WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.000 In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. 00:00:15.699 --> 00:00:17.699 The Mawaddah Association is pleased 00:00:17.699 --> 00:00:21.699 to present to you portraits from the lives of the Companions, 00:00:21.699 --> 00:00:25.769 by Abd al-Rahman Ra'fat al-Basha, 00:00:25.769 --> 00:00:30.170 may Allah have mercy upon him. 00:00:30.170 --> 00:00:35.170 Al-Abbas ibn Abd al-Muttalib, may Allah be pleased with him. 00:00:48.740 --> 00:00:54.920 It reached the leader of Quraysh, Abd al-Muttalib ibn Hashim, 00:00:54.920 --> 00:00:57.920 that there was a woman of intellect and beauty 00:00:57.920 --> 00:01:01.920 among the daughters of the kings of Rabi'ah, named Nutaylah. 00:01:01.920 --> 00:01:05.920 He sought her out, proposed to her, and married her. 00:01:05.920 --> 00:01:09.920 She bore him a child who was handsome and fair, 00:01:09.920 --> 00:01:11.920 of radiant appearance. 00:01:11.920 --> 00:01:15.920 He rejoiced greatly at his birth, then named him al-Abbas. 00:01:15.920 --> 00:01:21.140 Not two years had passed since the joy of the elder of Makkah, 00:01:21.140 --> 00:01:25.140 when his household was graced with joy once again. 00:01:25.140 --> 00:01:28.140 For his son, Abdullah, had been blessed 00:01:28.140 --> 00:01:33.140 with a newborn who rivaled al-Abbas in facial radiance and splendor. 00:01:33.140 --> 00:01:36.140 When he saw him, his eyes welled with tears, 00:01:36.140 --> 00:01:39.140 for he wished his father were still alive 00:01:39.140 --> 00:01:44.140 to share in the joy of him, and he named him Muhammad. 00:01:44.140 --> 00:01:49.370 Muhammad and al-Abbas grew up under the care of Abd al-Muttalib ibn Hashim, 00:01:49.370 --> 00:01:52.370 knowing nothing other than that they were brothers. 00:01:52.370 --> 00:01:55.370 They would go out together and return together, 00:01:55.370 --> 00:01:58.370 eat from the same platter, 00:01:58.370 --> 00:02:01.370 and play in the same playground. 00:02:01.370 --> 00:02:04.370 When al-Abbas reached the age of ten, 00:02:04.370 --> 00:02:07.370 his father, Abd al-Muttalib, passed away. 00:02:07.370 --> 00:02:09.370 All of Makkah was struck with grief, 00:02:09.370 --> 00:02:12.370 and its people mourned him deeply. 00:02:12.370 --> 00:02:15.370 Yet the two boys, al-Abbas and Muhammad, 00:02:15.370 --> 00:02:18.370 were the most grief-stricken of all, 00:02:18.370 --> 00:02:22.370 for they had tasted the bitterness of orphanhood with his loss. 00:02:22.370 --> 00:02:25.370 When the positions held by 00:02:25.370 --> 00:02:27.370 Abd al-Muttalib were distributed among his sons, 00:02:27.370 --> 00:02:30.370 Quraysh assigned to his son al-Abbas 00:02:30.370 --> 00:02:33.370 the duty of providing water to the pilgrims (Siqayah), despite his youth, 00:02:33.370 --> 00:02:36.370 because of what they perceived 00:02:36.370 --> 00:02:38.370 in him of nobility 00:02:38.370 --> 00:02:41.430 and what they anticipated for him of leadership. 00:02:41.430 --> 00:02:45.430 The two youths, al-Abbas ibn Abd al-Muttalib 00:02:45.430 --> 00:02:48.430 and Muhammad ibn Abdullah, continued to grow, 00:02:48.430 --> 00:02:51.430 until they were both men in the prime of their youth, 00:02:51.430 --> 00:02:54.430 and the age difference between them seemed to vanish, 00:02:54.430 --> 00:02:59.430 to the point that one looking at them would think they were twins. 00:02:59.430 --> 00:03:04.430 Someone once asked al-Abbas after he had embraced Islam: 00:03:04.430 --> 00:03:08.430 "Are you older, or is the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him?" 00:03:08.430 --> 00:03:11.430 He replied, "He is older than me, 00:03:11.430 --> 00:03:15.430 but I am two years his senior." 00:03:15.430 --> 00:03:18.620 At the age of forty, 00:03:18.620 --> 00:03:22.620 Allah, the Almighty, honored Muhammad ibn Abdullah with the Message, 00:03:22.620 --> 00:03:25.620 and sent him with the religion of guidance and truth, 00:03:25.620 --> 00:03:29.620 commanding him to warn his closest kinsmen. 00:03:29.620 --> 00:03:32.620 And who was closer to him than al-Abbas? 00:03:32.620 --> 00:03:35.620 He was his cherished peer, his intimate friend, 00:03:35.620 --> 00:03:38.620 and his paternal uncle, his father's brother. 00:03:38.620 --> 00:03:42.620 However, al-Abbas, who had inherited leadership among his people from his father, 00:03:42.620 --> 00:03:45.620 and to whom the Siqayah of the pilgrims was entrusted— 00:03:45.620 --> 00:03:49.620 a position for which rivals competed— 00:03:49.620 --> 00:03:52.620 disliked the idea of turning against his people, 00:03:52.620 --> 00:03:55.620 and was keen to maintain his leadership among them. 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. 00:04:00.620 --> 00:04:07.620 Yet, he continued to hold Muhammad, peace be upon him, in his heart 00:04:07.620 --> 00:04:09.620 as a brother holds a brother, 00:04:09.620 --> 00:04:11.620 and an intimate friend holds his companion. 00:04:11.620 --> 00:04:13.620 He would ward off harm from him, 00:04:13.620 --> 00:04:16.620 and protect him with the utmost vigilance. 00:04:16.620 --> 00:04:21.620 For instance, when the Messenger, peace be upon him, met 00:04:21.620 --> 00:04:24.620 with the delegations of the Ansar on the night of al-Aqabah, 00:04:24.620 --> 00:04:26.620 his uncle al-Abbas was with him, 00:04:26.620 --> 00:04:28.620 even though he was still in a state of polytheism. 00:04:28.620 --> 00:04:32.620 Al-Abbas was the first to speak, saying: 00:04:32.620 --> 00:04:34.620 "O people of Khazraj, 00:04:34.620 --> 00:04:37.620 Muhammad is one of us, as you know. 00:04:37.620 --> 00:04:39.620 We have protected him from our own people 00:04:39.620 --> 00:04:42.620 who share our opinion of him. 00:04:42.620 --> 00:04:46.620 He is in honor and protection among his people and in his land. 00:04:46.620 --> 00:04:51.620 Yet he has insisted on joining you and coming to you. 00:04:51.620 --> 00:04:56.620 If you believe you can fulfill what you have invited him to, 00:04:56.620 --> 00:04:58.620 then you are responsible for what you have undertaken. 00:04:58.620 --> 00:05:04.620 But if you think you will betray him or abandon him after he comes to you, 00:05:04.620 --> 00:05:06.620 then leave him now, 00:05:06.620 --> 00:05:10.620 for he is in honor and protection among his people and in his land." 00:05:10.620 --> 00:05:12.620 The Ansar replied: 00:05:12.620 --> 00:05:15.620 "We have heard what you said, O Abu al-Fadl." 00:05:15.620 --> 00:05:19.620 Then they turned to the Messenger, peace be upon him, and said: 00:05:19.620 --> 00:05:21.620 "O Messenger of Allah, 00:05:21.620 --> 00:05:25.620 take for yourself and for your Lord whatever pledge you wish." 00:05:25.620 --> 00:05:27.620 When the pledge was completed, 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. 00:05:34.660 --> 00:05:37.660 When Quraysh resolved to march to the Battle of Badr, 00:05:37.660 --> 00:05:41.660 al-Abbas disliked participating in the fight against his nephew. 00:05:41.660 --> 00:05:47.660 But his leadership among his people compelled him to join them, 00:05:47.660 --> 00:05:50.660 and made him one of the twelve men 00:05:50.660 --> 00:05:55.660 who took responsibility for feeding the polytheist army during the campaign. 00:05:55.660 --> 00:05:58.660 However, the Messenger, peace be upon him, 00:05:58.660 --> 00:06:03.660 did not forget his uncle al-Abbas's support and assistance to him, 00:06:03.660 --> 00:06:05.660 so he said to his Companions: 00:06:05.660 --> 00:06:08.660 "Whoever meets Abu al-Bakhtari ibn Hisham, do not kill him, 00:06:08.660 --> 00:06:12.660 and whoever meets al-Abbas ibn Abd al-Muttalib, do not kill him, 00:06:12.660 --> 00:06:15.660 for they were brought out against their will." 00:06:15.660 --> 00:06:20.819 When Allah granted victory to His Prophet, peace be upon him, at Badr, 00:06:20.819 --> 00:06:23.819 and those of the polytheists who were killed were killed, 00:06:23.819 --> 00:06:25.819 and those who were captured were captured, 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. 00:06:32.819 --> 00:06:37.819 The one who captured him was a man of slight build and weak frame, 00:06:37.819 --> 00:06:39.819 known as Abu al-Yusr. 00:06:39.819 --> 00:06:44.879 As for al-Abbas, he was large and tall, like a grey camel. 00:06:44.879 --> 00:06:49.879 When al-Abbas returned to Makkah, his children were amazed at his capture, 00:06:49.879 --> 00:06:51.879 and they asked him, saying: 00:06:51.879 --> 00:06:54.879 "O our father, how did Abu al-Yusr capture you, 00:06:54.879 --> 00:06:58.879 when you could have easily put him in your sleeve?" 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. 00:07:06.879 --> 00:07:10.879 When he gripped my arm with his small, sinewy hand, 00:07:10.879 --> 00:07:14.879 I thought the blood would drip from my fingertips. 00:07:14.879 --> 00:07:18.879 Then he twisted my hand behind my back, 00:07:18.879 --> 00:07:21.879 and took the other and bound it to the first, 00:07:21.879 --> 00:07:23.879 and tied them with a rope, 00:07:23.879 --> 00:07:28.879 while I was submissive, neither defending myself nor resisting him." 00:07:28.879 --> 00:07:34.069 Al-Abbas ibn Abd al-Muttalib spent his first night in the prisoners' camp 00:07:34.069 --> 00:07:38.069 near the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, 00:07:38.069 --> 00:07:42.069 and he began to moan with a deep, continuous sound. 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, 00:07:48.100 --> 00:07:51.100 and signs of sadness appeared on his face. 00:07:51.100 --> 00:07:53.100 His Companions asked him: 00:07:53.100 --> 00:07:57.100 "What makes you sad, O Messenger of Allah? May we be sacrificed for you." 00:07:57.100 --> 00:08:01.100 He replied, "The moaning of al-Abbas ibn Abd al-Muttalib." 00:08:01.100 --> 00:08:05.100 At that, a man from the Muslims went to him, 00:08:05.100 --> 00:08:10.100 and finding that his bonds were tied very tightly, 00:08:10.100 --> 00:08:13.139 he loosened them for him, and he became silent. 00:08:13.139 --> 00:08:17.139 His silence aroused the concerns of the Messenger, peace be upon him, 00:08:17.139 --> 00:08:21.139 and he asked, "Why do I not hear the moaning of al-Abbas?" 00:08:21.139 --> 00:08:25.139 The man said, "I loosened his bonds." 00:08:25.139 --> 00:08:28.139 The Prophet, peace be upon him, said: 00:08:28.139 --> 00:08:31.389 "Do the same for all the prisoners." 00:08:31.389 --> 00:08:34.389 Then the Messenger, peace be upon him, 00:08:34.389 --> 00:08:37.389 began to accept ransoms from the prisoners. 00:08:37.389 --> 00:08:39.389 When his uncle was brought to him, 00:08:39.389 --> 00:08:44.389 al-Abbas began to apologize, claiming he had no wealth. 00:08:44.389 --> 00:08:47.389 The Prophet, peace be upon him, said: 00:08:47.389 --> 00:08:51.389 "Where is the wealth you left with your wife, Umm al-Fadl, 00:08:51.389 --> 00:08:55.389 and said to her, 'If I am killed, then for al-Fadl is such and such, 00:08:55.389 --> 00:08:57.389 and for Abdullah is such and such, 00:08:57.389 --> 00:08:59.389 and for Ubaydullah is such and such'?" 00:08:59.389 --> 00:09:06.460 Al-Abbas was stunned, for that was a matter no one had ever known except Allah. 00:09:06.460 --> 00:09:08.460 On the day of Uhud, 00:09:08.460 --> 00:09:11.460 al-Abbas ibn Abd al-Muttalib refused to go out with the polytheists 00:09:11.460 --> 00:09:15.460 to fight the Prophet, peace be upon him. 00:09:15.460 --> 00:09:19.460 Instead, he sent word to inform him of Quraysh's intention to march against him, 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, 00:09:25.460 --> 00:09:28.460 and their readiness to meet the enemy. 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, 00:09:34.519 --> 00:09:37.519 and his uncle al-Abbas remained in a state of polytheism. 00:09:37.519 --> 00:09:42.549 One day, al-Abbas sat with his wife, Umm al-Fadl, 00:09:42.549 --> 00:09:47.549 recounting the noble characteristics of the Messenger, peace be upon him, 00:09:47.549 --> 00:09:49.549 mentioning his virtuous qualities, 00:09:49.549 --> 00:09:54.549 and recalling the story of his knowledge of the wealth he had entrusted to her, 00:09:54.549 --> 00:09:57.549 in total secrecy from all people. 00:09:57.549 --> 00:10:00.549 He soon found himself saying to his wife: 00:10:00.549 --> 00:10:03.549 "What is the matter with us, O Umm al-Fadl? 00:10:03.549 --> 00:10:05.580 Why do we not embrace Islam?" 00:10:05.580 --> 00:10:09.580 Umm al-Fadl was overjoyed at his words, 00:10:09.580 --> 00:10:13.580 as if she had been waiting for him to say that. 00:10:13.580 --> 00:10:15.580 Within a few hours, 00:10:15.580 --> 00:10:20.580 al-Abbas ibn Abd al-Muttalib had prepared two mounts for himself and his wife, 00:10:20.580 --> 00:10:23.580 and they set off together toward Madinah, 00:10:23.580 --> 00:10:28.649 migrating to Allah and His Messenger, peace be upon him. 00:10:28.649 --> 00:10:31.649 When al-Abbas and his wife reached al-Juhfah, 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, 00:10:35.649 --> 00:10:38.649 leading a massive army to conquer Makkah. 00:10:38.649 --> 00:10:42.649 The Messenger, peace be upon him, was also surprised by them, 00:10:42.649 --> 00:10:45.649 for it was an unexpected meeting. 00:10:45.649 --> 00:10:50.649 The Messenger, peace be upon him, initiated the conversation with his uncle, saying: 00:10:50.649 --> 00:10:53.649 "What has brought you here, uncle?" 00:10:53.649 --> 00:10:56.649 He replied, "The desire for Allah and His Messenger." 00:10:56.649 --> 00:11:00.649 He and his wife declared the word of truth, 00:11:00.649 --> 00:11:03.649 and he entered the religion of Allah after long resistance. 00:11:03.649 --> 00:11:07.809 As soon as the Messenger, peace be upon him, heard 00:11:07.809 --> 00:11:10.809 his uncle testify that there is no god but Allah 00:11:10.809 --> 00:11:13.809 and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, 00:11:13.809 --> 00:11:17.809 tears of joy overflowed from his eyes, and he said: 00:11:17.809 --> 00:11:20.809 "Your migration, uncle, is the final migration, 00:11:20.809 --> 00:11:23.809 just as my prophethood is the final prophethood." 00:11:23.809 --> 00:11:28.000 From that moment, al-Abbas ibn Abd al-Muttalib resolved 00:11:28.000 --> 00:11:32.000 to make up for the goodness and reward he had missed, 00:11:32.000 --> 00:11:35.000 so he placed himself and his wealth in the obedience of Allah 00:11:35.000 --> 00:11:39.000 and the pleasure of His Messenger, peace be upon him. 00:11:39.000 --> 00:11:43.000 On the day of Hunayn, when the Muslims were defeated 00:11:43.000 --> 00:11:47.000 and had abandoned the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, 00:11:47.000 --> 00:11:50.000 he stood by his side like a fierce lion. 00:11:50.000 --> 00:11:53.000 He drew his sword with his right hand, 00:11:53.000 --> 00:11:58.000 and held the reins of the Messenger of Allah's mule with his left, 00:11:58.000 --> 00:12:02.000 and continued to defend him with a small group of his Companions, 00:12:02.000 --> 00:12:06.000 until Allah granted victory at their hands. 00:12:06.000 --> 00:12:10.029 And on the day the Messenger, may the blessings and peace of Allah be upon him, 00:12:10.029 --> 00:12:15.029 resolved to equip the Army of Hardship, he called upon his Companions to give and spend, 00:12:15.029 --> 00:12:20.029 and al-Abbas came and poured his wealth before him. 00:12:20.029 --> 00:12:25.159 When the Prophet, peace be upon him, joined the Highest Companion, 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, 00:12:30.159 --> 00:12:34.159 Al-'Abbas was a source of sound counsel and support for them both. 00:12:34.159 --> 00:12:38.159 They would shade him with their respect and hold him in high esteem. 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. 00:12:44.159 --> 00:12:49.159 An example of this is when drought intensified upon the Muslims during the Year of Ashes. 00:12:49.159 --> 00:12:52.159 The udders dried up and the crops withered. 00:12:52.159 --> 00:12:56.159 The sky appeared as if it had been forged from copper. 00:12:56.159 --> 00:12:59.159 'Umar Ibn al-Khattab went out with the Muslims. 00:12:59.159 --> 00:13:02.159 He prayed for rain for them, but they were not granted any. 00:13:02.159 --> 00:13:06.159 He repeated this several times, yet there was no response. 00:13:06.159 --> 00:13:08.159 So he said to a group of his Companions: 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." 00:13:13.159 --> 00:13:18.220 When morning came, he went to al-'Abbas Ibn 'Abd al-Muttalib. 00:13:18.220 --> 00:13:21.220 He had become a very old man, so he said to him: 00:13:21.220 --> 00:13:27.419 "O Uncle, come out with us, perhaps Allah will grant us rain through your hands." 00:13:27.419 --> 00:13:31.419 Al-'Abbas Ibn 'Abd al-Muttalib went out among the multitude of Muslims. 00:13:31.419 --> 00:13:34.419 He was humble, submissive, and devoted to Allah. 00:13:34.419 --> 00:13:37.419 Before him was 'Ali Ibn Abi Talib. 00:13:37.419 --> 00:13:41.419 To his right was al-Hasan, and to his left was al-Husayn. 00:13:41.419 --> 00:13:44.419 And behind him were the throngs of Muslims. 00:13:44.419 --> 00:13:46.419 They prayed two rak'ahs. 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. 00:13:51.419 --> 00:13:54.419 His tears moistened his beard, and he said: 00:13:54.419 --> 00:13:59.419 "Pray for us, O uncle of the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him." 00:13:59.419 --> 00:14:02.419 Al-'Abbas raised his palms to the sky. 00:14:02.419 --> 00:14:05.419 His eyes were overflowing with the fear of Allah. 00:14:05.419 --> 00:14:10.419 He began to cry out to Allah with righteous supplication and sincere hope. 00:14:10.419 --> 00:14:15.419 The people behind him were saying "Amin," pleading and weeping. 00:14:15.419 --> 00:14:18.539 He had barely finished his supplication, 00:14:18.539 --> 00:14:22.539 when the atmosphere became overcast with dark clouds. 00:14:22.539 --> 00:14:26.539 The sky sent down abundant rain upon the earth. 00:14:26.539 --> 00:14:29.539 Allah removed the distress from the Muslims. 00:14:29.539 --> 00:14:31.539 He relieved them of their hardship. 00:14:31.539 --> 00:14:34.539 The people were given water through the hands of the provider of the pilgrims. 00:14:34.539 --> 00:14:37.539 May Allah be pleased with him and grant him satisfaction. 00:14:37.539 --> 00:14:43.500 This is al-'Abbas Ibn 'Abd al-Muttalib. 00:14:43.500 --> 00:14:45.500 The most generous of the Quraysh in his giving. 00:14:45.500 --> 00:14:48.500 And the one who maintained family ties the best. 00:14:48.500 --> 00:14:51.299 Muhammad Ibn 'Abd Allah. 00:14:51.299 --> 00:14:53.299 Through Muhammad and his Companions. 00:14:53.299 --> 00:14:56.299 The lofty edifice has been aided. 00:14:56.299 --> 00:14:59.299 O poet, assist me and pour forth. 00:14:59.299 --> 00:15:02.389 In their praise, are they to assist me?