1 00:00:00,400 --> 00:00:03,399 In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. 2 00:00:03,399 --> 00:00:08,400 The best of generations in character and example, 3 00:00:08,400 --> 00:00:13,400 Who followed the Messenger in all he strove for and spoke. 4 00:00:13,400 --> 00:00:15,400 Mawaddah Association 5 00:00:15,400 --> 00:00:17,399 Presents: 6 00:00:17,399 --> 00:00:21,500 "Portraits from the Lives of the Tabi'un" 7 00:00:21,500 --> 00:00:26,530 By Dr. Abd al-Rahman Ra'fat al-Basha, 8 00:00:26,530 --> 00:00:28,530 May Allah have mercy upon him. 9 00:00:28,530 --> 00:00:32,799 Sa'id ibn Jubayr, 10 00:00:32,799 --> 00:00:34,899 May Allah have mercy upon him. 11 00:00:44,240 --> 00:00:47,240 He was a sturdy, well-proportioned young man of noble character, 12 00:00:47,240 --> 00:00:51,240 Overflowing with vigor and vitality. 13 00:00:51,240 --> 00:00:55,240 Moreover, he possessed a brilliant mind and sharp intellect, 14 00:00:55,240 --> 00:00:57,240 Always aspiring to noble virtues, 15 00:00:57,240 --> 00:01:00,460 And conscientiously abstaining from forbidden matters. 16 00:01:00,460 --> 00:01:03,460 Neither his dark complexion, his tightly curled hair, 17 00:01:03,460 --> 00:01:05,459 Nor his Abyssinian lineage 18 00:01:05,459 --> 00:01:09,459 Ever detracted from his distinguished and extraordinary personality, 19 00:01:09,459 --> 00:01:13,750 Even despite his youth. 20 00:01:13,750 --> 00:01:16,750 This young man—Abyssinian by descent 21 00:01:16,750 --> 00:01:18,750 And Arab by allegiance (wala')—fully realized 22 00:01:18,750 --> 00:01:23,750 That sacred knowledge was the straight path leading him to Allah, 23 00:01:23,750 --> 00:01:25,750 And that God-fearing piety (taqwa) 24 00:01:25,750 --> 00:01:30,750 Was his paved way to reach Paradise. 25 00:01:30,750 --> 00:01:34,750 So he took piety in his right hand and knowledge in his left, 26 00:01:34,750 --> 00:01:37,750 Clinging firmly to both with all his might, 27 00:01:37,750 --> 00:01:43,750 And set forth on the journey of life without languor or hesitation. 28 00:01:43,750 --> 00:01:46,750 From his earliest youth, 29 00:01:46,750 --> 00:01:51,750 People would see him either devotedly studying his book, 30 00:01:51,750 --> 00:01:54,750 Or standing upright in his prayer niche, engrossed in worship. 31 00:01:54,750 --> 00:01:58,750 Such was the luminary of the Muslims in his era: 32 00:01:58,750 --> 00:02:03,750 Sa'id ibn Jubayr, may Allah be pleased with him. 33 00:02:03,750 --> 00:02:10,379 The young Sa'id ibn Jubayr acquired knowledge from an elite group of eminent Companions, 34 00:02:10,379 --> 00:02:13,379 Such as Abu Sa'id al-Khudri, 35 00:02:13,379 --> 00:02:16,379 'Adi ibn Hatim al-Ta'i, 36 00:02:16,379 --> 00:02:18,379 Abu Musa al-Ash'ari, 37 00:02:18,379 --> 00:02:20,379 Abu Hurayrah al-Dawsi, 38 00:02:20,379 --> 00:02:22,379 'Abdullah ibn 'Umar, 39 00:02:22,379 --> 00:02:24,379 And 'A'ishah, Mother of the Believers, 40 00:02:24,379 --> 00:02:27,379 May Allah be pleased with her and all of them. 41 00:02:27,379 --> 00:02:31,379 Yet his foremost teacher and greatest mentor 42 00:02:31,379 --> 00:02:34,379 Was 'Abdullah ibn 'Abbas, 43 00:02:34,379 --> 00:02:36,379 The grand scholar of the Ummah of Muhammad 44 00:02:36,379 --> 00:02:38,379 And the vast, boundless ocean of its knowledge. 45 00:02:38,379 --> 00:02:42,449 Sa'id ibn Jubayr attached himself to 'Abdullah ibn 'Abbas 46 00:02:42,449 --> 00:02:44,449 As closely as a shadow accompanies its owner, 47 00:02:44,449 --> 00:02:47,449 Learning from him the Qur'an and its Tafsir, 48 00:02:47,449 --> 00:02:49,449 Hadith and its rare vocabulary, 49 00:02:49,449 --> 00:02:52,449 Mastering fiqh in religion under his guidance, 50 00:02:52,449 --> 00:02:55,449 Learning from him Qur'anic interpretation (ta'wil), 51 00:02:55,449 --> 00:02:57,449 And studying the Arabic language under him 52 00:02:57,449 --> 00:03:00,449 Until he achieved absolute mastery over it, 53 00:03:00,449 --> 00:03:05,449 To the extent that there remained no one on the face of the earth in his time 54 00:03:05,449 --> 00:03:08,449 Except that he was in need of his knowledge. 55 00:03:08,449 --> 00:03:11,449 He then traveled throughout the Muslim lands 56 00:03:11,449 --> 00:03:15,449 In search of knowledge for as long as Allah willed him to travel. 57 00:03:15,449 --> 00:03:18,449 Once he had acquired the full measure of knowledge he sought, 58 00:03:19,449 --> 00:03:22,449 He made Kufa his home and residence, 59 00:03:22,449 --> 00:03:26,449 Becoming a teacher and an imam for its people. 60 00:03:26,449 --> 00:03:29,449 He used to lead the people in prayer during Ramadan; 61 00:03:29,449 --> 00:03:33,449 One night he would recite according to the reading of 'Abdullah ibn Mas'ud, 62 00:03:33,449 --> 00:03:36,449 Another night according to the reading of Zayd ibn Thabit, 63 00:03:36,449 --> 00:03:39,449 And a third night according to yet another reading, 64 00:03:39,449 --> 00:03:41,509 And so on. 65 00:03:41,509 --> 00:03:43,509 Whenever he prayed alone, 66 00:03:43,509 --> 00:03:46,509 He would often recite the entire Qur'an. 67 00:03:47,509 --> 00:03:50,509 Whenever he passed by the words of Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, 68 00:03:50,509 --> 00:04:15,699 Or passed by similar verses of promise and warning, 69 00:04:15,699 --> 00:04:19,699 His skin would shiver, his heart would tremble, 70 00:04:19,699 --> 00:04:22,699 And his eyes would overflow with tears. 71 00:04:22,699 --> 00:04:25,699 He would repeatedly recite the verse over and over again 72 00:04:25,699 --> 00:04:28,699 Until it seemed as though he were about to perish. 73 00:04:28,699 --> 00:04:35,139 He made a regular habit of journeying to the Sacred House twice every year: 74 00:04:35,139 --> 00:04:38,139 Once in Rajab, entering into ihram 75 00:04:38,139 --> 00:04:40,139 For 'Umrah, 76 00:04:40,139 --> 00:04:44,139 And another in Dhu al-Qi'dah, entering into ihram for Hajj. 77 00:04:44,139 --> 00:04:49,139 Students of knowledge and seekers of good, virtue, and counsel 78 00:04:49,139 --> 00:04:51,139 Used to flock to Kufa 79 00:04:51,139 --> 00:04:56,139 To drink deeply from the abundant, pure springs of Sa'id ibn Jubayr 80 00:04:56,139 --> 00:04:59,139 And to partake of his upright guidance. 81 00:04:59,139 --> 00:05:02,139 One would ask him, "What is true awe (khashyah)?" 82 00:05:02,139 --> 00:05:04,139 To which he would reply, 83 00:05:04,139 --> 00:05:07,139 "True awe is that you fear Allah, the Glorious and Exalted, 84 00:05:07,139 --> 00:05:11,139 Such that your awe of Him stands between you and your sins." 85 00:05:11,139 --> 00:05:15,139 Another would ask him, "What is remembrance (dhikr)?" 86 00:05:15,139 --> 00:05:20,170 He would answer, "Remembrance is obedience to Allah, the Exalted and Majestic. 87 00:05:20,170 --> 00:05:24,170 Whoever turns to Allah and obeys Him has truly remembered Him, 88 00:05:24,170 --> 00:05:27,170 While whoever turns away from Him and disobeys Him 89 00:05:27,170 --> 00:05:34,740 Has not remembered Him, even if he spends his whole night glorifying Allah and reciting." 90 00:05:34,740 --> 00:05:40,740 When Sa'id ibn Jubayr took Kufa as his place of residence, 91 00:05:40,740 --> 00:05:43,740 It was under the rule of al-Hajjaj ibn Yusuf al-Thaqafi, 92 00:05:43,740 --> 00:05:48,740 For al-Hajjaj was then the governor of Iraq, the East, 93 00:05:48,740 --> 00:05:51,740 And the lands beyond the river (Transoxiana). 94 00:05:51,740 --> 00:05:56,740 At that time, he was at the very pinnacle of his power and authority, 95 00:05:56,740 --> 00:06:00,740 Having killed 'Abdullah ibn al-Zubayr, 96 00:06:00,740 --> 00:06:02,740 Crushed his movement, 97 00:06:02,740 --> 00:06:05,740 Brought Iraq firmly under the rule of the Umayyads, 98 00:06:05,740 --> 00:06:09,740 Extinguished the flames of revolts raging here and there, 99 00:06:09,740 --> 00:06:12,740 Put the sword to the necks of the people, 100 00:06:12,740 --> 00:06:15,740 And spread terror throughout the land, 101 00:06:15,740 --> 00:06:21,930 Until hearts were filled with dread of him and fear of his ruthless might. 102 00:06:21,930 --> 00:06:26,930 Then Allah willed that a clash occur between al-Hajjaj ibn Yusuf al-Thaqafi 103 00:06:26,930 --> 00:06:29,930 And 'Abd al-Rahman ibn al-Ash'ath, 104 00:06:29,930 --> 00:06:31,930 One of his senior commanders, 105 00:06:31,930 --> 00:06:36,930 And that this clash turn into a devastating civil strife that consumed everything in its path 106 00:06:36,930 --> 00:06:41,930 And left deep wounds in the body of the Muslim Ummah. 107 00:06:41,930 --> 00:06:44,930 The account of this strife was 108 00:06:44,930 --> 00:06:48,930 That al-Hajjaj dispatched Ibn al-Ash'ath with an army to fight Rutbil, 109 00:06:48,930 --> 00:06:53,930 The king of the Turks in the territories lying beyond Sijistan. 110 00:06:53,930 --> 00:06:59,930 The brave and victorious commander conquered a vast portion of Rutbil's lands, 111 00:06:59,930 --> 00:07:02,930 Seized fortified strongholds in his domain, 112 00:07:02,930 --> 00:07:08,120 And acquired immense spoils of war from its cities and villages. 113 00:07:08,120 --> 00:07:13,120 He then sent emissaries to al-Hajjaj bringing glad tidings of the great victory, 114 00:07:13,120 --> 00:07:16,120 Carrying with them the one-fifth share of the spoils 115 00:07:16,120 --> 00:07:21,120 To be deposited into the public treasury (Bayt al-Mal) of the Muslims. 116 00:07:21,120 --> 00:07:23,120 He also wrote him a letter 117 00:07:23,120 --> 00:07:28,120 Asking permission to halt military operations for a period of time 118 00:07:28,120 --> 00:07:31,120 In order to examine the country's access routes and exits, 119 00:07:31,120 --> 00:07:35,120 To understand its terrain and conditions, 120 00:07:35,120 --> 00:07:40,120 Before advancing deeply into its remote, unknown mountain passes 121 00:07:40,120 --> 00:07:43,120 And exposing the victorious army to peril. 122 00:07:43,120 --> 00:07:45,250 Al-Hajjaj was enraged with him 123 00:07:45,250 --> 00:07:50,250 And sent him a letter accusing him of cowardice and submission, 124 00:07:50,250 --> 00:07:53,250 Warning him of doom and destruction, 125 00:07:53,250 --> 00:07:57,250 And threatening to dismiss him from the command of the army. 126 00:07:57,250 --> 00:08:02,279 Thereupon, 'Abd al-Rahman gathered the prominent figures of the army and the battalion commanders, 127 00:08:02,279 --> 00:08:05,279 Read al-Hajjaj's letter to them, 128 00:08:05,279 --> 00:08:07,310 And consulted them regarding the matter. 129 00:08:07,310 --> 00:08:09,310 They urged him to revolt against him 130 00:08:09,310 --> 00:08:12,310 And to renounce allegiance to him immediately. 131 00:08:12,310 --> 00:08:14,410 'Abd al-Rahman said to them, 132 00:08:14,410 --> 00:08:17,410 "Will you pledge allegiance to me on this basis, 133 00:08:17,410 --> 00:08:19,410 Support me in fighting him, 134 00:08:19,410 --> 00:08:23,410 Until Allah purges the land of Iraq of his filth?" 135 00:08:23,410 --> 00:08:27,410 So the soldiers pledged allegiance to him according to what he called them to. 136 00:08:27,410 --> 00:08:31,069 'Abd al-Rahman ibn al-Ash'ath mobilized 137 00:08:31,069 --> 00:08:35,070 With his army, which was filled with hatred for al-Hajjaj, 138 00:08:35,070 --> 00:08:39,070 And fierce battles broke out between him 139 00:08:39,070 --> 00:08:41,070 And the armies of Ibn Yusuf al-Thaqafi, 140 00:08:41,070 --> 00:08:44,070 In which he scored decisive victories, 141 00:08:44,070 --> 00:08:47,070 Successfully taking control of Sijistan 142 00:08:47,070 --> 00:08:49,070 And most of Persia. 143 00:08:49,070 --> 00:08:54,070 He then advanced, intending to wrest Kufa and Basra from the hands of al-Hajjaj. 144 00:08:54,070 --> 00:08:59,100 While the flames of war were raging between the two factions, 145 00:08:59,100 --> 00:09:03,100 And Ibn al-Ash'ath was moving from one victory to another, 146 00:09:03,100 --> 00:09:07,100 An event befell al-Hajjaj that further strengthened his opponent. 147 00:09:07,100 --> 00:09:13,139 Namely, the provincial governors wrote letters to al-Hajjaj stating 148 00:09:13,139 --> 00:09:18,139 That the non-Muslim subjects (Dhimmi) had begun entering Islam in droves 149 00:09:18,139 --> 00:09:20,139 In order to be exempt from paying the jizya, 150 00:09:21,139 --> 00:09:24,139 That they had abandoned the villages where they worked 151 00:09:24,139 --> 00:09:26,139 And settled in the cities, 152 00:09:26,139 --> 00:09:29,139 Causing the land tax (kharaj) to dwindle 153 00:09:29,139 --> 00:09:32,139 And tax revenues to collapse. 154 00:09:32,139 --> 00:09:37,139 So al-Hajjaj wrote letters to his governors in Basra and elsewhere, 155 00:09:37,139 --> 00:09:42,139 Ordering them to round up all the non-Muslim subjects who had migrated to the cities 156 00:09:42,139 --> 00:09:44,139 And return them to their villages, 157 00:09:44,139 --> 00:09:47,139 No matter how long they had been away from them. 158 00:09:47,139 --> 00:09:49,230 The governors carried out the order, 159 00:09:49,230 --> 00:09:54,230 Evicting large numbers of them from their homes, 160 00:09:54,230 --> 00:09:57,230 Depriving them of their means of livelihood, 161 00:09:57,230 --> 00:10:00,230 Herding them onto the outskirts of the cities, 162 00:10:00,230 --> 00:10:04,230 Expelling their women and children along with them, 163 00:10:04,230 --> 00:10:07,230 And forcibly driving them back to the villages 164 00:10:07,230 --> 00:10:12,230 Long after they had parted from them. 165 00:10:12,230 --> 00:10:16,230 The women, children, and elderly began to weep, 166 00:10:16,230 --> 00:10:19,230 Crying out and pleading for help, 167 00:10:19,230 --> 00:10:23,230 Calling out, "O Muhammad! O Muhammad!" 168 00:10:23,230 --> 00:10:25,230 They were bewildered as to what to do 169 00:10:25,230 --> 00:10:28,230 Or where to go. 170 00:10:28,230 --> 00:10:32,230 The jurists and Qur'an reciters of Basra came out to them 171 00:10:32,230 --> 00:10:35,230 To assist them and intercede on their behalf, 172 00:10:35,230 --> 00:10:37,230 But they were unable to do so. 173 00:10:37,230 --> 00:10:40,230 So they began to weep at their weeping 174 00:10:40,230 --> 00:10:44,740 And lament over their plight. 175 00:10:44,740 --> 00:10:48,740 'Abd al-Rahman ibn al-Ash'ath seized this opportunity 176 00:10:48,740 --> 00:10:52,740 And called upon the jurists and Qur'an reciters to support him. 177 00:10:52,740 --> 00:10:58,740 A distinguished group of eminent Tabi'un and leaders of the Muslims responded to his call, 178 00:10:58,740 --> 00:11:01,740 Foremost among them Sa'id ibn Jubayr, 179 00:11:01,740 --> 00:11:03,740 'Abd al-Rahman ibn Abi Layla, 180 00:11:03,740 --> 00:11:06,740 Al-Sha'bi, Abu al-Bakhtari, 181 00:11:06,740 --> 00:11:08,740 And many, many others. 182 00:11:08,740 --> 00:11:11,740 The mills of war turned between the two sides, 183 00:11:11,740 --> 00:11:18,740 And victory at first belonged to Ibn al-Ash'ath and those with him over al-Hajjaj and his troops. 184 00:11:18,740 --> 00:11:23,740 Then the scales began to tip gradually in favor of al-Hajjaj, 185 00:11:23,740 --> 00:11:26,740 Until Ibn al-Ash'ath suffered a crushing defeat 186 00:11:26,740 --> 00:11:29,740 And fled to save his own life, 187 00:11:29,740 --> 00:11:33,960 While his army surrendered to al-Hajjaj and his soldiers. 188 00:11:33,960 --> 00:11:38,960 Al-Hajjaj ordered his herald to announce among the defeated combatants, 189 00:11:38,960 --> 00:11:41,960 Calling upon them to renew their pledge of allegiance to him. 190 00:11:41,960 --> 00:11:43,960 Most of them complied, 191 00:11:43,960 --> 00:11:45,960 While some went into hiding. 192 00:11:45,960 --> 00:11:51,960 Among those who went into hiding was Sa'id ibn Jubayr, may Allah be pleased with him. 193 00:11:51,960 --> 00:11:57,090 When the surrendering men began coming forward one after another to renew their pledge, 194 00:11:57,090 --> 00:12:01,090 They were caught off guard by something they had never anticipated. 195 00:12:01,090 --> 00:12:04,090 For he began saying to each one of them: 196 00:12:04,090 --> 00:12:06,090 "Do you testify against yourself 197 00:12:06,090 --> 00:12:11,090 That you committed disbelief (kufr) by breaking your pledge of allegiance to the Commander of the Believers?" 198 00:12:11,090 --> 00:12:17,090 If he said yes, he accepted the renewal of his pledge and released him; 199 00:12:17,090 --> 00:12:20,090 and whenever someone said no, he executed him. 200 00:12:20,090 --> 00:12:23,090 Some people would submit to him 201 00:12:23,090 --> 00:12:25,090 and confess disbelief against themselves 202 00:12:25,090 --> 00:12:28,090 just to save their lives from execution, 203 00:12:28,090 --> 00:12:32,090 while others considered that too abhorrent and refused, 204 00:12:32,090 --> 00:12:37,090 paying with their lives as the price for their defiance and refusal. 205 00:12:37,090 --> 00:12:41,090 News of that horrific massacre spread far and wide, 206 00:12:41,090 --> 00:12:45,090 in which several thousand men were slaughtered, 207 00:12:45,090 --> 00:12:48,090 and several thousand others survived 208 00:12:48,090 --> 00:12:51,090 only after branding themselves with disbelief. 209 00:12:51,090 --> 00:12:56,090 Among these cases was an elderly man from the tribe of Khath'am 210 00:12:56,090 --> 00:13:01,090 who had remained neutral between both factions, residing beyond the Euphrates. 211 00:13:01,090 --> 00:13:05,090 He was brought before al-Hajjaj along with those who were captured. 212 00:13:05,090 --> 00:13:08,090 When he was brought in, al-Hajjaj asked about his situation, 213 00:13:08,090 --> 00:13:12,090 to which he replied, "Ever since this war broke out, 214 00:13:12,090 --> 00:13:15,090 I have remained secluded across this river, 215 00:13:15,090 --> 00:13:18,090 waiting to see the outcome of the fighting. 216 00:13:18,090 --> 00:13:20,090 Once you prevailed and were victorious, 217 00:13:20,090 --> 00:13:23,090 I came to offer you my pledge of allegiance." 218 00:13:23,090 --> 00:13:26,090 Al-Hajjaj said to him, "May you perish! 219 00:13:26,090 --> 00:13:30,090 You sat idly waiting and did not fight alongside your commander?" 220 00:13:30,090 --> 00:13:32,120 Then he rebuked him harshly, saying: 221 00:13:32,120 --> 00:13:36,149 "Do you testify against yourself that you are a disbeliever?" 222 00:13:36,149 --> 00:13:39,149 The old man replied, "What a wretched man I would be 223 00:13:39,149 --> 00:13:42,149 if, after worshiping Allah for eighty years, 224 00:13:42,149 --> 00:13:46,149 I were to testify against myself with disbelief!" 225 00:13:46,149 --> 00:13:49,149 Al-Hajjaj said to him, "Then I shall kill you." 226 00:13:49,149 --> 00:13:52,149 He said, "Even if you kill me, 227 00:13:52,149 --> 00:13:56,149 by Allah, nothing remains of my life but the thirst-interval of a donkey, 228 00:13:56,149 --> 00:14:00,149 for it drinks in the morning and dies by evening. 229 00:14:00,149 --> 00:14:04,149 Truly, I await death morning and evening, 230 00:14:04,149 --> 00:14:06,149 so do whatever seems fit to you." 231 00:14:06,149 --> 00:14:09,220 Al-Hajjaj said to his executioner, 232 00:14:09,220 --> 00:14:11,220 "Strike his neck!" 233 00:14:11,220 --> 00:14:13,220 So the executioner struck his neck. 234 00:14:13,220 --> 00:14:18,220 There was no one left in that gathering, whether a partisan of al-Hajjaj or an opponent, 235 00:14:18,220 --> 00:14:21,220 except that he revered the elderly man, 236 00:14:21,220 --> 00:14:24,220 mourned him, and prayed for Allah's mercy upon him. 237 00:14:24,220 --> 00:14:30,009 Then he summoned Kumayl ibn Ziyad al-Nakha'i 238 00:14:30,009 --> 00:14:34,009 and said to him, "Do you testify against yourself with disbelief?" 239 00:14:34,009 --> 00:14:37,009 He replied, "By Allah, I will never so testify!" 240 00:14:37,009 --> 00:14:40,009 He said, "Then I shall kill you." 241 00:14:40,009 --> 00:14:44,009 He replied, "Decree whatever you will decree! 242 00:14:44,009 --> 00:14:47,009 Indeed, our appointment is before Allah, 243 00:14:47,009 --> 00:14:50,009 and after death comes the reckoning." 244 00:14:50,009 --> 00:14:52,009 Al-Hajjaj said to him, 245 00:14:52,009 --> 00:14:55,009 "The proof on that Day shall be against you, not for you!" 246 00:14:55,009 --> 00:15:00,009 He replied, "That would only be so if you were the judge on that Day." 247 00:15:00,009 --> 00:15:02,009 Al-Hajjaj said, 248 00:15:02,009 --> 00:15:04,009 "Kill him!" 249 00:15:04,009 --> 00:15:06,009 So he was brought forward and executed. 250 00:15:06,009 --> 00:15:09,100 Then another man was brought before him 251 00:15:09,100 --> 00:15:12,100 whom al-Hajjaj hated and intensely desired to kill 252 00:15:12,100 --> 00:15:16,100 because of the mockery of him that used to be reported to him. 253 00:15:16,100 --> 00:15:18,100 So he preempted him by saying, 254 00:15:19,100 --> 00:15:22,100 "I see a man before me 255 00:15:22,100 --> 00:15:25,100 whom I do not think would ever testify against himself with disbelief." 256 00:15:25,100 --> 00:15:27,139 The man replied, 257 00:15:27,139 --> 00:15:30,139 "Do not entrap me or deceive me about myself! 258 00:15:30,139 --> 00:15:33,139 I am the most disbelieving person on earth, 259 00:15:33,139 --> 00:15:36,139 even more of a disbeliever than Pharaoh, lord of the stakes!" 260 00:15:36,139 --> 00:15:38,139 So he released him, 261 00:15:38,139 --> 00:15:42,860 while burning with an intense thirst to execute him. 262 00:15:42,860 --> 00:15:45,860 The news of that dreadful massacre spread, 263 00:15:45,860 --> 00:15:50,860 in which several thousand steadfast believers were slain, 264 00:15:50,860 --> 00:15:53,860 and several thousand others survived 265 00:15:53,860 --> 00:15:57,860 among those who were forced to brand themselves with disbelief. 266 00:15:57,860 --> 00:15:59,860 Thus, Sa'id ibn Jubayr realized 267 00:15:59,860 --> 00:16:02,860 that if he fell into the hands of al-Hajjaj, 268 00:16:02,860 --> 00:16:06,860 he would face one of two unavoidable outcomes: 269 00:16:06,860 --> 00:16:09,860 either his neck would be severed, 270 00:16:09,860 --> 00:16:12,860 or he would have to confess disbelief against himself, 271 00:16:12,860 --> 00:16:15,860 and both choices, the sweeter of them was bitter. 272 00:16:15,860 --> 00:16:18,860 So he chose to leave the land of Iraq 273 00:16:18,860 --> 00:16:21,860 and vanish from sight. 274 00:16:21,860 --> 00:16:24,860 He continued traveling across Allah's vast earth, 275 00:16:24,860 --> 00:16:27,860 hiding from al-Hajjaj and his spies, 276 00:16:27,860 --> 00:16:32,860 until he sought refuge in a small village in the territory of Makkah. 277 00:16:32,860 --> 00:16:37,860 He remained in this state for ten full years, 278 00:16:37,860 --> 00:16:40,860 a period sufficient to extinguish the fires of al-Hajjaj— 279 00:16:40,860 --> 00:16:43,860 the fires burning in al-Hajjaj's heart— 280 00:16:43,860 --> 00:16:47,860 and to remove the malice harbored against him. 281 00:16:47,860 --> 00:16:51,860 However, something occurred that no one had anticipated: 282 00:16:51,860 --> 00:16:54,860 there arrived in Makkah 283 00:16:54,860 --> 00:16:57,860 a new governor from among the Umayyad rulers, 284 00:16:57,860 --> 00:17:00,860 Khalid ibn 'Abdullah al-Qasri. 285 00:17:00,860 --> 00:17:03,860 The companions of Sa'id ibn Jubayr grew apprehensive 286 00:17:03,860 --> 00:17:05,859 and fearful of him 287 00:17:05,859 --> 00:17:08,859 because of what they knew of his evil conduct, 288 00:17:08,859 --> 00:17:11,859 expecting harm at his hands. 289 00:17:11,859 --> 00:17:15,900 Some of them came to Sa'id and said to him, 290 00:17:15,900 --> 00:17:18,900 "This man has arrived in Makkah, 291 00:17:18,900 --> 00:17:21,900 and by Allah, we do not feel you are safe from him. 292 00:17:21,900 --> 00:17:25,900 So heed our request and leave this land." 293 00:17:25,900 --> 00:17:31,930 He replied, "By Allah, I have fled so much that I have become ashamed before Allah, 294 00:17:31,930 --> 00:17:35,930 and I have resolved to remain in this place of mine, 295 00:17:35,930 --> 00:17:38,930 and let Allah do whatever He wills." 296 00:17:38,930 --> 00:17:45,880 Khalid did not belie the bad expectations people held of him; 297 00:17:45,880 --> 00:17:48,880 no sooner had he learned of Sa'id ibn Jubayr's whereabouts 298 00:17:48,880 --> 00:17:52,880 than he dispatched a detachment of his soldiers to him, 299 00:17:52,880 --> 00:17:57,880 ordering them to take him bound in chains to al-Hajjaj in the city of Wasit. 300 00:17:57,880 --> 00:18:00,910 The soldiers surrounded the Shaykh's house 301 00:18:00,910 --> 00:18:02,910 and placed the shackles upon his hands 302 00:18:02,910 --> 00:18:05,910 in full view of some of his companions, 303 00:18:05,910 --> 00:18:08,910 and informed him of his departure to al-Hajjaj. 304 00:18:08,910 --> 00:18:12,910 He received them with a composed soul and a tranquil heart, 305 00:18:12,910 --> 00:18:15,980 then turned to his companions and said, 306 00:18:15,980 --> 00:18:20,980 "I see myself only being slain at the hands of that tyrant. 307 00:18:20,980 --> 00:18:25,980 Once, two companions of mine and I spent a night in worship, 308 00:18:25,980 --> 00:18:28,980 and we felt the sweetness of supplication, 309 00:18:28,980 --> 00:18:31,980 so we supplicated Allah with whatever we asked, 310 00:18:31,980 --> 00:18:35,980 and we implored Him as He willed for us to implore. 311 00:18:35,980 --> 00:18:40,980 Then we asked Allah, the Exalted and Majestic, to grant us martyrdom; 312 00:18:40,980 --> 00:18:44,980 and Allah granted it to both of my companions, 313 00:18:44,980 --> 00:18:46,980 while I remained waiting for it." 314 00:18:46,980 --> 00:18:50,980 Then, no sooner had he finished his words 315 00:18:50,980 --> 00:18:54,980 than a young daughter of his came out to him. 316 00:18:54,980 --> 00:18:58,980 She saw him bound in chains as the soldiers were leading him away, 317 00:18:58,980 --> 00:19:02,980 so she clung to him and began weeping and sobbing. 318 00:19:02,980 --> 00:19:06,980 He gently moved her aside and said to her, 319 00:19:06,980 --> 00:19:13,980 "Tell your mother, my little daughter, that our rendezvous is Paradise, if Allah Almighty wills." 320 00:19:13,980 --> 00:19:17,609 Then he departed. 321 00:19:17,609 --> 00:19:21,609 The soldiers arrived with the scholarly imam, the worshiper, the ascetic, 322 00:19:21,609 --> 00:19:26,609 the pious, pure, and devout sage, in the city of Wasit, 323 00:19:26,609 --> 00:19:28,609 and they brought him before al-Hajjaj. 324 00:19:28,609 --> 00:19:33,609 When he stood before him, al-Hajjaj looked at him with malice and said, 325 00:19:33,609 --> 00:19:34,609 "What is your name?" 326 00:19:34,609 --> 00:19:35,609 He said, 327 00:19:35,609 --> 00:19:37,609 "Sa'id ibn Jubayr [The Felicitous, son of the Mended]." 328 00:19:37,609 --> 00:19:38,609 He retorted, 329 00:19:38,609 --> 00:19:41,700 "Rather, you are Shaqiyy ibn Kasir [The Wretched, son of the Broken]!" 330 00:19:41,700 --> 00:19:42,700 He replied, 331 00:19:42,700 --> 00:19:46,900 "Nay, my mother knew my name better than you." 332 00:19:46,900 --> 00:19:47,900 He said, 333 00:19:47,900 --> 00:19:49,900 "What do you say about Muhammad?" 334 00:19:49,900 --> 00:19:50,930 He asked, 335 00:19:50,930 --> 00:19:56,930 "Do you mean Muhammad ibn 'Abdullah, may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him?" 336 00:19:56,930 --> 00:19:57,930 He replied, "Yes." 337 00:19:57,930 --> 00:19:58,930 He said, 338 00:19:58,930 --> 00:20:00,930 "The master of the children of Adam, 339 00:20:00,930 --> 00:20:02,930 the chosen Prophet, 340 00:20:02,930 --> 00:20:04,930 the best of all mankind who remain, 341 00:20:04,930 --> 00:20:06,930 and the best of all who have passed. 342 00:20:06,930 --> 00:20:09,930 He conveyed the message, fulfilled the trust, 343 00:20:09,930 --> 00:20:12,930 gave sincere counsel for Allah and His Book, 344 00:20:12,930 --> 00:20:16,930 and to the generality of Muslims and their elite." 345 00:20:16,930 --> 00:20:17,930 He asked, 346 00:20:17,930 --> 00:20:20,930 "What do you say about Abu Bakr?" 347 00:20:20,930 --> 00:20:21,930 He said, 348 00:20:21,930 --> 00:20:22,930 "He is al-Siddiq, 349 00:20:22,930 --> 00:20:26,930 the successor of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him; 350 00:20:26,930 --> 00:20:29,930 he departed praiseworthy and lived felicitous, 351 00:20:29,930 --> 00:20:34,930 and proceeded upon the path of the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, 352 00:20:34,930 --> 00:20:37,930 never altering and never changing." 353 00:20:37,930 --> 00:20:39,019 He asked, 354 00:20:39,019 --> 00:20:41,019 "What do you say about 'Umar?" 355 00:20:41,019 --> 00:20:42,119 He said, 356 00:20:42,119 --> 00:20:44,119 "He is al-Faruq, 357 00:20:44,119 --> 00:20:48,119 through whom Allah distinguished between truth and falsehood, 358 00:20:48,119 --> 00:20:51,119 the chosen of Allah and the chosen of His Messenger; 359 00:20:51,119 --> 00:20:54,119 he proceeded upon the methodology of his two companions, 360 00:20:54,119 --> 00:20:58,119 so he lived praiseworthy and was killed as a martyr." 361 00:20:58,119 --> 00:20:59,119 He asked, 362 00:20:59,119 --> 00:21:02,119 "What do you say about 'Uthman?" 363 00:21:02,119 --> 00:21:03,119 He said, 364 00:21:03,119 --> 00:21:06,119 "He is the equipper of the Army of Hardship, 365 00:21:06,119 --> 00:21:08,119 the digger of the Well of Rumah, 366 00:21:08,119 --> 00:21:11,119 the purchaser of a home for himself in Paradise, 367 00:21:11,119 --> 00:21:16,119 the son-in-law of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) through his two daughters, 368 00:21:16,119 --> 00:21:20,119 and indeed the Prophet (peace be upon him) married them to him 369 00:21:20,119 --> 00:21:22,119 by revelation from heaven; 370 00:21:22,119 --> 00:21:24,119 and he is the one murdered unjustly." 371 00:21:24,119 --> 00:21:25,119 He asked, 372 00:21:25,119 --> 00:21:28,119 "What do you say about 'Ali?" 373 00:21:28,119 --> 00:21:29,150 He said, 374 00:21:29,150 --> 00:21:33,150 "The cousin of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, 375 00:21:33,150 --> 00:21:36,150 the first of the youth to embrace Islam, 376 00:21:36,150 --> 00:21:39,150 the husband of Fatimah al-Batul, 377 00:21:39,150 --> 00:21:41,150 and the father of al-Hasan and al-Husayn, 378 00:21:41,150 --> 00:21:44,150 the two masters of the youth of the people of Paradise." 379 00:21:44,150 --> 00:21:45,220 He asked, 380 00:21:45,220 --> 00:21:49,220 "Which of the Umayyad caliphs do you admire most?" 381 00:21:49,220 --> 00:21:50,220 He said, 382 00:21:50,220 --> 00:21:51,220 He said, 383 00:21:51,220 --> 00:21:53,220 "The one most pleasing to their Creator." 384 00:21:53,220 --> 00:21:54,220 He asked, 385 00:21:54,220 --> 00:21:57,220 "And which of them is most pleasing to the Creator?" 386 00:21:57,220 --> 00:21:58,220 He said, 387 00:21:58,220 --> 00:22:03,339 "The knowledge of that rests with the One Who knows their secrets and private counsels." 388 00:22:03,339 --> 00:22:04,339 He said, 389 00:22:04,339 --> 00:22:06,440 "Then what do you say about me?" 390 00:22:06,440 --> 00:22:07,440 He said, 391 00:22:07,440 --> 00:22:09,440 "You know yourself best." 392 00:22:09,440 --> 00:22:10,440 He said, 393 00:22:10,440 --> 00:22:13,440 "Rather, I want your own knowledge about me!" 394 00:22:13,440 --> 00:22:14,440 He said, 395 00:22:14,440 --> 00:22:17,440 "Then it will surely displease you and bring you no joy." 396 00:22:17,440 --> 00:22:18,470 He said, 397 00:22:18,470 --> 00:22:21,500 "I must hear your response." 398 00:22:21,500 --> 00:22:22,500 He said, 399 00:22:22,500 --> 00:22:27,500 "I certainly know that you act contrary to the Book of Allah Almighty, 400 00:22:27,500 --> 00:22:31,500 committing acts by which you seek prestige and awe, 401 00:22:31,500 --> 00:22:33,500 yet they plunge you into perdition 402 00:22:33,500 --> 00:22:36,660 and drive you headlong toward the Fire." 403 00:22:36,660 --> 00:22:37,660 He said, 404 00:22:37,660 --> 00:22:40,700 "By Allah, I will surely execute you!" 405 00:22:40,700 --> 00:22:41,700 He replied, 406 00:22:41,700 --> 00:22:44,700 "Then you will ruin my worldly life, 407 00:22:44,700 --> 00:22:46,859 but I will ruin your Hereafter." 408 00:22:46,859 --> 00:22:47,859 He said, 409 00:22:47,859 --> 00:22:50,859 "Choose for yourself whatever manner of death you wish." 410 00:22:50,859 --> 00:22:51,859 He replied, 411 00:22:51,859 --> 00:22:55,859 "Rather, choose it for yourself, O Hajjaj! 412 00:22:55,859 --> 00:22:58,859 For by Allah, you will not kill me in any manner 413 00:22:58,859 --> 00:23:02,920 except that Allah will kill you in the very same way in the Hereafter." 414 00:23:02,920 --> 00:23:03,920 He said, 415 00:23:03,920 --> 00:23:06,920 "Do you want me to pardon you?" 416 00:23:06,920 --> 00:23:07,920 He replied, 417 00:23:07,920 --> 00:23:10,920 "If there is any pardon, it comes from Allah Almighty; 418 00:23:10,920 --> 00:23:12,920 as for you, 419 00:23:12,920 --> 00:23:15,920 you have neither acquittal nor excuse." 420 00:23:15,920 --> 00:23:17,920 Al-Hajjaj became enraged and said, 421 00:23:17,920 --> 00:23:20,920 "Bring the sword and the execution mat, boy!" 422 00:23:20,920 --> 00:23:22,920 Sa'id smiled, 423 00:23:22,920 --> 00:23:24,920 so al-Hajjaj asked him, 424 00:23:24,920 --> 00:23:26,920 "Why are you smiling?" 425 00:23:26,920 --> 00:23:28,049 He said, 426 00:23:28,049 --> 00:23:31,049 "I marvel at your audacity before Allah 427 00:23:31,049 --> 00:23:33,049 and at Allah's forbearance toward you." 428 00:23:33,049 --> 00:23:34,079 So he said, 429 00:23:34,079 --> 00:23:37,109 "Kill him, boy!" 430 00:23:37,109 --> 00:23:40,109 Sa'id faced the Qiblah and recited: 431 00:23:40,109 --> 00:23:45,109 “Lo! I have turned my face toward Him Who created the heavens and the earth, as one by nature upright, and I am not of the idolaters.” (6:79) 432 00:23:45,109 --> 00:23:48,109 '...and I am not of the polytheists.' 433 00:23:48,109 --> 00:23:49,109 So he said, 434 00:23:49,109 --> 00:23:52,109 "Turn his face away from the Qiblah." 435 00:23:52,109 --> 00:23:53,140 Sa'id recited: 436 00:23:53,140 --> 00:23:57,140 '...wherever you turn, there is the Face of Allah.' 437 00:23:57,140 --> 00:23:58,140 So he said, 438 00:23:58,140 --> 00:24:01,180 "Cast him down on his face to the ground!" 439 00:24:01,180 --> 00:24:02,210 Sa'id recited: 440 00:24:02,210 --> 00:24:06,210 “Thereof We created you, and thereunto We return you, and thence We bring you forth a second time.” (20:55) 441 00:24:06,210 --> 00:24:10,210 “Thereof We created you, and thereunto We return you, and thence We bring you forth a second time.” (20:55) 442 00:24:10,210 --> 00:24:11,269 So al-Hajjaj said, 443 00:24:11,269 --> 00:24:13,269 "Slaughter the enemy of Allah! 444 00:24:13,269 --> 00:24:18,269 For I have never seen a man cite the verses of the Qur'an so swiftly." 445 00:24:18,269 --> 00:24:21,400 Then Sa'id raised his hands and supplicated, 446 00:24:21,400 --> 00:24:26,400 "O Allah, do not give al-Hajjaj power over anyone after me." 447 00:24:26,400 --> 00:24:33,539 Barely fifteen days had passed after the killing of Sa'id Ibn Jubayr 448 00:24:33,539 --> 00:24:36,539 before al-Hajjaj was struck with a fever, 449 00:24:36,539 --> 00:24:39,539 and the severity of the illness worsened upon him. 450 00:24:39,539 --> 00:24:42,539 He would drift into a slumber for an hour and awaken the next, 451 00:24:42,539 --> 00:24:45,539 and whenever he dozed off for a short while, 452 00:24:45,539 --> 00:24:48,539 he would wake up terrified, shouting, 453 00:24:48,539 --> 00:24:52,539 "Here is Sa'id Ibn Jubayr seizing me by my throat! 454 00:24:52,539 --> 00:24:57,539 Here is Sa'id Ibn Jubayr saying, 'Why did you kill me?'" 455 00:24:57,539 --> 00:24:59,539 Then he would weep and say, 456 00:24:59,539 --> 00:25:02,539 "What is between me and Sa'id Ibn Jubayr? 457 00:25:02,539 --> 00:25:05,539 Keep Sa'id Ibn Jubayr away from me!" 458 00:25:05,539 --> 00:25:09,930 When he finally died and was buried beneath the dust, 459 00:25:09,930 --> 00:25:11,930 someone saw him in a dream 460 00:25:11,930 --> 00:25:13,930 and asked him, 461 00:25:13,930 --> 00:25:17,930 "What has Allah done with you regarding those you killed, O Hajjaj?" 462 00:25:17,930 --> 00:25:19,930 He replied, 463 00:25:19,930 --> 00:25:23,930 "Allah killed me once for every single person, 464 00:25:23,930 --> 00:25:27,930 and He killed me seventy times for Sa'id Ibn Jubayr." 465 00:25:27,930 --> 00:25:36,619 Sa'id Ibn Jubayr was killed 466 00:25:36,619 --> 00:25:42,460 when everyone on earth was in need of his vast knowledge. 467 00:25:42,460 --> 00:25:47,019 Ahmad Ibn Hanbal 468 00:25:51,019 --> 00:25:55,019 said regarding this, or as the poet said: 469 00:25:55,019 --> 00:26:00,019 "They were here, quenching the clouds of our lives, 470 00:26:00,019 --> 00:26:05,019 so how could their legacy not resound high among us? 471 00:26:05,019 --> 00:26:10,019 They departed, leaving a question within the conscience: 472 00:26:10,019 --> 00:26:15,019 Has any star ever risen and shone as brilliantly as they did? 473 00:26:15,019 --> 00:26:20,019 They filled life with glorious feats by their deeds, 474 00:26:20,019 --> 00:26:23,690 and through them, our world flourished with brilliance."