Stop.
Get to know the Companions, the scholars, and the prominent figures.
A new challenge: Who am I?
I am one of the Companions of the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him.
I am from the nobles of the Ashja' tribe.
I arrived with my people during the early years of the Hijrah to Medina.
We met the Prophet, peace be upon him.
We embraced Islam at his hands.
We participated with him in the military expeditions.
We played a role in the battles and conquests during the early period of Islam.
I was known for my courage and valor in warfare.
In addition to my justice and integrity in dealing with both enemy and friend alike.
This led the Caliph Umar Ibn al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him,
to choose me to lead armies in important and dangerous battles.
I marched with the army to conquer lands and liberate territories.
Until I became known as the Conqueror of al-Ahwaz.
One evening, the Commander of the Faithful, Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, was restless.
He was searching for someone with the experience and competence
to invade the lands of al-Ahwaz.
That rugged, mountainous region,
with its formidable fortresses,
in order to protect the rear of the Muslims in the lands of Iraq
from the treacherous attacks of the Persians.
Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, kept reviewing the names of his brilliant commanders.
But he found them roaming the earth, striving in the cause of Allah.
None of them remained by his side in Medina.
While he was lost in his contemplation and thought,
my name crossed his mind.
His face brightened with joy, and he said:
"I have found him, if Allah wills."
He summoned me and said to me:
"I have appointed you over an army to conquer al-Ahwaz."
I replied:
"I hear and I obey, O Commander of the Faithful."
He grasped my hand, advised me, and said:
"March forth with the blessing of Allah."
I set out with the Muslim army.
I led them through rugged paths,
and high mountains,
filled with snakes and pests,
and scorpions and swamps.
Along the way, I would exhort those with me with sermons,
and revive in them the spirit of determination and faith,
reviewing with them the verses of the Qur'an.
When we met the enemy,
a great battle took place between us.
It resulted in a great victory for the Muslims,
and a crushing defeat for the Persians, the enemies of the faith.
After the battle,
I divided the spoils among the army after setting aside the fifth.
I saw among the spoils a precious ornament.
I wanted to present it as a gift to the Commander of the Faithful, Umar.
I sought permission from the men of the army to do so,
and they consented.
I sent it with a man from my tribe, the Banu Ashja'.
I said to him:
"Go to the Commander of the Faithful in Medina,
give him the glad tidings of the victory,
and present this ornament to him,
as a gift from the spoils of the Muslims in al-Ahwaz."
When the messenger arrived in Medina,
he met with Umar,
gave him the glad tidings of the victory,
and then presented the gift to him.
When Umar saw it,
he became extremely angry,
and said to his servant, Yarfa':
"Strike him and hurt him."
When the messenger had received his share of Umar's anger,
the Commander of the Faithful said to him:
"Take this ornament back to al-Ahwaz with all speed,
and tell your commander:
'Distribute this ornament among the Muslim soldiers
before they disperse,
otherwise, I will deal with you and him in ways you will not like.'"
The messenger set out, returning to me,
and caught up with me before the army had dispersed.
He said to me:
"Allah has not blessed me in what you sent me with;
distribute this ornament among the army
before a calamity befalls me and you."
I did not leave my seat then
until I had distributed it among the Muslim soldiers.
So, who am I?