1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:03,000 In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. 2 00:00:15,320 --> 00:00:18,320 Mawaddah Association is pleased 3 00:00:18,320 --> 00:00:22,320 to present to you snapshots from the lives of the Companions 4 00:00:22,320 --> 00:00:25,320 by 'Abd al-Rahman Ra'fat al-Basha, 5 00:00:25,320 --> 00:00:27,350 may Allah have mercy on him. 6 00:00:27,350 --> 00:00:31,339 'Asim ibn Thabit, 7 00:00:31,339 --> 00:00:33,340 may Allah be pleased with him. 8 00:00:47,609 --> 00:00:50,609 Quraysh set out with their whole force, young and old, 9 00:00:50,609 --> 00:00:55,609 their nobles and their slaves, to confront Muhammad ibn 'Abd Allah at Uhud. 10 00:00:55,609 --> 00:00:59,609 Malice filled their breasts to the brim, 11 00:00:59,609 --> 00:01:04,609 and the desire for revenge for those slain at Badr raged like a fire in their blood. 12 00:01:04,609 --> 00:01:06,609 Even this was not enough for them; 13 00:01:06,609 --> 00:01:10,609 rather, they brought along the noblewomen of Quraysh as well, 14 00:01:10,609 --> 00:01:13,609 to incite the men to fight, 15 00:01:13,609 --> 00:01:16,609 ignite zeal in the hearts of the warriors, 16 00:01:16,609 --> 00:01:20,609 and bolster their resolve whenever they wavered or showed weakness. 17 00:01:20,609 --> 00:01:23,700 Among those who went out with them were 18 00:01:23,700 --> 00:01:26,700 Hind bint 'Utbah, wife of Abu Sufyan; 19 00:01:26,700 --> 00:01:28,700 Raytah bint Munabbih, 20 00:01:28,700 --> 00:01:30,700 wife of 'Amr ibn al-'As; 21 00:01:30,700 --> 00:01:32,700 and Sulafah bint Sa'd, 22 00:01:32,700 --> 00:01:36,700 accompanied by her husband Talhah and her three sons: 23 00:01:36,700 --> 00:01:39,700 Musafi', al-Julas, and Kilab; 24 00:01:39,700 --> 00:01:42,700 alongside many other women. 25 00:01:42,700 --> 00:01:45,829 When the two forces met at Uhud 26 00:01:45,829 --> 00:01:47,829 and the fires of war began to rage, 27 00:01:47,829 --> 00:01:51,829 Hind bint 'Utbah and the women with her stood up 28 00:01:51,829 --> 00:01:53,829 and took their positions behind the ranks. 29 00:01:53,829 --> 00:01:55,829 Holding tambourines in their hands, 30 00:01:55,829 --> 00:01:58,829 they beat them while chanting: 31 00:01:58,829 --> 00:02:00,829 "If you advance, we embrace you, 32 00:02:00,829 --> 00:02:02,829 and spread out soft cushions; 33 00:02:02,829 --> 00:02:04,829 but if you retreat, we depart— 34 00:02:04,829 --> 00:02:06,829 a departure without love." 35 00:02:06,829 --> 00:02:10,960 Their chant ignited zeal in the breasts of the knights 36 00:02:10,960 --> 00:02:14,960 and worked like magic on the souls of their husbands. 37 00:02:14,960 --> 00:02:17,960 Then the battle drew to a close, 38 00:02:17,960 --> 00:02:20,960 and victory was decreed for Quraysh over the Muslims. 39 00:02:20,960 --> 00:02:22,960 The women stood up, 40 00:02:22,960 --> 00:02:25,960 inflamed by the fervor of victory, 41 00:02:25,960 --> 00:02:29,960 and began roaming through the battlefield ululating, 42 00:02:29,960 --> 00:02:33,960 committing the most horrific mutilations upon the slain. 43 00:02:33,960 --> 00:02:35,960 They ripped open bellies, 44 00:02:35,960 --> 00:02:37,960 gouged out eyes, 45 00:02:37,960 --> 00:02:40,960 and cut off ears and noses. 46 00:02:40,960 --> 00:02:43,960 Indeed, one of them was not satisfied in her rage 47 00:02:43,960 --> 00:02:47,960 until she fashioned necklaces and anklets from those noses and ears, 48 00:02:47,960 --> 00:02:49,960 adorning herself with them 49 00:02:49,960 --> 00:02:54,960 in revenge for her father, brother, and uncle who had been killed at Badr. 50 00:02:54,960 --> 00:02:57,960 But Sulafah bint Sa'd 51 00:02:57,960 --> 00:03:01,960 was in a very different state from her fellow Qurayshi women. 52 00:03:01,960 --> 00:03:04,960 She was anxious and distressed, 53 00:03:04,960 --> 00:03:09,960 waiting for her husband or one of her three sons to come to her, 54 00:03:09,960 --> 00:03:11,960 so she could learn their news 55 00:03:11,960 --> 00:03:14,960 and share in the joy of victory with the other women. 56 00:03:14,960 --> 00:03:18,990 However, her long wait proved to be in vain. 57 00:03:18,990 --> 00:03:20,990 She ventured deep into the battlefield 58 00:03:20,990 --> 00:03:23,990 and began searching among the faces of the slain, 59 00:03:23,990 --> 00:03:28,990 only to find her husband struck down, drenched in his own blood. 60 00:03:28,990 --> 00:03:30,990 She bolted like a panicked lioness 61 00:03:30,990 --> 00:03:35,990 and began casting her gaze in every direction, searching for her sons: 62 00:03:35,990 --> 00:03:38,990 Musafi', Kilab, and al-Julas. 63 00:03:38,990 --> 00:03:42,990 It was not long before she saw them laid out on the slopes of Uhud. 64 00:03:42,990 --> 00:03:44,990 As for Musafi' and Kilab, 65 00:03:44,990 --> 00:03:47,990 they had already passed away. 66 00:03:47,990 --> 00:03:48,990 As for al-Julas, 67 00:03:48,990 --> 00:03:52,990 she found him with a faint spark of life still remaining. 68 00:03:52,990 --> 00:03:56,990 Sulafah bent over her son as he suffered the agonies of death, 69 00:03:56,990 --> 00:03:59,990 placed his head in her lap, 70 00:03:59,990 --> 00:04:02,990 and began wiping the blood from his forehead and mouth, 71 00:04:02,990 --> 00:04:06,990 her tears dried up in her eyes from the horror of the tragedy. 72 00:04:06,990 --> 00:04:09,990 Then she turned to him, saying: 73 00:04:09,990 --> 00:04:11,990 "Who struck you down, my son?" 74 00:04:11,990 --> 00:04:14,020 He tried to answer her, 75 00:04:14,020 --> 00:04:17,019 but the death rattle prevented him. 76 00:04:17,019 --> 00:04:19,019 She persisted in asking him, 77 00:04:19,019 --> 00:04:21,019 so he said: 78 00:04:21,019 --> 00:04:23,019 "'Asim ibn Thabit struck me down, 79 00:04:23,019 --> 00:04:25,019 and he struck down my brother Musafi'." 80 00:04:25,019 --> 00:04:28,019 Then he drew his last breath. 81 00:04:28,019 --> 00:04:31,180 Sulafah bint Sa'd went mad with grief. 82 00:04:31,180 --> 00:04:33,180 She began to wail and sob, 83 00:04:33,180 --> 00:04:36,180 and swore by Allah and al-'Uzza 84 00:04:36,180 --> 00:04:38,180 that her anguish would not subside, 85 00:04:38,180 --> 00:04:40,180 nor would a tear dry from her eyes, 86 00:04:40,180 --> 00:04:44,180 unless Quraysh took revenge for her against 'Asim ibn Thabit, 87 00:04:44,180 --> 00:04:48,180 and gave her the skull of his head so she could drink wine from it. 88 00:04:48,180 --> 00:04:50,180 She then pledged to whoever captured him, 89 00:04:50,180 --> 00:04:52,180 or killed him and brought her his head, 90 00:04:52,180 --> 00:04:56,180 to give him whatever precious wealth he desired. 91 00:04:56,180 --> 00:04:59,220 News of her vow spread throughout Quraysh, 92 00:04:59,220 --> 00:05:02,220 and every young man among the youth of Mecca 93 00:05:02,220 --> 00:05:05,220 wished that he might overcome 'Asim ibn Thabit 94 00:05:05,220 --> 00:05:07,220 and present his head to Sulafah, 95 00:05:07,220 --> 00:05:10,220 in hopes of winning her prize. 96 00:05:10,220 --> 00:05:13,339 The Muslims returned to Medina after Uhud, 97 00:05:13,339 --> 00:05:17,339 and began reminiscing about the battle and what had transpired, 98 00:05:17,339 --> 00:05:21,339 asking Allah's mercy for the heroes who were martyred 99 00:05:21,339 --> 00:05:25,339 and commending the brave warriors who fought valiantly. 100 00:05:25,339 --> 00:05:28,339 Among those they mentioned was 'Asim ibn Thabit, 101 00:05:28,339 --> 00:05:34,339 expressing wonder at how he happened to slay three brothers from a single household 102 00:05:34,339 --> 00:05:36,339 among those he had brought down. 103 00:05:36,339 --> 00:05:38,339 One of them said: 104 00:05:38,339 --> 00:05:40,339 "Is there any wonder in that? 105 00:05:41,339 --> 00:05:45,339 Do you not remember the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, 106 00:05:45,339 --> 00:05:49,339 when he asked us shortly before Badr, 'How do you fight?' 107 00:05:49,339 --> 00:05:51,339 'Asim ibn Thabit stood up before him, 108 00:05:51,339 --> 00:05:54,339 took his bow in his hand, and said: 109 00:05:54,339 --> 00:05:57,339 'When the enemy is close to me—within a hundred cubits— 110 00:05:57,339 --> 00:05:59,339 the engagement is by shooting arrows. 111 00:05:59,339 --> 00:06:02,339 When they draw closer so that spears can reach us, 112 00:06:02,339 --> 00:06:06,339 there is thrusting until the spears break. 113 00:06:06,339 --> 00:06:08,439 When the spears break, 114 00:06:08,439 --> 00:06:11,439 we set them aside and draw our swords, 115 00:06:11,439 --> 00:06:13,439 and then comes hand-to-hand combat.' 116 00:06:13,439 --> 00:06:15,500 Upon this, the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said: 117 00:06:15,500 --> 00:06:17,500 'This is how war is fought. 118 00:06:17,500 --> 00:06:21,500 Whoever fights, let him fight as 'Asim fights.'" 119 00:06:21,500 --> 00:06:24,540 Not long after Uhud, 120 00:06:24,540 --> 00:06:27,540 the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, dispatched 121 00:06:27,540 --> 00:06:29,540 six noble Companions 122 00:06:29,540 --> 00:06:31,540 on an expedition, 123 00:06:31,540 --> 00:06:34,540 appointing 'Asim ibn Thabit as their commander. 124 00:06:34,540 --> 00:06:40,569 The noble group set out to carry out what the Prophet, peace be upon him, had commanded them. 125 00:06:40,569 --> 00:06:44,569 While they were on the way, not far from Mecca, 126 00:06:44,569 --> 00:06:47,569 a group from the tribe of Hudhayl learned of their presence. 127 00:06:47,569 --> 00:06:49,569 They rushed toward them swiftly 128 00:06:49,569 --> 00:06:52,699 and surrounded them like a collar around a neck. 129 00:06:52,699 --> 00:06:55,699 'Asim and those with him drew their swords, 130 00:06:55,699 --> 00:06:59,699 intending to engage those who had surrounded them. 131 00:06:59,699 --> 00:07:01,699 The men of Hudhayl said to them: 132 00:07:01,699 --> 00:07:03,699 "You are no match for us, 133 00:07:03,699 --> 00:07:06,699 and by Allah, we intend you no harm 134 00:07:06,699 --> 00:07:08,699 if you surrender to us. 135 00:07:08,699 --> 00:07:11,699 You have Allah's covenant and pledge to that effect." 136 00:07:11,699 --> 00:07:15,730 The Companions of the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, began 137 00:07:15,730 --> 00:07:17,730 looking at one another, 138 00:07:17,730 --> 00:07:20,730 as if consulting on what to do. 139 00:07:20,730 --> 00:07:23,949 'Asim turned to his companions and said: 140 00:07:23,949 --> 00:07:27,949 "As for me, I will never descend under the protection of a polytheist." 141 00:07:27,949 --> 00:07:30,949 Then he remembered the vow that Sulafah had made, 142 00:07:31,949 --> 00:07:33,949 drew his sword, and prayed: 143 00:07:33,949 --> 00:07:37,949 "O Allah, I have protected and defended Your religion, 144 00:07:37,949 --> 00:07:39,949 so protect my flesh and bones, 145 00:07:39,949 --> 00:07:43,949 and do not let any of the enemies of Allah violate them." 146 00:07:43,949 --> 00:07:45,949 He then charged at the men of Hudhayl, 147 00:07:45,949 --> 00:07:47,949 followed by two of his companions, 148 00:07:47,949 --> 00:07:49,949 and they continued fighting 149 00:07:49,949 --> 00:07:52,949 until they were slain one after another. 150 00:07:52,949 --> 00:07:54,949 As for the rest of his companions, 151 00:07:54,949 --> 00:07:56,949 they surrendered to their captors, 152 00:07:56,949 --> 00:07:59,949 who shortly thereafter betrayed them in the most treacherous manner. 153 00:07:59,949 --> 00:08:03,050 At first, the men of Hudhayl 154 00:08:03,050 --> 00:08:05,050 did not know that 'Asim ibn Thabit 155 00:08:05,050 --> 00:08:07,050 was among those they had killed. 156 00:08:07,050 --> 00:08:09,050 But when they realized who he was, 157 00:08:09,050 --> 00:08:11,050 they rejoiced exceedingly 158 00:08:11,050 --> 00:08:14,050 and entertained hopes of a lavish reward. 159 00:08:14,050 --> 00:08:16,050 And no wonder— 160 00:08:16,050 --> 00:08:18,050 had not Sulafah bint Sa'd 161 00:08:18,050 --> 00:08:20,050 pledged that if she captured 162 00:08:20,050 --> 00:08:22,050 'Asim ibn Thabit, 163 00:08:22,050 --> 00:08:24,050 she would drink wine from his skull? 164 00:08:24,050 --> 00:08:27,050 Had she not promised whoever brought him to her, 165 00:08:27,050 --> 00:08:28,050 dead or alive, 166 00:08:28,050 --> 00:08:30,050 whatever wealth he desired? 167 00:08:30,050 --> 00:08:33,429 Only a few hours 168 00:08:33,429 --> 00:08:35,429 had passed since the death of 'Asim ibn Thabit 169 00:08:35,429 --> 00:08:37,429 when Quraysh learned of his killing, 170 00:08:37,429 --> 00:08:39,429 for Hudhayl were encamped 171 00:08:39,429 --> 00:08:41,429 near Mecca. 172 00:08:41,429 --> 00:08:43,429 The leaders of Quraysh dispatched 173 00:08:43,429 --> 00:08:46,429 an envoy from among them to 'Asim's killers, 174 00:08:46,429 --> 00:08:48,429 asking them for his head 175 00:08:48,429 --> 00:08:51,429 to slake the vengeful thirst of Sulafah bint Sa'd, 176 00:08:51,429 --> 00:08:53,429 fulfill her oath, 177 00:08:53,429 --> 00:08:55,429 and alleviate some of her grief 178 00:08:55,429 --> 00:08:57,429 over her three sons 179 00:08:57,429 --> 00:09:00,429 whom 'Asim had slain with his own hand. 180 00:09:00,429 --> 00:09:03,429 They entrusted the messenger with vast wealth, 181 00:09:03,429 --> 00:09:06,429 instructing him to offer it generously to Hudhayl 182 00:09:06,429 --> 00:09:08,429 in exchange for 'Asim's head. 183 00:09:08,429 --> 00:09:12,500 The men of Hudhayl went to the body of 'Asim ibn Thabit 184 00:09:12,500 --> 00:09:14,500 to sever his head from his body, 185 00:09:14,500 --> 00:09:16,500 but they were startled by swarms of bees 186 00:09:16,500 --> 00:09:18,500 and clusters of hornets that settled upon him 187 00:09:18,500 --> 00:09:21,500 and surrounded him from every side. 188 00:09:21,500 --> 00:09:24,500 Whenever they attempted to approach his corpse, 189 00:09:24,500 --> 00:09:26,500 the insects flew into their faces 190 00:09:26,500 --> 00:09:29,500 and stung them on their eyes, foreheads, 191 00:09:29,500 --> 00:09:31,500 and every part of their bodies, 192 00:09:31,500 --> 00:09:33,529 driving them away from him. 193 00:09:33,529 --> 00:09:35,529 When they despaired of reaching him 194 00:09:35,529 --> 00:09:39,529 after trying time and time again, 195 00:09:39,529 --> 00:09:41,529 some of them said to one another: 196 00:09:41,529 --> 00:09:44,529 "Leave him until night falls upon him, 197 00:09:44,529 --> 00:09:47,529 for when darkness descends, the hornets 198 00:09:47,529 --> 00:09:49,529 will leave him and grant you access to him." 199 00:09:49,529 --> 00:09:52,559 Then they sat waiting not far away. 200 00:09:52,559 --> 00:09:56,620 But no sooner had the day passed and the night drawn near 201 00:09:56,620 --> 00:10:00,620 than the sky became overcast with dark, thick clouds. 202 00:10:00,620 --> 00:10:03,620 Thunder roared and the storm raged, 203 00:10:03,620 --> 00:10:05,620 and torrential rain poured down incessantly, 204 00:10:05,620 --> 00:10:08,620 the likes of which the oldest elders had never witnessed 205 00:10:08,620 --> 00:10:10,620 since they first lived upon that land. 206 00:10:10,620 --> 00:10:13,750 Soon the mountain passes overflowed, 207 00:10:13,750 --> 00:10:16,750 the flatlands filled, and the valleys were submerged. 208 00:10:16,750 --> 00:10:19,750 A flood swept through the region like the legendary flood of the dam. 209 00:10:19,750 --> 00:10:21,820 When morning dawned, 210 00:10:21,820 --> 00:10:25,820 the tribe of Hudhayl set out searching everywhere for the body of 'Asim, 211 00:10:25,820 --> 00:10:28,820 yet they could find no trace of him. 212 00:10:28,820 --> 00:10:32,879 This was because the flood had carried him far, far away, 213 00:10:32,879 --> 00:10:36,879 taking him to a place unknown to them. 214 00:10:36,879 --> 00:10:38,980 Thus, Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, answered 215 00:10:38,980 --> 00:10:40,980 the supplication of 'Asim Ibn Thabit. 216 00:10:40,980 --> 00:10:44,980 He protected his pure body from being mutilated 217 00:10:44,980 --> 00:10:49,070 and safeguarded his noble head from having wine drunk out of its skull, 218 00:10:50,070 --> 00:10:54,070 leaving the polytheists no way to triumph over the believer. 219 00:10:54,070 --> 00:11:01,929 "Whoever fights, let him fight as 'Asim Ibn Thabit fought." 220 00:11:01,929 --> 00:11:05,120 Muhammad Ibn 'Abdullah.