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 --> 00:00:22,609 to present to you "Portraits from the Lives of the Companions," 4 00:00:22,609 --> 00:00:25,640 by Abd al-Rahman Ra'fat al-Basha, 5 00:00:25,640 --> 00:00:30,550 may Allah have mercy upon him. 6 00:00:30,550 --> 00:00:32,549 'Ubadah ibn al-Samit, 7 00:00:32,549 --> 00:00:34,549 may Allah be pleased with him. 8 00:00:50,240 --> 00:00:52,240 Our Companion this time 9 00:00:52,240 --> 00:00:55,240 is an Ansari, a participant in al-'Aqabah, and a veteran of Badr. 10 00:00:55,240 --> 00:00:58,240 It is enough distinction that he possessed these three great virtues, 11 00:00:58,240 --> 00:01:01,240 which are badges of honor and nobility in this world, 12 00:01:01,240 --> 00:01:05,239 and testaments of divine pleasure and nearness to Allah in the Hereafter. 13 00:01:05,239 --> 00:01:09,430 As for his father, he was named Al-Samit, 14 00:01:09,430 --> 00:01:13,430 his mother was called Qurrat al-'Ayn, 15 00:01:13,430 --> 00:01:17,430 and people knew him as 'Ubadah. 16 00:01:17,430 --> 00:01:22,430 And who among us, O assembly of Muslims, does not know 'Ubadah ibn al-Samit? 17 00:01:22,430 --> 00:01:27,430 For he is one of the pure and righteous who gave shelter and aid; 18 00:01:27,430 --> 00:01:32,430 he is one of the seventy-three who pledged allegiance at the Pledge of al-'Aqabah; 19 00:01:32,430 --> 00:01:38,430 and he is one of the veterans of Badr, whom Allah, the Almighty and Majestic, looked upon 20 00:01:38,430 --> 00:01:42,430 and said: "Do whatever you wish, for I have forgiven you." 21 00:01:42,430 --> 00:01:44,430 And if you add to that 22 00:01:44,430 --> 00:01:50,430 that he was one of five men who compiled the Qur'an during the lifetime of the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, 23 00:01:50,430 --> 00:01:53,430 then he truly attained the pinnacle of honors, 24 00:01:53,430 --> 00:01:57,430 reaching the loftiest heights and the most exalted ranks. 25 00:01:57,430 --> 00:02:03,750 'Ubadah ibn al-Samit spent his life as a warrior striving in the cause of Allah, a devout worshipper, and a teacher. 26 00:02:03,750 --> 00:02:07,750 On the battlefields, he was a fearless lion, 27 00:02:07,750 --> 00:02:12,750 in the stillness of the night, he was a deeply devoted and sorrowful worshipper, 28 00:02:12,750 --> 00:02:14,750 and in times of peace, 29 00:02:14,750 --> 00:02:17,750 he taught the Muslims the Book of Allah 30 00:02:17,750 --> 00:02:19,750 and instructed them in the fiqh of Allah's religion. 31 00:02:20,750 --> 00:02:25,039 When Allah granted the Muslims victory and opened the lands of the Levant, 32 00:02:25,039 --> 00:02:28,039 they sought to open minds and hearts 33 00:02:28,039 --> 00:02:31,039 just as they had conquered strongholds and fortresses. 34 00:02:31,039 --> 00:02:38,039 So the governor of Damascus wrote to the Caliph of the Muslims, 'Umar ibn al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him, saying: 35 00:02:38,039 --> 00:02:42,039 "The Muslims in the lands of the Levant have grown numerous, 36 00:02:42,039 --> 00:02:45,039 and they are in need of someone to teach them the Qur'an 37 00:02:45,039 --> 00:02:47,039 and instruct them in the fiqh of the religion of Allah. 38 00:02:47,039 --> 00:02:51,039 So assist me, O Commander of the Faithful, with men who can teach them." 39 00:02:51,039 --> 00:02:54,039 Thereupon, 'Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, summoned 40 00:02:54,039 --> 00:03:00,039 the group of five who had compiled the Qur'an during the lifetime of the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him: 41 00:03:00,039 --> 00:03:03,039 'Ubadah ibn al-Samit, 42 00:03:03,039 --> 00:03:05,039 Mu'adh ibn Jabal, 43 00:03:05,039 --> 00:03:07,039 Ubayy ibn Ka'b, 44 00:03:07,039 --> 00:03:09,039 Abu Ayyub al-Ansari, 45 00:03:09,039 --> 00:03:11,039 and Abu al-Darda', 46 00:03:11,039 --> 00:03:13,039 may Allah be pleased with them all, 47 00:03:13,039 --> 00:03:19,039 and may He grant them the most gracious reward on behalf of the Ummah of Muhammad, peace be upon him. 48 00:03:19,039 --> 00:03:21,259 When they stood before him, 49 00:03:21,259 --> 00:03:25,259 he said to them: "Your brethren among the people of the Levant 50 00:03:25,259 --> 00:03:28,259 have asked me to send those who can teach them the Qur'an 51 00:03:28,259 --> 00:03:31,259 and instruct them in what is lawful and unlawful. 52 00:03:31,259 --> 00:03:35,259 So help me, may Allah have mercy upon you, by sending three from among you; 53 00:03:35,259 --> 00:03:38,259 and if you wish, cast lots between yourselves." 54 00:03:38,259 --> 00:03:42,259 They replied: "We would never cast lots, O Commander of the Faithful; 55 00:03:42,259 --> 00:03:45,259 for Abu Ayyub al-Ansari is an elderly shaykh, 56 00:03:45,259 --> 00:03:48,259 Ubayy ibn Ka'b is an ailing man, 57 00:03:48,259 --> 00:03:51,259 and that leaves the three of us." 58 00:03:51,259 --> 00:03:55,300 So 'Umar, may Allah be pleased with him and them, dispatched them 59 00:03:55,300 --> 00:03:57,300 to the lands of the Levant: 60 00:03:57,300 --> 00:04:00,300 'Ubadah ibn al-Samit settled in Homs, 61 00:04:00,300 --> 00:04:03,300 Abu al-Darda' took up residence in Damascus, 62 00:04:03,300 --> 00:04:06,300 and Mu'adh ibn Jabal stayed in Palestine. 63 00:04:06,300 --> 00:04:08,550 'Ubadah ibn al-Samit, 64 00:04:08,550 --> 00:04:11,550 when he pledged allegiance to the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, 65 00:04:11,550 --> 00:04:13,550 on the night of al-'Aqabah, 66 00:04:13,550 --> 00:04:16,550 had pledged to hear and obey, 67 00:04:16,550 --> 00:04:19,550 to speak the truth wherever he might be, 68 00:04:19,550 --> 00:04:22,550 and never to fear the blame of any critic for the sake of Allah. 69 00:04:22,550 --> 00:04:25,649 So when he saw from the governor of the Levant, 70 00:04:25,649 --> 00:04:28,649 Mu'awiyah ibn Abi Sufyan, may Allah be pleased with him, 71 00:04:28,649 --> 00:04:30,649 something that he could not accept, 72 00:04:30,649 --> 00:04:33,649 he confronted him over what he had observed and denounced it. 73 00:04:33,649 --> 00:04:36,649 But Mu'awiyah did not accept his view 74 00:04:36,649 --> 00:04:38,649 and demanded his compliance. 75 00:04:38,649 --> 00:04:41,649 Thereupon, 'Ubadah became angry and said: 76 00:04:41,649 --> 00:04:44,649 "By Allah, I shall never dwell in the same land as you!" 77 00:04:44,649 --> 00:04:47,649 and he turned around and went back to Medina. 78 00:04:47,649 --> 00:04:51,680 When he came before 'Umar ibn al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him, 79 00:04:51,680 --> 00:04:54,680 'Umar asked him: "What has brought you back, O 'Ubadah?" 80 00:04:54,680 --> 00:04:59,680 So he informed him of the disagreement between himself and Mu'awiyah. 81 00:04:59,680 --> 00:05:02,680 'Umar said: "Return to your post! 82 00:05:02,680 --> 00:05:06,680 May Allah dishonor any land in which neither you nor the likes of you reside." 83 00:05:06,680 --> 00:05:09,680 Then he wrote to Mu'awiyah, saying: 84 00:05:09,680 --> 00:05:12,680 "You have no authority over 'Ubadah ibn al-Samit; 85 00:05:12,680 --> 00:05:15,680 he is an authority unto himself." 86 00:05:15,680 --> 00:05:19,970 Later, 'Amr ibn al-'As marched toward Egypt as a conqueror, 87 00:05:19,970 --> 00:05:22,970 which was then under the rule of the Byzantines. 88 00:05:22,970 --> 00:05:25,970 He began liberating its cities and villages 89 00:05:25,970 --> 00:05:28,970 until he was held up by the Fortress of Babylon, 90 00:05:28,970 --> 00:05:31,970 situated on the bank of the Nile, 91 00:05:31,970 --> 00:05:33,970 near modern-day Cairo. 92 00:05:33,970 --> 00:05:37,060 The reason the fortress resisted him was 93 00:05:37,060 --> 00:05:41,060 that the Byzantines had dug a great trench around it, 94 00:05:41,060 --> 00:05:45,060 and had embedded iron caltrops along the roads leading to it 95 00:05:45,060 --> 00:05:49,060 to hinder the advance of infantry and cavalry toward it. 96 00:05:49,060 --> 00:05:52,060 They also packed it with soldiers and equipment, 97 00:05:52,060 --> 00:05:55,060 and brought into it their statesmen 98 00:05:55,060 --> 00:05:57,060 and the notables of the Copts from the people of Egypt, 99 00:05:57,060 --> 00:05:59,060 headed by the Muqawqis, 100 00:05:59,060 --> 00:06:02,060 the Patriarch and ruler of Egypt. 101 00:06:02,060 --> 00:06:04,290 'Amr ibn al-'As besieged the fortress, 102 00:06:04,290 --> 00:06:08,290 hoping that its defenders would grow weary of the siege 103 00:06:08,290 --> 00:06:10,290 and surrender to him. 104 00:06:10,290 --> 00:06:13,290 However, the Nile soon flooded, 105 00:06:13,290 --> 00:06:16,290 so the Byzantines breached the dykes and cut off the bridges, 106 00:06:16,290 --> 00:06:20,290 causing the water to surround the Muslims from every side, 107 00:06:20,290 --> 00:06:22,290 and they were nearly overwhelmed by drowning. 108 00:06:22,290 --> 00:06:25,290 At that point, 'Amr ibn al-'As wrote 109 00:06:25,290 --> 00:06:28,290 to the Commander of the Faithful, 'Umar ibn al-Khattab, 110 00:06:28,290 --> 00:06:31,379 requesting that he support him with reinforcements from his side. 111 00:06:31,379 --> 00:06:33,379 'Umar promptly reinforced him 112 00:06:33,379 --> 00:06:36,379 with four thousand Muslim soldiers, 113 00:06:36,379 --> 00:06:39,379 appointing over every thousand a commander 114 00:06:39,379 --> 00:06:41,379 who equaled a thousand men himself: 115 00:06:41,379 --> 00:06:43,379 'Ubadah ibn al-Samit, 116 00:06:43,379 --> 00:06:45,379 Al-Zubayr ibn al-'Awwam, 117 00:06:45,379 --> 00:06:47,379 Al-Miqdad ibn al-Aswad, 118 00:06:47,379 --> 00:06:49,379 and Maslamah ibn Mukhallad. 119 00:06:49,379 --> 00:06:52,480 The Muqawqis learned of the reinforcements 120 00:06:52,480 --> 00:06:54,480 that had reached the Muslim army, 121 00:06:54,480 --> 00:06:56,480 so he sent to 'Amr ibn al-'As 122 00:06:56,480 --> 00:06:58,480 a delegation of his finest men 123 00:06:58,480 --> 00:07:00,480 to negotiate with them. 124 00:07:00,480 --> 00:07:02,480 He instructed them to observe closely 125 00:07:02,480 --> 00:07:04,480 the conditions of the Muslims, 126 00:07:04,480 --> 00:07:07,480 and to bring back a precise 127 00:07:07,480 --> 00:07:09,480 and clear portrait of their way of life, 128 00:07:09,480 --> 00:07:12,610 as though he were seeing it with his own eyes. 129 00:07:12,610 --> 00:07:14,610 The men of the delegation stayed 130 00:07:14,610 --> 00:07:17,610 as guests of the Muslims for three nights. 131 00:07:17,610 --> 00:07:18,610 When they returned, 132 00:07:18,610 --> 00:07:20,610 the Muqawqis asked them 133 00:07:20,610 --> 00:07:22,610 about what they had seen and heard. 134 00:07:22,610 --> 00:07:23,610 They said: 135 00:07:23,610 --> 00:07:26,610 "By Allah, we have seen a people 136 00:07:26,610 --> 00:07:29,610 to whom death is more desirable than life, 137 00:07:29,610 --> 00:07:31,610 and humbleness is dearer than high status. 138 00:07:31,610 --> 00:07:33,610 They sit upon the bare dust 139 00:07:33,610 --> 00:07:35,610 and eat while kneeling on their knees. 140 00:07:35,610 --> 00:07:38,610 Their commander is just like one of them; 141 00:07:38,610 --> 00:07:41,610 their master cannot be distinguished from his subordinate, 142 00:07:41,610 --> 00:07:44,610 nor their nobleman from the commoner. 143 00:07:44,610 --> 00:07:46,610 Whenever the prayer is called, 144 00:07:46,610 --> 00:07:49,610 not a single one of them stays behind; 145 00:07:49,610 --> 00:07:52,610 they wash their limbs and faces with water, 146 00:07:52,610 --> 00:07:55,610 and humble themselves devoutly before their Lord in prayer." 147 00:07:55,610 --> 00:07:57,610 The Muqawqis said: 148 00:07:57,610 --> 00:08:00,610 "By Allah, if these people were to confront the mountains, 149 00:08:00,610 --> 00:08:02,610 they would move them, 150 00:08:02,610 --> 00:08:05,800 and if they were to battle the jinn, they would destroy them." 151 00:08:05,800 --> 00:08:07,800 It was as if the Muqawqis wished 152 00:08:07,800 --> 00:08:09,800 to see with his own eyes 153 00:08:09,800 --> 00:08:11,800 what his men had described to him, 154 00:08:11,800 --> 00:08:14,800 so he wrote to 'Amr ibn al-'As, saying: 155 00:08:14,800 --> 00:08:16,800 "Send envoys from among you 156 00:08:16,800 --> 00:08:19,800 so that we may negotiate and make a treaty with them." 157 00:08:19,800 --> 00:08:22,800 So he sent ten of his men to him, 158 00:08:22,800 --> 00:08:25,990 placing 'Ubadah ibn al-Samit in command over them. 159 00:08:25,990 --> 00:08:29,990 'Ubadah ibn al-Samit was a tall man of imposing stature, 160 00:08:29,990 --> 00:08:32,990 with thick hair and an intensely commanding presence, 161 00:08:32,990 --> 00:08:35,990 filling anyone who looked upon him with awe and veneration. 162 00:08:35,990 --> 00:08:38,990 When he stepped forward to face the Muqawqis, 163 00:08:38,990 --> 00:08:40,990 the Muqawqis was struck with immense awe of him, 164 00:08:40,990 --> 00:08:43,990 and a great fear took hold of his heart. 165 00:08:43,990 --> 00:08:46,990 So he said to the members of the delegation: 166 00:08:46,990 --> 00:08:48,990 "Take this man away from me, 167 00:08:48,990 --> 00:08:51,990 and bring forward someone else to speak to me!" 168 00:08:51,990 --> 00:08:54,990 They replied: "This is our commander, 169 00:08:54,990 --> 00:08:57,990 and 'Amr ibn al-'As instructed us 170 00:08:57,990 --> 00:08:59,990 never to step ahead of him, 171 00:08:59,990 --> 00:09:01,990 nor to disobey any command of his." 172 00:09:01,990 --> 00:09:04,990 The Muqawqis then said to 'Ubadah: 173 00:09:04,990 --> 00:09:06,990 "Come forward, O man, 174 00:09:06,990 --> 00:09:08,990 and speak to me gently, 175 00:09:08,990 --> 00:09:10,990 for your appearance fills me with dread." 176 00:09:10,990 --> 00:09:12,990 'Ubadah said to him: 177 00:09:12,990 --> 00:09:14,990 "I see that you fear me, 178 00:09:14,990 --> 00:09:16,990 but what would you think if you saw my companions? 179 00:09:16,990 --> 00:09:18,990 Among them are a thousand men, 180 00:09:18,990 --> 00:09:21,990 every one of them far stronger and more formidable than I." 181 00:09:21,990 --> 00:09:23,990 The Muqawqis asked him: 182 00:09:23,990 --> 00:09:26,990 "What brought you out of your lands, 183 00:09:26,990 --> 00:09:29,990 and what do you want from us?" 184 00:09:29,990 --> 00:09:31,990 'Ubadah ibn al-Samit said: 185 00:09:31,990 --> 00:09:34,990 "By Allah, we have only set out 186 00:09:34,990 --> 00:09:37,990 seeking the pleasure of Allah, the Almighty and Majestic. 187 00:09:37,990 --> 00:09:42,990 Our Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, charged us 188 00:09:42,990 --> 00:09:45,990 that none of us should seek from this world 189 00:09:45,990 --> 00:09:49,990 anything more than what satisfies his hunger and covers his nakedness; 190 00:09:49,990 --> 00:09:52,990 for the pleasure of this world is no true bliss— 191 00:09:52,990 --> 00:09:55,990 true bliss is only the bliss of the Hereafter." 192 00:09:55,990 --> 00:09:57,990 The Muqawqis said to him: 193 00:09:57,990 --> 00:09:59,990 "I have heard your words, 194 00:09:59,990 --> 00:10:02,990 and by my life, you have only achieved what you achieved 195 00:10:02,990 --> 00:10:04,990 by virtue of what you mentioned; 196 00:10:04,990 --> 00:10:07,990 nor have you triumphed over those you defeated 197 00:10:07,990 --> 00:10:10,990 except because of their love for this world 198 00:10:10,990 --> 00:10:12,990 and your disdain for it. 199 00:10:12,990 --> 00:10:14,990 "However, the Romans have gathered against you 200 00:10:14,990 --> 00:10:16,990 numbers beyond reckoning, 201 00:10:16,990 --> 00:10:19,990 and we know well that you will never overpower them, 202 00:10:20,990 --> 00:10:23,990 given your few numbers and your severe poverty. 203 00:10:23,990 --> 00:10:25,990 Yet, we are willing 204 00:10:25,990 --> 00:10:28,990 to give each man among you two dinars, 205 00:10:28,990 --> 00:10:30,990 your commander a hundred dinars, 206 00:10:30,990 --> 00:10:33,990 and your Caliph a thousand dinars, 207 00:10:33,990 --> 00:10:35,990 provided that you depart from us 208 00:10:35,990 --> 00:10:38,990 before that strikes you which you have no power to bear." 209 00:10:38,990 --> 00:10:42,019 Thereupon, 'Ubadah ibn al-Samit said to him: 210 00:10:42,019 --> 00:10:45,019 "That with which you try to terrify us regarding the Roman multitudes 211 00:10:45,019 --> 00:10:48,019 will never deter us from our ultimate objective! 212 00:10:48,019 --> 00:10:51,019 Indeed, we are utterly certain of attaining 213 00:10:51,019 --> 00:10:53,019 one of the two best outcomes: 214 00:10:53,019 --> 00:10:55,019 for if we triumph over you, 215 00:10:55,019 --> 00:10:57,019 our worldly gain will be immense; 216 00:10:57,019 --> 00:10:59,019 and if you triumph over us, 217 00:10:59,019 --> 00:11:02,179 our reward in the Hereafter will be supreme! 218 00:11:02,179 --> 00:11:05,179 And know that there is not a single man among us 219 00:11:05,179 --> 00:11:08,179 who does not supplicate Allah after every prayer 220 00:11:08,179 --> 00:11:10,179 to grant him martyrdom, 221 00:11:10,179 --> 00:11:14,179 and not to return him to his family disappointed! 222 00:11:14,179 --> 00:11:16,179 Every single one of us 223 00:11:16,179 --> 00:11:19,179 has already entrusted his family and children to Allah's care." 224 00:11:19,179 --> 00:11:22,340 He then presented to al-Muqawqis the three choices: 225 00:11:22,340 --> 00:11:26,340 Islam, the jizyah, or fighting. 226 00:11:26,340 --> 00:11:29,340 But the people of al-Muqawqis refused Islam, 227 00:11:29,340 --> 00:11:31,340 and disdainfully rejected paying the jizyah. 228 00:11:31,340 --> 00:11:34,379 Thus, nothing remained except battle. 229 00:11:34,379 --> 00:11:38,379 At that point, the Muslims resolved to storm the fortress, 230 00:11:38,379 --> 00:11:40,379 no matter how steep the price might be. 231 00:11:40,379 --> 00:11:43,379 Then al-Zubayr ibn al-'Awwam stood up and declared: 232 00:11:43,379 --> 00:11:46,379 "I dedicate my soul to Allah, the Exalted and Glorious!" 233 00:11:46,379 --> 00:11:51,379 He took a tall ladder to scale the wall of the fortress, 234 00:11:51,379 --> 00:11:53,379 and instructed the Muslim soldiers 235 00:11:53,379 --> 00:11:56,379 to proclaim the takbir in unison after him 236 00:11:56,379 --> 00:11:58,379 as soon as they heard his takbir. 237 00:11:58,379 --> 00:12:00,570 It was only a matter of moments 238 00:12:00,570 --> 00:12:03,570 before that valiant knight 239 00:12:03,570 --> 00:12:05,570 was mounting the ramparts of the fortress, 240 00:12:05,570 --> 00:12:07,570 his sword drawn unsheathed, 241 00:12:07,570 --> 00:12:09,570 as the cry of "Allahu Akbar!" 242 00:12:09,570 --> 00:12:12,570 burst resoundingly from his mouth. 243 00:12:12,570 --> 00:12:15,570 Thousands of throats instantly echoed behind him, 244 00:12:15,570 --> 00:12:17,570 thundering: "Allahu Akbar!" 245 00:12:17,570 --> 00:12:21,570 Its reverberation shook hearts and shattered resolves. 246 00:12:21,570 --> 00:12:24,570 Al-Zubayr threw himself inside the fortress, 247 00:12:24,570 --> 00:12:28,570 and a contingent of the Muslim soldiers followed him, 248 00:12:28,570 --> 00:12:31,570 putting their swords to the necks of the Romans, 249 00:12:31,570 --> 00:12:33,570 who were entirely paralyzed by shock, 250 00:12:33,570 --> 00:12:37,570 and they threw open the gates of the fortress before the Muslims. 251 00:12:37,570 --> 00:12:42,629 Thereupon, the Companions of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, surged in, 252 00:12:42,629 --> 00:12:45,629 led at the forefront by 'Ubadah ibn al-Samit. 253 00:12:45,629 --> 00:12:49,629 The millstones of a fierce, grinding battle turned between the two sides, 254 00:12:49,629 --> 00:12:52,629 wherein Allah decreed victory for His soldiers, 255 00:12:52,629 --> 00:12:54,629 and the pearl of the world—Egypt— 256 00:12:54,629 --> 00:12:57,629 was joined to the realm of the Qur'an. 257 00:12:57,629 --> 00:13:02,580 "May Allah repudiate any land 258 00:13:02,580 --> 00:13:06,580 in which there is no 'Ubadah ibn al-Samit and his likeness!" 259 00:13:06,580 --> 00:13:08,929 'Umar ibn al-Khattab... 260 00:13:11,500 --> 00:13:15,500 With his companions, the towering edifice was breached. 261 00:13:15,500 --> 00:13:19,240 O poetry, assist in praising them! 262 00:13:19,240 --> 00:13:21,240 Is there anyone to lend aid?