WEBVTT

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In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful.

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Summary of the Book:

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*Ramadan: Events and Lessons*

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The Battle of the Court of Martyrs (Balat al-Shuhada')

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Time: In the month of Ramadan,

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In the year 114 AH.

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Indeed, the battle between truth and falsehood is fierce;

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No sooner does it subside than it flares up again,

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And no sooner does it cease than it resumes anew,

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Even if the intervals between clashes are prolonged

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And the distances between confrontations are vast.

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It is the established Sunnah of Allah Almighty

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That victory is never permanently allied with one side over another.

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Rather, our All-Wise Lord has decreed

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That dominance alternates between the two parties

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And contest remains reciprocal between the two forces,

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For many wise purposes and profound lessons:

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Among them is the purification of the Muslim ranks

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And the purging of corrupt intentions from the souls of its people,

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As well as motives that deviate from the path of sincerity.

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Among them also is cleansing the community of faith from infiltrators—

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From the hypocrites and followers of base desires,

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And the slaves of passions and self-interest.

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Through this purification and refinement,

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The mirror of faith is polished and its strength is fortified.

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Among them is examining the causes of defeat

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So that its path is not traversed again,

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For the Muslim ranks might otherwise be compromised by it.

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Among them is cultivating patience during calamities,

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And enduring hardships and wounds for the sake of Allah.

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Among them is the selection of martyrs to attain the greatest reward.

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In the Battle of Uhud,

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When the Muslims suffered what befell them,

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Allah Almighty revealed verses of the Noble Qur'an

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To console the believers,

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Mention some of the causes of what transpired,

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And clarify some of the wisdoms and lessons behind that immense tragedy.

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Allah Almighty said:

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"And do not weaken and do not grieve, and you will be superior

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If you are [true] believers."

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“If ye have received a blow, the (disbelieving) people have received a blow the like thereof. These are (only) the vicissitudes which We cause to follow one another for mankind, to the end that Allah may know those who believe and may choose witnesses from among you; and Allah loveth not wrong-doers.” (3:140)

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“If ye have received a blow, the (disbelieving) people have received a blow the like thereof. These are (only) the vicissitudes which We cause to follow one another for mankind, to the end that Allah may know those who believe and may choose witnesses from among you; and Allah loveth not wrong-doers.” (3:140)

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“If ye have received a blow, the (disbelieving) people have received a blow the like thereof. These are (only) the vicissitudes which We cause to follow one another for mankind, to the end that Allah may know those who believe and may choose witnesses from among you; and Allah loveth not wrong-doers.” (3:140)

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"And that He may take to Himself from among you martyrs—

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And Allah does not like the wrongdoers—"

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“And that Allah may prove those who believe, and may blight the disbelievers.” (3:141)

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"And that He may destroy the disbelievers."

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"Or do you think that you will enter Paradise

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While Allah has not yet made evident those of you who fight in His cause

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And made evident those who are steadfast?"

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An Overview of the Situation in al-Andalus

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Before the Battle of the Court of Martyrs:

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Following the tremendous conquests achieved by the two distinguished commanders,

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Musa ibn Nusayr and Tariq ibn Ziyad,

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May Allah Almighty have mercy upon them, in Iberian al-Andalus,

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Certain disruptions occurred,

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For al-Andalus was soon engulfed by internal strife

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And Christian resistance against Islamic rule.

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Thus, the Battle of Toulouse took place

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In the year 102 AH, corresponding to

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721 CE, between the Muslims and the Christians,

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In which the Muslims were not victorious,

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And their commander, al-Samh ibn Malik, was killed.

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They retreated to Septimania,

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And their affairs were thrown into turmoil,

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Until 'Abd al-Rahman ibn 'Abdullah al-Ghafiqi was appointed over them

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In the year 113 AH, corresponding to

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731 CE, who restored order among them.

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'Abd al-Rahman sought to secure the northern Andalusian provinces

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And thwart the plots of Eudo, Duke of Aquitaine,

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Aimed at destabilizing Muslim security in al-Andalus.

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Therefore, he entered Frankish territory in the year 114 AH, corresponding to

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732 CE,

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And took control of the city of Arles on the Rhône River,

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Then the Duchy of Aquitaine,

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Then Bordeaux,

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Then Lyon and Besançon,

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Reaching as far as Sens,

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Near the French capital, Paris.

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He then marched westward to the banks of the Loire

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In order to complete the conquest of this region

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Before heading toward Paris.

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The Name and Date of the Battle:

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Among Muslims, this battle is called

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The Battle of the Court of Martyrs (Balat al-Shuhada'),

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Due to the vast number of Muslim fighters slain therein.

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Among Europeans,

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It is known as the Battle of Tours-Poitiers,

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In reference to the location where it took place.

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This major battle occurred

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About 20 kilometers north of Poitiers,

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On the road to Tours,

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South of the course of the Loire River,

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At a site near an ancient Roman road

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Connecting Châtellerault

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And Poitiers, which was known as *al-Balat* (the paved way/palace),

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Perhaps near a place called today Moussais-la-Bataille.

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The battle took place in the month of Ramadan,

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In the year 114 AH,

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October 732 CE.

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The Two Commanders and the Size of Their Armies:

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The Muslim commander was 'Abd al-Rahman al-Ghafiqi,

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Who was renowned for his piety, righteousness,

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Integrity, and strong faith.

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The Muslim commander was 'Abd al-Rahman al-Ghafiqi,

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Who was renowned for his piety, righteousness,

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Integrity, and strong faith.

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He used to say:

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"Even if the heavens and the earth were closed up,

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Allah would make a way out for those who fear Him."

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He was among the greatest Muslim commanders

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In al-Andalus in terms of justice, righteousness,

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Capability, and competence.

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He spent nearly a year

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Organizing the affairs of the land

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For jihad against the Franks.

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He assembled a formidable army ranging

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Between 50,000 to 70,000 men

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At the highest estimate.

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As for the Christian army, it advanced

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From Paris under the command of Charles Martel,

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Who was known to the Arabs as Qarlah,

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Pronounced by them as Sharqarlah (Charles Martel).

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The word "Martel" is an epithet meaning "the Hammer";

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The Pope in Italy bestowed it upon him

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Because he was ruthless toward his enemies,

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And he was among the most powerful rulers of France

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Of all time.

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Charles Martel arrived with four hundred thousand

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Christian combatants—

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That is, eight times the size of the Muslim army.

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The Route to the Battlefield:

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'Abd al-Rahman crossed the Pyrenees

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In early 114 AH

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With approximately 70,000

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Muslims, after concluding preparations

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For his campaign in Pamplona.

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'Abd al-Rahman conquered the city of Arles,

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Then Bordeaux,

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Where 'Abd al-Rahman scored a magnificent victory

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Over Duke Eudo.

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Eudo hurried to Charles Martel seeking his aid

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After al-Ghafiqi had swept through

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The entire southern half of France

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From west to east.

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Muslim armies arrived for the second time

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At the gates of Paris within seven years,

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Took Poitiers,

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And advanced toward the city of Tours.

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Charles Martel realized

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That the Frankish realm itself was in peril,

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So he decided to forge a temporary alliance

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With the Duke of Aquitaine

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To confront the shared Islamic danger.

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Some historians mention

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That after 'Abd al-Rahman al-Ghafiqi had united

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The people and felt his forces were fully prepared,

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He took those troops

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And marched with them toward France

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To resume the conquests anew.

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He conquered the far west of France,

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Opening city after city:

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He conquered the city of Arles,

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Then the city of Bordeaux,

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Which is known by this name today,

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Then the city of Toulouse,

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Then the city of Tours,

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And then reached Poitiers, west of Paris,

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Which is about 100 kilometers away from it,

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And about 1,000 kilometers from Cordoba.

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He had penetrated very deeply

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Into French territory in a northwesterly direction.

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There, in the city of Poitiers,

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He encamped at an area called al-Balat;

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And *al-Balat* in the Andalusian dialect

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Signifies a palace,

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For in this area there stood an ancient,

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Abandoned palace.

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The campaign of 'Abd al-Rahman al-Ghafiqi was

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The largest expedition ever to enter Frankish lands,

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Reaching up to 50,000 fighters—

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A strength the Muslims had never fielded there

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Prior to that time.

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Another historian remarked:

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'Abd al-Rahman continued

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His victorious march until he overlooked

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The Loire River with his army.

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Charles Martel met him

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With a massive army of Franks

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And half-naked mercenaries,

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Clad in wolf skins,

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With their matted hair flowing down

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Over their bare shoulders.

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Then the enemy surprised them—

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Without the Muslim advance guards detecting them

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Or accurately assessing their massive numbers—

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With their vast, overwhelming hordes.

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He fell back to the plain situated

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Between the cities of Poitiers and Tours,

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And the Frankish army crossed the Loire,

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Encamping to the west of the Muslim army.

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Al-Ghafiqi resolved to engage the enemy,

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even though some of the Berber

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tribes in his army

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were eager to withdraw

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due to leaving behind numerous garrisons

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in the conquered cities and villages.

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The immortal, historic battle:

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the two armies met in one of

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the fiercest Islamic battles

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ever, in the region of Poitiers.

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The battle raged between them

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for ten full days,

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taking place in Ramadan in the year

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114 AH.

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At the beginning of the battle,

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the Muslims had the upper hand despite their small numbers,

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but toward the end of the engagement, the Christians

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noticed the massive amount of spoils

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laden behind the Muslim army.

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So they flanked the army

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and attacked the spoils,

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beginning to seize the Muslims' booty.

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The Muslims rushed back to protect the vast spoils,

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for the love of worldly booty had entered their hearts.

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Consequently, severe confusion broke out in the Muslim ranks,

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and a tremor of disorder began to spread,

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leading to the defeat of the Muslim army

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in this battle.

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There is no precise census in Islamic historical reports

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of the Muslim martyrs

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at the Battle of the Court of Martyrs (Balat al-Shuhada' / Tours).

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As for Western claims

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that there were killed of the Muslims

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at the Battle of the Court of Martyrs

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three hundred and seventy-five thousand

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Muslims,

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this is an extreme exaggeration,

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because the entire Muslim army was only fifty thousand strong.

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Some historians stated:

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"The battle lasted nine days,

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and on the tenth day,

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both sides displayed

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the utmost endurance and courage.

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Exhaustion became evident among the Franks,

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and signs of a Muslim victory began to appear.

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However, it happened that the Franks breached

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a gap into the Muslims' baggage train of spoils,

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and an unknown cry arose shoutingly:

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'The camp of the spoils is under attack!'

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Large contingents consequently fell back

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to the rear of the spoils to protect them,

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and the Muslim battle lines fell into disarray.

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While al-Ghafiqi was attempting

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to restore order to his army,

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an arrow struck him, throwing him dead from his horse.

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Turmoil ensued among the Muslims,

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casualties multiplied among them,

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and the Franks pressed hard against them."

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The battle had lasted for eight days,

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which indicates that it

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was a fiercely contested battle.

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In truth, both sides

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exerted their utmost efforts in the fight.

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The Muslims showed enduring perseverance

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until Christian forces converged upon them

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from every direction;

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for the forces were not limited to the Franks alone,

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but included many from other peoples:

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Germans, Suebi, and Saxons.

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The final phase of the battle

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was a violent assault on the rear of the Muslim army;

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the spoils were looted,

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the army's formation was shattered,

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and while al-Ghafiqi was attempting

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to restore order to his army,

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an arrow struck and killed him.

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The killing among them intensified,

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and the Franks bore down heavily upon them;

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yet they held out patiently until night fell

00:15:24.899 --> 00:15:27.899
and the two sides disengaged without a decisive finish.

00:15:27.899 --> 00:15:30.899
Then the Muslims withdrew toward their bases in Septimania,

00:15:30.899 --> 00:15:33.899
abandoning their spoils.

00:15:33.899 --> 00:15:36.899
In the morning, the Franks found no trace of them

00:15:36.899 --> 00:15:39.899
except for the wounded and those who had been unable

00:15:39.899 --> 00:15:42.899
to accompany the retreating army;

00:15:42.899 --> 00:15:45.899
so they finished them off

00:15:45.899 --> 00:15:48.899
and seized immense stores of supplies,

00:15:48.899 --> 00:15:51.899
never thinking of pursuing the Muslims.

00:15:51.899 --> 00:15:55.639
The painful outcomes:

00:15:55.639 --> 00:15:58.639
First, the defeat of the Muslims

00:15:58.639 --> 00:16:01.799
and the victory of the Christians.

00:16:01.799 --> 00:16:04.799
Second, the death of the Muslim commander,

00:16:04.799 --> 00:16:08.179
'Abd al-Rahman al-Ghafiqi, may Allah have mercy on him.

00:16:08.179 --> 00:16:11.179
Third, the large number of casualties.

00:16:12.179 --> 00:16:15.250
Fourth...

00:16:35.629 --> 00:16:38.629
Fifth:

00:16:41.629 --> 00:16:44.629
the halting of the advance from there toward

00:16:44.629 --> 00:16:47.629
the conquest of Constantinople and then Rome,

00:16:47.629 --> 00:16:50.629
which had been the strategic objective behind

00:16:50.629 --> 00:16:54.720
this campaign.

00:16:54.720 --> 00:16:58.070
The battle in European perspectives:

00:16:58.070 --> 00:17:01.070
Europeans have been divided regarding

00:17:01.070 --> 00:17:04.099
this battle into two camps.

00:17:04.099 --> 00:17:07.099
The majority among earlier and contemporary scholars

00:17:07.099 --> 00:17:10.099
considered that battle

00:17:10.099 --> 00:17:13.099
to have been a tremendous loss for Europe,

00:17:13.099 --> 00:17:16.140
as it remained veiled from civilization

00:17:16.140 --> 00:17:19.140
at that time;

00:17:19.140 --> 00:17:22.140
whereas had Islam entered it,

00:17:22.140 --> 00:17:25.140
Europe would have developed just as Andalusia did.

00:17:25.140 --> 00:17:28.140
Thus, that battle was

00:17:28.140 --> 00:17:31.140
a grave loss for Europe,

00:17:31.140 --> 00:17:34.140
since it remained veiled from civilization

00:17:34.140 --> 00:17:37.140
at that time;

00:17:38.140 --> 00:17:41.140
it would have flourished just as al-Andalus flourished.

00:17:41.140 --> 00:17:44.140
European historians attach

00:17:44.140 --> 00:17:47.140
great significance to it,

00:17:47.140 --> 00:17:50.140
remarking:

00:17:50.140 --> 00:17:53.140
"Had the Arabs been victorious in this battle,

00:17:53.140 --> 00:17:56.140
what occurred in Spain would have occurred across Europe,

00:17:56.140 --> 00:17:59.140
and the Qur'an would have been taught in the universities

00:17:59.140 --> 00:18:02.140
of Paris, Cambridge, and Oxford.

00:18:02.140 --> 00:18:05.230
And had the conquest of Europe been achieved,

00:18:06.230 --> 00:18:09.230
its Dark Ages would have ended early,

00:18:09.230 --> 00:18:12.230
and it would have joined the vanguard of civilization and progress

00:18:12.230 --> 00:18:15.230
seen in al-Andalus while living

00:18:15.230 --> 00:18:18.230
in the embrace of Islam."

00:18:18.230 --> 00:18:21.230
It is no wonder, then,

00:18:21.230 --> 00:18:24.230
that many Western writers

00:18:24.230 --> 00:18:27.230
who recognized the brilliance of Islam and its civilization

00:18:27.230 --> 00:18:30.230
wherever it took root,

00:18:30.230 --> 00:18:33.230
regarded the outcome of the Court of Martyrs (Tours)

00:18:33.230 --> 00:18:36.230
as a severe blow that deprived Europe of an illuminating civilization

00:18:36.230 --> 00:18:39.230
and human dignity.

00:18:41.680 --> 00:18:44.680
Lessons from the Battle of the Court of Martyrs:

00:18:44.680 --> 00:18:48.099
Indeed, this battle,

00:18:48.099 --> 00:18:51.099
despite its sorrow, carries many lessons and morals,

00:18:51.099 --> 00:18:54.099
among which are:

00:18:54.099 --> 00:18:57.099
First, that the army of the believers

00:18:57.099 --> 00:19:00.099
does not triumph over its enemy through numbers or equipment;

00:19:00.099 --> 00:19:03.099
rather, it triumphs through the strength of its faith,

00:19:03.099 --> 00:19:06.099
grounded in sincerity to Allah,

00:19:06.099 --> 00:19:09.099
renouncing attachment to worldly pleasures and desires,

00:19:09.099 --> 00:19:12.099
and yearning for what is with Allah.

00:19:12.099 --> 00:19:15.099
But when the hearts of its soldiers become

00:19:15.099 --> 00:19:18.099
attached to worldly gains

00:19:18.099 --> 00:19:21.099
such as spoils of war, it is from there

00:19:21.099 --> 00:19:24.099
that defeat comes.

00:19:24.099 --> 00:19:27.099
The subsequent Battle of the Court of Martyrs

00:19:27.099 --> 00:19:30.099
was nothing other than a reminder of that earlier trial,

00:19:30.099 --> 00:19:33.099
mirroring the setback of that encounter:

00:19:33.099 --> 00:19:36.160
namely, the Battle of Uhud.

00:19:36.160 --> 00:19:39.160
For in the Battle of Uhud, the tide of combat

00:19:39.160 --> 00:19:42.160
was initially in favor of the soldiers of Islam,

00:19:42.160 --> 00:19:45.190
and such was the case in this battle.

00:19:45.190 --> 00:19:48.190
But when the archers descended from the mountain

00:19:48.190 --> 00:19:51.190
to collect the spoils before them,

00:19:51.190 --> 00:19:54.190
defeat descended upon them from behind them.

00:19:54.190 --> 00:19:57.190
And when the soldiers of al-Ghafiqi, may Allah have mercy on him,

00:19:57.190 --> 00:20:00.190
became attached to their spoils behind them,

00:20:00.190 --> 00:20:03.190
defeat came upon them from every side.

00:20:03.190 --> 00:20:06.450
On the authority of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him), who said

00:20:06.450 --> 00:20:10.450
that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:

00:20:10.450 --> 00:20:13.450
"One of the prophets went on a military expedition

00:20:13.450 --> 00:20:16.450
and said to his people:

00:20:16.450 --> 00:20:19.450
'No man shall follow me who has consummated a marriage contract with a woman

00:20:19.450 --> 00:20:22.450
and wishes to consummate the marriage with her,

00:20:22.450 --> 00:20:25.450
but has not yet done so;

00:20:25.450 --> 00:20:28.450
nor anyone who has built houses and has not yet raised their roofs;

00:20:28.450 --> 00:20:31.450
nor anyone who has bought pregnant ewes or she-camels

00:20:31.450 --> 00:20:34.450
and is waiting for them to give birth.'"

00:20:34.450 --> 00:20:37.480
Al-Nawawi said:

00:20:37.480 --> 00:20:40.480
"In this hadith is evidence

00:20:40.480 --> 00:20:43.480
that momentous affairs should only

00:20:43.480 --> 00:20:46.480
be entrusted to people of resolve

00:20:46.480 --> 00:20:49.480
whose minds are completely free for the task,

00:20:49.480 --> 00:20:52.480
and they must not be entrusted to one whose heart is attached to other things,

00:20:52.480 --> 00:20:55.480
lest his full dedication to it be compromised."

00:20:55.480 --> 00:20:58.829
Second:

00:20:58.829 --> 00:21:01.829
The Ummah of Islam is one single nation;

00:21:01.829 --> 00:21:04.829
under its banner gathers every Muslim,

00:21:04.829 --> 00:21:07.829
regardless of race, color, or ethnicity,

00:21:07.829 --> 00:21:10.829
and whatever language they speak.

00:21:10.829 --> 00:21:13.829
This is a fundamental factor

00:21:13.829 --> 00:21:16.900
in the strength and victory of the Muslims.

00:21:16.900 --> 00:21:19.900
Third: righteous strength

00:21:19.900 --> 00:21:22.900
is the path to attaining noble objectives

00:21:22.900 --> 00:21:25.900
and realizing desired aspirations.

00:21:25.900 --> 00:21:28.900
For there is no honor except under its shade,

00:21:28.900 --> 00:21:31.900
no security except in its refuge,

00:21:31.900 --> 00:21:34.900
no spreading of truth

00:21:34.900 --> 00:21:37.900
except beneath its banner,

00:21:37.900 --> 00:21:40.900
and no progress or development except through it.

00:21:40.900 --> 00:21:43.930
Thus, if Muslims desire

00:21:43.930 --> 00:21:46.930
to attain these lofty aspirations,

00:21:46.930 --> 00:21:49.930
they must be strong;

00:21:49.930 --> 00:21:52.930
and there is no true strength except through jihad in the cause of Allah.

00:21:52.930 --> 00:21:57.720
Ramadan: Events and Lessons.