1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:03,000 In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. 2 00:00:15,220 --> 00:00:18,219 The Mawaddah Association is pleased 3 00:00:18,219 --> 00:00:22,219 to present to you snapshots from the lives of the Companions, 4 00:00:22,219 --> 00:00:25,219 by 'Abd al-Rahman Ra'fat al-Basha, 5 00:00:25,219 --> 00:00:27,260 may Allah have mercy on him. 6 00:00:27,260 --> 00:00:33,140 'Umayr ibn Sa'd, may Allah be pleased with him. 7 00:00:47,990 --> 00:00:50,990 We previously witnessed a unique and radiant episode 8 00:00:50,990 --> 00:00:54,990 from the youth of the noble Companion 'Umayr ibn Sa'd. 9 00:00:54,990 --> 00:00:59,990 Now, let us consider a magnificent and luminous portrait 10 00:00:59,990 --> 00:01:01,990 from his later life. 11 00:01:01,990 --> 00:01:04,989 You will find that this second picture 12 00:01:04,989 --> 00:01:08,989 is no less magnificent or splendid than the first. 13 00:01:08,989 --> 00:01:13,180 The people of Homs were known for constantly grumbling about their governors, 14 00:01:13,180 --> 00:01:15,180 relentlessly lodging complaints against them. 15 00:01:15,180 --> 00:01:17,180 No sooner did a governor arrive among them 16 00:01:17,180 --> 00:01:19,180 than they found fault with him, 17 00:01:19,180 --> 00:01:21,180 tallied up his shortcomings, 18 00:01:21,180 --> 00:01:24,180 took their grievances to the Caliph of the Muslims, 19 00:01:24,180 --> 00:01:28,180 and urged him to replace him with someone better. 20 00:01:28,180 --> 00:01:31,180 Therefore, al-Faruq, may Allah be pleased with him, resolved 21 00:01:31,180 --> 00:01:35,180 to dispatch a governor to them whom they could not criticize, 22 00:01:35,180 --> 00:01:38,180 nor find any flaw in his conduct. 23 00:01:38,180 --> 00:01:41,180 He examined his finest men before him, 24 00:01:41,180 --> 00:01:44,180 testing their mettle, branch by branch, 25 00:01:44,180 --> 00:01:47,180 and found none better than 'Umayr ibn Sa'd. 26 00:01:47,180 --> 00:01:51,180 At that time, 'Umayr 27 00:01:51,180 --> 00:01:54,180 was actively campaigning throughout the Jazira region of the Levant, 28 00:01:54,180 --> 00:01:57,180 at the head of his army, fighting in the cause of Allah— 29 00:01:57,180 --> 00:02:00,180 liberating cities, demolishing strongholds, 30 00:02:00,180 --> 00:02:03,180 subjugating tribes, 31 00:02:03,180 --> 00:02:07,180 and establishing mosques in every land his feet trod upon. 32 00:02:07,180 --> 00:02:09,180 Despite this, 33 00:02:09,180 --> 00:02:11,180 the Commander of the Believers summoned him, 34 00:02:11,180 --> 00:02:14,180 entrusted him with the governorship of Homs, 35 00:02:14,180 --> 00:02:16,180 and ordered him to proceed there. 36 00:02:16,180 --> 00:02:19,180 He complied reluctantly, 37 00:02:19,180 --> 00:02:24,180 for he preferred nothing over jihad in the cause of Allah. 38 00:02:24,180 --> 00:02:26,280 When 'Umayr reached Homs, 39 00:02:26,280 --> 00:02:29,280 he called the people to a congregational prayer. 40 00:02:29,280 --> 00:02:32,280 Once the prayer was concluded, he addressed the congregation; 41 00:02:32,280 --> 00:02:34,280 he praised and glorified Allah, 42 00:02:34,280 --> 00:02:38,280 invoked blessings upon His Prophet Muhammad, and then said: 43 00:02:38,280 --> 00:02:40,280 "O people! 44 00:02:40,280 --> 00:02:44,280 Indeed, Islam is a fortified stronghold with a sturdy gate. 45 00:02:44,280 --> 00:02:49,280 The fortress of Islam is justice, and its gate is truth. 46 00:02:49,280 --> 00:02:52,280 If the fortress is demolished and the gate is shattered, 47 00:02:52,280 --> 00:02:55,280 the sanctuary of this religion will be breached. 48 00:02:55,280 --> 00:02:58,280 Indeed, Islam remains impregnable 49 00:02:58,280 --> 00:03:00,280 so long as the governing authority remains firm. 50 00:03:00,280 --> 00:03:03,280 The firmness of authority does not lie in lashing with whips, 51 00:03:03,280 --> 00:03:05,280 nor in slaying with the sword, 52 00:03:05,280 --> 00:03:09,310 but rather in judging with justice and upholding the truth." 53 00:03:09,310 --> 00:03:11,310 He then set about his duties, 54 00:03:11,310 --> 00:03:14,310 to implement for them the charter he had outlined 55 00:03:14,310 --> 00:03:16,310 in his brief sermon. 56 00:03:16,310 --> 00:03:20,310 'Umayr ibn Sa'd spent a full year in Homs 57 00:03:20,310 --> 00:03:23,310 without writing a single letter to the Commander of the Believers, 58 00:03:23,310 --> 00:03:26,310 and without sending to the public treasury of the Muslims 59 00:03:26,310 --> 00:03:28,310 a single dirham or dinar of revenue. 60 00:03:28,310 --> 00:03:31,310 Doubts began to trouble 'Umar, 61 00:03:31,310 --> 00:03:34,310 for he was intensely anxious about his governors 62 00:03:34,310 --> 00:03:36,310 falling prey to the temptations of power; 63 00:03:36,310 --> 00:03:41,310 in his eyes, none was infallible except the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him. 64 00:03:41,310 --> 00:03:43,310 So he instructed his scribe: 65 00:03:43,310 --> 00:03:45,310 "Write to 'Umayr ibn Sa'd 66 00:03:45,310 --> 00:03:46,310 and tell him: 67 00:03:46,310 --> 00:03:49,310 'When the letter of the Commander of the Believers reaches you, 68 00:03:49,310 --> 00:03:52,310 leave Homs and report to him, 69 00:03:52,310 --> 00:03:56,310 bringing with you whatever revenue of the Muslims you have collected.'" 70 00:03:56,310 --> 00:04:01,310 'Umayr ibn Sa'd received the letter of 'Umar, may Allah be pleased with both of them. 71 00:04:01,310 --> 00:04:03,310 He gathered his pouch of provisions, 72 00:04:03,310 --> 00:04:07,310 slung his bowl and his ablution vessel over his shoulder, 73 00:04:07,310 --> 00:04:09,310 grasped his spear in his hand, 74 00:04:09,310 --> 00:04:13,310 left Homs and its governance behind, 75 00:04:13,310 --> 00:04:17,310 and set out on foot, hastening his pace toward Medina. 76 00:04:17,310 --> 00:04:20,310 By the time 'Umayr approached Medina, 77 00:04:20,310 --> 00:04:23,310 his complexion had paled, 78 00:04:23,310 --> 00:04:26,310 his body had grown emaciated, his hair had grown long, 79 00:04:26,310 --> 00:04:29,410 and the strain of travel was evident upon him. 80 00:04:29,410 --> 00:04:33,410 'Umayr entered upon the Commander of the Believers, 'Umar ibn al-Khattab. 81 00:04:33,410 --> 00:04:36,410 Al-Faruq was startled by his condition and asked, 82 00:04:36,410 --> 00:04:38,410 "What has happened to you, 'Umayr?" 83 00:04:38,410 --> 00:04:39,410 He replied, 84 00:04:39,410 --> 00:04:42,410 "Nothing is wrong with me, Commander of the Believers. 85 00:04:42,410 --> 00:04:45,410 By Allah's praise, I am healthy and sound; 86 00:04:45,410 --> 00:04:48,410 I possess all of the worldly life with me, 87 00:04:48,410 --> 00:04:50,410 dragging it by its horns." 88 00:04:50,410 --> 00:04:51,410 'Umar asked, 89 00:04:51,410 --> 00:04:54,410 "And what worldly goods do you have with you?" 90 00:04:54,410 --> 00:04:58,410 —thinking he was carrying funds for the Muslims' public treasury. 91 00:04:58,410 --> 00:04:59,410 He replied: 92 00:04:59,410 --> 00:05:01,410 "I have my sack, 93 00:05:01,410 --> 00:05:03,410 in which I carry my provisions; 94 00:05:03,410 --> 00:05:05,410 I have my wooden bowl, 95 00:05:05,410 --> 00:05:09,410 from which I eat and over which I wash my head and clothes; 96 00:05:09,410 --> 00:05:12,410 and I have a waterskin for my ablutions and drinking water. 97 00:05:12,410 --> 00:05:16,410 Moreover, O Commander of the Believers, the entire world 98 00:05:16,410 --> 00:05:18,410 is merely subordinate to this gear of mine, 99 00:05:18,410 --> 00:05:22,410 a superfluous excess that neither I nor anyone else has any need for." 100 00:05:22,410 --> 00:05:24,410 'Umar asked, 101 00:05:24,410 --> 00:05:26,410 "And did you come on foot?" 102 00:05:26,410 --> 00:05:27,410 He said, 103 00:05:27,410 --> 00:05:29,410 "Yes, Commander of the Believers." 104 00:05:29,410 --> 00:05:30,410 'Umar asked, 105 00:05:30,410 --> 00:05:34,410 "Did the administration not grant you a mount to ride?" 106 00:05:34,410 --> 00:05:35,410 He replied, 107 00:05:35,410 --> 00:05:37,410 "They did not give me one, 108 00:05:37,410 --> 00:05:39,410 and I did not ask them for it." 109 00:05:39,410 --> 00:05:40,410 'Umar asked, 110 00:05:40,410 --> 00:05:43,410 "And where is that which you have brought for the treasury?" 111 00:05:43,410 --> 00:05:44,410 He replied, 112 00:05:44,410 --> 00:05:46,410 "I have brought nothing." 113 00:05:46,410 --> 00:05:48,410 'Umar asked, "And why not?" 114 00:05:48,410 --> 00:05:49,410 He answered, 115 00:05:49,410 --> 00:05:51,410 "When I arrived in Homs, 116 00:05:51,410 --> 00:05:53,410 I assembled the righteous among its people 117 00:05:53,410 --> 00:05:56,410 and entrusted them with collecting their revenue. 118 00:05:56,410 --> 00:05:59,410 Whenever they gathered anything from it, 119 00:05:59,410 --> 00:06:01,410 I consulted them concerning it, 120 00:06:01,410 --> 00:06:03,410 allocated it to its rightful purposes, 121 00:06:03,410 --> 00:06:06,410 and distributed it among the deserving recipients among them." 122 00:06:06,410 --> 00:06:08,410 'Umar then said to his scribe, 123 00:06:08,410 --> 00:06:12,410 "Renew the appointment for 'Umayr over the governorship of Homs." 124 00:06:12,410 --> 00:06:14,410 But 'Umayr said, 125 00:06:14,410 --> 00:06:15,410 "Far from it! 126 00:06:15,410 --> 00:06:18,410 For that is something I do not desire; 127 00:06:18,410 --> 00:06:22,410 and I shall not govern for you or for anyone after you, Commander of the Believers." 128 00:06:22,410 --> 00:06:27,410 He then asked his permission to depart for a village on the outskirts of Medina, 129 00:06:27,410 --> 00:06:29,410 where his family resided, 130 00:06:29,410 --> 00:06:30,410 and 'Umar granted him permission. 131 00:06:30,410 --> 00:06:34,500 Not long after 'Umayr had gone to his village, 132 00:06:34,500 --> 00:06:38,500 'Umar wished to test his companion 133 00:06:38,500 --> 00:06:40,500 and ascertain his true condition. 134 00:06:40,500 --> 00:06:44,500 He said to one of his trustworthy aides, named al-Harith: 135 00:06:44,500 --> 00:06:47,500 "Go, Harith, to 'Umayr ibn Sa'd 136 00:06:47,500 --> 00:06:49,500 and stay with him as a guest. 137 00:06:49,500 --> 00:06:52,500 If you see upon him signs of affluence, 138 00:06:52,500 --> 00:06:54,500 return as you went; 139 00:06:54,500 --> 00:06:56,500 but if you find him in dire hardship, 140 00:06:56,500 --> 00:06:58,500 give him these dinars." 141 00:06:58,500 --> 00:07:02,500 He handed him a pouch containing one hundred dinars. 142 00:07:02,500 --> 00:07:06,500 Al-Harith set out until he arrived at the village of 'Umayr ibn Sa'd. 143 00:07:06,500 --> 00:07:09,500 He inquired about him, was directed to him, 144 00:07:09,500 --> 00:07:11,500 and when he met him, he said, 145 00:07:11,500 --> 00:07:13,500 "Peace be upon you, and the mercy of Allah." 146 00:07:13,500 --> 00:07:15,500 'Umayr replied, 147 00:07:15,500 --> 00:07:18,500 "And upon you be peace, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings. 148 00:07:18,500 --> 00:07:20,500 Where have you come from?" 149 00:07:20,500 --> 00:07:21,500 He replied, 150 00:07:21,500 --> 00:07:23,600 "From Medina." 151 00:07:23,600 --> 00:07:24,600 'Umayr asked, 152 00:07:24,600 --> 00:07:26,600 "How did you leave the Muslims?" 153 00:07:26,600 --> 00:07:28,600 He answered, "Well." 154 00:07:28,600 --> 00:07:29,600 'Umayr asked, 155 00:07:29,600 --> 00:07:31,600 "How is the Commander of the Believers?" 156 00:07:31,600 --> 00:07:33,600 He replied, 157 00:07:33,600 --> 00:07:35,600 "Healthy and upright." 158 00:07:35,600 --> 00:07:36,600 'Umayr asked, 159 00:07:36,600 --> 00:07:38,600 "Does he still enforce the prescribed legal penalties?" 160 00:07:38,600 --> 00:07:39,600 He replied, "Indeed, 161 00:07:39,600 --> 00:07:42,600 he even had a son of his lashed for an immoral act he committed, 162 00:07:42,600 --> 00:07:44,600 and the son died from the flogging." 163 00:07:44,600 --> 00:07:45,660 'Umayr said, 164 00:07:45,660 --> 00:07:47,660 "O Allah, aid 'Umar, 165 00:07:47,660 --> 00:07:49,660 for I know him only 166 00:07:49,660 --> 00:07:51,660 to possess intense love for You." 167 00:07:51,660 --> 00:07:54,660 Al-Harith stayed as a guest of 'Umayr ibn Sa'd 168 00:07:54,660 --> 00:07:56,660 for three nights. 169 00:07:56,660 --> 00:07:58,660 Each night, 'Umayr would bring out for him 170 00:07:58,660 --> 00:08:00,660 a loaf of barley bread. 171 00:08:00,660 --> 00:08:02,660 When the third day arrived, 172 00:08:02,660 --> 00:08:05,660 a local man said to al-Harith, 173 00:08:05,660 --> 00:08:08,660 "You have placed a severe strain on 'Umayr and his household; 174 00:08:08,660 --> 00:08:13,660 they have nothing except this loaf, with which they favor you over themselves, 175 00:08:13,660 --> 00:08:16,660 and hunger and exhaustion have taken a heavy toll on them. 176 00:08:16,660 --> 00:08:19,660 If you would consider moving from them to stay with me, 177 00:08:19,660 --> 00:08:20,660 please do so." 178 00:08:20,660 --> 00:08:21,660 At that point, 179 00:08:21,660 --> 00:08:23,660 al-Harith took out the dinars 180 00:08:23,660 --> 00:08:26,699 and handed them to 'Umayr. 181 00:08:26,699 --> 00:08:27,699 'Umayr asked, 182 00:08:27,699 --> 00:08:29,730 "What is this?" 183 00:08:29,730 --> 00:08:30,730 Al-Harith replied, 184 00:08:30,730 --> 00:08:33,730 "The Commander of the Believers sent this to you." 185 00:08:33,730 --> 00:08:34,730 'Umayr said, 186 00:08:34,730 --> 00:08:36,730 "Return them to him, 187 00:08:36,730 --> 00:08:38,730 convey my greetings of peace to him, 188 00:08:38,730 --> 00:08:39,730 and tell him 189 00:08:39,730 --> 00:08:42,820 that 'Umayr has no need of them." 190 00:08:42,820 --> 00:08:43,820 But his wife called out— 191 00:08:43,820 --> 00:08:47,820 having overheard what was transpiring between her husband and his guest— 192 00:08:47,820 --> 00:08:48,820 and said, 193 00:08:48,820 --> 00:08:50,820 "Take them, 'Umayr! 194 00:08:50,820 --> 00:08:53,820 If you need them, you can spend them, 195 00:08:53,820 --> 00:08:56,820 and if not, you can put them in their rightful places, 196 00:08:56,820 --> 00:08:59,919 for the needy here are many." 197 00:08:59,919 --> 00:09:01,919 When al-Harith heard her words, 198 00:09:02,919 --> 00:09:05,919 he cast the dinars before 'Umayr and departed. 199 00:09:05,919 --> 00:09:08,049 'Umayr took the money 200 00:09:08,049 --> 00:09:11,049 and divided it into small pouches, 201 00:09:11,049 --> 00:09:13,049 and did not go to sleep that night 202 00:09:13,049 --> 00:09:16,049 until he had distributed it among the needy, 203 00:09:16,049 --> 00:09:19,269 giving special priority to the children of martyrs. 204 00:09:19,269 --> 00:09:21,269 Al-Harith then returned to Medina, 205 00:09:21,269 --> 00:09:23,269 and 'Umar asked him, 206 00:09:23,269 --> 00:09:25,269 "What did you see, O Harith?" 207 00:09:25,269 --> 00:09:26,269 He replied, 208 00:09:26,269 --> 00:09:30,269 "Dire hardship, O Commander of the Faithful." 209 00:09:30,269 --> 00:09:31,269 'Umar asked, 210 00:09:31,269 --> 00:09:33,269 "Did you hand over the dinars to him?" 211 00:09:33,269 --> 00:09:36,269 He answered, "Yes, O Commander of the Faithful." 212 00:09:36,269 --> 00:09:37,269 'Umar asked, 213 00:09:37,269 --> 00:09:39,269 "And what did he do with them?" 214 00:09:39,269 --> 00:09:40,269 He replied, 215 00:09:40,269 --> 00:09:42,269 "I do not know, 216 00:09:42,269 --> 00:09:46,269 but I do not believe he kept a single dirham for himself." 217 00:09:46,269 --> 00:09:49,269 Thereupon, al-Faruq wrote to 'Umayr: 218 00:09:49,269 --> 00:09:52,269 "When this letter of mine reaches you, 219 00:09:52,269 --> 00:09:56,399 do not set it down from your hand until you have come to me." 220 00:09:56,399 --> 00:09:59,399 'Umayr ibn Sa'd set out for Medina 221 00:09:59,399 --> 00:10:01,399 and entered upon the Commander of the Faithful, 222 00:10:01,399 --> 00:10:05,399 who greeted him warmly, welcomed him, and drew his seat close. 223 00:10:05,399 --> 00:10:07,399 Then he said to him, 224 00:10:07,399 --> 00:10:09,399 "What did you do with the dinars, O 'Umayr?" 225 00:10:09,399 --> 00:10:10,399 He replied, 226 00:10:10,399 --> 00:10:13,399 "What concern is it of yours, O 'Umar, 227 00:10:13,399 --> 00:10:15,399 once you have relinquished them to me?" 228 00:10:15,399 --> 00:10:16,399 'Umar said, 229 00:10:16,399 --> 00:10:20,529 "I adjure you to tell me what you did with them." 230 00:10:20,529 --> 00:10:21,529 He said, 231 00:10:21,529 --> 00:10:23,529 "I stored them up for myself, 232 00:10:23,529 --> 00:10:28,529 so that they might benefit me on a Day when neither wealth nor children will avail." 233 00:10:28,529 --> 00:10:30,529 Tears welled up in 'Umar's eyes, 234 00:10:30,529 --> 00:10:31,529 and he said, 235 00:10:31,529 --> 00:10:35,529 "I bear witness that you are truly among those who give preference over themselves, 236 00:10:35,529 --> 00:10:38,529 even though poverty be their own lot." 237 00:10:38,529 --> 00:10:42,559 He then ordered a camel-load of food and two garments to be given to him, 238 00:10:42,559 --> 00:10:43,559 but 'Umayr said, 239 00:10:43,559 --> 00:10:45,559 "As for the food, 240 00:10:45,559 --> 00:10:48,559 we have no need of it, O Commander of the Faithful, 241 00:10:48,559 --> 00:10:52,559 for I left two sa's of barley with my family; 242 00:10:52,559 --> 00:10:54,559 by the time they finish eating them, 243 00:10:54,559 --> 00:10:57,559 Allah, Mighty and Majestic, will surely have provided sustenance for us. 244 00:10:57,559 --> 00:10:59,559 But as for the two garments, 245 00:10:59,559 --> 00:11:01,559 I will take them for the mother of so-and-so" — 246 00:11:01,559 --> 00:11:03,559 meaning his wife — 247 00:11:03,559 --> 00:11:06,559 "for her dress has worn thin and she is nearly without cover." 248 00:11:06,559 --> 00:11:11,559 Not long after that meeting between al-Faruq and his companion, 249 00:11:11,559 --> 00:11:14,559 Allah decreed for 'Umayr ibn Sa'd 250 00:11:14,559 --> 00:11:17,559 to rejoin his Prophet and the delight of his eyes, 251 00:11:17,559 --> 00:11:19,559 Muhammad ibn 'Abdullah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), 252 00:11:19,559 --> 00:11:23,559 after long yearning to meet him. 253 00:11:23,559 --> 00:11:27,559 Thus, 'Umayr departed on the path to the Hereafter with a tranquil soul, 254 00:11:27,559 --> 00:11:29,559 confident in his stride, 255 00:11:29,559 --> 00:11:32,559 unburdened by any worldly baggage, 256 00:11:32,559 --> 00:11:36,559 with nothing weighing down his back. 257 00:11:36,559 --> 00:11:37,559 He passed on, 258 00:11:37,559 --> 00:11:40,559 bearing nothing except his light and guidance, 259 00:11:40,559 --> 00:11:42,559 his piety and scrupulousness. 260 00:11:42,559 --> 00:11:45,720 When the news of his death reached al-Faruq, 261 00:11:45,720 --> 00:11:47,720 sorrow swept over his face, 262 00:11:47,720 --> 00:11:49,720 grief gripped his heart, 263 00:11:49,720 --> 00:11:51,720 and he said, 264 00:11:51,720 --> 00:11:55,720 "How I wish I had men like 'Umayr ibn Sa'd 265 00:11:55,720 --> 00:11:58,720 to employ in the affairs of the Muslims!" 266 00:11:58,720 --> 00:12:02,720 May Allah be pleased with 'Umayr ibn Sa'd and grant him His pleasure, 267 00:12:02,720 --> 00:12:05,720 for he was truly a singular paragon among men, 268 00:12:05,720 --> 00:12:10,720 and an exceptional disciple in the school of Muhammad ibn 'Abdullah. 269 00:12:10,720 --> 00:12:16,480 'Umayr ibn Sa'd was unmatched, 270 00:12:16,480 --> 00:12:18,480 as was 'Umar ibn al-Khattab; 271 00:12:24,220 --> 00:12:26,220 can words ever suffice 272 00:12:26,220 --> 00:12:29,220 to give them the praise they truly deserve?