1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:05,469 In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful. 2 00:00:05,469 --> 00:00:07,469 Summary of the book: 3 00:00:07,469 --> 00:00:09,470 "Ramadan: 4 00:00:09,470 --> 00:00:11,470 Events and Lessons." 5 00:00:11,470 --> 00:00:15,009 The Death of Al-Hajjaj 6 00:00:15,009 --> 00:00:17,010 ibn Yusuf al-Thaqafi. 7 00:00:17,010 --> 00:00:20,100 Time: 8 00:00:20,100 --> 00:00:22,100 In the month of Ramadan, 9 00:00:22,100 --> 00:00:24,100 in the ninety-fifth year 10 00:00:24,100 --> 00:00:29,620 of the Hijrah. 11 00:00:29,620 --> 00:00:31,620 Indeed, a person's deeds and words 12 00:00:31,620 --> 00:00:33,619 during their lifetime 13 00:00:33,619 --> 00:00:35,619 constitute the legacy that remains after them. 14 00:00:35,619 --> 00:00:37,619 If they were righteous, 15 00:00:37,619 --> 00:00:39,619 they bequeath them praise 16 00:00:39,619 --> 00:00:41,619 and commendation among people; 17 00:00:41,619 --> 00:00:43,619 but if they were wicked, 18 00:00:43,619 --> 00:00:45,619 they bring upon them people's hatred 19 00:00:45,619 --> 00:00:47,619 and condemnation, 20 00:00:47,619 --> 00:00:49,619 etching in the minds of successive generations 21 00:00:49,619 --> 00:00:51,619 a distorted image, 22 00:00:51,619 --> 00:00:53,619 from following whose bearer 23 00:00:53,619 --> 00:00:55,810 people recoil. 24 00:00:55,810 --> 00:00:57,810 The criteria for righteousness and its opposite 25 00:00:57,810 --> 00:00:59,810 vary among people 26 00:00:59,810 --> 00:01:01,810 according to their whims and doctrines. 27 00:01:01,810 --> 00:01:03,810 What we mean here by this 28 00:01:03,810 --> 00:01:05,810 is whatever constitutes righteousness or corruption 29 00:01:05,810 --> 00:01:07,810 in the scales of the divine law (Shariah), 30 00:01:07,810 --> 00:01:09,810 and what deserves praise or blame 31 00:01:09,810 --> 00:01:11,810 in the eyes of the people of faith, who 32 00:01:11,810 --> 00:01:13,810 pronounce such judgments 33 00:01:13,810 --> 00:01:15,810 and weigh such attributes 34 00:01:15,810 --> 00:01:17,810 against the standard of the wise Shariah. 35 00:01:17,810 --> 00:01:20,129 While sins vary 36 00:01:20,129 --> 00:01:22,129 in their degrees of blameworthiness 37 00:01:22,129 --> 00:01:24,129 before Allah and among His creation, 38 00:01:24,129 --> 00:01:26,129 injustice undeniably stands 39 00:01:26,129 --> 00:01:28,129 at the very forefront, 40 00:01:28,129 --> 00:01:30,129 occupying a prime place 41 00:01:30,129 --> 00:01:32,260 in the ranks of transgressions. 42 00:01:32,260 --> 00:01:34,260 Although injustice likewise 43 00:01:34,260 --> 00:01:36,260 has varying degrees, 44 00:01:36,260 --> 00:01:38,260 no injustice—after associating partners 45 00:01:38,260 --> 00:01:40,260 with Allah—surpasses the injustice 46 00:01:40,260 --> 00:01:42,260 of shedding inviolable blood, 47 00:01:42,260 --> 00:01:44,260 let alone the blood of the masters 48 00:01:44,260 --> 00:01:46,260 among the righteous and the intimate, 49 00:01:46,260 --> 00:01:48,260 near allies of Allah. 50 00:01:48,260 --> 00:01:50,450 The history of mankind has chronicled 51 00:01:50,450 --> 00:01:52,450 the annals of kings, princes, 52 00:01:52,450 --> 00:01:54,450 and governors, 53 00:01:54,450 --> 00:01:56,450 transmitting of their circumstances 54 00:01:56,450 --> 00:01:58,450 a great deal, 55 00:01:58,450 --> 00:02:00,450 recounting their virtues and their vices, 56 00:02:00,450 --> 00:02:02,450 their tyranny and their justice. 57 00:02:02,450 --> 00:02:04,450 However, there is 58 00:02:04,450 --> 00:02:06,450 one historical figure 59 00:02:06,450 --> 00:02:08,449 who became a proverb 60 00:02:08,449 --> 00:02:10,449 in tyranny, particularly in 61 00:02:10,449 --> 00:02:12,509 the shedding of blood. 62 00:02:12,509 --> 00:02:14,509 Historians of diverse 63 00:02:14,509 --> 00:02:16,509 persuasions have unanimously characterized him as such. 64 00:02:16,509 --> 00:02:18,509 This figure 65 00:02:18,509 --> 00:02:20,509 is Al-Hajjaj ibn Yusuf 66 00:02:20,509 --> 00:02:22,639 al-Thaqafi. 67 00:02:22,639 --> 00:02:24,639 So let us draw a little closer 68 00:02:24,639 --> 00:02:26,639 to the life of this man, 69 00:02:26,639 --> 00:02:28,639 to learn something of his biography, 70 00:02:28,639 --> 00:02:30,639 and to take heed from what he did 71 00:02:30,639 --> 00:02:32,639 and what became of him. 72 00:02:32,639 --> 00:02:34,639 For indeed, this man had 73 00:02:34,639 --> 00:02:36,639 contradictory states, 74 00:02:36,639 --> 00:02:38,639 numerous phases, 75 00:02:38,639 --> 00:02:40,639 and transgressions 76 00:02:40,639 --> 00:02:42,639 by which he surpassed the governors before him, 77 00:02:42,639 --> 00:02:44,639 so much so that not even 78 00:02:44,639 --> 00:02:46,639 the Companions, 79 00:02:46,639 --> 00:02:49,659 may Allah be pleased with them, were safe from his harm. 80 00:02:49,659 --> 00:02:51,659 His Name, Lineage, and Birth: 81 00:02:51,659 --> 00:02:53,919 He is Al-Hajjaj 82 00:02:53,919 --> 00:02:55,919 ibn Yusuf ibn Abi 'Aqil 83 00:02:55,919 --> 00:02:57,919 ibn Mas'ud ibn 'Amir 84 00:02:57,919 --> 00:02:59,919 ibn Malik ibn Ka'b 85 00:02:59,919 --> 00:03:01,919 ibn 'Amr ibn Sa'd 86 00:03:01,919 --> 00:03:03,919 ibn 'Awf ibn Thaqif— 87 00:03:03,919 --> 00:03:05,919 who was Qasiyy ibn Munabbih 88 00:03:05,919 --> 00:03:07,919 ibn Bakr ibn Hawazin— 89 00:03:07,919 --> 00:03:09,919 Abu Muhammad al-Thaqafi. 90 00:03:09,919 --> 00:03:12,050 He was born in Al-Ta'if 91 00:03:12,050 --> 00:03:14,050 in the year 39 AH, 92 00:03:14,050 --> 00:03:16,050 or it is said 93 00:03:16,050 --> 00:03:18,050 in the year 40 AH, 94 00:03:18,050 --> 00:03:20,050 and it is also said in the year 41 AH. 95 00:03:20,050 --> 00:03:22,050 It was in Al-Ta'if 96 00:03:22,050 --> 00:03:24,050 that he grew up and was raised. 97 00:03:24,050 --> 00:03:26,500 His Rule: 98 00:03:26,500 --> 00:03:28,500 Al-Hajjaj moved to the Levant (al-Sham) 99 00:03:28,500 --> 00:03:30,500 and attached himself to Rawh ibn Zinba', 100 00:03:30,500 --> 00:03:32,500 the deputy of 'Abd al-Malik 101 00:03:32,500 --> 00:03:34,500 ibn Marwan, 102 00:03:34,500 --> 00:03:36,500 serving among the ranks of his police forces. 103 00:03:36,500 --> 00:03:38,530 He continued to distinguish himself 104 00:03:38,530 --> 00:03:40,530 until 'Abd al-Malik entrusted him 105 00:03:40,530 --> 00:03:42,530 with the command of his army, 106 00:03:42,530 --> 00:03:44,530 upon the recommendation of Rawh ibn Zinba'. 107 00:03:44,530 --> 00:03:46,530 He ordered him to fight 108 00:03:46,530 --> 00:03:48,530 'Abdullah ibn al-Zubayr, 109 00:03:48,530 --> 00:03:50,530 so he marched toward the Hijaz 110 00:03:50,530 --> 00:03:52,530 with a massive army. 111 00:03:52,530 --> 00:03:54,530 He killed 'Abdullah and dispersed 112 00:03:54,530 --> 00:03:56,530 his gathering, 113 00:03:56,530 --> 00:03:58,530 wherefore 'Abd al-Malik appointed him governor over Mecca, 114 00:03:58,530 --> 00:04:00,530 Medina, and Al-Ta'if. 115 00:04:00,530 --> 00:04:02,530 He then dismissed him from them 116 00:04:02,530 --> 00:04:04,530 and appointed him governor over Iraq 117 00:04:04,530 --> 00:04:06,530 after the death of his brother Bishr, 118 00:04:06,530 --> 00:04:08,530 while rebellion was raging therein. 119 00:04:08,530 --> 00:04:10,530 So he set out for Iraq, 120 00:04:10,530 --> 00:04:12,530 crushed the rebellion, 121 00:04:12,530 --> 00:04:14,530 entered Kufa, 122 00:04:14,530 --> 00:04:16,529 and dealt harshly with its people as he did. 123 00:04:16,529 --> 00:04:18,529 He built the city of Wasit 124 00:04:18,529 --> 00:04:20,529 between Basra and Kufa, 125 00:04:20,529 --> 00:04:22,529 and his rule was firmly established over it 126 00:04:22,529 --> 00:04:24,529 and over Iraq for twenty years. 127 00:04:24,529 --> 00:04:27,680 His Treatment of Some of 128 00:04:27,680 --> 00:04:29,680 the Companions and Leading Tabi'un: 129 00:04:29,680 --> 00:04:32,129 The conduct of 130 00:04:32,129 --> 00:04:34,129 Al-Hajjaj was never good 131 00:04:34,129 --> 00:04:36,129 toward the surviving Companions 132 00:04:36,129 --> 00:04:38,129 of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, 133 00:04:38,129 --> 00:04:40,129 nor toward 134 00:04:40,129 --> 00:04:42,129 their prominent students from among 135 00:04:42,129 --> 00:04:44,129 the Tabi'un; for he killed 136 00:04:44,129 --> 00:04:46,129 some of them and mistreated 137 00:04:46,129 --> 00:04:48,129 others with his tongue. 138 00:04:48,129 --> 00:04:50,129 He was not content with targeting their living, 139 00:04:50,129 --> 00:04:52,129 but rather transgressed 140 00:04:52,129 --> 00:04:54,129 against their dead with vile 141 00:04:54,129 --> 00:04:56,259 utterances as well. 142 00:04:56,259 --> 00:04:58,259 Among the most famous of those he transgressed against were 143 00:04:58,259 --> 00:05:00,259 'Abdullah ibn al-Zubayr, 144 00:05:00,259 --> 00:05:02,259 his mother Asma' 145 00:05:02,259 --> 00:05:04,259 bint Abi Bakr, 146 00:05:04,259 --> 00:05:06,259 Anas ibn Malik, 147 00:05:06,259 --> 00:05:08,259 Ibn 'Umar, Sahl ibn Sa'd, 148 00:05:08,259 --> 00:05:10,259 and Jabir ibn 'Abdillah, 149 00:05:10,259 --> 00:05:12,259 may Allah be pleased with them 150 00:05:12,259 --> 00:05:14,290 all. 151 00:05:14,290 --> 00:05:16,290 And from the scholars of the Tabi'un: 152 00:05:16,290 --> 00:05:18,290 Sa'id ibn Jubayr, 153 00:05:18,290 --> 00:05:20,290 Al-Hasan al-Basri, and others. 154 00:05:20,290 --> 00:05:22,420 Among the examples concerning some 155 00:05:22,420 --> 00:05:24,420 of the Companions we mentioned: 156 00:05:24,420 --> 00:05:26,540 his killing of 'Abdullah 157 00:05:26,540 --> 00:05:28,540 ibn al-Zubayr (may Allah be pleased with him) 158 00:05:28,540 --> 00:05:30,540 in Mecca, and his bombarding 159 00:05:30,540 --> 00:05:32,540 of the Ka'bah with catapults 160 00:05:32,540 --> 00:05:34,540 in the year seventy-three 161 00:05:34,540 --> 00:05:36,740 of the Hijrah; 162 00:05:36,740 --> 00:05:38,740 his aggression against Anas ibn Malik, 163 00:05:38,740 --> 00:05:40,829 may Allah be pleased with him; 164 00:05:40,829 --> 00:05:42,829 his insolence against 'Abdullah ibn Mas'ud, 165 00:05:42,829 --> 00:05:44,829 may Allah be pleased with him, 166 00:05:44,829 --> 00:05:46,829 long after he had died; 167 00:05:46,829 --> 00:05:48,829 his abuse of Salamah ibn al-Akwa', 168 00:05:48,829 --> 00:05:50,899 may Allah be pleased with him; 169 00:05:50,899 --> 00:05:52,899 and his mistreatment of Ibn 'Umar, 170 00:05:52,899 --> 00:05:55,759 may Allah be pleased with them both. 171 00:05:55,759 --> 00:05:57,759 What Has Been Mentioned of His Merits: 172 00:05:57,759 --> 00:05:59,889 Notwithstanding what 173 00:05:59,889 --> 00:06:01,889 historians have recorded about Al-Hajjaj 174 00:06:01,889 --> 00:06:03,889 regarding his evils, 175 00:06:03,889 --> 00:06:05,889 he nevertheless had merits 176 00:06:05,889 --> 00:06:07,889 cited by his biographers. 177 00:06:07,889 --> 00:06:09,889 This is in accordance with the justice 178 00:06:09,889 --> 00:06:11,889 commanded by Allah Almighty 179 00:06:11,889 --> 00:06:13,889 in His saying: 180 00:06:13,889 --> 00:06:15,889 "O you who have believed, 181 00:06:15,889 --> 00:06:17,889 be persistently standing firm for Allah, 182 00:06:17,889 --> 00:06:19,889 witnesses in justice, 183 00:06:19,889 --> 00:06:21,889 and do not let 184 00:06:21,889 --> 00:06:23,889 the hatred of a people prevent you 185 00:06:23,889 --> 00:06:25,889 from being just. 186 00:06:25,889 --> 00:06:27,889 “O ye who believe! Be steadfast witnesses for Allah in equity, and let not hatred of any people seduce you that ye deal not justly. Deal justly, that is nearer to your duty. Observe your duty to Allah. Lo! Allah is Informed of what ye do.” (5:8) 187 00:06:27,889 --> 00:06:29,889 And fear Allah; 188 00:06:29,889 --> 00:06:31,889 indeed, Allah is fully Aware 189 00:06:31,889 --> 00:06:34,139 of what you do." 190 00:06:34,139 --> 00:06:36,139 Al-Hajjaj was once mentioned 191 00:06:36,139 --> 00:06:38,139 unfavorably in the presence of 'Abd al-Wahhab al-Thaqafi, 192 00:06:38,139 --> 00:06:40,139 so he grew angry and said: 193 00:06:40,139 --> 00:06:42,139 "You only ever mention 194 00:06:42,139 --> 00:06:44,139 the faults! 195 00:06:44,139 --> 00:06:46,139 Do you not know that he was the first to 196 00:06:46,139 --> 00:06:48,139 strike a dirham inscribed with: 197 00:06:48,139 --> 00:06:50,139 'There is no deity except Allah, 198 00:06:50,139 --> 00:06:52,139 Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah,' 199 00:06:52,139 --> 00:06:54,139 and the first to build a city 200 00:06:54,139 --> 00:06:56,139 after the Companions in Islam, 201 00:06:56,139 --> 00:06:58,139 and the first to introduce 202 00:06:58,139 --> 00:07:00,139 camel litters (mahamil). 203 00:07:00,139 --> 00:07:02,139 Also, a Muslim woman 204 00:07:02,139 --> 00:07:04,139 was taken captive in India, 205 00:07:04,139 --> 00:07:06,139 so she cried out, "O Hajjaj!" 206 00:07:06,139 --> 00:07:08,139 Word of this reached him, 207 00:07:08,139 --> 00:07:10,139 and he kept saying, 208 00:07:10,139 --> 00:07:12,139 "Here I am at your service! Here I am!" 209 00:07:12,139 --> 00:07:14,139 He spent seven thousand dirhams 210 00:07:14,139 --> 00:07:16,139 until he rescued the woman. 211 00:07:16,139 --> 00:07:18,339 Among the merits 212 00:07:18,339 --> 00:07:20,339 recorded by historians 213 00:07:20,339 --> 00:07:22,339 for al-Hajjaj 214 00:07:22,339 --> 00:07:24,370 was his great care for the Noble Qur'an, 215 00:07:24,370 --> 00:07:26,370 his eloquence and rhetoric 216 00:07:26,370 --> 00:07:28,370 in his speech 217 00:07:28,370 --> 00:07:31,360 and his sermons, 218 00:07:31,360 --> 00:07:33,680 and his Islamic conquests. 219 00:07:33,680 --> 00:07:35,680 He played an undeniable role 220 00:07:35,680 --> 00:07:37,680 in spreading Islam 221 00:07:37,680 --> 00:07:39,680 to numerous lands. 222 00:07:39,680 --> 00:07:41,680 Ibn Kathir said, 223 00:07:41,680 --> 00:07:43,680 "He was fiercely eager for jihad." 224 00:07:43,680 --> 00:07:46,639 Another trait was his pardoning of those who 225 00:07:46,639 --> 00:07:48,639 spoke well to him 226 00:07:48,639 --> 00:07:50,639 and answered him with candid honesty; 227 00:07:50,639 --> 00:07:52,959 regarding this, 228 00:07:52,959 --> 00:07:54,959 there are many accounts. 229 00:07:54,959 --> 00:07:56,959 Among them is that 230 00:07:56,959 --> 00:07:58,959 he once delivered a sermon, 231 00:07:58,959 --> 00:08:00,959 saying, "O people! 232 00:08:00,959 --> 00:08:02,959 Restraining oneself from what Allah has forbidden 233 00:08:02,959 --> 00:08:04,959 is far easier than enduring 234 00:08:04,959 --> 00:08:07,019 the punishment of Allah." 235 00:08:07,019 --> 00:08:09,019 A man stood up before him 236 00:08:09,019 --> 00:08:11,019 and said to him, 237 00:08:11,019 --> 00:08:13,019 "Woe to you, O Hajjaj! 238 00:08:13,019 --> 00:08:15,019 How brazen is your face, 239 00:08:15,019 --> 00:08:17,019 and how little is your shame! 240 00:08:17,019 --> 00:08:19,019 You do all the evil that you do, 241 00:08:19,019 --> 00:08:21,019 yet you utter words like these?! 242 00:08:21,019 --> 00:08:23,149 You have failed, and your effort has gone utterly astray!" 243 00:08:23,149 --> 00:08:25,149 Al-Hajjaj said to the guards, 244 00:08:25,149 --> 00:08:27,149 "Seize him." 245 00:08:27,149 --> 00:08:29,149 When he finished his sermon, 246 00:08:29,149 --> 00:08:31,149 he said to the man, 247 00:08:31,149 --> 00:08:33,220 "What emboldened you against me?" 248 00:08:33,220 --> 00:08:35,220 The man replied, 249 00:08:35,220 --> 00:08:37,220 "Woe to you, O Hajjaj! 250 00:08:37,220 --> 00:08:39,220 You dare to defy Allah, 251 00:08:39,220 --> 00:08:41,220 yet I should not dare to defy you?! 252 00:08:41,220 --> 00:08:43,220 How could I not dare to confront you, 253 00:08:43,220 --> 00:08:45,220 while you dare to defy Allah, 254 00:08:45,220 --> 00:08:47,220 the Lord of the worlds?!" 255 00:08:47,220 --> 00:08:49,340 Thereupon al-Hajjaj said, 256 00:08:49,340 --> 00:08:51,340 "Let him go." 257 00:08:51,340 --> 00:08:54,399 So he was released. 258 00:08:54,399 --> 00:08:56,399 Statements of some scholars and historians concerning him: 259 00:08:56,399 --> 00:08:58,690 'Umar ibn 'Abd al-'Aziz said, 260 00:08:58,690 --> 00:09:00,690 "If every nation competed in wickedness, 261 00:09:00,690 --> 00:09:02,690 each nation bringing forth 262 00:09:02,690 --> 00:09:04,690 its most vile evildoer, 263 00:09:04,690 --> 00:09:06,690 and we brought forth al-Hajjaj alone, 264 00:09:06,690 --> 00:09:08,750 we would surely surpass them all." 265 00:09:08,750 --> 00:09:10,750 Ibn Kathir said, 266 00:09:10,750 --> 00:09:12,750 "He possessed great courage and leadership, 267 00:09:12,750 --> 00:09:14,750 but his sword was reckless with oppression, 268 00:09:14,750 --> 00:09:16,750 and he frequently 269 00:09:16,750 --> 00:09:18,750 killed lives that Allah had made sacred 270 00:09:18,750 --> 00:09:20,750 over the slightest suspicion; 271 00:09:20,750 --> 00:09:22,750 he would become enraged with the fury 272 00:09:22,750 --> 00:09:25,009 of tyrannical kings." 273 00:09:25,009 --> 00:09:27,009 Al-Dhahabi said, 274 00:09:27,009 --> 00:09:29,009 "He was a tyrannical despot, 275 00:09:29,009 --> 00:09:31,009 a malicious Nasibi, 276 00:09:31,009 --> 00:09:33,009 a shedder of blood. 277 00:09:33,009 --> 00:09:35,009 Yet he possessed bravery, 278 00:09:35,009 --> 00:09:37,009 daring resolve, 279 00:09:37,009 --> 00:09:39,009 cunning, shrewdness, 280 00:09:39,009 --> 00:09:41,009 eloquence, articulateness, 281 00:09:41,009 --> 00:09:43,009 and veneration for the Qur'an. 282 00:09:43,009 --> 00:09:45,009 I have detailed his terrible 283 00:09:45,009 --> 00:09:47,009 record in Tarikh 284 00:09:47,009 --> 00:09:49,009 al-Kabir: his siege 285 00:09:49,009 --> 00:09:51,009 of Ibn al-Zubayr at the Ka'bah, 286 00:09:51,009 --> 00:09:53,009 his bombarding it with catapults, 287 00:09:53,009 --> 00:09:55,009 his humiliation 288 00:09:55,009 --> 00:09:57,009 of the people of the Two Holy Sanctuaries, 289 00:09:57,009 --> 00:09:59,009 followed by his governorship over Iraq 290 00:09:59,009 --> 00:10:01,009 and the entire East for twenty 291 00:10:01,009 --> 00:10:03,009 years, 292 00:10:03,009 --> 00:10:05,009 his wars against Ibn al-Ash'ath, 293 00:10:05,009 --> 00:10:07,009 and his delaying of the prayers 294 00:10:07,009 --> 00:10:09,009 until Allah finally destroyed him. 295 00:10:09,009 --> 00:10:11,009 We revile him and do not love him; 296 00:10:11,009 --> 00:10:13,009 rather, we hate him for the sake of Allah, 297 00:10:13,009 --> 00:10:15,009 for doing so is 298 00:10:15,009 --> 00:10:17,009 among the firmest handholds of faith. 299 00:10:17,009 --> 00:10:19,009 Yet he had good deeds 300 00:10:19,009 --> 00:10:21,009 submerged in the ocean of his sins, 301 00:10:21,009 --> 00:10:23,009 and his affair rests with Allah. 302 00:10:23,009 --> 00:10:25,009 He affirmed basic monotheism (Tawhid) 303 00:10:25,009 --> 00:10:27,009 on the whole, 304 00:10:27,009 --> 00:10:29,009 and he has counterparts among tyrannical 305 00:10:29,009 --> 00:10:31,360 despots and rulers." 306 00:10:31,360 --> 00:10:33,360 It was narrated from Salih ibn Ahmad 307 00:10:33,360 --> 00:10:35,360 ibn Hanbal that he said to his father, 308 00:10:35,360 --> 00:10:37,389 "A man mentions before him 309 00:10:37,389 --> 00:10:39,389 al-Hajjaj or someone else, 310 00:10:39,389 --> 00:10:41,419 and curses him." Ahmad replied, 311 00:10:41,419 --> 00:10:43,419 "I do not like that; 312 00:10:43,419 --> 00:10:45,419 it would be better if he phrased it saying, 313 00:10:45,419 --> 00:10:47,419 'May the curse of Allah 314 00:10:47,419 --> 00:10:49,419 be upon the wrongdoers.'" 315 00:10:49,419 --> 00:10:51,899 His death: 316 00:10:51,899 --> 00:10:53,899 Al-Hajjaj passed away on the eve 317 00:10:53,899 --> 00:10:55,899 of the twenty-seventh of the month of Ramadan— 318 00:10:55,899 --> 00:10:57,899 and it was also said 319 00:10:57,899 --> 00:10:59,899 five days before the end 320 00:10:59,899 --> 00:11:01,899 of Ramadan— 321 00:11:01,899 --> 00:11:03,899 in the year 95 AH. 322 00:11:03,899 --> 00:11:05,899 He lived fifty-five years, 323 00:11:05,899 --> 00:11:07,899 according to the view that 324 00:11:07,899 --> 00:11:09,899 he was born in the Year of Unity ('Am al-Jama'ah), 325 00:11:09,899 --> 00:11:11,899 in the year 40 AH. 326 00:11:11,899 --> 00:11:14,029 When he was on his deathbed, 327 00:11:14,029 --> 00:11:16,029 he began reciting: 328 00:11:16,029 --> 00:11:18,220 "O my Lord! My enemies have sworn an oath and strived hard, 329 00:11:18,220 --> 00:11:20,220 asserting 330 00:11:20,220 --> 00:11:22,220 that I am a man 331 00:11:22,220 --> 00:11:24,220 among the dwellers of the Fire! 332 00:11:24,220 --> 00:11:26,220 Do they swear such an oath 333 00:11:26,220 --> 00:11:28,220 upon blind ignorance? Woe to them! 334 00:11:28,220 --> 00:11:30,220 What do they know of the One of abundant 335 00:11:30,220 --> 00:11:32,220 pardoning and concealing of faults?!" 336 00:11:32,220 --> 00:11:34,639 When he died, 337 00:11:34,639 --> 00:11:36,639 no one knew of his death 338 00:11:36,639 --> 00:11:38,639 until a bondwoman looked down from a rooftop, 339 00:11:38,639 --> 00:11:40,639 wept, and announced: 340 00:11:40,639 --> 00:11:42,639 "Lo! Indeed, 341 00:11:42,639 --> 00:11:44,639 the feeder of the hungry, 342 00:11:44,639 --> 00:11:46,639 the maker of orphans, 343 00:11:46,639 --> 00:11:48,639 the widower of women, 344 00:11:48,639 --> 00:11:50,639 the cleaver of heads, 345 00:11:50,639 --> 00:11:52,639 and the master of the people of the Levant 346 00:11:52,639 --> 00:11:54,860 has died!" 347 00:11:54,860 --> 00:11:56,860 Then she began chanting: 348 00:11:56,860 --> 00:11:58,860 "Today, those who once hated us will pity us, 349 00:11:58,860 --> 00:12:00,860 while those who once feared us 350 00:12:00,860 --> 00:12:02,860 will now feel safe 351 00:12:02,860 --> 00:12:05,019 from us." 352 00:12:05,019 --> 00:12:07,019 Hammad ibn Abi Sulayman said, 353 00:12:07,019 --> 00:12:09,019 "I told Ibrahim 354 00:12:09,019 --> 00:12:11,019 al-Nakha'i that al-Hajjaj had died, 355 00:12:11,019 --> 00:12:13,019 and he wept 356 00:12:13,019 --> 00:12:15,120 out of sheer joy." 357 00:12:15,120 --> 00:12:17,120 And from Ibn Tawus, on the authority of his father: 358 00:12:17,120 --> 00:12:19,120 he was informed of the death 359 00:12:19,120 --> 00:12:21,120 of al-Hajjaj repeatedly, 360 00:12:21,120 --> 00:12:23,120 and when he verified his death, 361 00:12:23,120 --> 00:12:25,120 he recited: "So the remnants of the people who did wrong were cut off. 362 00:12:25,120 --> 00:12:27,120 “So of the people who did wrong the last remnant was cut off. Praise be to Allah, Lord of the Worlds!” (6:45) 363 00:12:27,120 --> 00:12:29,120 And praise be to Allah, 364 00:12:29,120 --> 00:12:31,250 the Lord of the worlds." 365 00:12:31,250 --> 00:12:33,250 More than one narrator reported 366 00:12:33,250 --> 00:12:35,250 that when al-Hasan was given the glad tidings 367 00:12:35,250 --> 00:12:37,250 of the death of al-Hajjaj, 368 00:12:37,250 --> 00:12:39,250 he fell prostrate in gratitude to Allah 369 00:12:39,250 --> 00:12:41,250 the Almighty; he had been 370 00:12:41,250 --> 00:12:43,250 in hiding, so he came out 371 00:12:43,250 --> 00:12:45,250 and said, "O Allah, 372 00:12:45,250 --> 00:12:47,250 You have caused him to die, so rid us 373 00:12:47,250 --> 00:12:50,139 of his oppressive ways." 374 00:12:50,139 --> 00:12:52,139 From this event, there are several lessons: 375 00:12:52,139 --> 00:12:54,139 First, 376 00:12:54,139 --> 00:12:56,139 a person's biography 377 00:12:56,139 --> 00:12:58,139 constitutes his lasting history after him, 378 00:12:58,139 --> 00:13:00,139 whether in praise or condemnation; 379 00:13:00,139 --> 00:13:02,139 whoever lives his life 380 00:13:02,139 --> 00:13:04,139 righteously will be praised, 381 00:13:04,139 --> 00:13:06,139 and whoever spends his life 382 00:13:06,139 --> 00:13:08,559 corruptly will be condemned. 383 00:13:08,559 --> 00:13:10,559 Second, 384 00:13:10,559 --> 00:13:12,559 a single person may combine 385 00:13:12,559 --> 00:13:14,559 commendable traits with vile, 386 00:13:14,559 --> 00:13:16,559 wicked qualities; 387 00:13:16,559 --> 00:13:18,559 there is scarcely an evil person who does not have 388 00:13:18,559 --> 00:13:20,559 some praiseworthy qualities 389 00:13:20,559 --> 00:13:22,720 alongside his wickedness. 390 00:13:22,720 --> 00:13:24,720 Third, 391 00:13:24,720 --> 00:13:26,720 injustice is an enduring stigma of blame and disgrace 392 00:13:26,720 --> 00:13:28,720 that cannot be erased by 393 00:13:28,720 --> 00:13:30,720 any of the merits mentioned, 394 00:13:30,720 --> 00:13:32,879 nor does it fade with the passing of time. 395 00:13:32,879 --> 00:13:34,879 Fourth, 396 00:13:34,879 --> 00:13:36,879 a person must maintain good expectations 397 00:13:36,879 --> 00:13:38,879 of Allah, no matter how numerous 398 00:13:38,879 --> 00:13:41,009 his sins may be. 399 00:13:41,009 --> 00:13:43,009 Fifth: 400 00:13:43,009 --> 00:13:45,009 fairness and detachment from the emotions 401 00:13:45,009 --> 00:13:47,009 and whims of the self 402 00:13:47,009 --> 00:13:49,009 are the true standard by which 403 00:13:49,009 --> 00:13:51,009 we ought to measure people, 404 00:13:51,009 --> 00:13:55,179 and through which we should pass just judgment. 405 00:13:55,179 --> 00:13:57,179 Ramadan: 406 00:13:57,179 --> 00:13:59,179 lessons and reflections.