1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:03,000 In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. 2 00:00:15,609 --> 00:00:17,609 The Mawaddah Association is pleased 3 00:00:17,609 --> 00:00:22,609 to present to you glimpses from the lives of the Companions, 4 00:00:22,609 --> 00:00:25,640 by Abd al-Rahman Ra'fat al-Basha, 5 00:00:25,640 --> 00:00:30,140 may Allah have mercy upon him. 6 00:00:30,140 --> 00:00:34,200 Al-Muthanna ibn Harithah al-Shaybani, 7 00:00:34,200 --> 00:00:36,200 may Allah be pleased with him. 8 00:00:51,369 --> 00:00:54,369 The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, went out 9 00:00:54,369 --> 00:00:56,369 to the markets of Makkah, 10 00:00:56,369 --> 00:01:00,369 presenting himself to those arriving from all parts of the Arabian Peninsula. 11 00:01:00,369 --> 00:01:02,369 With him was Abu Bakr al-Siddiq, 12 00:01:02,369 --> 00:01:04,370 and Ali ibn Abi Talib, may Allah be pleased with them. 13 00:01:04,370 --> 00:01:08,370 They saw some elders who possessed status and dignity. 14 00:01:08,370 --> 00:01:12,370 Abu Bakr stepped forward, greeted them, and asked, 15 00:01:12,370 --> 00:01:14,370 "Who are the people?" 16 00:01:14,370 --> 00:01:17,370 They replied, "We are from Banu Shayban ibn Tha'labah." 17 00:01:17,370 --> 00:01:22,590 He leaned toward the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, and said, 18 00:01:22,590 --> 00:01:24,590 "May my father and mother be sacrificed for you, 19 00:01:24,590 --> 00:01:28,590 there is no honor among their people greater than theirs." 20 00:01:28,590 --> 00:01:31,590 Among the group were al-Muthanna ibn Harithah al-Shaybani, 21 00:01:31,590 --> 00:01:33,590 Mafruq ibn 'Amr, 22 00:01:33,590 --> 00:01:35,590 and Hani ibn Qabisah. 23 00:01:35,590 --> 00:01:38,659 Abu Bakr turned to them and said, 24 00:01:38,659 --> 00:01:43,659 "If the news of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, has reached you, 25 00:01:43,659 --> 00:01:45,659 then here he is." 26 00:01:45,659 --> 00:01:48,659 He pointed toward the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him. 27 00:01:48,659 --> 00:01:50,659 They said, "Yes." 28 00:01:50,659 --> 00:01:54,659 Then they turned to the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, 29 00:01:54,659 --> 00:01:56,659 intending to speak with him. 30 00:01:56,659 --> 00:01:59,659 The Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, sat down, 31 00:01:59,659 --> 00:02:03,659 and Abu Bakr stood behind him, shading him with his garment. 32 00:02:03,659 --> 00:02:05,659 Mafruq ibn 'Amr said to him, 33 00:02:05,659 --> 00:02:08,659 as he was the one sitting closest to him, 34 00:02:08,659 --> 00:02:11,659 "To what do you call us, O brother of Quraysh?" 35 00:02:11,659 --> 00:02:14,659 The Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said, 36 00:02:14,659 --> 00:02:18,659 "I call you to bear witness that there is no god but Allah, 37 00:02:18,659 --> 00:02:20,659 alone, with no partner, 38 00:02:20,659 --> 00:02:22,659 and that I am the Messenger of Allah, 39 00:02:22,659 --> 00:02:24,659 and that you shelter me and support me, 40 00:02:24,659 --> 00:02:27,659 so that I may convey what Allah has commanded me." 41 00:02:28,659 --> 00:02:30,659 Mafruq said, 42 00:02:30,659 --> 00:02:33,659 "And to what else do you call us, O brother of Quraysh?" 43 00:02:33,659 --> 00:02:36,659 The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, recited 44 00:02:36,659 --> 00:02:38,659 the words of the Almighty: 45 00:02:38,659 --> 00:02:41,659 "And to what else do you call us, O brother of Quraysh? 46 00:02:41,659 --> 00:02:44,659 By Allah, this is not the speech of the people of the earth, 47 00:02:44,659 --> 00:02:47,689 for if it were their speech, we would have recognized it." 48 00:02:47,689 --> 00:02:50,689 The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, recited 49 00:02:50,689 --> 00:02:52,689 the words of the Almighty: 50 00:02:52,689 --> 00:02:56,689 “Lo! Allah enjoineth justice and kindness, and giving to kinsfolk, and forbiddeth lewdness and abomination and wickedness. He exhorteth you in order that ye may take heed.” (16:90) 51 00:02:56,689 --> 00:03:01,689 "And [to] giving to relatives," 52 00:03:01,689 --> 00:03:05,689 "and He forbids immorality," 53 00:03:05,689 --> 00:03:08,689 "and bad conduct, and oppression." 54 00:03:08,689 --> 00:03:13,780 "He admonishes you that perhaps you will be reminded." 55 00:03:13,780 --> 00:03:17,159 He then said to him, 56 00:03:17,159 --> 00:03:19,159 "You call, by Allah, O brother of Quraysh, 57 00:03:19,159 --> 00:03:21,419 to noble character." 58 00:03:21,419 --> 00:03:24,419 Then Mafruq turned to al-Muthanna ibn Harithah, 59 00:03:24,419 --> 00:03:27,419 as if he wanted to include him in the conversation, 60 00:03:27,419 --> 00:03:30,419 and said, "This is al-Muthanna ibn Harithah, 61 00:03:30,419 --> 00:03:33,419 our elder and our leader in war." 62 00:03:33,419 --> 00:03:35,419 Al-Muthanna said, 63 00:03:35,419 --> 00:03:37,419 "I have heard your words, 64 00:03:37,419 --> 00:03:39,419 and I found your speech excellent. 65 00:03:39,419 --> 00:03:41,419 However, a matter such as this 66 00:03:41,419 --> 00:03:44,419 requires us to return to our people. 67 00:03:44,419 --> 00:03:48,419 Furthermore, we have settled near water overlooking the land of Persia, 68 00:03:48,419 --> 00:03:51,419 and Chosroes has taken a covenant from us 69 00:03:51,419 --> 00:03:53,419 that we shall not initiate any new event, 70 00:03:53,419 --> 00:03:55,419 nor shall we shelter any innovator. 71 00:03:55,419 --> 00:03:58,419 Perhaps this to which you call us 72 00:03:58,419 --> 00:04:00,419 is something that Chosroes and his people dislike, 73 00:04:00,419 --> 00:04:02,419 and we have no power against them, 74 00:04:02,419 --> 00:04:05,419 nor the strength to wage war against them." 75 00:04:05,419 --> 00:04:07,449 When they were about to leave, 76 00:04:07,449 --> 00:04:10,449 the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, turned to them 77 00:04:10,449 --> 00:04:12,449 and said, 78 00:04:12,449 --> 00:04:15,449 "What would you say if only a short time passed 79 00:04:15,449 --> 00:04:18,449 before Allah grants you the lands of Persia, 80 00:04:18,449 --> 00:04:20,449 their wealth, and their women? 81 00:04:20,449 --> 00:04:22,449 Would you then glorify Allah and sanctify Him?" 82 00:04:22,449 --> 00:04:24,449 They said, 83 00:04:24,449 --> 00:04:26,449 "By Allah, yes." 84 00:04:26,449 --> 00:04:29,449 "And will that be for you, O brother of Quraysh?" 85 00:04:29,449 --> 00:04:31,540 He said, "Yes." 86 00:04:31,540 --> 00:04:33,540 Al-Muthanna ibn Harithah al-Shaybani departed, 87 00:04:33,540 --> 00:04:35,540 returning to the lands of his people, 88 00:04:35,540 --> 00:04:38,540 while the image of the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, 89 00:04:38,540 --> 00:04:40,540 never left his imagination, 90 00:04:40,540 --> 00:04:44,540 and the resonance of his words never left his ears. 91 00:04:44,540 --> 00:04:46,540 He continued to follow his news, 92 00:04:46,540 --> 00:04:48,540 and remembered his words: 93 00:04:48,540 --> 00:04:51,540 "What would you say if only a short time passed 94 00:04:51,540 --> 00:04:54,540 before Allah grants you the lands of Persia, 95 00:04:54,540 --> 00:04:56,540 their wealth, and their women?" 96 00:04:56,540 --> 00:04:58,540 Then he would say to himself, 97 00:04:58,540 --> 00:05:00,540 "What made me hold back my hand 98 00:05:00,540 --> 00:05:02,540 from pledging allegiance to Muhammad, 99 00:05:02,540 --> 00:05:04,540 when I have become certain of his truthfulness 100 00:05:04,540 --> 00:05:06,699 and the validity of his call?" 101 00:05:06,699 --> 00:05:08,699 In the ninth year of the Hijrah, 102 00:05:08,699 --> 00:05:12,699 Allah permitted al-Muthanna ibn Harithah al-Shaybani 103 00:05:12,699 --> 00:05:14,699 to be honored by joining 104 00:05:14,699 --> 00:05:16,699 the battalions of faith. 105 00:05:16,699 --> 00:05:20,699 He came to the Prophet, may the prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, 106 00:05:20,699 --> 00:05:23,699 among a large gathering of Banu Shayban, 107 00:05:23,699 --> 00:05:26,699 and announced his Islam before him, 108 00:05:26,699 --> 00:05:29,899 and pledged to him his hearing and obedience. 109 00:05:29,899 --> 00:05:31,899 But the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, 110 00:05:31,899 --> 00:05:33,899 did not remain long 111 00:05:33,899 --> 00:05:36,899 before he joined the Highest Companion. 112 00:05:36,899 --> 00:05:40,930 The Arabs began to leave the religion of Allah in crowds, 113 00:05:40,930 --> 00:05:43,930 just as they had entered it in crowds. 114 00:05:43,930 --> 00:05:46,930 Al-Siddiq, may Allah be pleased with him, stood against them, 115 00:05:46,930 --> 00:05:50,930 and confronted them with those who remained steadfast in their religion. 116 00:05:50,930 --> 00:05:54,930 Al-Muthanna ibn Harithah al-Shaybani and his people 117 00:05:54,930 --> 00:05:57,930 were among the fiercest of people against the apostates, 118 00:05:57,930 --> 00:06:02,930 and had the greatest impact in ending that destructive, blind strife. 119 00:06:02,930 --> 00:06:08,120 Al-Muthanna ibn Harithah emerged from the Wars of Apostasy victorious, 120 00:06:08,120 --> 00:06:12,120 and found under his command eight thousand fighters 121 00:06:12,120 --> 00:06:14,120 who would not disobey his command. 122 00:06:14,120 --> 00:06:18,120 The words of the Messenger, may the prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, 123 00:06:18,120 --> 00:06:21,120 regarding the Muslims' conquest of the lands of Persia 124 00:06:21,120 --> 00:06:24,120 were still ringing in his ears. 125 00:06:24,120 --> 00:06:26,120 He said to himself, 126 00:06:26,120 --> 00:06:29,120 "Why should I not strike the Persians with this brave army, 127 00:06:29,120 --> 00:06:32,120 and rescue the Sawad of Iraq from their hands? 128 00:06:32,120 --> 00:06:35,120 Did the Truthful and Trusted one not promise us 129 00:06:35,120 --> 00:06:40,120 that Allah would make us possess their lands, women, and wealth?" 130 00:06:40,120 --> 00:06:43,120 "And can lands be possessed and wealth secured 131 00:06:43,120 --> 00:06:47,220 except by the tips of spears and the edges of swords?" 132 00:06:47,220 --> 00:06:51,220 So he resolved to proceed with his people to the Sawad of Iraq, 133 00:06:51,220 --> 00:06:56,220 without asking the Caliph for permission, so as not to embarrass him. 134 00:06:56,220 --> 00:07:00,220 If he were victorious, his victory would be for all Muslims, 135 00:07:00,220 --> 00:07:04,470 and if he were defeated, his defeat would be his alone. 136 00:07:04,470 --> 00:07:07,470 Al-Muthanna ibn Harithah attacked the Sawad of Iraq, 137 00:07:07,470 --> 00:07:12,470 and its cities and villages began to fall under the hooves of his horses 138 00:07:12,470 --> 00:07:16,470 like leaves falling from trees in the autumn. 139 00:07:16,470 --> 00:07:22,470 The news of his victories began to spread throughout the Arabian Peninsula. 140 00:07:22,470 --> 00:07:26,470 Al-Siddiq, may Allah be pleased with him, said to those around him, 141 00:07:26,470 --> 00:07:29,470 "Who is this whose news of victory reaches us, 142 00:07:29,470 --> 00:07:32,470 without us knowing anything about his affairs?" 143 00:07:32,470 --> 00:07:35,470 The answer to this question 144 00:07:35,470 --> 00:07:37,470 was al-Muthanna himself, 145 00:07:37,470 --> 00:07:39,470 for he hurried to Madinah, 146 00:07:39,470 --> 00:07:44,470 met al-Siddiq, and informed him of his raids on the Sawad of Iraq, 147 00:07:44,470 --> 00:07:49,470 and listed for him the cities, villages, and fortresses he had liberated from the Persians 148 00:07:49,470 --> 00:07:52,470 and added to the state of Islam. 149 00:07:52,470 --> 00:07:54,470 He described to him the beauty of those lands, 150 00:07:54,470 --> 00:07:58,470 the abundance of their blessings, and the richness of their harvests. 151 00:07:58,470 --> 00:08:01,470 He informed him of the state of the Persians, 152 00:08:01,470 --> 00:08:04,470 their distress, and the instability of their kingdom. 153 00:08:04,470 --> 00:08:08,470 He continued to urge him until he encouraged him to conquer the lands of Persia. 154 00:08:08,470 --> 00:08:11,470 Al-Siddiq became energized for that great matter, 155 00:08:11,470 --> 00:08:13,470 mobilized armies for it, 156 00:08:13,470 --> 00:08:16,470 and made al-Muthanna ibn Harithah al-Shaybani 157 00:08:16,470 --> 00:08:20,470 one of his senior commanders in these wars. 158 00:08:20,470 --> 00:08:25,569 Al-Muthanna ibn Harithah fought a number of battles against the Persian armies, 159 00:08:25,569 --> 00:08:28,569 the greatest of which was the famous Battle of Babylon. 160 00:08:28,569 --> 00:08:31,569 The story of this battle was 161 00:08:31,569 --> 00:08:34,570 that Shahdhan, the king of the Persians, 162 00:08:34,570 --> 00:08:38,570 sent a letter shortly before the battle to the commander of the Muslim army, 163 00:08:38,570 --> 00:08:41,570 al-Muthanna ibn Harithah, saying in it, 164 00:08:41,570 --> 00:08:45,570 "I have directed against you the tenders of chickens and pigs, 165 00:08:45,570 --> 00:08:47,570 and others of the rabble, 166 00:08:47,570 --> 00:08:50,570 and I am only fighting you with them, 167 00:08:50,570 --> 00:08:53,820 for you are not worthy of those above them." 168 00:08:53,820 --> 00:08:57,820 Al-Muthanna replied with a letter that stated, 169 00:08:57,820 --> 00:09:00,820 "From al-Muthanna ibn Harithah al-Shaybani, 170 00:09:01,820 --> 00:09:03,820 to Shahdhan, 171 00:09:03,820 --> 00:09:05,820 to proceed: 172 00:09:05,820 --> 00:09:09,820 We praise Allah, who has turned your plot back upon you, 173 00:09:09,820 --> 00:09:12,820 and forced you to use the tenders of chickens and pigs 174 00:09:12,820 --> 00:09:15,820 to defend yourselves. 175 00:09:15,820 --> 00:09:18,820 Tomorrow, when the two armies meet, 176 00:09:18,820 --> 00:09:23,080 the wrongdoers will know to what turning point they will return." 177 00:09:23,080 --> 00:09:25,080 When the two armies met, 178 00:09:25,080 --> 00:09:28,080 Hormuz, the commander of the Persian army, advanced 179 00:09:28,080 --> 00:09:31,080 at the head of thousands upon thousands of his soldiers, 180 00:09:31,080 --> 00:09:34,080 led by the great elephant 181 00:09:34,080 --> 00:09:38,080 which they kept for the greatest of battles. 182 00:09:38,080 --> 00:09:41,080 That terrifying, trained animal began 183 00:09:41,080 --> 00:09:47,080 to strike the Muslim soldiers with its long, thick trunk, right and left, 184 00:09:47,080 --> 00:09:49,080 causing their hearts to tremble, 185 00:09:49,080 --> 00:09:52,080 their horses to shy away at the sight of it, 186 00:09:52,080 --> 00:09:55,080 and their formation to collapse. 187 00:09:55,080 --> 00:09:59,080 Al-Muthanna ibn Harithah realized that victory was impossible 188 00:09:59,080 --> 00:10:05,080 as long as this giant animal was inflicting such severe damage on his soldiers. 189 00:10:05,080 --> 00:10:09,110 He set out toward it with a group of his brave men, 190 00:10:09,110 --> 00:10:13,110 and launched a sincere attack on the soldiers surrounding it, 191 00:10:13,110 --> 00:10:16,110 which shook their footing and cleared them away from it. 192 00:10:16,110 --> 00:10:20,110 Then he struck it with a deep thrust of his spear, 193 00:10:20,110 --> 00:10:22,110 which hit a vital spot, 194 00:10:22,110 --> 00:10:26,110 and followed it with other lethal blows. 195 00:10:26,110 --> 00:10:31,110 The elephant soon fell dead to the ground, swimming in its blood. 196 00:10:31,110 --> 00:10:34,110 The Muslims' takbir and tahlil rose, 197 00:10:34,110 --> 00:10:38,110 and they poured onto the battlefield like a flood, 198 00:10:38,110 --> 00:10:42,110 and set their spears and swords upon the throats of the enemies. 199 00:10:42,110 --> 00:10:44,110 It was only a short while 200 00:10:44,110 --> 00:10:48,110 They did not even spare the keepers of chickens and swine in the rear guard. 201 00:10:48,110 --> 00:10:51,110 Nor did they spare their leaders, Hormuz and his fleeing forces. 202 00:10:51,110 --> 00:10:55,110 Al-Muthanna Ibn Harithah al-Shaybani then occupied Babylon. 203 00:10:55,110 --> 00:10:58,110 He secured all the spoils of war it contained. 204 00:10:58,110 --> 00:11:01,110 And he took captive the women who were gathered there. 205 00:11:01,110 --> 00:11:04,110 He began to glorify Allah the Almighty, saying: 206 00:11:04,110 --> 00:11:08,110 "The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, spoke the truth." 207 00:11:08,110 --> 00:11:12,110 "The Prophet of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, spoke the truth." 208 00:11:12,110 --> 00:11:14,110 "We have indeed taken possession of the land." 209 00:11:14,110 --> 00:11:18,110 "We have seized the wealth and taken the women captive." 210 00:11:18,110 --> 00:11:24,120 Muhammad and his Companions, 211 00:11:24,120 --> 00:11:27,120 Have washed away the foundations of the lofty palace. 212 00:11:27,120 --> 00:11:29,120 O Shiyar, hasten to me and bestow your favor, 213 00:11:29,120 --> 00:11:33,120 In praising them, is there any more to be said?