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 upon him. 6 00:00:27,260 --> 00:00:32,539 Al-Nu'man ibn Muqarrin al-Muzani, 7 00:00:32,539 --> 00:00:34,539 may Allah be pleased with him. 8 00:00:46,460 --> 00:00:48,460 The tribe of Muzaynah 9 00:00:48,460 --> 00:00:51,460 made their dwellings near Yathrib, 10 00:00:51,460 --> 00:00:54,460 along the road stretching between Medina and Mecca. 11 00:00:54,460 --> 00:00:57,460 The Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, 12 00:00:57,460 --> 00:00:59,460 had migrated to Medina, 13 00:00:59,460 --> 00:01:04,459 and news of him began reaching Muzaynah continuously through passersby, 14 00:01:04,459 --> 00:01:07,459 and they heard nothing of him but good. 15 00:01:07,459 --> 00:01:10,459 One evening, the chieftain of the people, 16 00:01:10,459 --> 00:01:13,459 al-Nu'man ibn Muqarrin al-Muzani, sat 17 00:01:13,459 --> 00:01:17,459 in his gathering with his brothers and the elders of his tribe, 18 00:01:17,459 --> 00:01:20,459 and said to them, "O my people, 19 00:01:20,459 --> 00:01:23,459 by Allah, we have known nothing of Muhammad but good, 20 00:01:23,459 --> 00:01:28,459 and we have heard from his message nothing but mercy, beneficence, and justice. 21 00:01:28,459 --> 00:01:31,459 Why then do we hold back, 22 00:01:31,459 --> 00:01:33,459 while people are hastening to him?" 23 00:01:33,459 --> 00:01:35,459 He then continued, saying, 24 00:01:35,459 --> 00:01:37,459 "As for me, 25 00:01:37,459 --> 00:01:40,459 I have resolved to set out to him come morning. 26 00:01:40,459 --> 00:01:44,459 Whosoever among you wishes to join me, let him prepare." 27 00:01:44,459 --> 00:01:47,459 It was as though al-Nu'man's words had struck 28 00:01:47,459 --> 00:01:50,459 a tender chord within the hearts of his people. 29 00:01:50,459 --> 00:01:52,459 No sooner had morning broken 30 00:01:52,459 --> 00:01:54,459 than he found his ten brothers 31 00:01:55,459 --> 00:01:58,459 and four hundred horsemen of Muzaynah 32 00:01:58,459 --> 00:02:02,459 fully prepared to accompany him to Yathrib, 33 00:02:02,459 --> 00:02:05,459 to meet the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, 34 00:02:05,459 --> 00:02:08,460 and to embrace the religion of Allah. 35 00:02:08,460 --> 00:02:11,460 However, al-Nu'man felt ashamed to arrive with such a vast delegation 36 00:02:11,460 --> 00:02:14,460 before the Prophet, peace be upon him, 37 00:02:14,460 --> 00:02:18,460 without carrying anything in hand for him and the Muslims. 38 00:02:18,460 --> 00:02:21,460 Yet the barren year of severe drought 39 00:02:21,460 --> 00:02:23,460 that had afflicted Muzaynah 40 00:02:23,460 --> 00:02:26,460 had left them neither livestock nor crops. 41 00:02:26,460 --> 00:02:29,460 So al-Nu'man went round his house and the houses of his brothers, 42 00:02:29,460 --> 00:02:33,460 collecting whatever few sheep the drought had spared them, 43 00:02:33,460 --> 00:02:35,460 and drove them before him. 44 00:02:35,460 --> 00:02:39,460 He arrived with them before the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, 45 00:02:39,460 --> 00:02:43,460 and he and those with him declared their Islam in his presence. 46 00:02:43,460 --> 00:02:47,460 Yathrib shook with joy from end to end 47 00:02:47,460 --> 00:02:50,460 in celebration of al-Nu'man ibn Muqarrin and his companions, 48 00:02:50,460 --> 00:02:52,460 for never before had an Arab household 49 00:02:52,460 --> 00:02:55,460 seen eleven brothers born of a single father embrace Islam together, 50 00:02:55,460 --> 00:02:58,460 accompanied by four hundred horsemen. 51 00:02:58,460 --> 00:03:01,460 The noble Messenger rejoiced at the Islam of al-Nu'man 52 00:03:01,460 --> 00:03:03,460 with the greatest joy, 53 00:03:03,460 --> 00:03:06,460 and Allah, Glorified and Exalted, accepted his meager sheep, 54 00:03:06,460 --> 00:03:09,460 revealing Qur'an concerning him, saying: 55 00:03:09,460 --> 00:03:14,460 Al-Nu'man ibn Muqarrin enlisted beneath the banner of the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, 56 00:03:14,460 --> 00:03:17,460 and witnessed all of his military campaigns with him, 57 00:03:17,460 --> 00:03:20,460 never wavering nor falling short. 58 00:03:20,460 --> 00:03:23,460 When the caliphate passed to al-Siddiq, 59 00:03:23,460 --> 00:03:27,460 he and his people of Banu Muzaynah stood resolutely at his side, 60 00:03:27,460 --> 00:03:32,460 an allegiance that had a profound effect in crushing the tribulation of apostasy. 61 00:03:32,460 --> 00:03:35,460 And when the caliphate came to al-Faruq, 62 00:03:35,460 --> 00:03:39,460 al-Nu'man ibn Muqarrin attained a stature during his reign 63 00:03:39,460 --> 00:03:43,460 that history still commemorates with a tongue moist with praise 64 00:03:43,460 --> 00:03:45,460 and fragrant with commendation. 65 00:03:45,460 --> 00:03:47,620 Shortly before the Battle of al-Qadisiyyah, 66 00:03:47,620 --> 00:03:49,620 Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas, 67 00:03:49,620 --> 00:03:51,620 the commander of the Muslim armies, 68 00:03:51,620 --> 00:03:54,620 dispatched a delegation to Khosrow Yazdegerd 69 00:03:54,620 --> 00:03:56,620 headed by al-Nu'man ibn Muqarrin, 70 00:03:56,620 --> 00:03:59,620 to invite him to Islam. 71 00:03:59,620 --> 00:04:02,620 When they reached Khosrow's capital at al-Mada'in, 72 00:04:02,620 --> 00:04:04,620 they requested permission to enter his presence. 73 00:04:04,620 --> 00:04:08,620 He granted them audience, then summoned his interpreter and said to him: 74 00:04:08,620 --> 00:04:09,620 "Ask them: 75 00:04:09,620 --> 00:04:11,620 What has brought you to our land, 76 00:04:11,620 --> 00:04:13,620 and what emboldened you to invade us? 77 00:04:13,620 --> 00:04:16,620 Perhaps you coveted our wealth and dared defy us 78 00:04:16,620 --> 00:04:18,620 because we were preoccupied with other matters 79 00:04:18,620 --> 00:04:21,620 and did not wish to strike you down?" 80 00:04:21,620 --> 00:04:24,620 Al-Nu'man ibn Muqarrin turned to his companions 81 00:04:24,620 --> 00:04:27,620 and said, "If you wish, I shall answer him on your behalf, 82 00:04:27,620 --> 00:04:30,620 or if any of you wishes to speak, 83 00:04:30,620 --> 00:04:32,620 I will defer the floor to him." 84 00:04:32,620 --> 00:04:34,620 They replied, "Nay, you speak." 85 00:04:34,620 --> 00:04:37,620 Then they turned to Khosrow and said, 86 00:04:37,620 --> 00:04:40,620 "This man speaks on our behalf, 87 00:04:40,620 --> 00:04:42,620 so listen to what he says." 88 00:04:42,620 --> 00:04:45,620 Al-Nu'man praised and extolled Allah, 89 00:04:45,620 --> 00:04:48,620 and invoked blessings and peace upon His Prophet. 90 00:04:48,620 --> 00:04:51,620 He then said, "Indeed, Allah had mercy upon us, 91 00:04:51,620 --> 00:04:54,620 and sent to us a Messenger to guide us to the good 92 00:04:54,620 --> 00:04:55,620 and command us to do it, 93 00:04:55,620 --> 00:04:58,620 to warn us of evil and forbid us from it, 94 00:04:58,620 --> 00:05:01,620 and who promised us that if we responded to what he called us to, 95 00:05:01,620 --> 00:05:05,620 Allah would grant us the best of this world and the Hereafter. 96 00:05:05,620 --> 00:05:07,620 It was not long 97 00:05:07,620 --> 00:05:10,620 before Allah replaced our hardship with ease, 98 00:05:10,620 --> 00:05:12,620 our humiliation with honor, 99 00:05:12,620 --> 00:05:15,620 and our animosity with brotherhood and mercy. 100 00:05:15,620 --> 00:05:19,620 He has commanded us to invite mankind to that which is best for them, 101 00:05:19,620 --> 00:05:21,620 beginning with those closest to us. 102 00:05:21,620 --> 00:05:24,620 Thus, we invite you to enter our religion, 103 00:05:24,620 --> 00:05:27,620 a faith that deemed all good to be virtuous 104 00:05:27,620 --> 00:05:30,620 and encouraged it, and deemed all evil to be vile 105 00:05:30,620 --> 00:05:32,620 and warned against it. 106 00:05:32,620 --> 00:05:35,620 It delivers its followers from the darkness and oppression of disbelief 107 00:05:35,620 --> 00:05:38,620 into the light and justice of faith. 108 00:05:38,620 --> 00:05:40,620 If you accept our invitation to Islam, 109 00:05:40,620 --> 00:05:42,620 we will leave the Book of Allah among you, 110 00:05:42,620 --> 00:05:46,620 establishing you upon it so that you may rule by its rulings, 111 00:05:46,620 --> 00:05:49,620 and we will depart from you, leaving you to your own affairs. 112 00:05:49,620 --> 00:05:52,620 But if you refuse to enter the religion of Allah, 113 00:05:52,620 --> 00:05:55,620 we will collect the jizya from you and protect you; 114 00:05:55,620 --> 00:05:59,620 and if you refuse to pay the jizya, we will fight you." 115 00:05:59,620 --> 00:06:03,620 Yazdegerd was infuriated and flared with rage at what he heard, 116 00:06:03,620 --> 00:06:04,620 and said: 117 00:06:04,620 --> 00:06:06,620 "I know of no nation on earth 118 00:06:06,620 --> 00:06:09,620 that was more wretched than you, fewer in numbers, 119 00:06:09,620 --> 00:06:12,620 more severely divided, or in a worse condition. 120 00:06:12,620 --> 00:06:15,620 We used to leave your governance to the prefects of our outlying districts, 121 00:06:15,620 --> 00:06:18,620 and they would secure your obedience on our behalf." 122 00:06:18,620 --> 00:06:21,620 Then, tempering his harshness slightly, he said, 123 00:06:21,620 --> 00:06:24,620 "If it is sheer need that has driven you 124 00:06:24,620 --> 00:06:26,620 to come to us, 125 00:06:26,620 --> 00:06:30,620 we will decree provisions for you until your lands become fertile, 126 00:06:30,620 --> 00:06:33,620 clothe your nobles and prominent figures, 127 00:06:33,620 --> 00:06:37,620 and appoint over you a ruler from our side who will treat you gently." 128 00:06:37,620 --> 00:06:40,620 Thereupon, a man from the delegation gave him a retort 129 00:06:40,620 --> 00:06:42,620 that reignited the fire of his wrath anew, 130 00:06:42,620 --> 00:06:43,620 and he said: 131 00:06:43,620 --> 00:06:47,620 "Were it not that envoys are never slain, I would have killed you! 132 00:06:47,620 --> 00:06:50,620 Begone, for you have nothing to receive from me! 133 00:06:50,620 --> 00:06:54,620 Inform your commander that I am sending Rostam against him, 134 00:06:54,620 --> 00:06:58,620 so that he may bury him and bury you all together in the trench of al-Qadisiyyah!" 135 00:06:58,620 --> 00:07:01,620 Then he commanded that a basket of dirt be brought to him, 136 00:07:01,620 --> 00:07:03,620 and said to his men: 137 00:07:03,620 --> 00:07:05,620 "Place it upon the head of the most noble among them, 138 00:07:05,620 --> 00:07:08,620 and drive him before you in full view of the people 139 00:07:08,620 --> 00:07:12,620 until he exits the gates of our capital." 140 00:07:12,620 --> 00:07:15,620 They asked the delegation, "Who is the most noble among you?" 141 00:07:15,620 --> 00:07:17,620 'Asim ibn 'Amr stepped forward 142 00:07:17,620 --> 00:07:19,620 and said, "I am." 143 00:07:19,620 --> 00:07:23,620 So they loaded it upon him until he exited al-Mada'in. 144 00:07:23,620 --> 00:07:25,620 He then loaded it onto his camel 145 00:07:25,620 --> 00:07:28,620 and brought it with him to Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas, 146 00:07:28,620 --> 00:07:33,620 giving him the glad tidings that Allah would grant the Muslims victory over the lands of the Persians 147 00:07:33,620 --> 00:07:36,680 and bestow upon them the very soil of their earth. 148 00:07:36,680 --> 00:07:39,680 Then the Battle of al-Qadisiyyah took place, 149 00:07:39,680 --> 00:07:42,680 and its trench was packed with the bodies of thousands of the slain; 150 00:07:42,680 --> 00:07:46,680 yet they were not from the soldiers of the Muslims, 151 00:07:46,680 --> 00:07:49,680 but rather from the troops of Khosrow. 152 00:07:49,680 --> 00:07:52,680 The Persians did not surrender to their defeat at al-Qadisiyyah; 153 00:07:52,680 --> 00:07:54,680 they assembled their hosts 154 00:07:54,680 --> 00:07:56,680 and mobilized their armies, 155 00:07:56,680 --> 00:07:59,680 until they had gathered one hundred and fifty thousand 156 00:07:59,680 --> 00:08:02,680 fierce fighters. 157 00:08:02,680 --> 00:08:05,680 When al-Faruq learned of this massive host, 158 00:08:05,680 --> 00:08:10,680 he resolved to march forth to confront this grave peril in person. 159 00:08:10,680 --> 00:08:13,680 However, the prominent figures of the Muslims dissuaded him from doing so, 160 00:08:13,680 --> 00:08:16,680 advising him instead to dispatch a commander 161 00:08:16,680 --> 00:08:19,680 upon whom he could rely in such a momentous affair. 162 00:08:19,680 --> 00:08:21,680 'Umar said, 163 00:08:21,680 --> 00:08:25,680 "Advise me on a man whom I may appoint over that frontier." 164 00:08:25,680 --> 00:08:29,680 They said, "You know your soldiers best, O Commander of the Believers." 165 00:08:29,680 --> 00:08:34,679 He said, "By Allah, I will surely place in command of the Muslim army a man 166 00:08:34,679 --> 00:08:38,679 who, when the two hosts meet, is swifter to advance than the spearhead: 167 00:08:38,679 --> 00:08:41,679 he is al-Nu'man ibn Muqarrin al-Muzani." 168 00:08:41,679 --> 00:08:44,679 They replied, "He is indeed the man for it." 169 00:08:44,679 --> 00:08:46,679 So he wrote to him, saying: 170 00:08:46,679 --> 00:08:49,679 "From the servant of Allah, 'Umar ibn al-Khattab, 171 00:08:49,679 --> 00:08:51,679 to al-Nu'man ibn Muqarrin. 172 00:08:51,679 --> 00:08:53,679 To proceed: 173 00:08:53,679 --> 00:08:56,679 It has reached me that vast hosts of the Persians 174 00:08:56,679 --> 00:08:59,679 have assembled against you at the city of Nihawand. 175 00:08:59,679 --> 00:09:01,679 When this letter of mine reaches you, 176 00:09:01,679 --> 00:09:03,679 march forth by the command of Allah, 177 00:09:03,679 --> 00:09:04,679 with the help of Allah, 178 00:09:04,679 --> 00:09:06,679 and with the victory of Allah, 179 00:09:06,679 --> 00:09:08,679 alongside the Muslims who are with you. 180 00:09:08,679 --> 00:09:11,679 Do not tread with them through rugged terrain lest you harm them, 181 00:09:11,679 --> 00:09:13,679 for a single Muslim man 182 00:09:13,679 --> 00:09:16,679 is dearer to me than one hundred thousand dinars. 183 00:09:16,679 --> 00:09:18,679 And peace be upon you." 184 00:09:18,679 --> 00:09:21,679 Al-Nu'man mobilized his army to confront the enemy, 185 00:09:21,679 --> 00:09:24,679 sending advance scouts of his cavalry ahead of him 186 00:09:24,679 --> 00:09:26,679 to reconnoiter the route. 187 00:09:26,679 --> 00:09:28,679 When the horsemen approached Nihawand, 188 00:09:28,679 --> 00:09:30,679 their horses came to an abrupt halt; 189 00:09:30,679 --> 00:09:32,679 they urged them forward, but they would not move. 190 00:09:32,679 --> 00:09:35,679 So they dismounted from their backs to investigate the matter, 191 00:09:35,679 --> 00:09:38,679 only to find shards of iron embedded in the horses' hooves, 192 00:09:38,679 --> 00:09:40,679 resembling the heads of nails. 193 00:09:40,679 --> 00:09:42,679 They looked down at the ground, 194 00:09:42,679 --> 00:09:46,679 and discovered that the Persians had scattered across the roads leading to Nihawand 195 00:09:46,679 --> 00:09:48,679 iron caltrops, 196 00:09:48,679 --> 00:09:51,679 to impede the cavalry and the infantry from reaching it. 197 00:09:51,679 --> 00:09:54,679 The horsemen informed al-Nu'man of what they had seen 198 00:09:54,679 --> 00:09:57,679 and asked him to give them his counsel. 199 00:09:57,679 --> 00:10:00,679 So he ordered them to hold their positions, 200 00:10:00,679 --> 00:10:03,679 and to light fires at night so the enemy could see them, 201 00:10:03,679 --> 00:10:05,679 and at that point, 202 00:10:05,679 --> 00:10:08,679 to feign fear of them and act as though they were routed before them, 203 00:10:08,679 --> 00:10:10,679 in order to entice the enemy to pursue them 204 00:10:10,679 --> 00:10:13,679 and clear away the iron caltrops they had strewn. 205 00:10:13,679 --> 00:10:16,679 The ruse deceived the Persians, 206 00:10:16,679 --> 00:10:19,679 for no sooner did they see the vanguard of the Muslim army 207 00:10:19,679 --> 00:10:21,679 falling back in apparent defeat before them, 208 00:10:21,679 --> 00:10:24,679 than they sent out their workers, 209 00:10:24,679 --> 00:10:26,679 who swept the pathways clear of the caltrops. 210 00:10:26,679 --> 00:10:28,679 Thereupon, the Muslims charged back at them 211 00:10:28,679 --> 00:10:30,679 and seized control of those mountain passes. 212 00:10:30,679 --> 00:10:33,779 Al-Nu'man ibn Muqarrin encamped with his army 213 00:10:33,779 --> 00:10:35,779 on the outskirts of Nahavand, 214 00:10:35,779 --> 00:10:38,779 resolved to take his enemy by surprise with an assault. 215 00:10:38,779 --> 00:10:40,779 He said to his soldiers, 216 00:10:40,779 --> 00:10:42,779 "I shall proclaim the takbir three times. 217 00:10:42,779 --> 00:10:44,779 When I utter the first takbir, 218 00:10:44,779 --> 00:10:47,779 let whoever is not yet ready prepare himself. 219 00:10:47,779 --> 00:10:49,779 When I utter the second, 220 00:10:49,779 --> 00:10:53,779 let every man among you fasten his armor and weapons securely. 221 00:10:53,779 --> 00:10:55,779 And when I utter the third, 222 00:10:55,779 --> 00:10:58,779 I shall charge against the enemies of Allah, 223 00:10:58,779 --> 00:11:00,779 so charge alongside me." 224 00:11:00,779 --> 00:11:03,779 Al-Nu'man ibn Muqarrin proclaimed his three takbirs, 225 00:11:03,779 --> 00:11:05,779 and plunged into the enemy ranks 226 00:11:05,779 --> 00:11:07,779 like a charging lion, 227 00:11:07,779 --> 00:11:10,779 and behind him, the Muslim soldiers poured forth 228 00:11:10,779 --> 00:11:12,779 like an overwhelming torrent. 229 00:11:12,779 --> 00:11:14,779 Between the two sides, 230 00:11:14,779 --> 00:11:16,779 a fierce, grinding battle raged, 231 00:11:16,779 --> 00:11:19,779 the likes of which military history has rarely seen. 232 00:11:19,779 --> 00:11:22,779 The Persian army was utterly shattered, 233 00:11:22,779 --> 00:11:25,779 their dead littering the plains and the mountains, 234 00:11:25,779 --> 00:11:28,779 and their blood coursing through the passes and paths. 235 00:11:28,779 --> 00:11:31,779 Then the horse of Al-Nu'man ibn Muqarrin slipped 236 00:11:31,779 --> 00:11:33,779 in the blood and fell, 237 00:11:33,779 --> 00:11:35,779 and Al-Nu'man himself was struck 238 00:11:35,779 --> 00:11:37,779 with a mortal wound. 239 00:11:37,779 --> 00:11:39,779 His brother took the standard from his hand, 240 00:11:39,779 --> 00:11:42,779 covered him with a cloak he had with him, 241 00:11:42,779 --> 00:11:45,779 and concealed the news of his death from the Muslims. 242 00:11:45,779 --> 00:11:48,779 When the great victory was complete— 243 00:11:48,779 --> 00:11:51,779 which the Muslims called the "Conquest of Conquests"— 244 00:11:51,779 --> 00:11:54,779 the victorious soldiers asked after their valiant commander, 245 00:11:54,779 --> 00:11:57,809 Al-Nu'man ibn Muqarrin. 246 00:11:57,809 --> 00:12:00,809 His brother uncovered the cloak from him and said, 247 00:12:00,809 --> 00:12:02,809 "Here is your commander; 248 00:12:02,809 --> 00:12:05,809 Allah has delighted his eyes with victory 249 00:12:05,809 --> 00:12:07,809 and sealed his life with martyrdom." 250 00:12:07,809 --> 00:12:11,950 "Indeed, faith has its households, 251 00:12:11,950 --> 00:12:14,950 and hypocrisy has its households; 252 00:12:14,950 --> 00:12:18,019 and the household of the Banu Muqarrin 253 00:12:18,019 --> 00:12:21,019 is among the households of faith." 254 00:12:21,019 --> 00:12:24,460 — 'Abdullah Ibn Mas'ud