WEBVTT 00:00:01.360 --> 00:00:04.360 Stop. 00:00:04.360 --> 00:00:12.140 Get to know the Companions, the scholars, and the prominent figures. 00:00:12.140 --> 00:00:16.140 A new challenge: Who am I? 00:00:16.140 --> 00:00:22.769 I am one of the Companions of the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him. 00:00:22.769 --> 00:00:25.989 I am from the nobles of the Ashja' tribe. 00:00:25.989 --> 00:00:29.989 I arrived with my people during the early years of the Hijrah to Medina. 00:00:29.989 --> 00:00:33.990 We met the Prophet, peace be upon him. 00:00:33.990 --> 00:00:35.990 We embraced Islam at his hands. 00:00:35.990 --> 00:00:38.990 We participated with him in the military expeditions. 00:00:38.990 --> 00:00:43.990 We played a role in the battles and conquests during the early period of Islam. 00:00:43.990 --> 00:00:47.990 I was known for my courage and valor in warfare. 00:00:47.990 --> 00:00:52.990 In addition to my justice and integrity in dealing with both enemy and friend alike. 00:00:52.990 --> 00:00:57.060 This led the Caliph Umar Ibn al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him, 00:00:57.060 --> 00:01:02.060 to choose me to lead armies in important and dangerous battles. 00:01:02.060 --> 00:01:06.060 I marched with the army to conquer lands and liberate territories. 00:01:06.060 --> 00:01:11.909 Until I became known as the Conqueror of al-Ahwaz. 00:01:11.909 --> 00:01:15.909 One evening, the Commander of the Faithful, Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, was restless. 00:01:15.909 --> 00:01:20.909 He was searching for someone with the experience and competence 00:01:20.909 --> 00:01:22.909 to invade the lands of al-Ahwaz. 00:01:22.909 --> 00:01:25.909 That rugged, mountainous region, 00:01:25.909 --> 00:01:27.909 with its formidable fortresses, 00:01:27.909 --> 00:01:31.909 in order to protect the rear of the Muslims in the lands of Iraq 00:01:31.909 --> 00:01:35.069 from the treacherous attacks of the Persians. 00:01:35.069 --> 00:01:40.069 Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, kept reviewing the names of his brilliant commanders. 00:01:40.069 --> 00:01:44.069 But he found them roaming the earth, striving in the cause of Allah. 00:01:44.069 --> 00:01:48.069 None of them remained by his side in Medina. 00:01:48.069 --> 00:01:52.140 While he was lost in his contemplation and thought, 00:01:52.140 --> 00:01:55.140 my name crossed his mind. 00:01:55.140 --> 00:01:58.140 His face brightened with joy, and he said: 00:01:58.140 --> 00:02:01.140 "I have found him, if Allah wills." 00:02:01.140 --> 00:02:03.140 He summoned me and said to me: 00:02:03.140 --> 00:02:07.140 "I have appointed you over an army to conquer al-Ahwaz." 00:02:07.140 --> 00:02:08.139 I replied: 00:02:08.139 --> 00:02:11.139 "I hear and I obey, O Commander of the Faithful." 00:02:11.139 --> 00:02:15.139 He grasped my hand, advised me, and said: 00:02:15.139 --> 00:02:17.139 "March forth with the blessing of Allah." 00:02:17.139 --> 00:02:20.419 I set out with the Muslim army. 00:02:20.419 --> 00:02:22.419 I led them through rugged paths, 00:02:22.419 --> 00:02:24.419 and high mountains, 00:02:24.419 --> 00:02:27.419 filled with snakes and pests, 00:02:27.419 --> 00:02:30.419 and scorpions and swamps. 00:02:30.419 --> 00:02:34.419 Along the way, I would exhort those with me with sermons, 00:02:34.419 --> 00:02:37.419 and revive in them the spirit of determination and faith, 00:02:37.419 --> 00:02:40.419 reviewing with them the verses of the Qur'an. 00:02:40.419 --> 00:02:43.490 When we met the enemy, 00:02:43.490 --> 00:02:46.490 a great battle took place between us. 00:02:46.490 --> 00:02:50.490 It resulted in a great victory for the Muslims, 00:02:50.490 --> 00:02:55.479 and a crushing defeat for the Persians, the enemies of the faith. 00:02:55.479 --> 00:02:57.479 After the battle, 00:02:57.479 --> 00:03:01.479 I divided the spoils among the army after setting aside the fifth. 00:03:01.479 --> 00:03:04.479 I saw among the spoils a precious ornament. 00:03:04.479 --> 00:03:08.479 I wanted to present it as a gift to the Commander of the Faithful, Umar. 00:03:08.479 --> 00:03:11.479 I sought permission from the men of the army to do so, 00:03:11.479 --> 00:03:13.479 and they consented. 00:03:13.479 --> 00:03:16.479 I sent it with a man from my tribe, the Banu Ashja'. 00:03:16.479 --> 00:03:18.479 I said to him: 00:03:18.479 --> 00:03:21.479 "Go to the Commander of the Faithful in Medina, 00:03:21.479 --> 00:03:23.479 give him the glad tidings of the victory, 00:03:23.479 --> 00:03:25.479 and present this ornament to him, 00:03:25.479 --> 00:03:29.479 as a gift from the spoils of the Muslims in al-Ahwaz." 00:03:29.479 --> 00:03:32.479 When the messenger arrived in Medina, 00:03:32.479 --> 00:03:34.479 he met with Umar, 00:03:34.479 --> 00:03:36.479 gave him the glad tidings of the victory, 00:03:36.479 --> 00:03:38.479 and then presented the gift to him. 00:03:38.479 --> 00:03:40.479 When Umar saw it, 00:03:40.479 --> 00:03:43.479 he became extremely angry, 00:03:43.479 --> 00:03:45.479 and said to his servant, Yarfa': 00:03:45.479 --> 00:03:47.509 "Strike him and hurt him." 00:03:47.509 --> 00:03:51.509 When the messenger had received his share of Umar's anger, 00:03:51.509 --> 00:03:54.509 the Commander of the Faithful said to him: 00:03:54.509 --> 00:03:58.509 "Take this ornament back to al-Ahwaz with all speed, 00:03:58.509 --> 00:04:00.509 and tell your commander: 00:04:00.509 --> 00:04:03.509 'Distribute this ornament among the Muslim soldiers 00:04:03.509 --> 00:04:05.509 before they disperse, 00:04:05.509 --> 00:04:08.509 otherwise, I will deal with you and him in ways you will not like.'" 00:04:08.509 --> 00:04:11.539 The messenger set out, returning to me, 00:04:11.539 --> 00:04:14.539 and caught up with me before the army had dispersed. 00:04:14.539 --> 00:04:16.540 He said to me: 00:04:16.540 --> 00:04:19.540 "Allah has not blessed me in what you sent me with; 00:04:19.540 --> 00:04:22.540 distribute this ornament among the army 00:04:22.540 --> 00:04:25.670 before a calamity befalls me and you." 00:04:25.670 --> 00:04:28.670 I did not leave my seat then 00:04:28.670 --> 00:04:32.860 until I had distributed it among the Muslim soldiers. 00:04:32.860 --> 00:04:39.089 So, who am I?