1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:03,000 In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. 2 00:00:15,609 --> 00:00:17,609 The Mawaddah Association is pleased 3 00:00:17,609 --> 00:00:21,609 to present to you glimpses from the lives of the Companions, 4 00:00:21,609 --> 00:00:25,640 by Abd al-Rahman Ra'fat al-Basha, 5 00:00:25,640 --> 00:00:30,100 may Allah have mercy upon him. 6 00:00:30,100 --> 00:00:34,100 Al-'Ala' Ibn al-Hadrami, may Allah be pleased with him. 7 00:00:51,450 --> 00:00:56,450 The grieving, bereaved city of Medina lay resting its wounds that night, 8 00:00:56,450 --> 00:01:01,450 for it had lost the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him. 9 00:01:01,450 --> 00:01:05,450 It was in a state of the deepest attachment to him and the most desperate need for him. 10 00:01:05,450 --> 00:01:11,450 Yet, the Caliph of the Muslims, Abu Bakr al-Siddiq, could not find a taste of sleep; 11 00:01:11,450 --> 00:01:17,579 it was as if his bed had been stuffed with thorns or his eyes smeared with embers. 12 00:01:17,579 --> 00:01:20,579 How could the heart of al-Siddiq find peace 13 00:01:20,579 --> 00:01:26,579 when most of the Arabs had exited the religion of Allah in droves and apostatized from Islam? 14 00:01:26,579 --> 00:01:28,579 And how could he close his eyes 15 00:01:28,579 --> 00:01:32,579 when the great state of the Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, 16 00:01:32,579 --> 00:01:37,579 which had been built over twenty-three years of effort and struggle, 17 00:01:37,579 --> 00:01:40,579 and constructed through sorrows and heartaches, 18 00:01:40,579 --> 00:01:47,579 until it encompassed the Arabian Peninsula from end to end, had shrunk today? 19 00:01:47,579 --> 00:01:51,579 It had become confined to a small triangle, 20 00:01:51,579 --> 00:01:56,579 its apex in Medina, the capital of the Islamic state, 21 00:01:56,579 --> 00:02:00,670 and its base extending between Mecca and Ta'if. 22 00:02:00,670 --> 00:02:07,670 From this small remnant that remained with him in faith, al-Siddiq mobilized ten armies, 23 00:02:07,670 --> 00:02:11,669 and chose for them ten exceptional commanders 24 00:02:11,669 --> 00:02:17,800 with whom the Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, was well-pleased when he passed away. 25 00:02:17,800 --> 00:02:21,800 He dispatched them in every direction to fight the apostates. 26 00:02:21,800 --> 00:02:24,800 What troubled him most that night 27 00:02:24,800 --> 00:02:31,800 was choosing the eleventh commander for the army he would send to fight the apostates in Bahrain 28 00:02:31,800 --> 00:02:35,800 and the surrounding lands in the south of the Arabian Peninsula. 29 00:02:35,800 --> 00:02:39,800 The mission of this army was fraught with dangers, 30 00:02:39,800 --> 00:02:43,800 and its path was paved with thorns and hardship. 31 00:02:43,800 --> 00:02:48,800 Al-Siddiq, may Allah be pleased with him, continued to toss and turn on his bed, 32 00:02:48,800 --> 00:02:53,800 until Bilal Ibn Rabah pierced the silence of the night with his melodious, tender voice. 33 00:02:53,800 --> 00:03:00,800 The eyes of al-Siddiq welled with tears upon hearing the voice of the muezzin of the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him. 34 00:03:00,800 --> 00:03:04,800 At the same time, an idea flashed into his mind 35 00:03:04,800 --> 00:03:08,800 that illuminated the path for him to choose the desired commander. 36 00:03:08,800 --> 00:03:11,800 His gentle features relaxed, 37 00:03:11,800 --> 00:03:15,800 and across his refined, sorrow-stricken face appeared 38 00:03:15,800 --> 00:03:19,800 a transparent veil of contentment and tranquility. 39 00:03:19,800 --> 00:03:24,900 When the obligatory prayer was finished, he called for parchment and an inkwell and wrote: 40 00:03:24,900 --> 00:03:27,900 In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. 41 00:03:27,900 --> 00:03:33,900 This is a covenant from Abu Bakr, the Caliph of the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, 42 00:03:33,900 --> 00:03:35,900 to al-'Ala' Ibn al-Hadrami, 43 00:03:35,900 --> 00:03:40,900 when he sent him to fight the apostates in Bahrain and its vicinity. 44 00:03:40,900 --> 00:03:45,900 He charged him to fear Allah as much as he could, in private and in public, 45 00:03:45,900 --> 00:03:48,900 and commanded him to be diligent in the cause of Allah, 46 00:03:48,900 --> 00:03:50,900 and to struggle against those who turned away from their religion 47 00:03:50,900 --> 00:03:54,900 and retreated from Islam to the delusions of Satan. 48 00:03:54,900 --> 00:03:57,900 The selection of al-'Ala' Ibn al-Hadrami 49 00:03:57,900 --> 00:04:01,900 as commander of the army heading to fight the apostates in Bahrain 50 00:04:01,900 --> 00:04:04,900 met with great satisfaction among the leaders of the Muslims. 51 00:04:04,900 --> 00:04:08,900 For al-'Ala' was a Companion of long standing, 52 00:04:08,900 --> 00:04:12,900 with a close bond to the Messenger, peace be upon him, 53 00:04:12,900 --> 00:04:15,900 and one of the scribes of the Revelation and those entrusted with it. 54 00:04:15,900 --> 00:04:20,899 Furthermore, he was the one who had brought Islam to Bahrain 55 00:04:20,899 --> 00:04:24,899 without shedding a drop of blood or harming anyone with a wound. 56 00:04:24,899 --> 00:04:29,899 This was when the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, sent him 57 00:04:29,899 --> 00:04:31,899 to al-Mundhir Ibn Sawa 58 00:04:31,899 --> 00:04:34,899 with a letter inviting him to Islam. 59 00:04:34,899 --> 00:04:36,899 He continued to treat him with gentleness 60 00:04:36,899 --> 00:04:39,899 and exercised wisdom in presenting Islam to him, 61 00:04:39,899 --> 00:04:42,899 until he and his people announced their Islam. 62 00:04:43,899 --> 00:04:47,899 The Prophet, peace be upon him, confirmed him in his rule, 63 00:04:47,899 --> 00:04:50,899 and appointed al-'Ala' Ibn al-Hadrami over the collection of alms (zakat). 64 00:04:50,899 --> 00:04:53,899 He commanded him to take the zakat from the wealthy 65 00:04:53,899 --> 00:04:55,899 and distribute it among the poor. 66 00:04:55,899 --> 00:04:58,899 Al-'Ala' remained in this work 67 00:04:58,899 --> 00:05:02,899 until the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, passed away. 68 00:05:02,899 --> 00:05:06,899 The king, al-Mundhir Ibn Sawa, followed him in the same month, 69 00:05:06,899 --> 00:05:08,899 may the mercy of Allah be upon him. 70 00:05:08,899 --> 00:05:12,019 There was no path before al-'Ala' Ibn al-Hadrami 71 00:05:12,019 --> 00:05:14,019 and his army, fighting in the way of Allah, 72 00:05:14,019 --> 00:05:17,019 to reach Bahrain 73 00:05:17,019 --> 00:05:19,019 except for the Dahna' desert, 74 00:05:19,019 --> 00:05:23,019 that desert which was fearsome at that time, 75 00:05:23,019 --> 00:05:26,019 and remains fearsome to this day, 76 00:05:26,019 --> 00:05:29,019 and which is known now as the Empty Quarter (al-Rub' al-Khali). 77 00:05:29,019 --> 00:05:33,019 The blessed, faithful army set out, crossing the vast wilderness, 78 00:05:33,019 --> 00:05:37,019 engaged in a fierce war with the sweeping winds, 79 00:05:37,019 --> 00:05:40,019 a bitter struggle with the raging sands, 80 00:05:40,019 --> 00:05:44,019 and a terrifying conflict with the harsh nature, 81 00:05:44,019 --> 00:05:47,019 where there was no water, no trees, and no life. 82 00:05:47,019 --> 00:05:50,089 While the people were in this state, 83 00:05:50,089 --> 00:05:54,089 they were struck by what no one could have anticipated, 84 00:05:54,089 --> 00:05:57,089 nor could the imagination of any dreamer have conceived. 85 00:05:57,089 --> 00:06:00,089 On the evening of a night with no stars, 86 00:06:00,089 --> 00:06:02,089 shrouded in darkness, 87 00:06:02,089 --> 00:06:05,089 the army dismounted from their camels in search of rest 88 00:06:05,089 --> 00:06:08,089 and in anticipation of the breaking of the dawn. 89 00:06:08,089 --> 00:06:11,089 For they were unable to travel at night 90 00:06:11,089 --> 00:06:14,089 for fear of getting lost in these deserts, 91 00:06:14,089 --> 00:06:17,089 where no foot had ever traced a path, 92 00:06:17,089 --> 00:06:20,089 and even if it had, the sweeping sands 93 00:06:20,089 --> 00:06:23,089 would have obliterated it in a few moments. 94 00:06:23,089 --> 00:06:26,089 No sooner had they settled on the ground 95 00:06:26,089 --> 00:06:29,089 than one of their camels rose up in a panic, 96 00:06:29,089 --> 00:06:31,089 for a reason they did not know, 97 00:06:31,089 --> 00:06:33,089 and began to run like a madman 98 00:06:33,089 --> 00:06:36,089 into those dark, vast plains. 99 00:06:36,089 --> 00:06:39,089 Its panic stirred all the other camels, 100 00:06:39,089 --> 00:06:41,089 and they rushed after it 101 00:06:41,089 --> 00:06:44,089 as if a thousand demons were riding them, 102 00:06:44,089 --> 00:06:47,089 or as if each one had been stung by a thousand snakes. 103 00:06:47,089 --> 00:06:50,089 The hardy men, 104 00:06:50,089 --> 00:06:52,089 the veterans of the desert, 105 00:06:52,089 --> 00:06:54,089 tried to stop these agitated, 106 00:06:54,089 --> 00:06:56,089 stampeding animals, 107 00:06:56,089 --> 00:06:58,089 or to catch up with them, 108 00:06:58,089 --> 00:07:01,089 but they soon lost them, and were themselves lost, 109 00:07:01,089 --> 00:07:03,089 and the desert swallowed them up. 110 00:07:03,089 --> 00:07:05,089 In a few moments, 111 00:07:05,089 --> 00:07:09,089 the army found itself in those deadly wastes, 112 00:07:09,089 --> 00:07:11,089 without water, without provisions, 113 00:07:11,089 --> 00:07:14,089 without a mount, and without hope. 114 00:07:14,089 --> 00:07:17,120 You may imagine, noble listener, 115 00:07:17,120 --> 00:07:20,120 the anguish that overwhelmed their souls, 116 00:07:20,120 --> 00:07:24,120 and you may conceive of the agony that shattered their hearts. 117 00:07:24,120 --> 00:07:27,120 You may give free rein to your soaring imagination 118 00:07:27,120 --> 00:07:31,120 to see what was surging in the depths of those chests. 119 00:07:31,120 --> 00:07:35,120 They became certain that they were inevitably doomed, 120 00:07:35,120 --> 00:07:37,120 and that this desert 121 00:07:37,120 --> 00:07:39,120 would fold them into its vast interior, 122 00:07:39,120 --> 00:07:44,120 just as the ocean folds a handful of sand into its depths, 123 00:07:44,120 --> 00:07:49,120 and that they would remain a secret of these terrifying wastes, 124 00:07:49,120 --> 00:07:51,120 which would never be revealed to anyone. 125 00:07:51,120 --> 00:07:54,120 Some began to leave their final testaments to others, 126 00:07:54,120 --> 00:08:00,120 certain that no one would emerge alive from the jaws of this death trap. 127 00:08:00,120 --> 00:08:03,120 But such is the way of life. 128 00:08:03,120 --> 00:08:07,250 At that moment, the inspired commander, 129 00:08:07,250 --> 00:08:12,250 the student of the unique and peerless Prophetic school, approached his soldiers 130 00:08:12,250 --> 00:08:15,250 and said to them in a tone of reassurance and confidence: 131 00:08:15,250 --> 00:08:20,250 "What is this panic, terror, and distress that has overcome you?" 132 00:08:20,250 --> 00:08:23,250 They replied, "How can you blame us? 133 00:08:23,250 --> 00:08:27,250 If we remain until tomorrow and the night gives way to the day, 134 00:08:27,250 --> 00:08:31,250 the sun will soon destroy us with thirst 135 00:08:31,250 --> 00:08:34,250 before its disc even rises to the zenith of the sky." 136 00:08:34,250 --> 00:08:41,309 He said to them, "I am confident that you will never be harmed, 137 00:08:41,309 --> 00:08:45,309 for you are those who have submitted to Allah and believe in Him. 138 00:08:45,309 --> 00:08:47,309 You set out in His cause, 139 00:08:47,309 --> 00:08:49,309 and you rose up to support His religion. 140 00:08:49,309 --> 00:08:52,309 So rejoice in a relief from Him, 141 00:08:52,309 --> 00:08:55,309 and by Allah, you will not be forsaken, 142 00:08:55,309 --> 00:08:58,309 nor will you be afflicted by anything that harms you. 143 00:08:58,309 --> 00:09:02,309 The relief of Allah is closer to you than you think." 144 00:09:02,309 --> 00:09:06,309 The words of the faithful commander descended into the hearts of his men 145 00:09:06,309 --> 00:09:11,309 like cool, sweet water to a thirsty soul. 146 00:09:11,309 --> 00:09:15,309 Their spirits calmed and their hearts found peace, 147 00:09:15,309 --> 00:09:18,379 and they surrendered their eyes to sleep. 148 00:09:18,379 --> 00:09:22,379 When the dawn broke, they performed dry ablution (tayammum) with clean earth, 149 00:09:22,379 --> 00:09:26,379 and stood before their Lord, humble and submissive. 150 00:09:26,379 --> 00:09:31,379 When the prayer ended, 'Ala' turned his face toward them, 151 00:09:31,379 --> 00:09:34,379 raised his palms toward the sky, 152 00:09:34,379 --> 00:09:38,379 and began to call upon Allah, the Almighty, with a pleading heart, 153 00:09:38,379 --> 00:09:42,379 tearful eyes, and a hopeful, expectant soul. 154 00:09:42,379 --> 00:09:46,379 They joined in his supplication, saying "Amen" to his hopes. 155 00:09:46,379 --> 00:09:51,379 He had not finished his private prayer to his Lord before water appeared to them from afar, 156 00:09:51,379 --> 00:09:56,379 its silver surface shimmering under the first light of morning. 157 00:09:56,379 --> 00:10:00,379 At first, the soldiers thought it was a mirage, 158 00:10:00,379 --> 00:10:03,379 like that which a person sees in the desert. 159 00:10:03,379 --> 00:10:06,379 But when they approached it, they found it was water. 160 00:10:06,379 --> 00:10:09,379 They began to praise and glorify Allah, 161 00:10:09,379 --> 00:10:12,379 and started to drink and wash themselves. 162 00:10:12,379 --> 00:10:16,379 They stayed there, waiting for the rest of Allah's relief. 163 00:10:16,379 --> 00:10:19,379 No sooner had the day reached its midpoint 164 00:10:19,379 --> 00:10:23,379 than they saw shadows in the distance heading toward them. 165 00:10:23,379 --> 00:10:25,379 They focused their gaze upon them, 166 00:10:25,379 --> 00:10:28,379 and they drew closer to them little by little. 167 00:10:28,379 --> 00:10:30,379 It was only a short while 168 00:10:30,379 --> 00:10:34,379 before they were certain that it was their camels coming toward them, 169 00:10:34,379 --> 00:10:38,379 as if a driver were herding them toward them. 170 00:10:38,379 --> 00:10:41,379 Through tears of joy at the relief of Allah, the Almighty, 171 00:10:41,379 --> 00:10:43,379 and hope in His victory, 172 00:10:43,379 --> 00:10:46,379 they saw their camels all arriving at the water, 173 00:10:46,379 --> 00:10:48,379 just as they had all departed, 174 00:10:48,379 --> 00:10:51,379 with their saddles and blankets still on them, 175 00:10:51,379 --> 00:10:53,379 and the provisions and supplies intact.