WEBVTT

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Pause,

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and get to know the Companions, the scholars, and the prominent figures.

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Here is a new challenge: Who am I?

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I am one of the Companions of the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him,

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from the tribe of Thaqif in al-Ta'if.

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I was renowned for courage in warfare and valor in battle.

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When I embraced Islam,

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I put my combat experience at the service of Islam and the Muslims,

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which led the Caliph of the Muslims, 'Umar Ibn al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him,

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to appoint me commander over the Muslim army

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that was preparing to fight the Persians in Iraq.

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I set out with the Muslim army, which numbered ten thousand fighters,

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taking along my brother, my wife, and my three sons,

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until we arrived in the land of Iraq.

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There, news reached us that our enemy numbered eighty thousand of the fiercest and most seasoned warriors,

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and that they had encamped on the eastern bank of the Euphrates River.

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So I advanced with the Muslim troops

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until we encamped on the riverbank opposite the Persian camp.

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Their commander then sent word to me:

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"Either you cross over to us, or we shall cross over to you."

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So I said to those with me,

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"The Persians shall not be bolder in facing death than we are!"

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And I resolved to advance toward them across the bridge over the Euphrates River.

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On the night before the crossing,

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my wife had a dream

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in which a man descended from the sky

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carrying a pitcher containing a drink.

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He gave me to drink from it, as well as my brother and my three sons.

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When she recounted her vision to me,

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I said to her,

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"Rejoice!

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For martyrdom has surely been decreed for me, my brother, and my sons."

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The following morning,

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when the two armies clashed on the battlefield,

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we were surprised by the war elephants leading the Persian army.

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The Muslims had never encountered them before,

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so the horses of the Muslims took fright at them

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and fled before them,

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and the ranks of the Muslims were shattered.

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I realized then that the elephants had to be eliminated

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so that our ranks could reform

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and victory could be secured for the Muslims.

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So I called out to the Muslim troops,

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"Charge at the elephants!

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Strike at their vulnerable spots,

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and cut their girths so that the riders are thrown from their backs!"

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Then I stepped forward ahead of them

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and charged toward the largest elephant.

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I severed the girth strap of the rider upon it

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and hurled him down from its back.

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But the elephant struck me a blow with its trunk

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that cast me to the ground,

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and then it trampled me beneath its feet

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until my soul departed as a martyr on the battlefield,

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in what came to be known as the Battle of the Bridge.

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And my brother and my three sons were killed alongside me.

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So, who am I?

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I hope you will subscribe to the channel,

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and if Allah wills,

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I will make a follow-up episode.

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[Leave your answers] in the comments,

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and when the next episode is released,

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if Allah wills.