1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:03,000 In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. 2 00:00:15,289 --> 00:00:18,289 Mawaddah Association is pleased 3 00:00:18,289 --> 00:00:22,289 to present to you snapshots from the lives of the Companions 4 00:00:22,289 --> 00:00:25,289 by 'Abd al-Rahman Ra'fat al-Basha, 5 00:00:25,289 --> 00:00:27,320 may Allah have mercy on him. 6 00:00:27,320 --> 00:00:34,140 Habib Ibn Zayd al-Ansari, may Allah be pleased with him. 7 00:00:46,340 --> 00:00:52,810 In a home whose every corner radiated the fragrant breeze of faith, 8 00:00:52,810 --> 00:00:58,810 and across the foreheads of whose every inhabitant shone images of sacrifice and devotion, 9 00:00:58,810 --> 00:01:02,810 Habib Ibn Zayd al-Ansari grew up and took his first steps. 10 00:01:02,810 --> 00:01:07,810 His father was Zayd Ibn 'Asim, among the vanguard of Muslims in Yathrib 11 00:01:07,810 --> 00:01:10,810 and one of the seventy who attended the Pledge of 'Aqabah, 12 00:01:10,810 --> 00:01:13,810 clasping the hands of the Messenger of Allah in allegiance; 13 00:01:13,810 --> 00:01:16,810 accompanying him were his wife and his two sons. 14 00:01:16,810 --> 00:01:20,939 His mother was Umm 'Umarah, Nusaybah al-Maziniyyah, 15 00:01:20,939 --> 00:01:24,939 the first woman to take up arms in defense of Allah's religion 16 00:01:24,939 --> 00:01:27,939 and in protection of Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah. 17 00:01:27,939 --> 00:01:30,939 His brother was 'Abd Allah Ibn Zayd, 18 00:01:30,939 --> 00:01:33,939 who shielded the Prophet's throat with his own 19 00:01:33,939 --> 00:01:36,939 and protected the Prophet's chest with his own on the Day of Uhud, 20 00:01:36,939 --> 00:01:41,969 until the Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said regarding them: 21 00:01:41,969 --> 00:01:44,969 "May Allah bless you as a household! 22 00:01:44,969 --> 00:01:47,969 May Allah have mercy on you as a household!" 23 00:01:47,969 --> 00:01:52,379 Divine light penetrated the heart of Habib Ibn Zayd 24 00:01:52,379 --> 00:01:54,379 while he was still young and tender, 25 00:01:54,379 --> 00:01:57,379 settling firmly within him and taking complete hold of him. 26 00:01:57,379 --> 00:02:03,379 It was decreed that he would travel with his mother, father, maternal aunt, and brother to Makkah, 27 00:02:03,379 --> 00:02:07,379 to join that noble, blessed group of seventy 28 00:02:07,379 --> 00:02:10,379 in shaping the history of Islam, 29 00:02:10,379 --> 00:02:12,539 where he extended his small hand 30 00:02:12,539 --> 00:02:17,539 and pledged allegiance to the Messenger of Allah under the cover of night in the Pledge of 'Aqabah. 31 00:02:17,539 --> 00:02:19,539 From that day forward, 32 00:02:19,539 --> 00:02:25,539 the Messenger of Allah became dearer to him than his own father and mother, 33 00:02:26,539 --> 00:02:31,669 and Islam became more precious to him than his own soul. 34 00:02:31,669 --> 00:02:34,669 Habib Ibn Zayd did not witness the Battle of Badr, 35 00:02:34,669 --> 00:02:37,669 because he was too young at the time, 36 00:02:37,669 --> 00:02:40,669 nor was he granted the honor of participating in Uhud, 37 00:02:40,669 --> 00:02:44,669 for he was still too young to bear arms. 38 00:02:44,669 --> 00:02:49,669 Yet after that, he witnessed all the major campaigns alongside the Messenger of Allah; 39 00:02:49,669 --> 00:02:52,669 in every one of them he earned a banner of honor, 40 00:02:52,669 --> 00:02:54,669 a record of glory, 41 00:02:54,669 --> 00:02:56,699 and a stance of supreme devotion. 42 00:02:56,699 --> 00:03:00,699 However, all these events, despite their grandeur and brilliance, 43 00:03:00,699 --> 00:03:02,699 were in truth nothing 44 00:03:02,699 --> 00:03:05,699 but a grand preparation for the monumental trial 45 00:03:05,699 --> 00:03:08,699 whose story we are about to relate to you— 46 00:03:08,699 --> 00:03:11,699 a trial that will shake your conscience violently, 47 00:03:11,699 --> 00:03:15,699 just as it shook the consciences of millions of Muslims from the era of prophethood 48 00:03:15,699 --> 00:03:18,699 down to this very day of ours, 49 00:03:18,699 --> 00:03:20,699 and whose narrative will awe you 50 00:03:20,699 --> 00:03:23,699 just as it awed them throughout the ages. 51 00:03:23,699 --> 00:03:28,990 Come, let us listen to this intense story from its beginning. 52 00:03:28,990 --> 00:03:32,219 In the ninth year after the Hijrah, 53 00:03:32,219 --> 00:03:35,219 Islam had grown strong and firmly established, 54 00:03:35,219 --> 00:03:38,219 its power formidable and its foundations secure. 55 00:03:38,219 --> 00:03:43,219 Delegations of Arabs began journeying from all corners of the Peninsula to Yathrib 56 00:03:43,219 --> 00:03:47,219 to meet the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, 57 00:03:47,219 --> 00:03:50,219 to declare their Islam before him, 58 00:03:50,219 --> 00:03:53,219 and to pledge allegiance to him in listening and obedience. 59 00:03:53,219 --> 00:03:56,219 Among these delegations 60 00:03:56,219 --> 00:04:00,219 was the delegation of Banu Hanifah, arriving from the highlands of Najd. 61 00:04:00,219 --> 00:04:06,219 The delegation halted their camels at the outskirts of the city of the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, 62 00:04:06,219 --> 00:04:09,219 leaving behind to guard their baggage a man from among them 63 00:04:09,219 --> 00:04:12,219 named Musaylimah Ibn Habib al-Hanafi. 64 00:04:12,219 --> 00:04:16,220 They proceeded to the Prophet, peace be upon him, 65 00:04:16,220 --> 00:04:20,220 and declared their submission and the submission of their people before him. 66 00:04:20,220 --> 00:04:25,220 The Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, honored their delegation, 67 00:04:25,220 --> 00:04:28,220 ordering a gift for each of them, 68 00:04:28,220 --> 00:04:31,220 and ordering for their companion left behind with the baggage 69 00:04:31,220 --> 00:04:34,279 the same portion he ordered for them. 70 00:04:34,279 --> 00:04:37,279 Yet no sooner had the delegation reached their homes in Najd 71 00:04:37,279 --> 00:04:41,279 than Musaylimah Ibn Habib apostatized from Islam. 72 00:04:41,279 --> 00:04:45,279 He stood among the people announcing that he was a sent prophet, 73 00:04:45,279 --> 00:04:48,279 sent by Allah to Banu Hanifah 74 00:04:48,279 --> 00:04:52,279 just as Muhammad Ibn 'Abd Allah had been sent to Quraysh. 75 00:04:52,279 --> 00:04:55,279 His people began rallying around him, 76 00:04:55,279 --> 00:04:58,279 driven by various motives, 77 00:04:58,279 --> 00:05:01,279 chief among which was tribal fanatical zeal— 78 00:05:01,279 --> 00:05:04,279 to the extent that one of their prominent men said: 79 00:05:04,279 --> 00:05:07,279 "I bear witness that Muhammad is truthful 80 00:05:07,279 --> 00:05:10,279 and that Musaylimah is a liar, 81 00:05:10,279 --> 00:05:14,540 but the liar of Rabi'ah is dearer to me than the truthful one of Mudar!" 82 00:05:14,540 --> 00:05:17,540 When Musaylimah gained strength, 83 00:05:18,540 --> 00:05:21,540 he wrote a letter to the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, 84 00:05:21,540 --> 00:05:23,569 in which he said: 85 00:05:23,569 --> 00:05:26,569 "From Musaylimah, the Messenger of Allah, 86 00:05:26,569 --> 00:05:28,569 to Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah. 87 00:05:28,569 --> 00:05:29,569 Peace be upon you. 88 00:05:29,569 --> 00:05:31,569 To proceed: 89 00:05:31,569 --> 00:05:34,569 I have been made a partner with you in this matter. 90 00:05:34,569 --> 00:05:36,569 Half the earth belongs to us, 91 00:05:36,569 --> 00:05:38,569 and half the earth belongs to Quraysh, 92 00:05:38,569 --> 00:05:41,569 but Quraysh are a transgressing people." 93 00:05:41,569 --> 00:05:44,569 He dispatched the letter with two of his men. 94 00:05:44,569 --> 00:05:47,569 When the letter was read to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, 95 00:05:47,569 --> 00:05:49,569 he asked the two men: 96 00:05:49,569 --> 00:05:51,569 "And what do you two say?" 97 00:05:51,569 --> 00:05:53,569 They replied: 98 00:05:53,569 --> 00:05:55,569 "We say as he says." 99 00:05:55,569 --> 00:05:57,569 He said to them: 100 00:05:57,569 --> 00:06:00,569 "By Allah, were it not that envoys are not killed, 101 00:06:00,569 --> 00:06:02,569 I would have had your heads struck off!" 102 00:06:02,569 --> 00:06:06,569 Then he wrote a reply to Musaylimah, stating: 103 00:06:06,569 --> 00:06:09,569 "In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. 104 00:06:09,569 --> 00:06:11,569 From Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah, 105 00:06:11,569 --> 00:06:13,569 to Musaylimah the Liar. 106 00:06:13,569 --> 00:06:16,569 “So go ye unto him and say: Lo! we are two messengers of thy Lord. So let the children of Israel go with us, and torment them not. We bring thee a token from thy Lord. And peace will be for him who followeth right guidance.” (20:47) 107 00:06:16,569 --> 00:06:18,569 To proceed: ﴿Indeed, the earth belongs to Allah. He causes to inherit it whom He wills of His servants. And the [good] end is for the righteous.﴾" 108 00:06:18,569 --> 00:06:22,569 “And Moses said unto his people: Seek help in Allah and endure. Lo! the earth is Allah's. He giveth it for an inheritance to whom He will. And lo! the sequel is for those who keep their duty (unto Him).” (7:128) 109 00:06:22,569 --> 00:06:25,569 "And the final outcome belongs to the righteous." 110 00:06:25,569 --> 00:06:28,569 He sent the letter back with the two envoys. 111 00:06:28,569 --> 00:06:31,600 Musaylimah the Liar grew ever worse in evil, 112 00:06:31,600 --> 00:06:33,660 and his corrupting influence spread rampantly. 113 00:06:33,660 --> 00:06:36,660 The Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, resolved 114 00:06:36,660 --> 00:06:40,660 to send him a letter rebuking him for his transgression, 115 00:06:40,660 --> 00:06:45,660 and he selected the hero of our story, Habib Ibn Zayd, to carry the message. 116 00:06:45,660 --> 00:06:48,660 At that time, Habib was a vibrant young man in the bloom of youth, 117 00:06:48,660 --> 00:06:50,660 possessing full vigor, 118 00:06:50,660 --> 00:06:54,660 a believer from the crown of his head to the soles of his feet. 119 00:06:54,660 --> 00:06:59,759 Habib Ibn Zayd set out to fulfill the command of the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, 120 00:06:59,759 --> 00:07:02,759 without hesitation or delay, 121 00:07:02,759 --> 00:07:05,759 traversing high plateaus and descending into deep valleys, 122 00:07:05,759 --> 00:07:09,759 until he reached the lands of Banu Hanifah in the highlands of Najd. 123 00:07:09,759 --> 00:07:12,759 He delivered the letter to Musaylimah. 124 00:07:12,759 --> 00:07:17,019 No sooner had Musaylimah comprehended its contents 125 00:07:17,019 --> 00:07:20,019 than his chest swelled with malice and hatred, 126 00:07:20,019 --> 00:07:25,019 and evil and treachery showed on the features of his hideous, sallow face. 127 00:07:25,019 --> 00:07:28,019 He ordered that Habib Ibn Zayd be bound in chains 128 00:07:28,019 --> 00:07:32,019 and brought before him the following morning at forenoon. 129 00:07:32,019 --> 00:07:34,050 When the next day came, 130 00:07:34,050 --> 00:07:36,050 Musaylimah presided over his assembly, 131 00:07:37,050 --> 00:07:42,050 placing on his right and left the tyrants among his chief followers, 132 00:07:42,050 --> 00:07:45,050 and granted permission for the general public to enter upon him. 133 00:07:45,050 --> 00:07:47,050 Then he ordered that Habib Ibn Zayd be brought, 134 00:07:47,050 --> 00:07:51,050 and he was brought in, dragging his chains. 135 00:07:51,050 --> 00:07:56,269 Habib Ibn Zayd stood in the midst of this vast, hostile crowd, 136 00:07:56,269 --> 00:08:00,269 erect of stature, head held high, full of dignity, 137 00:08:00,269 --> 00:08:03,269 standing firm among them like a sturdy spear 138 00:08:03,269 --> 00:08:06,269 that expert craftsmen had straightened to perfection. 139 00:08:06,269 --> 00:08:09,459 Musaylimah turned to him and said: 140 00:08:09,459 --> 00:08:12,459 "Do you bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah?" 141 00:08:12,459 --> 00:08:17,529 He replied: "Yes, I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah." 142 00:08:17,529 --> 00:08:20,529 Musaylimah boiled with rage and said: 143 00:08:20,529 --> 00:08:23,529 "And do you bear witness that I am the messenger of Allah?" 144 00:08:23,529 --> 00:08:26,529 Habib replied with biting sarcasm: 145 00:08:26,529 --> 00:08:30,529 "Indeed, my ears are too deaf to hear what you are saying!" 146 00:08:30,529 --> 00:08:32,529 Musaylimah's face turned pale, 147 00:08:32,529 --> 00:08:36,529 and his lips trembled with fury. He said to his executioner: 148 00:08:36,529 --> 00:08:38,529 "Cut off a piece of his body!" 149 00:08:38,529 --> 00:08:41,529 The executioner struck Habib with his sword, 150 00:08:41,529 --> 00:08:44,529 severing a limb from his body, 151 00:08:44,529 --> 00:08:46,529 which rolled to the ground. 152 00:08:46,529 --> 00:08:49,590 Then Musaylimah repeated the same question to him: 153 00:08:49,590 --> 00:08:52,590 "Do you bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah?" 154 00:08:52,590 --> 00:08:57,590 He replied: "Yes, I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah." 155 00:08:57,590 --> 00:09:00,590 Musaylimah asked: "And do you bear witness that I am the messenger of Allah?" 156 00:09:01,590 --> 00:09:06,590 He said: "I told you, my ears are too deaf to hear what you are saying!" 157 00:09:06,590 --> 00:09:10,590 Musaylimah ordered another piece to be cut from his body, 158 00:09:10,590 --> 00:09:13,590 so it was severed and rolled onto the ground, 159 00:09:13,590 --> 00:09:16,590 coming to rest beside its counterpart. 160 00:09:16,590 --> 00:09:19,590 The people stared at him, eyes wide, 161 00:09:19,590 --> 00:09:22,590 stunned by his resolve and unwavering firmness. 162 00:09:22,590 --> 00:09:24,590 Musaylimah kept asking, 163 00:09:24,590 --> 00:09:26,590 the executioner kept cutting, 164 00:09:26,590 --> 00:09:28,590 and Habib kept declaring: 165 00:09:28,590 --> 00:09:32,659 "I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah," 166 00:09:32,659 --> 00:09:37,659 until nearly half of his body became severed pieces scattered on the ground, 167 00:09:37,659 --> 00:09:41,659 while the remaining half was a single mass that spoke, 168 00:09:41,659 --> 00:09:43,659 until his soul departed, 169 00:09:43,659 --> 00:09:45,659 while upon his pure lips 170 00:09:45,659 --> 00:09:49,659 was the name of the Prophet to whom he had pledged allegiance on the Night of 'Aqabah— 171 00:09:49,659 --> 00:09:52,659 the name of Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah. 172 00:09:52,659 --> 00:09:57,850 The announcer of death brought the news of Habib Ibn Zayd to his mother, Nusaybah al-Maziniyyah, 173 00:09:57,850 --> 00:10:00,850 and she said no more than: 174 00:10:00,850 --> 00:10:03,850 "For such a moment as this I prepared him, 175 00:10:03,850 --> 00:10:05,850 and to Allah I entrust him. 176 00:10:05,850 --> 00:10:10,940 He pledged allegiance to the Messenger, peace be upon him, on the Night of 'Aqabah as a boy, 177 00:10:10,940 --> 00:10:13,940 and he fulfilled his pledge to him today as a man. 178 00:10:13,940 --> 00:10:16,940 If Allah grants me power over Musaylimah, 179 00:10:16,940 --> 00:10:21,139 I shall surely make his daughters strike their cheeks in grief over him!" 180 00:10:21,139 --> 00:10:25,139 The day Nusaybah longed for was not long in coming, 181 00:10:25,139 --> 00:10:28,139 when Abu Bakr's caller summoned the people in Madinah: 182 00:10:28,139 --> 00:10:32,139 "March forth to fight the false claimant to prophethood, Musaylimah!" 183 00:10:32,139 --> 00:10:36,139 The Muslims set out, quickening their pace to meet him, 184 00:10:36,139 --> 00:10:39,139 and among the army were Nusaybah al-Maziniyyah 185 00:10:39,139 --> 00:10:42,139 and her son 'Abd Allah Ibn Zayd. 186 00:10:42,139 --> 00:10:44,139 On the glorious Day of Yamamah, 187 00:10:44,139 --> 00:10:48,139 Nusaybah was seen tearing through the ranks like an enraged lioness, 188 00:10:48,139 --> 00:10:50,139 shouting: 189 00:10:50,139 --> 00:10:52,139 "Where is the enemy of Allah? 190 00:10:52,139 --> 00:10:55,139 Direct me to the enemy of Allah!" 191 00:10:55,139 --> 00:10:59,139 When she finally reached him, she found him felled upon the ground, 192 00:10:59,139 --> 00:11:02,139 with the swords of the Muslims drinking from his blood. 193 00:11:02,139 --> 00:11:05,139 Her heart was comforted and her eyes were cooled. 194 00:11:05,139 --> 00:11:09,139 And why should they not be, when Allah, Glorious and Majestic, took vengeance 195 00:11:09,139 --> 00:11:11,139 for her righteous, God-fearing youth 196 00:11:11,139 --> 00:11:13,139 upon his wretched, tyrannical killer? 197 00:11:13,139 --> 00:11:15,139 Indeed! 198 00:11:15,139 --> 00:11:18,139 Both of them passed on to their Lord, 199 00:11:18,139 --> 00:11:19,139 but 200 00:11:19,139 --> 00:11:21,139 one group is in Paradise, 201 00:11:21,139 --> 00:11:23,139 and a group will be in the Blaze.