1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:03,000 In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. 2 00:00:15,699 --> 00:00:17,699 The Mawaddah Association is pleased 3 00:00:17,699 --> 00:00:21,699 to present to you portraits from the lives of the Companions, 4 00:00:21,699 --> 00:00:25,769 by Abd al-Rahman Ra'fat al-Basha, 5 00:00:25,769 --> 00:00:30,170 may Allah have mercy upon him. 6 00:00:30,170 --> 00:00:35,170 Al-Abbas ibn Abd al-Muttalib, may Allah be pleased with him. 7 00:00:48,740 --> 00:00:54,920 It reached the leader of Quraysh, Abd al-Muttalib ibn Hashim, 8 00:00:54,920 --> 00:00:57,920 that there was a woman of intellect and beauty 9 00:00:57,920 --> 00:01:01,920 among the daughters of the kings of Rabi'ah, named Nutaylah. 10 00:01:01,920 --> 00:01:05,920 He sought her out, proposed to her, and married her. 11 00:01:05,920 --> 00:01:09,920 She bore him a child who was handsome and fair, 12 00:01:09,920 --> 00:01:11,920 of radiant appearance. 13 00:01:11,920 --> 00:01:15,920 He rejoiced greatly at his birth, then named him al-Abbas. 14 00:01:15,920 --> 00:01:21,140 Not two years had passed since the joy of the elder of Makkah, 15 00:01:21,140 --> 00:01:25,140 when his household was graced with joy once again. 16 00:01:25,140 --> 00:01:28,140 For his son, Abdullah, had been blessed 17 00:01:28,140 --> 00:01:33,140 with a newborn who rivaled al-Abbas in facial radiance and splendor. 18 00:01:33,140 --> 00:01:36,140 When he saw him, his eyes welled with tears, 19 00:01:36,140 --> 00:01:39,140 for he wished his father were still alive 20 00:01:39,140 --> 00:01:44,140 to share in the joy of him, and he named him Muhammad. 21 00:01:44,140 --> 00:01:49,370 Muhammad and al-Abbas grew up under the care of Abd al-Muttalib ibn Hashim, 22 00:01:49,370 --> 00:01:52,370 knowing nothing other than that they were brothers. 23 00:01:52,370 --> 00:01:55,370 They would go out together and return together, 24 00:01:55,370 --> 00:01:58,370 eat from the same platter, 25 00:01:58,370 --> 00:02:01,370 and play in the same playground. 26 00:02:01,370 --> 00:02:04,370 When al-Abbas reached the age of ten, 27 00:02:04,370 --> 00:02:07,370 his father, Abd al-Muttalib, passed away. 28 00:02:07,370 --> 00:02:09,370 All of Makkah was struck with grief, 29 00:02:09,370 --> 00:02:12,370 and its people mourned him deeply. 30 00:02:12,370 --> 00:02:15,370 Yet the two boys, al-Abbas and Muhammad, 31 00:02:15,370 --> 00:02:18,370 were the most grief-stricken of all, 32 00:02:18,370 --> 00:02:22,370 for they had tasted the bitterness of orphanhood with his loss. 33 00:02:22,370 --> 00:02:25,370 When the positions held by 34 00:02:25,370 --> 00:02:27,370 Abd al-Muttalib were distributed among his sons, 35 00:02:27,370 --> 00:02:30,370 Quraysh assigned to his son al-Abbas 36 00:02:30,370 --> 00:02:33,370 the duty of providing water to the pilgrims (Siqayah), despite his youth, 37 00:02:33,370 --> 00:02:36,370 because of what they perceived 38 00:02:36,370 --> 00:02:38,370 in him of nobility 39 00:02:38,370 --> 00:02:41,430 and what they anticipated for him of leadership. 40 00:02:41,430 --> 00:02:45,430 The two youths, al-Abbas ibn Abd al-Muttalib 41 00:02:45,430 --> 00:02:48,430 and Muhammad ibn Abdullah, continued to grow, 42 00:02:48,430 --> 00:02:51,430 until they were both men in the prime of their youth, 43 00:02:51,430 --> 00:02:54,430 and the age difference between them seemed to vanish, 44 00:02:54,430 --> 00:02:59,430 to the point that one looking at them would think they were twins. 45 00:02:59,430 --> 00:03:04,430 Someone once asked al-Abbas after he had embraced Islam: 46 00:03:04,430 --> 00:03:08,430 "Are you older, or is the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him?" 47 00:03:08,430 --> 00:03:11,430 He replied, "He is older than me, 48 00:03:11,430 --> 00:03:15,430 but I am two years his senior." 49 00:03:15,430 --> 00:03:18,620 At the age of forty, 50 00:03:18,620 --> 00:03:22,620 Allah, the Almighty, honored Muhammad ibn Abdullah with the Message, 51 00:03:22,620 --> 00:03:25,620 and sent him with the religion of guidance and truth, 52 00:03:25,620 --> 00:03:29,620 commanding him to warn his closest kinsmen. 53 00:03:29,620 --> 00:03:32,620 And who was closer to him than al-Abbas? 54 00:03:32,620 --> 00:03:35,620 He was his cherished peer, his intimate friend, 55 00:03:35,620 --> 00:03:38,620 and his paternal uncle, his father's brother. 56 00:03:38,620 --> 00:03:42,620 However, al-Abbas, who had inherited leadership among his people from his father, 57 00:03:42,620 --> 00:03:45,620 and to whom the Siqayah of the pilgrims was entrusted— 58 00:03:45,620 --> 00:03:49,620 a position for which rivals competed— 59 00:03:49,620 --> 00:03:52,620 disliked the idea of turning against his people, 60 00:03:52,620 --> 00:03:55,620 and was keen to maintain his leadership among them. 61 00:03:55,620 --> 00:04:00,620 Thus, he did not respond to the call of the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him. 62 00:04:00,620 --> 00:04:07,620 Yet, he continued to hold Muhammad, peace be upon him, in his heart 63 00:04:07,620 --> 00:04:09,620 as a brother holds a brother, 64 00:04:09,620 --> 00:04:11,620 and an intimate friend holds his companion. 65 00:04:11,620 --> 00:04:13,620 He would ward off harm from him, 66 00:04:13,620 --> 00:04:16,620 and protect him with the utmost vigilance. 67 00:04:16,620 --> 00:04:21,620 For instance, when the Messenger, peace be upon him, met 68 00:04:21,620 --> 00:04:24,620 with the delegations of the Ansar on the night of al-Aqabah, 69 00:04:24,620 --> 00:04:26,620 his uncle al-Abbas was with him, 70 00:04:26,620 --> 00:04:28,620 even though he was still in a state of polytheism. 71 00:04:28,620 --> 00:04:32,620 Al-Abbas was the first to speak, saying: 72 00:04:32,620 --> 00:04:34,620 "O people of Khazraj, 73 00:04:34,620 --> 00:04:37,620 Muhammad is one of us, as you know. 74 00:04:37,620 --> 00:04:39,620 We have protected him from our own people 75 00:04:39,620 --> 00:04:42,620 who share our opinion of him. 76 00:04:42,620 --> 00:04:46,620 He is in honor and protection among his people and in his land. 77 00:04:46,620 --> 00:04:51,620 Yet he has insisted on joining you and coming to you. 78 00:04:51,620 --> 00:04:56,620 If you believe you can fulfill what you have invited him to, 79 00:04:56,620 --> 00:04:58,620 then you are responsible for what you have undertaken. 80 00:04:58,620 --> 00:05:04,620 But if you think you will betray him or abandon him after he comes to you, 81 00:05:04,620 --> 00:05:06,620 then leave him now, 82 00:05:06,620 --> 00:05:10,620 for he is in honor and protection among his people and in his land." 83 00:05:10,620 --> 00:05:12,620 The Ansar replied: 84 00:05:12,620 --> 00:05:15,620 "We have heard what you said, O Abu al-Fadl." 85 00:05:15,620 --> 00:05:19,620 Then they turned to the Messenger, peace be upon him, and said: 86 00:05:19,620 --> 00:05:21,620 "O Messenger of Allah, 87 00:05:21,620 --> 00:05:25,620 take for yourself and for your Lord whatever pledge you wish." 88 00:05:25,620 --> 00:05:27,620 When the pledge was completed, 89 00:05:27,620 --> 00:05:34,660 the Messenger, peace be upon him, returned with his uncle al-Abbas to Makkah under the cover of darkness. 90 00:05:34,660 --> 00:05:37,660 When Quraysh resolved to march to the Battle of Badr, 91 00:05:37,660 --> 00:05:41,660 al-Abbas disliked participating in the fight against his nephew. 92 00:05:41,660 --> 00:05:47,660 But his leadership among his people compelled him to join them, 93 00:05:47,660 --> 00:05:50,660 and made him one of the twelve men 94 00:05:50,660 --> 00:05:55,660 who took responsibility for feeding the polytheist army during the campaign. 95 00:05:55,660 --> 00:05:58,660 However, the Messenger, peace be upon him, 96 00:05:58,660 --> 00:06:03,660 did not forget his uncle al-Abbas's support and assistance to him, 97 00:06:03,660 --> 00:06:05,660 so he said to his Companions: 98 00:06:05,660 --> 00:06:08,660 "Whoever meets Abu al-Bakhtari ibn Hisham, do not kill him, 99 00:06:08,660 --> 00:06:12,660 and whoever meets al-Abbas ibn Abd al-Muttalib, do not kill him, 100 00:06:12,660 --> 00:06:15,660 for they were brought out against their will." 101 00:06:15,660 --> 00:06:20,819 When Allah granted victory to His Prophet, peace be upon him, at Badr, 102 00:06:20,819 --> 00:06:23,819 and those of the polytheists who were killed were killed, 103 00:06:23,819 --> 00:06:25,819 and those who were captured were captured, 104 00:06:25,819 --> 00:06:31,819 al-Abbas ibn Abd al-Muttalib was among the prisoners who fell into the hands of the Muslims. 105 00:06:32,819 --> 00:06:37,819 The one who captured him was a man of slight build and weak frame, 106 00:06:37,819 --> 00:06:39,819 known as Abu al-Yusr. 107 00:06:39,819 --> 00:06:44,879 As for al-Abbas, he was large and tall, like a grey camel. 108 00:06:44,879 --> 00:06:49,879 When al-Abbas returned to Makkah, his children were amazed at his capture, 109 00:06:49,879 --> 00:06:51,879 and they asked him, saying: 110 00:06:51,879 --> 00:06:54,879 "O our father, how did Abu al-Yusr capture you, 111 00:06:54,879 --> 00:06:58,879 when you could have easily put him in your sleeve?" 112 00:06:58,879 --> 00:07:06,879 He replied, "By Allah, my sons, when he leaped upon me, he appeared to me as large as an elephant. 113 00:07:06,879 --> 00:07:10,879 When he gripped my arm with his small, sinewy hand, 114 00:07:10,879 --> 00:07:14,879 I thought the blood would drip from my fingertips. 115 00:07:14,879 --> 00:07:18,879 Then he twisted my hand behind my back, 116 00:07:18,879 --> 00:07:21,879 and took the other and bound it to the first, 117 00:07:21,879 --> 00:07:23,879 and tied them with a rope, 118 00:07:23,879 --> 00:07:28,879 while I was submissive, neither defending myself nor resisting him." 119 00:07:28,879 --> 00:07:34,069 Al-Abbas ibn Abd al-Muttalib spent his first night in the prisoners' camp 120 00:07:34,069 --> 00:07:38,069 near the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, 121 00:07:38,069 --> 00:07:42,069 and he began to moan with a deep, continuous sound. 122 00:07:42,069 --> 00:07:48,100 When his moaning reached the ears of the Prophet, peace be upon him, he could not sleep, 123 00:07:48,100 --> 00:07:51,100 and signs of sadness appeared on his face. 124 00:07:51,100 --> 00:07:53,100 His Companions asked him: 125 00:07:53,100 --> 00:07:57,100 "What makes you sad, O Messenger of Allah? May we be sacrificed for you." 126 00:07:57,100 --> 00:08:01,100 He replied, "The moaning of al-Abbas ibn Abd al-Muttalib." 127 00:08:01,100 --> 00:08:05,100 At that, a man from the Muslims went to him, 128 00:08:05,100 --> 00:08:10,100 and finding that his bonds were tied very tightly, 129 00:08:10,100 --> 00:08:13,139 he loosened them for him, and he became silent. 130 00:08:13,139 --> 00:08:17,139 His silence aroused the concerns of the Messenger, peace be upon him, 131 00:08:17,139 --> 00:08:21,139 and he asked, "Why do I not hear the moaning of al-Abbas?" 132 00:08:21,139 --> 00:08:25,139 The man said, "I loosened his bonds." 133 00:08:25,139 --> 00:08:28,139 The Prophet, peace be upon him, said: 134 00:08:28,139 --> 00:08:31,389 "Do the same for all the prisoners." 135 00:08:31,389 --> 00:08:34,389 Then the Messenger, peace be upon him, 136 00:08:34,389 --> 00:08:37,389 began to accept ransoms from the prisoners. 137 00:08:37,389 --> 00:08:39,389 When his uncle was brought to him, 138 00:08:39,389 --> 00:08:44,389 al-Abbas began to apologize, claiming he had no wealth. 139 00:08:44,389 --> 00:08:47,389 The Prophet, peace be upon him, said: 140 00:08:47,389 --> 00:08:51,389 "Where is the wealth you left with your wife, Umm al-Fadl, 141 00:08:51,389 --> 00:08:55,389 and said to her, 'If I am killed, then for al-Fadl is such and such, 142 00:08:55,389 --> 00:08:57,389 and for Abdullah is such and such, 143 00:08:57,389 --> 00:08:59,389 and for Ubaydullah is such and such'?" 144 00:08:59,389 --> 00:09:06,460 Al-Abbas was stunned, for that was a matter no one had ever known except Allah. 145 00:09:06,460 --> 00:09:08,460 On the day of Uhud, 146 00:09:08,460 --> 00:09:11,460 al-Abbas ibn Abd al-Muttalib refused to go out with the polytheists 147 00:09:11,460 --> 00:09:15,460 to fight the Prophet, peace be upon him. 148 00:09:15,460 --> 00:09:19,460 Instead, he sent word to inform him of Quraysh's intention to march against him, 149 00:09:19,460 --> 00:09:25,460 which had a great impact on the preparation of the Prophet, peace be upon him, and his Companions, 150 00:09:25,460 --> 00:09:28,460 and their readiness to meet the enemy. 151 00:09:28,460 --> 00:09:34,519 Twenty years had passed since the call of the Messenger, may the blessings and peace of Allah be upon him, 152 00:09:34,519 --> 00:09:37,519 and his uncle al-Abbas remained in a state of polytheism. 153 00:09:37,519 --> 00:09:42,549 One day, al-Abbas sat with his wife, Umm al-Fadl, 154 00:09:42,549 --> 00:09:47,549 recounting the noble characteristics of the Messenger, peace be upon him, 155 00:09:47,549 --> 00:09:49,549 mentioning his virtuous qualities, 156 00:09:49,549 --> 00:09:54,549 and recalling the story of his knowledge of the wealth he had entrusted to her, 157 00:09:54,549 --> 00:09:57,549 in total secrecy from all people. 158 00:09:57,549 --> 00:10:00,549 He soon found himself saying to his wife: 159 00:10:00,549 --> 00:10:03,549 "What is the matter with us, O Umm al-Fadl? 160 00:10:03,549 --> 00:10:05,580 Why do we not embrace Islam?" 161 00:10:05,580 --> 00:10:09,580 Umm al-Fadl was overjoyed at his words, 162 00:10:09,580 --> 00:10:13,580 as if she had been waiting for him to say that. 163 00:10:13,580 --> 00:10:15,580 Within a few hours, 164 00:10:15,580 --> 00:10:20,580 al-Abbas ibn Abd al-Muttalib had prepared two mounts for himself and his wife, 165 00:10:20,580 --> 00:10:23,580 and they set off together toward Madinah, 166 00:10:23,580 --> 00:10:28,649 migrating to Allah and His Messenger, peace be upon him. 167 00:10:28,649 --> 00:10:31,649 When al-Abbas and his wife reached al-Juhfah, 168 00:10:31,649 --> 00:10:35,649 they were surprised by the Messenger of Allah, may the blessings and peace of Allah be upon him, 169 00:10:35,649 --> 00:10:38,649 leading a massive army to conquer Makkah. 170 00:10:38,649 --> 00:10:42,649 The Messenger, peace be upon him, was also surprised by them, 171 00:10:42,649 --> 00:10:45,649 for it was an unexpected meeting. 172 00:10:45,649 --> 00:10:50,649 The Messenger, peace be upon him, initiated the conversation with his uncle, saying: 173 00:10:50,649 --> 00:10:53,649 "What has brought you here, uncle?" 174 00:10:53,649 --> 00:10:56,649 He replied, "The desire for Allah and His Messenger." 175 00:10:56,649 --> 00:11:00,649 He and his wife declared the word of truth, 176 00:11:00,649 --> 00:11:03,649 and he entered the religion of Allah after long resistance. 177 00:11:03,649 --> 00:11:07,809 As soon as the Messenger, peace be upon him, heard 178 00:11:07,809 --> 00:11:10,809 his uncle testify that there is no god but Allah 179 00:11:10,809 --> 00:11:13,809 and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, 180 00:11:13,809 --> 00:11:17,809 tears of joy overflowed from his eyes, and he said: 181 00:11:17,809 --> 00:11:20,809 "Your migration, uncle, is the final migration, 182 00:11:20,809 --> 00:11:23,809 just as my prophethood is the final prophethood." 183 00:11:23,809 --> 00:11:28,000 From that moment, al-Abbas ibn Abd al-Muttalib resolved 184 00:11:28,000 --> 00:11:32,000 to make up for the goodness and reward he had missed, 185 00:11:32,000 --> 00:11:35,000 so he placed himself and his wealth in the obedience of Allah 186 00:11:35,000 --> 00:11:39,000 and the pleasure of His Messenger, peace be upon him. 187 00:11:39,000 --> 00:11:43,000 On the day of Hunayn, when the Muslims were defeated 188 00:11:43,000 --> 00:11:47,000 and had abandoned the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, 189 00:11:47,000 --> 00:11:50,000 he stood by his side like a fierce lion. 190 00:11:50,000 --> 00:11:53,000 He drew his sword with his right hand, 191 00:11:53,000 --> 00:11:58,000 and held the reins of the Messenger of Allah's mule with his left, 192 00:11:58,000 --> 00:12:02,000 and continued to defend him with a small group of his Companions, 193 00:12:02,000 --> 00:12:06,000 until Allah granted victory at their hands. 194 00:12:06,000 --> 00:12:10,029 And on the day the Messenger, may the blessings and peace of Allah be upon him, 195 00:12:10,029 --> 00:12:15,029 resolved to equip the Army of Hardship, he called upon his Companions to give and spend, 196 00:12:15,029 --> 00:12:20,029 and al-Abbas came and poured his wealth before him. 197 00:12:20,029 --> 00:12:25,159 When the Prophet, peace be upon him, joined the Highest Companion, 198 00:12:25,159 --> 00:12:30,159 and the matter fell to his two successors, Abu Bakr and Umar, may Allah be pleased with them, 199 00:12:30,159 --> 00:12:34,159 Al-'Abbas was a source of sound counsel and support for them both. 200 00:12:34,159 --> 00:12:38,159 They would shade him with their respect and hold him in high esteem. 201 00:12:38,159 --> 00:12:44,159 This was in recognition of his merit and out of loyalty to the Prophet, upon whom be the best of prayers and the purest of peace. 202 00:12:44,159 --> 00:12:49,159 An example of this is when drought intensified upon the Muslims during the Year of Ashes. 203 00:12:49,159 --> 00:12:52,159 The udders dried up and the crops withered. 204 00:12:52,159 --> 00:12:56,159 The sky appeared as if it had been forged from copper. 205 00:12:56,159 --> 00:12:59,159 'Umar Ibn al-Khattab went out with the Muslims. 206 00:12:59,159 --> 00:13:02,159 He prayed for rain for them, but they were not granted any. 207 00:13:02,159 --> 00:13:06,159 He repeated this several times, yet there was no response. 208 00:13:06,159 --> 00:13:08,159 So he said to a group of his Companions: 209 00:13:08,159 --> 00:13:13,159 "Tomorrow, I shall seek rain through the one by whom Allah grants us rain if He wills." 210 00:13:13,159 --> 00:13:18,220 When morning came, he went to al-'Abbas Ibn 'Abd al-Muttalib. 211 00:13:18,220 --> 00:13:21,220 He had become a very old man, so he said to him: 212 00:13:21,220 --> 00:13:27,419 "O Uncle, come out with us, perhaps Allah will grant us rain through your hands." 213 00:13:27,419 --> 00:13:31,419 Al-'Abbas Ibn 'Abd al-Muttalib went out among the multitude of Muslims. 214 00:13:31,419 --> 00:13:34,419 He was humble, submissive, and devoted to Allah. 215 00:13:34,419 --> 00:13:37,419 Before him was 'Ali Ibn Abi Talib. 216 00:13:37,419 --> 00:13:41,419 To his right was al-Hasan, and to his left was al-Husayn. 217 00:13:41,419 --> 00:13:44,419 And behind him were the throngs of Muslims. 218 00:13:44,419 --> 00:13:46,419 They prayed two rak'ahs. 219 00:13:46,419 --> 00:13:51,419 Then 'Umar took the hands of the uncle of the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him. 220 00:13:51,419 --> 00:13:54,419 His tears moistened his beard, and he said: 221 00:13:54,419 --> 00:13:59,419 "Pray for us, O uncle of the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him." 222 00:13:59,419 --> 00:14:02,419 Al-'Abbas raised his palms to the sky. 223 00:14:02,419 --> 00:14:05,419 His eyes were overflowing with the fear of Allah. 224 00:14:05,419 --> 00:14:10,419 He began to cry out to Allah with righteous supplication and sincere hope. 225 00:14:10,419 --> 00:14:15,419 The people behind him were saying "Amin," pleading and weeping. 226 00:14:15,419 --> 00:14:18,539 He had barely finished his supplication, 227 00:14:18,539 --> 00:14:22,539 when the atmosphere became overcast with dark clouds. 228 00:14:22,539 --> 00:14:26,539 The sky sent down abundant rain upon the earth. 229 00:14:26,539 --> 00:14:29,539 Allah removed the distress from the Muslims. 230 00:14:29,539 --> 00:14:31,539 He relieved them of their hardship. 231 00:14:31,539 --> 00:14:34,539 The people were given water through the hands of the provider of the pilgrims. 232 00:14:34,539 --> 00:14:37,539 May Allah be pleased with him and grant him satisfaction. 233 00:14:37,539 --> 00:14:43,500 This is al-'Abbas Ibn 'Abd al-Muttalib. 234 00:14:43,500 --> 00:14:45,500 The most generous of the Quraysh in his giving. 235 00:14:45,500 --> 00:14:48,500 And the one who maintained family ties the best. 236 00:14:48,500 --> 00:14:51,299 Muhammad Ibn 'Abd Allah. 237 00:14:51,299 --> 00:14:53,299 Through Muhammad and his Companions. 238 00:14:53,299 --> 00:14:56,299 The lofty edifice has been aided. 239 00:14:56,299 --> 00:14:59,299 O poet, assist me and pour forth. 240 00:14:59,299 --> 00:15:02,389 In their praise, are they to assist me?