1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:03,000 In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. 2 00:00:15,580 --> 00:00:17,579 The Mawaddah Association is pleased 3 00:00:17,579 --> 00:00:22,579 to present to you portraits from the lives of the Companions, 4 00:00:22,579 --> 00:00:25,579 by Abd al-Rahman Ra'fat al-Basha, 5 00:00:25,579 --> 00:00:30,489 may Allah have mercy upon him. 6 00:00:30,489 --> 00:00:33,490 Abu Ubayd Ibn Mas'ud al-Thaqafi, 7 00:00:33,490 --> 00:00:36,740 may Allah be pleased with him. 8 00:00:52,259 --> 00:00:54,259 There he was, the Caliph of the Messenger of Allah, 9 00:00:54,259 --> 00:00:56,259 Abu Bakr al-Siddiq, 10 00:00:56,259 --> 00:00:58,259 lying upon his bed, 11 00:00:58,259 --> 00:01:00,259 awaiting the decree of Allah concerning him, 12 00:01:00,259 --> 00:01:03,259 after the burden of illness had weighed heavily upon him. 13 00:01:03,259 --> 00:01:05,260 And there were the people of Medina, 14 00:01:05,260 --> 00:01:08,260 visiting the house of the Caliph of the Muslims, 15 00:01:08,260 --> 00:01:10,260 anxious and deeply concerned. 16 00:01:10,260 --> 00:01:14,299 While al-Siddiq was in this state, 17 00:01:14,299 --> 00:01:17,299 he summoned his successor and said, 18 00:01:17,299 --> 00:01:18,299 "O Umar, 19 00:01:18,299 --> 00:01:22,299 I truly hope to pass away this very day. 20 00:01:22,299 --> 00:01:24,299 So, when I die, 21 00:01:24,299 --> 00:01:29,299 do not let the morning come before you call the people to fight the Persians. 22 00:01:29,299 --> 00:01:31,299 Then, send those among them who respond to you 23 00:01:31,299 --> 00:01:35,299 as reinforcements for the Muslim army fighting there. 24 00:01:35,299 --> 00:01:40,299 And let no calamity, however great, distract you from the affairs of your religion." 25 00:01:40,299 --> 00:01:45,299 Shortly thereafter, he surrendered his soul before the sun set that day. 26 00:01:45,299 --> 00:01:49,459 The Faruq (Umar) buried his companion in the earth that night. 27 00:01:49,459 --> 00:01:51,459 And no sooner had the morning dawned 28 00:01:51,459 --> 00:01:54,459 than the first task Umar undertook 29 00:01:54,459 --> 00:01:57,459 was to call the people to fight the Persians, 30 00:01:57,459 --> 00:02:00,459 encouraging them to do so with the utmost fervor. 31 00:02:00,459 --> 00:02:04,459 Yet he was surprised that no one responded to him, 32 00:02:04,459 --> 00:02:07,459 due to their intense fear of the Persians 33 00:02:07,459 --> 00:02:11,460 and the many stories they had heard of their might and brutality. 34 00:02:11,460 --> 00:02:13,520 When the next day came, 35 00:02:13,520 --> 00:02:15,520 he called the people once again, 36 00:02:15,520 --> 00:02:18,520 but no one answered his call. 37 00:02:18,520 --> 00:02:20,520 When the third day came, 38 00:02:20,520 --> 00:02:23,520 he called them a third time, 39 00:02:23,520 --> 00:02:26,520 but no one volunteered. 40 00:02:26,520 --> 00:02:28,520 When the fourth day came, 41 00:02:29,520 --> 00:02:33,520 he went out to the people, heavy-hearted and distressed, 42 00:02:33,520 --> 00:02:36,520 and called them to fight the Persians. 43 00:02:36,520 --> 00:02:39,520 Then Abu Ubayd Ibn Mas'ud al-Thaqafi stood up before him 44 00:02:39,520 --> 00:02:41,520 and said, 45 00:02:41,520 --> 00:02:43,520 "O Commander of the Faithful, 46 00:02:43,520 --> 00:02:45,520 we have heard your call 47 00:02:45,520 --> 00:02:47,520 and have obeyed your command. 48 00:02:47,520 --> 00:02:49,520 I am the first to respond to you, 49 00:02:49,520 --> 00:02:52,520 along with my children, my family, and my kin." 50 00:02:52,520 --> 00:02:56,520 Umar’s face brightened with joy, 51 00:02:56,520 --> 00:02:59,520 and a spirit of zeal stirred in the hearts of the men, 52 00:02:59,520 --> 00:03:02,520 so they flocked to join the invading army 53 00:03:02,520 --> 00:03:04,780 in the cause of Allah. 54 00:03:04,780 --> 00:03:06,780 When the gathering of the Muslims was complete, 55 00:03:06,780 --> 00:03:09,780 one of them said to Umar Ibn al-Khattab, 56 00:03:09,780 --> 00:03:12,780 "Appoint over the army one of the early converts 57 00:03:12,780 --> 00:03:15,780 to Islam from the Muhajirun or the Ansar, 58 00:03:15,780 --> 00:03:17,780 for they are the people of highest standing 59 00:03:17,780 --> 00:03:19,780 and greatest stature." 60 00:03:19,780 --> 00:03:21,780 He replied, "No, by Allah! 61 00:03:21,780 --> 00:03:24,780 Their standing was raised and their stature made great 62 00:03:24,780 --> 00:03:26,780 only by their precedence in good deeds 63 00:03:26,780 --> 00:03:30,780 and their haste to meet the enemies of Allah. 64 00:03:30,780 --> 00:03:33,780 If they become sluggish in Jihad in the cause of Allah, 65 00:03:33,780 --> 00:03:36,780 and someone else rushes to it before them, 66 00:03:36,780 --> 00:03:38,780 then he is the one who has precedence over them 67 00:03:38,780 --> 00:03:41,780 and is more worthy of leadership." 68 00:03:41,780 --> 00:03:43,840 "By Allah, I will not appoint over them 69 00:03:43,840 --> 00:03:47,840 anyone but the first of the Muslims to respond to the call of Jihad." 70 00:03:47,840 --> 00:03:51,840 Then he summoned Abu Ubayd Ibn Mas'ud al-Thaqafi 71 00:03:51,840 --> 00:03:54,840 and entrusted him with the banner of the Muslim army 72 00:03:54,840 --> 00:03:56,840 heading to war against the Persians. 73 00:03:56,840 --> 00:03:59,939 Abu Ubayd set out with his army, numbering 74 00:03:59,939 --> 00:04:01,939 five thousand mujahidin, 75 00:04:01,939 --> 00:04:05,939 accompanied by his brother, his three sons, and his wife. 76 00:04:05,939 --> 00:04:09,939 Whenever he passed by a tribe of the Arabs, 77 00:04:09,939 --> 00:04:11,939 he would urge them to Jihad 78 00:04:11,939 --> 00:04:13,939 and encourage them toward martyrdom. 79 00:04:13,939 --> 00:04:16,939 The army continued to grow and expand 80 00:04:16,939 --> 00:04:19,939 until it reached ten thousand mujahidin. 81 00:04:19,939 --> 00:04:22,939 News of the approaching Muslim army, 82 00:04:22,939 --> 00:04:26,939 led by Abu Ubayd, reached the ears of the Persians, 83 00:04:26,939 --> 00:04:29,939 so they mobilized their soldiers and prepared their forces, 84 00:04:29,939 --> 00:04:33,939 resolving to strike the Muslims a decisive blow 85 00:04:33,939 --> 00:04:36,939 from which they would never recover. 86 00:04:36,939 --> 00:04:41,939 They placed in command of their army one of their great leaders, 87 00:04:41,939 --> 00:04:43,939 called Jaban, 88 00:04:43,939 --> 00:04:47,939 and placed on his right flank a knight from among their most famous, 89 00:04:47,939 --> 00:04:49,939 known as Mardan. 90 00:04:49,939 --> 00:04:53,060 The two hosts met at al-Nariq, 91 00:04:53,060 --> 00:04:56,060 and a fierce, grinding battle ensued between them, 92 00:04:56,060 --> 00:04:59,060 in which the Muslim army, 93 00:04:59,060 --> 00:05:01,060 led by Abu Ubayd, 94 00:05:01,060 --> 00:05:03,060 displayed such valor and sacrifice 95 00:05:03,060 --> 00:05:05,060 that it shook the footing of the Persians, 96 00:05:05,060 --> 00:05:08,060 inflicted upon them a crushing defeat, 97 00:05:08,060 --> 00:05:11,060 and scattered them completely. 98 00:05:11,060 --> 00:05:14,160 Jaban, the commander of the army, fell 99 00:05:14,160 --> 00:05:17,160 into the captivity of a Muslim soldier 100 00:05:17,160 --> 00:05:20,160 named Matar Ibn Fadda al-Taymi, 101 00:05:20,160 --> 00:05:23,160 and Mardan fell into the captivity of another soldier 102 00:05:23,160 --> 00:05:26,160 named Aktal Ibn Shammakh al-Ikli. 103 00:05:26,160 --> 00:05:29,160 Aktal killed his captive, 104 00:05:29,160 --> 00:05:30,160 but as for Jaban, 105 00:05:30,160 --> 00:05:33,160 he realized that his captor did not recognize him, 106 00:05:33,160 --> 00:05:35,160 so he began to humble himself before him, 107 00:05:35,160 --> 00:05:39,160 showing him weakness, helplessness, and his advanced age, 108 00:05:39,160 --> 00:05:42,160 and asked him to grant him safety for his life, 109 00:05:42,160 --> 00:05:45,160 promising him whatever reward he wished. 110 00:05:45,160 --> 00:05:49,160 Matar felt pity for him, granted him safety, and set him free. 111 00:05:49,160 --> 00:05:54,160 But no sooner had Jaban escaped from his captor 112 00:05:54,160 --> 00:05:58,160 than the Muslim soldiers recognized him and seized him, 113 00:05:58,160 --> 00:06:01,160 bringing him to the army commander, Abu Ubayd, 114 00:06:01,160 --> 00:06:05,160 and saying, "This is Jaban, the commander of the Persian army. 115 00:06:05,160 --> 00:06:08,160 One of the Muslim soldiers granted him safety, 116 00:06:08,160 --> 00:06:10,160 not knowing who he was." 117 00:06:10,160 --> 00:06:12,160 Then they suggested he be executed. 118 00:06:12,160 --> 00:06:16,160 He replied, "By Allah, I will not kill him after he has been granted safety, 119 00:06:16,160 --> 00:06:19,160 for the Muslims are like one body; 120 00:06:19,160 --> 00:06:23,160 what binds one of them binds them all." 121 00:06:23,160 --> 00:06:25,160 And he set him free. 122 00:06:25,160 --> 00:06:28,160 The defeated soldiers surrendered to Abu Ubayd 123 00:06:28,160 --> 00:06:31,160 and made peace with him on the condition that they pay the jizya. 124 00:06:31,160 --> 00:06:35,160 They brought him delicacies of food and al-akhbisa— 125 00:06:35,160 --> 00:06:38,160 al-akhbisa being a type of sweet. 126 00:06:38,160 --> 00:06:41,290 When they placed it before him, 127 00:06:41,290 --> 00:06:43,290 he turned away from it and said, 128 00:06:43,290 --> 00:06:46,290 "Have you honored all the Muslim soldiers 129 00:06:46,290 --> 00:06:49,290 with the same as you honor me?" 130 00:06:49,290 --> 00:06:53,290 They replied, "That was not possible for us today, 131 00:06:53,290 --> 00:06:55,290 but we will do so tomorrow." 132 00:06:55,290 --> 00:06:59,290 He said, "Take it away, for we have no need of it." 133 00:06:59,290 --> 00:07:02,290 Then his eyes welled with tears and he said, 134 00:07:02,290 --> 00:07:04,290 "Wretched is the man Abu Ubayd is, 135 00:07:04,290 --> 00:07:08,290 if he leads the Muslim soldiers from their homes, 136 00:07:08,290 --> 00:07:11,290 and tears them away from their families and children, 137 00:07:11,290 --> 00:07:14,290 then takes for himself something they do not have. 138 00:07:14,290 --> 00:07:19,290 No, by Allah, I will not eat anything of what you have brought, 139 00:07:19,290 --> 00:07:23,290 nor of the spoils of war that Allah has bestowed upon us, 140 00:07:23,290 --> 00:07:27,290 except what the average Muslim soldier eats." 141 00:07:27,290 --> 00:07:29,290 So they took it away. 142 00:07:29,290 --> 00:07:32,480 Abu Ubayd gathered the spoils, 143 00:07:32,480 --> 00:07:34,480 and among what he had captured 144 00:07:34,480 --> 00:07:36,480 was a type of fine date 145 00:07:36,480 --> 00:07:38,480 called al-Narsiyan, 146 00:07:38,480 --> 00:07:40,480 named after Narsi, 147 00:07:40,480 --> 00:07:42,480 the cousin of the King. 148 00:07:42,480 --> 00:07:44,480 It was attributed to him 149 00:07:44,480 --> 00:07:46,480 because he had monopolized its cultivation 150 00:07:46,480 --> 00:07:49,480 and restricted it to himself, away from other people. 151 00:07:49,480 --> 00:07:51,480 The King of Persia used to reserve 152 00:07:51,480 --> 00:07:55,480 this unique type of date for himself, 153 00:07:55,480 --> 00:07:58,480 so that no one ate it except him and his family, 154 00:07:58,480 --> 00:08:02,480 or those he wished to honor with a gift. 155 00:08:02,480 --> 00:08:04,480 Abu Ubayd distributed it 156 00:08:04,480 --> 00:08:06,480 among the Persian farmers 157 00:08:06,480 --> 00:08:09,480 who used to plant and harvest it, 158 00:08:09,480 --> 00:08:11,480 yet never tasted it. 159 00:08:11,480 --> 00:08:15,480 He sent one-fifth of it to the Muslim treasury in Medina 160 00:08:15,480 --> 00:08:18,480 and wrote to Umar Ibn al-Khattab, saying, 161 00:08:18,480 --> 00:08:23,480 "Allah has provided us with food that the Chosroes used to protect 162 00:08:23,480 --> 00:08:26,480 and reserve for themselves, away from their subjects. 163 00:08:26,480 --> 00:08:30,480 We wanted you to see it, O Commander of the Faithful, 164 00:08:30,480 --> 00:08:33,480 so that you may thank Allah the Exalted for His bounty and grace." 165 00:08:33,480 --> 00:08:38,539 News of the crushing defeat that befell the Persians 166 00:08:38,539 --> 00:08:40,539 reached the ears of their leader, Rustam, 167 00:08:40,539 --> 00:08:44,539 and he learned what had happened to Jaban and his right-flank commander. 168 00:08:44,539 --> 00:08:46,539 He was filled with rage, 169 00:08:46,539 --> 00:08:50,539 and it was unbearable for him that the victorious Persian armies 170 00:08:50,539 --> 00:08:55,539 should be defeated by this small number of barefoot, naked Arabs. 171 00:08:55,539 --> 00:08:58,539 He gathered his inner circle and said to them, 172 00:08:58,539 --> 00:09:02,539 "Which of the Persians, in your view, is most formidable against the Arabs?" 173 00:09:02,539 --> 00:09:06,539 They replied, "It is Bahman Dhu al-Hajib." 174 00:09:06,539 --> 00:09:08,539 He said, "You have spoken correctly." 175 00:09:08,539 --> 00:09:10,539 Then he summoned Bahman 176 00:09:10,539 --> 00:09:15,539 and entrusted him with the banner over eighty thousand fierce fighters, 177 00:09:15,539 --> 00:09:18,539 and included in his army twenty elephants, 178 00:09:18,539 --> 00:09:22,539 the likes of which the eye had never seen for size or strength. 179 00:09:22,539 --> 00:09:25,539 Bahman marched with this massive army 180 00:09:25,539 --> 00:09:28,539 until he encamped on the eastern bank of the Euphrates, 181 00:09:28,539 --> 00:09:31,539 near the site of Kufa. 182 00:09:31,539 --> 00:09:34,639 As for Abu Ubayd, he headed with his soldiers 183 00:09:34,639 --> 00:09:39,639 and encamped on the bank of the river opposite the Persian camp. 184 00:09:39,639 --> 00:09:43,639 Bahman wrote to Abu Ubayd, saying, 185 00:09:43,639 --> 00:09:45,639 "Either you cross over to us, 186 00:09:45,639 --> 00:09:49,639 and we will not raise a hand against you in harm as you cross, 187 00:09:49,639 --> 00:09:52,639 or we shall cross over to you." 188 00:09:52,639 --> 00:09:55,639 Abu Ubayd said to those around him, 189 00:09:55,639 --> 00:09:58,639 "The Persians shall not be bolder than us in the face of death." 190 00:09:59,639 --> 00:10:01,639 And he resolved to cross, 191 00:10:01,639 --> 00:10:04,639 despite the opposition of many of his men 192 00:10:04,639 --> 00:10:06,639 to what he had decided, 193 00:10:06,639 --> 00:10:08,639 and he informed the Persians of that. 194 00:10:08,639 --> 00:10:12,019 On the night before the crossing, 195 00:10:12,019 --> 00:10:16,019 the wife of Abu Ubayd saw in a dream 196 00:10:16,019 --> 00:10:19,019 that a man descended from the sky 197 00:10:19,019 --> 00:10:22,019 with a pitcher containing a drink, 198 00:10:22,019 --> 00:10:26,059 and he gave her husband, his brother, and his three sons to drink from it. 199 00:10:26,059 --> 00:10:29,059 When she recounted her vision to Abu 'Ubayd, 200 00:10:29,059 --> 00:10:31,059 he said to her, "Glad tidings to you, 201 00:10:31,059 --> 00:10:35,059 for martyrdom has been decreed for me, my brother, and my sons." 202 00:10:35,059 --> 00:10:38,120 Then he stood before his troops and said, 203 00:10:38,120 --> 00:10:40,120 "O people, 204 00:10:40,120 --> 00:10:44,120 if I am killed, appoint my brother al-Hakam as your commander. 205 00:10:44,120 --> 00:10:48,120 If he is killed, appoint my son Wahb. 206 00:10:48,120 --> 00:10:52,120 If he is killed, appoint his brother Malik. 207 00:10:52,120 --> 00:10:55,120 If he is killed, appoint his brother Jabr. 208 00:10:55,120 --> 00:11:00,120 If he is killed, appoint al-Muthanna ibn Harithah al-Shaybani." 209 00:11:00,120 --> 00:11:03,120 Then he ordered the Muslims to cross. 210 00:11:03,120 --> 00:11:05,120 They obeyed the command, 211 00:11:05,120 --> 00:11:11,120 and began to pour toward the eastern bank of the river like a rushing torrent. 212 00:11:11,120 --> 00:11:14,120 They crossed over a bridge they had erected there. 213 00:11:14,120 --> 00:11:18,279 When the two armies met on the battlefield, 214 00:11:18,279 --> 00:11:22,279 the Muslims were taken by surprise by the elephants advancing with the Persian army. 215 00:11:22,279 --> 00:11:29,279 Thick branches of palm fronds had been fastened to their backs and necks, 216 00:11:29,279 --> 00:11:33,279 and large, clanging bells were hung upon them. 217 00:11:33,279 --> 00:11:39,279 Each elephant appeared like a wooded mountain walking upon the earth. 218 00:11:39,279 --> 00:11:44,279 The Muslim soldiers, who had never encountered such things before, were awestruck, 219 00:11:44,279 --> 00:11:47,279 and their horses shied away in fear. 220 00:11:47,279 --> 00:11:53,279 Abu 'Ubayd realized that he had to eliminate the elephants and their riders 221 00:11:53,279 --> 00:11:56,279 in order to secure victory for his army. 222 00:11:56,279 --> 00:12:02,379 He called out to the Muslim soldiers, "Advance upon the elephants, cut their girths, 223 00:12:02,379 --> 00:12:07,379 throw the men from their backs, and strike them in their vital spots. 224 00:12:07,379 --> 00:12:10,379 I am advancing before you." 225 00:12:10,379 --> 00:12:15,379 No sooner had he finished speaking than he approached the largest elephant, 226 00:12:15,379 --> 00:12:19,379 cut its girth, and brought down the rider on its back. 227 00:12:19,379 --> 00:12:25,440 However, the elephant immediately struck him with its trunk, throwing him to the ground, 228 00:12:25,440 --> 00:12:29,500 then trampled him and killed him. 229 00:12:29,500 --> 00:12:33,500 Command passed after Abu 'Ubayd to his brother al-Hakam, 230 00:12:33,500 --> 00:12:36,500 who fell as a martyr. 231 00:12:36,500 --> 00:12:38,500 He was succeeded by his eldest son, 232 00:12:38,500 --> 00:12:40,500 who joined his father and uncle in martyrdom. 233 00:12:40,500 --> 00:12:42,500 He was succeeded by his second son, 234 00:12:42,500 --> 00:12:44,500 who also joined them. 235 00:12:44,500 --> 00:12:46,500 He was succeeded by his third son, 236 00:12:46,500 --> 00:12:50,500 who met the same fate as his father, his brothers, and his uncle. 237 00:12:50,500 --> 00:12:54,500 Thus, the vision of Abu 'Ubayd's wife was fulfilled, 238 00:12:54,500 --> 00:12:56,500 and his interpretation of it proved correct, 239 00:12:56,500 --> 00:12:59,500 as martyrdom was decreed for them all. 240 00:12:59,500 --> 00:13:03,759 The Muslims did not achieve in this battle, 241 00:13:03,759 --> 00:13:05,759 which was called the Battle of the Bridge, 242 00:13:05,759 --> 00:13:08,759 the victory they had hoped for. 243 00:13:08,759 --> 00:13:11,759 Nevertheless, they filled the hearts of their enemies with terror, 244 00:13:12,759 --> 00:13:15,759 and instilled deep dread and fear within them. 245 00:13:15,759 --> 00:13:18,919 Indeed, the Battle of the Bridge 246 00:13:18,919 --> 00:13:21,919 was a grave and momentous event with significant consequences. 247 00:13:21,919 --> 00:13:25,919 For the bright and glorious day of al-Qadisiyyah 248 00:13:25,919 --> 00:13:28,919 was not far removed from the day of the Bridge.