1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:03,000 In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. 2 00:00:15,220 --> 00:00:18,219 The Mawaddah Association is pleased 3 00:00:18,219 --> 00:00:22,219 to present to you *Portraits from the Lives of the Companions*, 4 00:00:22,219 --> 00:00:25,219 by 'Abd al-Rahman Ra'fat al-Basha, 5 00:00:25,219 --> 00:00:27,260 may Allah have mercy on him. 6 00:00:27,260 --> 00:00:30,760 'Amr ibn al-Jamuh, 7 00:00:30,760 --> 00:00:32,950 may Allah be pleased with him. 8 00:00:45,140 --> 00:00:47,140 'Amr ibn al-Jamuh 9 00:00:47,140 --> 00:00:50,140 was one of the pre-eminent chieftains of Yathrib during the Jahiliyyah, 10 00:00:50,140 --> 00:00:53,140 the undisputed leader of Banu Salimah, 11 00:00:53,140 --> 00:00:56,140 and one of the most generous men of the city, 12 00:00:56,140 --> 00:00:58,140 renowned for his chivalry and nobility. 13 00:00:58,140 --> 00:01:01,270 It was customary for the nobles during the Jahiliyyah 14 00:01:01,270 --> 00:01:06,269 to keep an idol in their private homes, 15 00:01:06,269 --> 00:01:09,269 seeking its blessing day and night, 16 00:01:09,269 --> 00:01:12,269 offering sacrifices to it on festive occasions, 17 00:01:12,269 --> 00:01:15,269 and turning to it for help in times of adversity. 18 00:01:15,269 --> 00:01:19,269 The idol of 'Amr ibn al-Jamuh was named Manat. 19 00:01:19,269 --> 00:01:22,269 He had fashioned it from the finest and most precious wood, 20 00:01:22,269 --> 00:01:25,269 and went to great lengths in tending to it, 21 00:01:25,269 --> 00:01:29,269 caring for it, and perfuming it with the most exquisite scents. 22 00:01:29,269 --> 00:01:33,269 'Amr ibn al-Jamuh had already passed sixty years of age 23 00:01:33,269 --> 00:01:38,269 when the rays of faith began illuminating the homes of Yathrib, house by house, 24 00:01:38,269 --> 00:01:42,269 through the efforts of the first emissary of Islam, Mus'ab ibn 'Umayr. 25 00:01:42,269 --> 00:01:45,269 At his hands, 'Amr's three sons embraced the faith: 26 00:01:45,269 --> 00:01:48,269 Mu'awwadh, Mu'adh, and Khallad, 27 00:01:48,269 --> 00:01:52,269 along with a companion of theirs of the same age, Mu'adh ibn Jabal. 28 00:01:52,269 --> 00:01:56,269 And alongside his three sons, their mother, Hind, also embraced Islam, 29 00:01:56,269 --> 00:02:00,269 while 'Amr remained completely unaware of their faith. 30 00:02:00,269 --> 00:02:03,299 Hind, the wife of 'Amr ibn al-Jamuh, saw 31 00:02:03,299 --> 00:02:06,299 that Islam had gained sway over most of the people of Yathrib, 32 00:02:06,299 --> 00:02:10,300 and that none of its prominent nobles remained in idolatry 33 00:02:10,300 --> 00:02:13,300 except her husband and a small band alongside him. 34 00:02:13,300 --> 00:02:16,300 She truly loved and respected him, 35 00:02:16,300 --> 00:02:19,300 and feared that he might die in disbelief, 36 00:02:19,300 --> 00:02:22,300 thus ending up in the Fire. 37 00:02:22,300 --> 00:02:25,300 At the same time, 38 00:02:25,300 --> 00:02:29,300 he himself feared that his sons might abandon the religion of their forefathers 39 00:02:29,300 --> 00:02:33,300 to follow this missionary, Mus'ab ibn 'Umayr, 40 00:02:33,300 --> 00:02:36,300 who had managed in a very short time 41 00:02:36,300 --> 00:02:39,300 to turn many people away from their ancestral religion 42 00:02:39,300 --> 00:02:42,300 and bring them into the religion of Muhammad. 43 00:02:42,300 --> 00:02:45,300 So he said to his wife, "O Hind, 44 00:02:45,300 --> 00:02:48,300 beware lest your sons meet with this man," 45 00:02:48,300 --> 00:02:51,300 meaning Mus'ab ibn 'Umayr, 46 00:02:51,300 --> 00:02:54,300 "until we can form our own judgment about him." 47 00:02:54,300 --> 00:02:57,300 She replied, "I hear and obey. 48 00:02:57,300 --> 00:03:00,300 But would you be willing to listen to your son Mu'adh 49 00:03:00,300 --> 00:03:03,300 recount what he has heard from this man?" 50 00:03:03,300 --> 00:03:06,300 He said, "Woe to you! Has Mu'adh turned away from his religion 51 00:03:06,300 --> 00:03:09,300 without my knowledge?" 52 00:03:09,300 --> 00:03:12,300 The righteous woman felt pity for the old man, 53 00:03:12,300 --> 00:03:15,300 and said, "No, not at all; 54 00:03:16,300 --> 00:03:19,300 but he has merely memorized some of the words he says." 55 00:03:19,300 --> 00:03:22,300 He said, "Call him to me." 56 00:03:22,300 --> 00:03:25,300 When the boy came before him, he said, 57 00:03:25,300 --> 00:03:28,300 "Let me hear something of what this man says." 58 00:03:28,300 --> 00:03:31,300 So he recited, 59 00:03:31,300 --> 00:03:35,389 and 'Amr remarked, "How excellent this 60 00:03:35,389 --> 00:03:38,389 speech is, and how beautiful! 61 00:03:38,389 --> 00:03:41,389 Is all of his speech like this?" 62 00:03:41,389 --> 00:03:44,389 Mu'adh replied, "Even better than this, father! 63 00:03:44,389 --> 00:03:47,389 Will you not pledge allegiance to him, 64 00:03:47,389 --> 00:03:50,389 for your people have all pledged allegiance to him?" 65 00:03:50,389 --> 00:03:53,389 The old man was silent for a moment, then said, 66 00:03:53,389 --> 00:03:56,389 "I shall not do so until I consult Manat 67 00:03:56,389 --> 00:03:59,389 and see what he has to say." 68 00:03:59,389 --> 00:04:02,389 The youth said to him, 69 00:04:02,389 --> 00:04:05,389 "And what could Manat possibly say, father? 70 00:04:05,389 --> 00:04:08,389 It is merely mute wood that can neither comprehend nor speak!" 71 00:04:08,389 --> 00:04:11,389 The old man retorted sharply, 72 00:04:11,389 --> 00:04:14,389 then 'Amr ibn al-Jamuh stood up and went to Manat. 73 00:04:14,389 --> 00:04:17,389 Whenever they wished to speak to the idol, 74 00:04:17,389 --> 00:04:20,389 they would place an old woman behind it, 75 00:04:20,389 --> 00:04:23,389 who would answer on its behalf based on what it allegedly inspired her to say, 76 00:04:23,389 --> 00:04:26,389 or so they claimed. He stood before it, 77 00:04:26,389 --> 00:04:29,389 tall in stature, leaning upon 78 00:04:29,389 --> 00:04:32,389 his sound leg, for his other leg 79 00:04:32,389 --> 00:04:35,389 was severely lame, 80 00:04:35,389 --> 00:04:38,389 and praised it with the highest praise, then said: 81 00:04:38,389 --> 00:04:41,389 "O Manat, you no doubt 82 00:04:41,389 --> 00:04:44,389 know that this preacher who has 83 00:04:44,389 --> 00:04:47,389 arrived among us from Mecca intends 84 00:04:47,389 --> 00:04:50,389 no harm to anyone other than you, and that 85 00:04:50,389 --> 00:04:53,389 he has only come to forbid us from worshipping you. 86 00:04:53,389 --> 00:04:56,389 I was reluctant to pledge allegiance to him—despite 87 00:04:56,389 --> 00:04:59,389 the beauty of the words I heard—until 88 00:04:59,389 --> 00:05:02,389 I had consulted you, so advise me." 89 00:05:02,389 --> 00:05:05,389 But Manat did not give him any answer. 90 00:05:05,389 --> 00:05:08,389 He said, "Perhaps you are angry, though I have not done 91 00:05:08,389 --> 00:05:11,389 anything to displease you yet. But 92 00:05:11,389 --> 00:05:14,389 no matter; I will leave you for a few days 93 00:05:14,389 --> 00:05:17,459 until your anger subsides." 94 00:05:17,459 --> 00:05:20,459 The sons of 'Amr ibn al-Jamuh knew 95 00:05:20,459 --> 00:05:23,459 the depth of their father's devotion to his idol, Manat, 96 00:05:23,459 --> 00:05:26,459 and how, with time, it had become almost an inseparable part 97 00:05:26,459 --> 00:05:29,459 of him. Yet they realized that 98 00:05:29,459 --> 00:05:32,459 its standing had begun to waver in his heart, 99 00:05:32,459 --> 00:05:35,459 and that they had to uproot it completely from his soul, 100 00:05:35,459 --> 00:05:38,459 as that was his only path to 101 00:05:38,459 --> 00:05:41,459 faith. Under the cover of night, the sons of 'Amr ibn al-Jamuh set out 102 00:05:41,459 --> 00:05:44,459 with their friend Mu'adh ibn Jabal to where 103 00:05:44,459 --> 00:05:47,459 Manat stood. They carried it away 104 00:05:47,459 --> 00:05:50,459 and took it to a pit belonging to Banu Salimah 105 00:05:50,459 --> 00:05:53,459 where they used to dump their filth. 106 00:05:53,459 --> 00:05:56,459 They threw it in and returned to 107 00:05:56,459 --> 00:05:59,459 their homes without anyone noticing them. 108 00:05:59,459 --> 00:06:02,459 When morning came, 'Amr went to his idol 109 00:06:02,459 --> 00:06:05,459 to greet it, but could not find it. 110 00:06:05,459 --> 00:06:08,459 He cried, "Woe to you! Who has violated 111 00:06:08,459 --> 00:06:11,459 our god this night?" 112 00:06:11,459 --> 00:06:14,459 But no one answered him. 113 00:06:14,459 --> 00:06:17,459 So he began searching for it inside the house and outside, 114 00:06:17,459 --> 00:06:20,459 fuming, raging, and issuing threats 115 00:06:20,459 --> 00:06:23,459 and warnings, until he found it 116 00:06:23,459 --> 00:06:26,459 lying head down in the cesspit. 117 00:06:26,459 --> 00:06:29,459 He washed it, perfumed it, 118 00:06:29,459 --> 00:06:32,459 and restored it to its place, 119 00:06:32,459 --> 00:06:35,459 saying to it, "By Allah, if I only knew 120 00:06:35,459 --> 00:06:38,459 who did this to you, I would surely disgrace him!" 121 00:06:38,459 --> 00:06:41,459 When the second night came, 122 00:06:41,459 --> 00:06:44,459 the youths crept up on Manat again and did to it 123 00:06:44,459 --> 00:06:47,459 just as they had done the day before. 124 00:06:47,459 --> 00:06:50,459 When morning came, the old man looked for it 125 00:06:50,459 --> 00:06:53,459 and found it in the pit, soiled with filth. 126 00:06:54,459 --> 00:06:57,459 The youths continued to do the same 127 00:06:57,459 --> 00:07:00,459 to the idol night after night. 128 00:07:00,459 --> 00:07:03,459 When he finally ran out of patience, 129 00:07:03,459 --> 00:07:06,459 he went to it before going to sleep, took his sword, 130 00:07:06,459 --> 00:07:09,459 hung it around its neck, and said to it, 131 00:07:09,459 --> 00:07:12,459 "O Manat, by Allah, I do not know 132 00:07:12,459 --> 00:07:15,459 who is doing this to you, as you can see. 133 00:07:15,459 --> 00:07:18,459 If there is any good in you, then defend yourself; 134 00:07:18,459 --> 00:07:21,459 here is the sword with you!" 135 00:07:22,459 --> 00:07:25,459 As soon as the youths were certain that the old man 136 00:07:25,459 --> 00:07:28,459 had fallen into a deep slumber, they sprang 137 00:07:28,459 --> 00:07:31,459 upon the idol, took the sword from its neck, 138 00:07:31,459 --> 00:07:34,459 carried it outside the house, 139 00:07:34,459 --> 00:07:37,459 tied it to a dead dog with a rope, 140 00:07:37,459 --> 00:07:40,459 and threw both into an abandoned well belonging to Banu Salimah, 141 00:07:40,459 --> 00:07:43,459 into which impurities drained and collected. 142 00:07:43,459 --> 00:07:46,459 When the old man awoke and did not find 143 00:07:46,459 --> 00:07:49,459 the idol, he went out searching for it, 144 00:07:49,459 --> 00:07:52,459 only to find it cast face down in the well, 145 00:07:52,459 --> 00:07:55,459 tied to a dead dog, 146 00:07:55,459 --> 00:07:58,459 with its sword stripped away. He did not pull it out 147 00:07:58,459 --> 00:08:01,459 this time from the pit; rather, he left it 148 00:08:01,459 --> 00:08:04,459 right where they had cast it, and began reciting: 149 00:08:04,459 --> 00:08:07,459 "By Allah, had you truly been a god, 150 00:08:07,459 --> 00:08:10,459 you and a dog would not be bound together in a pit!" 151 00:08:10,459 --> 00:08:13,459 Soon after, he embraced the religion of Allah. 152 00:08:13,459 --> 00:08:16,519 'Amr ibn al-Jamuh tasted the sweetness of faith, 153 00:08:17,519 --> 00:08:20,519 which filled him with profound remorse 154 00:08:20,519 --> 00:08:23,519 for every moment he had spent in polytheism. 155 00:08:23,519 --> 00:08:26,519 He devoted himself to the new religion with body and soul, 156 00:08:26,519 --> 00:08:29,519 placing himself, his wealth, and his children 157 00:08:29,519 --> 00:08:32,519 in obedience to Allah and His Messenger. 158 00:08:32,519 --> 00:08:35,519 Before long, the Battle of Uhud arrived. 159 00:08:35,519 --> 00:08:38,519 'Amr ibn al-Jamuh saw 160 00:08:38,519 --> 00:08:41,519 his three sons preparing 161 00:08:41,519 --> 00:08:44,519 to meet the enemies of Allah, 162 00:08:44,519 --> 00:08:47,519 pacing back and forth like ferocious lions, 163 00:08:47,519 --> 00:08:50,519 glowing with a fervent yearning to attain martyrdom 164 00:08:50,519 --> 00:08:53,519 and achieve the good pleasure of Allah. 165 00:08:53,519 --> 00:08:56,519 This scene stirred his own zeal, 166 00:08:56,519 --> 00:08:59,519 and he resolved to march with them to jihad 167 00:08:59,519 --> 00:09:02,519 under the banner of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him. 168 00:09:02,519 --> 00:09:05,519 But the young men were united 169 00:09:05,519 --> 00:09:08,549 in preventing their father from carrying out his resolve, 170 00:09:08,549 --> 00:09:11,549 for he was an elderly, advanced in years, 171 00:09:11,549 --> 00:09:14,549 and was, moreover, severely lame, 172 00:09:14,549 --> 00:09:17,549 and Allah, Exalted and Glorious, had excused him 173 00:09:17,549 --> 00:09:20,549 among those whom He excused. 174 00:09:20,549 --> 00:09:23,549 So they said to him, "O our father, 175 00:09:23,549 --> 00:09:26,549 Allah has excused you, 176 00:09:26,549 --> 00:09:29,710 so why burden yourself with that from which Allah has exempted you?" 177 00:09:29,710 --> 00:09:32,710 The old man became exceedingly furious at their words 178 00:09:32,710 --> 00:09:35,710 and went straight to the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, 179 00:09:35,710 --> 00:09:38,710 to complain about them, saying: 180 00:09:38,710 --> 00:09:40,710 "O Prophet of Allah, 181 00:09:40,710 --> 00:09:43,710 these sons of mine want 182 00:09:43,710 --> 00:09:46,710 to hold me back from this great good, 183 00:09:46,710 --> 00:09:49,710 using the pretext that I am lame! 184 00:09:49,710 --> 00:09:51,710 Yet, by Allah, I truly hope to step 185 00:09:51,710 --> 00:09:54,870 into Paradise with this very limp of mine!" 186 00:09:54,870 --> 00:09:57,870 The Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, said 187 00:09:57,870 --> 00:10:00,870 to his sons, "Let him go; perhaps 188 00:10:00,870 --> 00:10:03,899 Allah, Exalted and Glorious, will grant him martyrdom." 189 00:10:03,899 --> 00:10:07,059 So they yielded, submitting to the command of the Messenger of Allah. 190 00:10:07,059 --> 00:10:10,059 When the time to march drew near, 191 00:10:10,059 --> 00:10:13,059 'Amr ibn al-Jamuh bid farewell to his wife, 192 00:10:13,059 --> 00:10:16,159 the farewell of one who would never return. 193 00:10:16,159 --> 00:10:19,159 He then turned toward the Qiblah, 194 00:10:19,159 --> 00:10:22,159 raised his hands to the heavens, and prayed: 195 00:10:22,159 --> 00:10:25,159 "O Allah, grant me martyrdom, 196 00:10:25,159 --> 00:10:28,159 and do not send me back to my family disappointed!" 197 00:10:28,159 --> 00:10:31,159 He then set out, surrounded by his three sons 198 00:10:31,159 --> 00:10:34,159 and a large contingent of his people, Banu Salimah. 199 00:10:34,159 --> 00:10:37,159 And when the heat of battle intensified 200 00:10:37,159 --> 00:10:40,159 and people scattered away from the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, 201 00:10:40,159 --> 00:10:43,159 'Amr Ibn al-Jamuh was seen 202 00:10:43,159 --> 00:10:46,159 charging forward in the vanguard, 203 00:10:46,159 --> 00:10:49,159 leaping vigorously upon his sound leg, 204 00:10:49,159 --> 00:10:52,159 crying out, "Indeed, I yearn for Paradise! 205 00:10:52,159 --> 00:10:55,159 Indeed, I yearn for Paradise!" 206 00:10:55,159 --> 00:10:58,220 Behind him was his son Khallad, 207 00:10:58,220 --> 00:11:01,220 and the elder and his young son continued to fight fiercely 208 00:11:02,220 --> 00:11:05,220 until both fell dead as martyrs 209 00:11:05,220 --> 00:11:08,220 upon the battlefield, 210 00:11:08,220 --> 00:11:11,220 separated in death by only a few moments. 211 00:11:11,220 --> 00:11:14,220 No sooner had the war laid down its burdens 212 00:11:14,220 --> 00:11:17,220 than the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) went 213 00:11:17,220 --> 00:11:20,220 to the martyrs of Uhud 214 00:11:20,220 --> 00:11:23,220 to lay them to rest in their graves. 215 00:11:23,220 --> 00:11:26,220 He said to his Companions, 216 00:11:26,220 --> 00:11:29,220 "Leave them shrouded in their blood and wounds, 217 00:11:29,220 --> 00:11:32,220 for I am a witness over them." 218 00:11:32,220 --> 00:11:35,220 Then he said, "No Muslim is wounded in the cause of Allah 219 00:11:35,220 --> 00:11:38,220 but that he will come on the Day of Resurrection bleeding, 220 00:11:38,220 --> 00:11:41,220 its color the color of saffron, 221 00:11:41,220 --> 00:11:44,220 and its scent the scent of musk." 222 00:11:44,220 --> 00:11:47,350 Then he said, "Bury 'Amr Ibn al-Jamuh 223 00:11:47,350 --> 00:11:50,350 alongside 'Abdullah Ibn 'Amr, 224 00:11:50,350 --> 00:11:53,350 for they loved one another 225 00:11:53,350 --> 00:11:56,580 with pure devotion in this world." 226 00:11:56,580 --> 00:11:58,580 May Allah be pleased with 'Amr Ibn al-Jamuh 227 00:11:58,580 --> 00:12:01,580 and his companions among the martyrs of Uhud, 228 00:12:01,580 --> 00:12:04,580 and may He illuminate their graves for them. 229 00:12:04,580 --> 00:12:08,120 'Amr Ibn al-Jamuh was 230 00:12:08,120 --> 00:12:11,120 an elderly man who was determined to tread 231 00:12:11,120 --> 00:12:14,860 with his limp in Paradise.