WEBVTT 00:00:00.400 --> 00:00:03.399 In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. 00:00:03.399 --> 00:00:08.400 The best of generations in their conduct and example, 00:00:08.400 --> 00:00:13.400 Following the Messenger whenever he strove or spoke. 00:00:13.400 --> 00:00:15.400 Mawaddah Association 00:00:15.400 --> 00:00:17.399 Presents: 00:00:17.399 --> 00:00:21.429 Portraits from the Lives of the Tabi'un 00:00:21.429 --> 00:00:26.460 By Dr. Abd al-Rahman Ra'fat al-Basha, 00:00:26.460 --> 00:00:30.929 May Allah have mercy upon him. 00:00:30.929 --> 00:00:32.929 Tawus Ibn Kaysan, 00:00:32.929 --> 00:00:34.929 May Allah have mercy upon him. 00:00:43.020 --> 00:00:47.020 He was illuminated by fifty stars from among the stars of guidance, 00:00:47.020 --> 00:00:51.020 So splendor enveloped him and light poured upon him, 00:00:51.020 --> 00:00:54.020 A light in his heart and a light upon his tongue, 00:00:54.020 --> 00:00:57.020 And a light walking before him. 00:00:57.020 --> 00:01:04.140 He graduated from the school of Muhammad, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, under fifty of its most prominent scholars, 00:01:04.140 --> 00:01:10.140 Until he became a reflection of the Companions of the Messenger of Allah, may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, 00:01:10.140 --> 00:01:13.140 In the firmness of his faith and the truthfulness of his speech, 00:01:13.140 --> 00:01:18.140 In his disdain for the fleeting vanities of this world and his devotion to seeking the pleasure of Allah, 00:01:18.140 --> 00:01:20.140 And in speaking the word of truth openly, 00:01:20.140 --> 00:01:24.140 No matter how high the price of that word might be. 00:01:24.140 --> 00:01:29.140 For the Muhammadan school had taught him that the religion is sincerity: 00:01:29.140 --> 00:01:35.140 Sincerity to Allah, His Book, His Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, 00:01:35.140 --> 00:01:38.140 And to the leaders of the Muslims and their common folk. 00:01:38.140 --> 00:01:44.140 Experience had taught him that all righteousness begins with the ruler, 00:01:44.140 --> 00:01:46.140 And ends with him. 00:01:46.140 --> 00:01:49.140 If the shepherd is righteous, the flock is righteous, 00:01:49.140 --> 00:01:52.180 And if he is corrupt, they are corrupt. 00:01:52.180 --> 00:01:57.180 That is Dhakwan Ibn Kaysan, nicknamed Tawus (the Peacock), 00:01:57.180 --> 00:02:02.180 A title bestowed upon him because he was the "peacock" of the scholars of fiqh, 00:02:02.180 --> 00:02:05.180 And the most prominent among them in his era. 00:02:05.180 --> 00:02:09.520 Tawus Ibn Kaysan was from the people of Yemen. 00:02:09.520 --> 00:02:12.520 The governorship of Yemen at that time 00:02:12.520 --> 00:02:17.520 Was held by Muhammad Ibn Yusuf al-Thaqafi, the brother of al-Hajjaj Ibn Yusuf. 00:02:17.520 --> 00:02:21.520 Al-Hajjaj had sent him as governor there 00:02:21.520 --> 00:02:26.520 After his own status had grown, his power had strengthened, and his awe had intensified, 00:02:26.520 --> 00:02:30.520 Following his suppression of the movement of Abd Allah Ibn al-Zubayr. 00:02:30.520 --> 00:02:37.520 Muhammad Ibn Yusuf embodied many of the vices of his brother al-Hajjaj, 00:02:37.520 --> 00:02:41.520 Yet he possessed none of his virtues. 00:02:41.520 --> 00:02:46.860 On a cold winter morning, 00:02:46.860 --> 00:02:49.860 Tawus Ibn Kaysan entered upon him, 00:02:49.860 --> 00:02:51.860 Accompanied by Wahb Ibn Munabbih. 00:02:51.860 --> 00:02:54.900 When they had taken their seats before him, 00:02:54.900 --> 00:02:58.900 Tawus began to exhort him, encouraging him and warning him. 00:02:58.900 --> 00:03:01.900 People were sitting before the governor, 00:03:01.900 --> 00:03:04.900 And the governor said to one of his chamberlains, 00:03:04.900 --> 00:03:07.900 "O boy, bring a taylasan (a shawl/garment)," 00:03:07.900 --> 00:03:11.900 "And place it upon the shoulders of Abu Abd al-Rahman." 00:03:11.900 --> 00:03:14.900 The chamberlain took a precious taylasan, 00:03:14.900 --> 00:03:17.900 And placed it upon the shoulders of Tawus. 00:03:17.900 --> 00:03:20.900 Tawus continued his exhortation without pause, 00:03:20.900 --> 00:03:23.900 Then he began to move his shoulders deliberately, 00:03:23.900 --> 00:03:26.900 Until the taylasan fell from his shoulders. 00:03:26.900 --> 00:03:29.900 He stood up and departed. 00:03:29.900 --> 00:03:32.990 Muhammad Ibn Yusuf became intensely angry, 00:03:32.990 --> 00:03:35.990 Which showed in the redness of his eyes and the congestion of his face, 00:03:35.990 --> 00:03:38.990 Yet he said nothing. 00:03:38.990 --> 00:03:42.060 When Tawus and his companion were 00:03:42.060 --> 00:03:44.060 Outside the assembly, 00:03:44.060 --> 00:03:46.060 Wahb said to Tawus, 00:03:46.060 --> 00:03:48.060 "By Allah, we had no need 00:03:49.060 --> 00:03:52.060 To provoke his anger against us." 00:03:52.060 --> 00:03:55.060 "What harm would it have done you if you had accepted the taylasan from him," 00:03:55.060 --> 00:03:58.060 "Then sold it and given its price in charity" 00:03:58.060 --> 00:04:01.090 "To the poor and the needy?" 00:04:01.090 --> 00:04:04.090 Tawus replied, "It is as you say," 00:04:04.090 --> 00:04:07.090 "Were it not that I feared the scholars" 00:04:07.090 --> 00:04:10.090 "After me would say, 'We take what he took,'" 00:04:10.090 --> 00:04:13.090 "'Tawus took it,' and then they would not do with it" 00:04:13.090 --> 00:04:17.339 "What you suggest." 00:04:17.339 --> 00:04:20.339 When Muhammad Ibn Yusuf wanted to return 00:04:20.339 --> 00:04:23.339 The "stone" to Tawus from whence it came, 00:04:23.339 --> 00:04:26.339 He set a trap for him, 00:04:26.339 --> 00:04:29.339 Preparing a pouch containing 700 dinars 00:04:29.339 --> 00:04:32.339 Of gold, and he chose a clever man 00:04:32.339 --> 00:04:35.339 From his retinue and said to him, 00:04:35.339 --> 00:04:38.339 "Go with this pouch to Tawus" 00:04:38.339 --> 00:04:41.339 "Ibn Kaysan, and use every trick to make him take it." 00:04:41.339 --> 00:04:44.339 "If he takes it from you," 00:04:44.339 --> 00:04:47.339 "I will grant you your gift, your clothing, and your proximity." 00:04:47.339 --> 00:04:50.620 The man left with the pouch 00:04:50.620 --> 00:04:53.620 Until he reached Tawus in a village 00:04:53.620 --> 00:04:56.620 Where he was staying near San'a, 00:04:56.620 --> 00:04:59.620 Called al-Jund. 00:04:59.620 --> 00:05:02.620 When he reached him, he greeted him and spoke kindly to him, 00:05:02.620 --> 00:05:05.620 And said, "O Abu Abd al-Rahman," 00:05:05.620 --> 00:05:08.620 "This is a provision sent to you by the Amir." 00:05:08.620 --> 00:05:11.620 He replied, [refusing it]. 00:05:12.620 --> 00:05:15.620 The man tried every trick 00:05:15.620 --> 00:05:18.620 To make him accept it, but he refused. 00:05:18.620 --> 00:05:21.689 He presented every argument, but he rejected them. 00:05:21.689 --> 00:05:24.689 So the man had no choice but to act deceitfully; 00:05:24.689 --> 00:05:27.689 In a moment of Tawus's inattention, he threw the pouch 00:05:27.689 --> 00:05:30.689 Into a niche in the wall of the house, 00:05:30.689 --> 00:05:33.689 And returned to the Amir, saying, 00:05:33.689 --> 00:05:36.689 "Tawus has taken the pouch, O Amir." 00:05:36.689 --> 00:05:39.689 Muhammad Ibn Yusuf was pleased by this. 00:05:40.689 --> 00:05:43.689 When several days had passed, 00:05:43.689 --> 00:05:46.689 He sent two of his aides, 00:05:46.689 --> 00:05:49.689 Accompanied by the man who had brought the pouch, 00:05:49.689 --> 00:05:52.689 And ordered them to say to him, 00:05:52.689 --> 00:05:55.689 "The Amir's messenger made a mistake," 00:05:55.689 --> 00:05:58.689 "He gave you the money, but it was intended for someone else." 00:05:58.689 --> 00:06:01.689 "We have come to retrieve it from you" 00:06:01.689 --> 00:06:04.720 "And carry it to its rightful owner." 00:06:04.720 --> 00:06:07.720 Tawus said, "I have not taken any of the Amir's money" 00:06:07.720 --> 00:06:10.720 "For me to return it to him." 00:06:10.720 --> 00:06:13.720 They said, "Indeed, you did take it." 00:06:13.720 --> 00:06:16.720 He turned to the man who had brought the pouch 00:06:16.720 --> 00:06:19.720 And said to him, "Did I take anything from you?" 00:06:19.720 --> 00:06:22.720 The man was seized with panic and said, 00:06:22.720 --> 00:06:25.720 "No, rather I placed the money in" 00:06:25.720 --> 00:06:28.750 "This niche while you were inattentive." 00:06:28.750 --> 00:06:31.750 Tawus said, "The niche is yours," 00:06:31.750 --> 00:06:34.819 "Look inside it." 00:06:35.819 --> 00:06:38.819 They found the pouch inside just as it was, 00:06:38.819 --> 00:06:41.819 With a spider having spun its web over it. 00:06:41.819 --> 00:06:44.819 He took it and returned with it to the Amir. 00:06:44.819 --> 00:06:49.259 It was as if Allah, the Almighty, wanted 00:06:49.259 --> 00:06:52.259 To exact retribution from Muhammad Ibn Yusuf 00:06:52.259 --> 00:06:55.259 For this deed of his, 00:06:55.259 --> 00:06:58.259 And to make his retribution visible to the people 00:06:58.259 --> 00:07:01.509 And in public. How did that happen? 00:07:01.509 --> 00:07:04.509 Tawus Ibn Kaysan narrated, saying, 00:07:04.509 --> 00:07:07.509 "While I was in Makkah for Hajj," 00:07:07.509 --> 00:07:10.509 "Al-Hajjaj Ibn Yusuf al-Thaqafi sent for me." 00:07:10.509 --> 00:07:13.579 "When I entered upon him, he welcomed me," 00:07:13.579 --> 00:07:16.579 "And brought my seat close to his," 00:07:16.579 --> 00:07:19.579 "And threw a cushion for me, inviting me to lean upon it." 00:07:19.579 --> 00:07:22.579 "Then he began to ask me" 00:07:22.579 --> 00:07:25.579 "About matters of the Hajj rituals that were unclear to him," 00:07:25.579 --> 00:07:28.579 "And other things. While we were in that state," 00:07:28.579 --> 00:07:31.579 "Al-Hajjaj heard a pilgrim reciting the talbiyah around the House," 00:07:31.579 --> 00:07:34.579 "Raising his voice with the talbiyah," 00:07:34.579 --> 00:07:37.579 "With a tone that shook hearts to their core." 00:07:37.579 --> 00:07:40.579 "He said, 'Bring me this pilgrim.'" 00:07:40.579 --> 00:07:43.579 "He was brought to him." 00:07:43.579 --> 00:07:46.579 "He said to him, 'Where is the man from?'" 00:07:46.579 --> 00:07:49.579 "He said, 'From the Muslims.'" 00:07:49.579 --> 00:07:52.579 "He said, 'I did not ask you about that,'" 00:07:52.579 --> 00:07:55.579 "'I asked you about the country.'" 00:07:55.579 --> 00:07:58.579 "He said, 'From the people of Yemen.'" 00:07:58.579 --> 00:08:01.579 "'How did you leave your governor?'" 00:08:01.579 --> 00:08:04.610 "Meaning his brother." 00:08:04.610 --> 00:08:07.610 "He said, 'I left him great and imposing,'" 00:08:07.610 --> 00:08:10.610 "'A wearer of fine clothes, a rider of horses,'" 00:08:10.610 --> 00:08:13.610 "'A collector of taxes, a man of many entrances.'" 00:08:13.610 --> 00:08:16.610 "He said, 'I did not ask you about this.'" 00:08:16.610 --> 00:08:19.610 "He said, 'What did you ask me about, then?'" 00:08:19.610 --> 00:08:22.610 "He said, 'I asked you about his conduct among you.'" 00:08:22.610 --> 00:08:25.610 "He said, 'I left him a great oppressor and tyrant,'" 00:08:25.610 --> 00:08:28.610 "'Obedient to the creature, disobedient to the Creator.'" 00:08:28.610 --> 00:08:31.800 "Al-Hajjaj's face turned red" 00:08:31.800 --> 00:08:34.799 "Out of shame before those sitting with him," 00:08:34.799 --> 00:08:37.799 "And he said to the man," 00:08:37.799 --> 00:08:40.799 "'What prompted you to say about him what you said,'" 00:08:40.799 --> 00:08:43.799 "'When you know his position with me?'" 00:08:43.799 --> 00:08:46.799 "He said, 'Do you think his position with you'" 00:08:46.799 --> 00:08:49.799 "'Is dearer than my position with Allah, the Almighty?'" 00:08:49.799 --> 00:08:52.799 "'I am a guest of His House,'" 00:08:52.799 --> 00:08:55.929 "'And a judge of His religion.'" 00:08:55.929 --> 00:08:58.929 "Al-Hajjaj fell silent and offered no reply." 00:08:58.929 --> 00:09:01.929 Tawus said, 00:09:01.929 --> 00:09:04.929 "Then the man did not delay; he stood up" 00:09:04.929 --> 00:09:07.960 "And departed without asking permission or being granted it." 00:09:07.960 --> 00:09:10.960 "I stood up in his wake and said to myself," 00:09:10.960 --> 00:09:13.960 "'The man is righteous,'" 00:09:13.960 --> 00:09:16.960 "'Follow him and catch him before the crowds of people hide him'" 00:09:16.960 --> 00:09:19.960 "'From your sight.'" 00:09:19.960 --> 00:09:22.960 "By Allah, he came to the House and clung to its curtains," 00:09:22.960 --> 00:09:25.960 "And placed his cheek against its wall," 00:09:25.960 --> 00:09:28.960 "And began to say," 00:09:28.960 --> 00:09:31.960 "'O Allah, in You I seek refuge, and to Your presence I flee.'" 00:09:31.960 --> 00:09:34.960 "'O Allah, grant me, in my reliance'" 00:09:34.960 --> 00:09:37.960 "'Upon Your generosity and contentment with Your guarantee,'" 00:09:37.960 --> 00:09:40.960 "'A refuge from the refusal of the stingy,'" 00:09:40.960 --> 00:09:43.960 "'And sufficiency from what is in the hands of the selfish.'" 00:09:43.960 --> 00:09:46.960 "'O Allah, I ask You for Your imminent relief,'" 00:09:46.960 --> 00:09:49.960 "'And Your ancient kindness,'" 00:09:49.960 --> 00:09:52.960 "'And Your good habit, O Lord of the worlds.'" 00:09:52.960 --> 00:09:56.019 "Then a wave of people took him," 00:09:56.019 --> 00:09:59.019 "And hid him from my sight," 00:09:59.019 --> 00:10:02.019 "So I became certain that there was no way to meet him after that." 00:10:02.019 --> 00:10:05.220 "When it was the evening of Arafah," 00:10:05.220 --> 00:10:08.220 "I saw him as he was departing with the people." 00:10:08.220 --> 00:10:11.220 "I drew near to him, and he was saying," 00:10:11.220 --> 00:10:14.220 "'O Allah, if You have not accepted my Hajj,'" 00:10:14.220 --> 00:10:17.220 "'And my toil and my fatigue,'" 00:10:17.220 --> 00:10:20.220 "'Then do not deprive me of the reward for my affliction'" 00:10:20.220 --> 00:10:23.220 "'Of Your refusal to accept from me.'" 00:10:23.220 --> 00:10:26.220 "Then he went among the people," 00:10:26.220 --> 00:10:29.309 "And the darkness hid him from me." 00:10:29.309 --> 00:10:32.309 "When I despaired of meeting him, I said," 00:10:32.309 --> 00:10:35.309 "'O Allah, accept my supplication and his supplication,'" 00:10:35.309 --> 00:10:38.309 "'And answer my hope and his hope,'" 00:10:38.309 --> 00:10:41.309 "'And make my feet and his feet firm on the day when feet shall slip,'" 00:10:41.309 --> 00:10:44.309 "'With him at the Basin of al-Kawthar,'" 00:10:44.309 --> 00:10:48.620 "'O Most Generous of the generous.'" 00:10:48.620 --> 00:10:51.620 And that was the last meeting with the noble Tabi'i, 00:10:51.620 --> 00:10:54.620 Dhakwan ibn Kaysan, known as Tawus. 00:10:54.620 --> 00:10:57.620 May Allah be pleased with him and grant him contentment. 00:10:57.620 --> 00:11:04.850 And may He make the eternal gardens his final abode. 00:11:04.850 --> 00:11:08.039 I have never seen anyone at all, 00:11:08.039 --> 00:11:11.549 like Tawus ibn Kaysan. 00:11:11.549 --> 00:11:16.860 'Amr ibn Dinar, 00:11:19.860 --> 00:11:22.860 says, when he would strive, or he said: 00:11:22.860 --> 00:11:25.860 They were here, 00:11:25.860 --> 00:11:28.860 watering the clouds of our lives. 00:11:28.860 --> 00:11:31.860 They passed on, and we remained. 00:11:31.860 --> 00:11:34.860 Their legacy rises ever higher. 00:11:34.860 --> 00:11:37.860 They departed, leaving behind a question in the conscience: 00:11:37.860 --> 00:11:40.860 Is there anyone like them, 00:11:40.860 --> 00:11:43.860 a star that rose and shimmered? 00:11:43.860 --> 00:11:46.860 They filled life with noble deeds, 00:11:46.860 --> 00:11:49.860 through their actions, 00:11:49.860 --> 00:11:52.950 and the world of the self flourished because of them.