glimpse, 187 00:10:54,860 --> 00:10:58,860 and there was Abu 'Aqil at the gate of the Garden of Death, 188 00:10:58,860 --> 00:11:01,860 his arm having been severed from the shoulder 189 00:11:01,860 --> 00:11:03,860 and fallen to the ground, 190 00:11:03,860 --> 00:11:08,860 and he had fourteen mortal wounds upon him. 191 00:11:08,860 --> 00:11:12,860 I stood over him while he was dying, in his last breath, and said: 192 00:11:12,860 --> 00:11:14,860 'Abu 'Aqil!' 193 00:11:14,860 --> 00:11:18,860 He said with a slurred tongue: 'Labbayk (At your service).' 194 00:11:18,860 --> 00:11:20,860 'Who won?' 195 00:11:20,860 --> 00:11:22,860 'Tell me, who won?' 196 00:11:22,860 --> 00:11:24,860 I said: 'Rejoice! 197 00:11:24,860 --> 00:11:29,860 For the enemy of Allah and the enemy of His Messenger, peace be upon him, has been killed.' 198 00:11:29,860 --> 00:11:32,860 He raised his finger to the sky, 199 00:11:32,860 --> 00:11:35,860 I said, "Allah, the Almighty and Majestic, is praising him." 200 00:11:35,860 --> 00:11:39,019 Then he breathed his last. 201 00:11:39,019 --> 00:11:41,019 'Abdullah Ibn 'Umar said: 202 00:11:41,019 --> 00:11:43,019 "When I returned to Medina, 203 00:11:43,019 --> 00:11:47,019 I informed the Faruq of the entire story of Abu 'Aqil. 204 00:11:47,019 --> 00:11:50,019 His eyes welled with tears, and he said: 205 00:11:50,019 --> 00:11:54,019 'May Allah have vast mercy upon Abu 'Aqil. 206 00:11:54,019 --> 00:11:59,019 For he never ceased asking Allah for martyrdom and persisted in seeking it, 207 00:11:59,019 --> 00:12:01,149 until he attained it. 208 00:12:01,149 --> 00:12:08,149 He was, to my knowledge, among the best of the Companions of our Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, 209 00:12:08,149 --> 00:12:13,259 and the elite among his followers.' 210 00:12:13,259 --> 00:12:17,259 Abu 'Aqil never ceased asking Allah for martyrdom, 211 00:12:17,259 --> 00:12:21,419 and seeking it from Him, until he attained it. 212 00:12:21,419 --> 00:12:27,860 And he was indeed among the best of the Companions of our Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, 213 00:12:27,860 --> 00:12:30,379 [as testified by] 'Umar Ibn al-Khattab, 214 00:12:35,379 --> 00:12:39,330 in these words of praise."