WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.000 In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. 00:00:15.609 --> 00:00:17.609 The Mawaddah Association is pleased 00:00:17.609 --> 00:00:22.609 to present to you glimpses from the lives of the Companions, 00:00:22.609 --> 00:00:25.640 by Abd al-Rahman Ra'fat al-Basha, 00:00:25.640 --> 00:00:30.140 may Allah have mercy upon him. 00:00:30.140 --> 00:00:34.200 Al-Muthanna ibn Harithah al-Shaybani, 00:00:34.200 --> 00:00:36.200 may Allah be pleased with him. 00:00:51.369 --> 00:00:54.369 The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, went out 00:00:54.369 --> 00:00:56.369 to the markets of Makkah, 00:00:56.369 --> 00:01:00.369 presenting himself to those arriving from all parts of the Arabian Peninsula. 00:01:00.369 --> 00:01:02.369 With him was Abu Bakr al-Siddiq, 00:01:02.369 --> 00:01:04.370 and Ali ibn Abi Talib, may Allah be pleased with them. 00:01:04.370 --> 00:01:08.370 They saw some elders who possessed status and dignity. 00:01:08.370 --> 00:01:12.370 Abu Bakr stepped forward, greeted them, and asked, 00:01:12.370 --> 00:01:14.370 "Who are the people?" 00:01:14.370 --> 00:01:17.370 They replied, "We are from Banu Shayban ibn Tha'labah." 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, 00:01:22.590 --> 00:01:24.590 "May my father and mother be sacrificed for you, 00:01:24.590 --> 00:01:28.590 there is no honor among their people greater than theirs." 00:01:28.590 --> 00:01:31.590 Among the group were al-Muthanna ibn Harithah al-Shaybani, 00:01:31.590 --> 00:01:33.590 Mafruq ibn 'Amr, 00:01:33.590 --> 00:01:35.590 and Hani ibn Qabisah. 00:01:35.590 --> 00:01:38.659 Abu Bakr turned to them and said, 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, 00:01:43.659 --> 00:01:45.659 then here he is." 00:01:45.659 --> 00:01:48.659 He pointed toward the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him. 00:01:48.659 --> 00:01:50.659 They said, "Yes." 00:01:50.659 --> 00:01:54.659 Then they turned to the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, 00:01:54.659 --> 00:01:56.659 intending to speak with him. 00:01:56.659 --> 00:01:59.659 The Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, sat down, 00:01:59.659 --> 00:02:03.659 and Abu Bakr stood behind him, shading him with his garment. 00:02:03.659 --> 00:02:05.659 Mafruq ibn 'Amr said to him, 00:02:05.659 --> 00:02:08.659 as he was the one sitting closest to him, 00:02:08.659 --> 00:02:11.659 "To what do you call us, O brother of Quraysh?" 00:02:11.659 --> 00:02:14.659 The Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said, 00:02:14.659 --> 00:02:18.659 "I call you to bear witness that there is no god but Allah, 00:02:18.659 --> 00:02:20.659 alone, with no partner, 00:02:20.659 --> 00:02:22.659 and that I am the Messenger of Allah, 00:02:22.659 --> 00:02:24.659 and that you shelter me and support me, 00:02:24.659 --> 00:02:27.659 so that I may convey what Allah has commanded me." 00:02:28.659 --> 00:02:30.659 Mafruq said, 00:02:30.659 --> 00:02:33.659 "And to what else do you call us, O brother of Quraysh?" 00:02:33.659 --> 00:02:36.659 The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, recited 00:02:36.659 --> 00:02:38.659 the words of the Almighty: 00:02:38.659 --> 00:02:41.659 "And to what else do you call us, O brother of Quraysh? 00:02:41.659 --> 00:02:44.659 By Allah, this is not the speech of the people of the earth, 00:02:44.659 --> 00:02:47.689 for if it were their speech, we would have recognized it." 00:02:47.689 --> 00:02:50.689 The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, recited 00:02:50.689 --> 00:02:52.689 the words of the Almighty: 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) 00:02:56.689 --> 00:03:01.689 "And [to] giving to relatives," 00:03:01.689 --> 00:03:05.689 "and He forbids immorality," 00:03:05.689 --> 00:03:08.689 "and bad conduct, and oppression." 00:03:08.689 --> 00:03:13.780 "He admonishes you that perhaps you will be reminded." 00:03:13.780 --> 00:03:17.159 He then said to him, 00:03:17.159 --> 00:03:19.159 "You call, by Allah, O brother of Quraysh, 00:03:19.159 --> 00:03:21.419 to noble character." 00:03:21.419 --> 00:03:24.419 Then Mafruq turned to al-Muthanna ibn Harithah, 00:03:24.419 --> 00:03:27.419 as if he wanted to include him in the conversation, 00:03:27.419 --> 00:03:30.419 and said, "This is al-Muthanna ibn Harithah, 00:03:30.419 --> 00:03:33.419 our elder and our leader in war." 00:03:33.419 --> 00:03:35.419 Al-Muthanna said, 00:03:35.419 --> 00:03:37.419 "I have heard your words, 00:03:37.419 --> 00:03:39.419 and I found your speech excellent. 00:03:39.419 --> 00:03:41.419 However, a matter such as this 00:03:41.419 --> 00:03:44.419 requires us to return to our people. 00:03:44.419 --> 00:03:48.419 Furthermore, we have settled near water overlooking the land of Persia, 00:03:48.419 --> 00:03:51.419 and Chosroes has taken a covenant from us 00:03:51.419 --> 00:03:53.419 that we shall not initiate any new event, 00:03:53.419 --> 00:03:55.419 nor shall we shelter any innovator. 00:03:55.419 --> 00:03:58.419 Perhaps this to which you call us 00:03:58.419 --> 00:04:00.419 is something that Chosroes and his people dislike, 00:04:00.419 --> 00:04:02.419 and we have no power against them, 00:04:02.419 --> 00:04:05.419 nor the strength to wage war against them." 00:04:05.419 --> 00:04:07.449 When they were about to leave, 00:04:07.449 --> 00:04:10.449 the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, turned to them 00:04:10.449 --> 00:04:12.449 and said, 00:04:12.449 --> 00:04:15.449 "What would you say if only a short time passed 00:04:15.449 --> 00:04:18.449 before Allah grants you the lands of Persia, 00:04:18.449 --> 00:04:20.449 their wealth, and their women? 00:04:20.449 --> 00:04:22.449 Would you then glorify Allah and sanctify Him?" 00:04:22.449 --> 00:04:24.449 They said, 00:04:24.449 --> 00:04:26.449 "By Allah, yes." 00:04:26.449 --> 00:04:29.449 "And will that be for you, O brother of Quraysh?" 00:04:29.449 --> 00:04:31.540 He said, "Yes." 00:04:31.540 --> 00:04:33.540 Al-Muthanna ibn Harithah al-Shaybani departed, 00:04:33.540 --> 00:04:35.540 returning to the lands of his people, 00:04:35.540 --> 00:04:38.540 while the image of the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, 00:04:38.540 --> 00:04:40.540 never left his imagination, 00:04:40.540 --> 00:04:44.540 and the resonance of his words never left his ears. 00:04:44.540 --> 00:04:46.540 He continued to follow his news, 00:04:46.540 --> 00:04:48.540 and remembered his words: 00:04:48.540 --> 00:04:51.540 "What would you say if only a short time passed 00:04:51.540 --> 00:04:54.540 before Allah grants you the lands of Persia, 00:04:54.540 --> 00:04:56.540 their wealth, and their women?" 00:04:56.540 --> 00:04:58.540 Then he would say to himself, 00:04:58.540 --> 00:05:00.540 "What made me hold back my hand 00:05:00.540 --> 00:05:02.540 from pledging allegiance to Muhammad, 00:05:02.540 --> 00:05:04.540 when I have become certain of his truthfulness 00:05:04.540 --> 00:05:06.699 and the validity of his call?" 00:05:06.699 --> 00:05:08.699 In the ninth year of the Hijrah, 00:05:08.699 --> 00:05:12.699 Allah permitted al-Muthanna ibn Harithah al-Shaybani 00:05:12.699 --> 00:05:14.699 to be honored by joining 00:05:14.699 --> 00:05:16.699 the battalions of faith. 00:05:16.699 --> 00:05:20.699 He came to the Prophet, may the prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, 00:05:20.699 --> 00:05:23.699 among a large gathering of Banu Shayban, 00:05:23.699 --> 00:05:26.699 and announced his Islam before him, 00:05:26.699 --> 00:05:29.899 and pledged to him his hearing and obedience. 00:05:29.899 --> 00:05:31.899 But the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, 00:05:31.899 --> 00:05:33.899 did not remain long 00:05:33.899 --> 00:05:36.899 before he joined the Highest Companion. 00:05:36.899 --> 00:05:40.930 The Arabs began to leave the religion of Allah in crowds, 00:05:40.930 --> 00:05:43.930 just as they had entered it in crowds. 00:05:43.930 --> 00:05:46.930 Al-Siddiq, may Allah be pleased with him, stood against them, 00:05:46.930 --> 00:05:50.930 and confronted them with those who remained steadfast in their religion. 00:05:50.930 --> 00:05:54.930 Al-Muthanna ibn Harithah al-Shaybani and his people 00:05:54.930 --> 00:05:57.930 were among the fiercest of people against the apostates, 00:05:57.930 --> 00:06:02.930 and had the greatest impact in ending that destructive, blind strife. 00:06:02.930 --> 00:06:08.120 Al-Muthanna ibn Harithah emerged from the Wars of Apostasy victorious, 00:06:08.120 --> 00:06:12.120 and found under his command eight thousand fighters 00:06:12.120 --> 00:06:14.120 who would not disobey his command. 00:06:14.120 --> 00:06:18.120 The words of the Messenger, may the prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, 00:06:18.120 --> 00:06:21.120 regarding the Muslims' conquest of the lands of Persia 00:06:21.120 --> 00:06:24.120 were still ringing in his ears. 00:06:24.120 --> 00:06:26.120 He said to himself, 00:06:26.120 --> 00:06:29.120 "Why should I not strike the Persians with this brave army, 00:06:29.120 --> 00:06:32.120 and rescue the Sawad of Iraq from their hands? 00:06:32.120 --> 00:06:35.120 Did the Truthful and Trusted one not promise us 00:06:35.120 --> 00:06:40.120 that Allah would make us possess their lands, women, and wealth?" 00:06:40.120 --> 00:06:43.120 "And can lands be possessed and wealth secured 00:06:43.120 --> 00:06:47.220 except by the tips of spears and the edges of swords?" 00:06:47.220 --> 00:06:51.220 So he resolved to proceed with his people to the Sawad of Iraq, 00:06:51.220 --> 00:06:56.220 without asking the Caliph for permission, so as not to embarrass him. 00:06:56.220 --> 00:07:00.220 If he were victorious, his victory would be for all Muslims, 00:07:00.220 --> 00:07:04.470 and if he were defeated, his defeat would be his alone. 00:07:04.470 --> 00:07:07.470 Al-Muthanna ibn Harithah attacked the Sawad of Iraq, 00:07:07.470 --> 00:07:12.470 and its cities and villages began to fall under the hooves of his horses 00:07:12.470 --> 00:07:16.470 like leaves falling from trees in the autumn. 00:07:16.470 --> 00:07:22.470 The news of his victories began to spread throughout the Arabian Peninsula. 00:07:22.470 --> 00:07:26.470 Al-Siddiq, may Allah be pleased with him, said to those around him, 00:07:26.470 --> 00:07:29.470 "Who is this whose news of victory reaches us, 00:07:29.470 --> 00:07:32.470 without us knowing anything about his affairs?" 00:07:32.470 --> 00:07:35.470 The answer to this question 00:07:35.470 --> 00:07:37.470 was al-Muthanna himself, 00:07:37.470 --> 00:07:39.470 for he hurried to Madinah, 00:07:39.470 --> 00:07:44.470 met al-Siddiq, and informed him of his raids on the Sawad of Iraq, 00:07:44.470 --> 00:07:49.470 and listed for him the cities, villages, and fortresses he had liberated from the Persians 00:07:49.470 --> 00:07:52.470 and added to the state of Islam. 00:07:52.470 --> 00:07:54.470 He described to him the beauty of those lands, 00:07:54.470 --> 00:07:58.470 the abundance of their blessings, and the richness of their harvests. 00:07:58.470 --> 00:08:01.470 He informed him of the state of the Persians, 00:08:01.470 --> 00:08:04.470 their distress, and the instability of their kingdom. 00:08:04.470 --> 00:08:08.470 He continued to urge him until he encouraged him to conquer the lands of Persia. 00:08:08.470 --> 00:08:11.470 Al-Siddiq became energized for that great matter, 00:08:11.470 --> 00:08:13.470 mobilized armies for it, 00:08:13.470 --> 00:08:16.470 and made al-Muthanna ibn Harithah al-Shaybani 00:08:16.470 --> 00:08:20.470 one of his senior commanders in these wars. 00:08:20.470 --> 00:08:25.569 Al-Muthanna ibn Harithah fought a number of battles against the Persian armies, 00:08:25.569 --> 00:08:28.569 the greatest of which was the famous Battle of Babylon. 00:08:28.569 --> 00:08:31.569 The story of this battle was 00:08:31.569 --> 00:08:34.570 that Shahdhan, the king of the Persians, 00:08:34.570 --> 00:08:38.570 sent a letter shortly before the battle to the commander of the Muslim army, 00:08:38.570 --> 00:08:41.570 al-Muthanna ibn Harithah, saying in it, 00:08:41.570 --> 00:08:45.570 "I have directed against you the tenders of chickens and pigs, 00:08:45.570 --> 00:08:47.570 and others of the rabble, 00:08:47.570 --> 00:08:50.570 and I am only fighting you with them, 00:08:50.570 --> 00:08:53.820 for you are not worthy of those above them." 00:08:53.820 --> 00:08:57.820 Al-Muthanna replied with a letter that stated, 00:08:57.820 --> 00:09:00.820 "From al-Muthanna ibn Harithah al-Shaybani, 00:09:01.820 --> 00:09:03.820 to Shahdhan, 00:09:03.820 --> 00:09:05.820 to proceed: 00:09:05.820 --> 00:09:09.820 We praise Allah, who has turned your plot back upon you, 00:09:09.820 --> 00:09:12.820 and forced you to use the tenders of chickens and pigs 00:09:12.820 --> 00:09:15.820 to defend yourselves. 00:09:15.820 --> 00:09:18.820 Tomorrow, when the two armies meet, 00:09:18.820 --> 00:09:23.080 the wrongdoers will know to what turning point they will return." 00:09:23.080 --> 00:09:25.080 When the two armies met, 00:09:25.080 --> 00:09:28.080 Hormuz, the commander of the Persian army, advanced 00:09:28.080 --> 00:09:31.080 at the head of thousands upon thousands of his soldiers, 00:09:31.080 --> 00:09:34.080 led by the great elephant 00:09:34.080 --> 00:09:38.080 which they kept for the greatest of battles. 00:09:38.080 --> 00:09:41.080 That terrifying, trained animal began 00:09:41.080 --> 00:09:47.080 to strike the Muslim soldiers with its long, thick trunk, right and left, 00:09:47.080 --> 00:09:49.080 causing their hearts to tremble, 00:09:49.080 --> 00:09:52.080 their horses to shy away at the sight of it, 00:09:52.080 --> 00:09:55.080 and their formation to collapse. 00:09:55.080 --> 00:09:59.080 Al-Muthanna ibn Harithah realized that victory was impossible 00:09:59.080 --> 00:10:05.080 as long as this giant animal was inflicting such severe damage on his soldiers. 00:10:05.080 --> 00:10:09.110 He set out toward it with a group of his brave men, 00:10:09.110 --> 00:10:13.110 and launched a sincere attack on the soldiers surrounding it, 00:10:13.110 --> 00:10:16.110 which shook their footing and cleared them away from it. 00:10:16.110 --> 00:10:20.110 Then he struck it with a deep thrust of his spear, 00:10:20.110 --> 00:10:22.110 which hit a vital spot, 00:10:22.110 --> 00:10:26.110 and followed it with other lethal blows. 00:10:26.110 --> 00:10:31.110 The elephant soon fell dead to the ground, swimming in its blood. 00:10:31.110 --> 00:10:34.110 The Muslims' takbir and tahlil rose, 00:10:34.110 --> 00:10:38.110 and they poured onto the battlefield like a flood, 00:10:38.110 --> 00:10:42.110 and set their spears and swords upon the throats of the enemies. 00:10:42.110 --> 00:10:44.110 It was only a short while 00:10:44.110 --> 00:10:48.110 They did not even spare the keepers of chickens and swine in the rear guard. 00:10:48.110 --> 00:10:51.110 Nor did they spare their leaders, Hormuz and his fleeing forces. 00:10:51.110 --> 00:10:55.110 Al-Muthanna Ibn Harithah al-Shaybani then occupied Babylon. 00:10:55.110 --> 00:10:58.110 He secured all the spoils of war it contained. 00:10:58.110 --> 00:11:01.110 And he took captive the women who were gathered there. 00:11:01.110 --> 00:11:04.110 He began to glorify Allah the Almighty, saying: 00:11:04.110 --> 00:11:08.110 "The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, spoke the truth." 00:11:08.110 --> 00:11:12.110 "The Prophet of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, spoke the truth." 00:11:12.110 --> 00:11:14.110 "We have indeed taken possession of the land." 00:11:14.110 --> 00:11:18.110 "We have seized the wealth and taken the women captive." 00:11:18.110 --> 00:11:24.120 Muhammad and his Companions, 00:11:24.120 --> 00:11:27.120 Have washed away the foundations of the lofty palace. 00:11:27.120 --> 00:11:29.120 O Shiyar, hasten to me and bestow your favor, 00:11:29.120 --> 00:11:33.120 In praising them, is there any more to be said?