WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.000 In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. 00:00:15.580 --> 00:00:17.579 The Mawaddah Association is pleased 00:00:17.579 --> 00:00:21.579 to present to you glimpses from the lives of the Companions, 00:00:21.579 --> 00:00:24.579 by Abd al-Rahman Ra'fat al-Basha, 00:00:25.579 --> 00:00:26.609 may Allah have mercy upon him. 00:00:29.850 --> 00:00:35.039 Abu Basir 'Utbah ibn Usayd, may Allah be pleased with him. 00:00:51.590 --> 00:00:53.590 In the sixth year of the Hijrah, 00:00:53.590 --> 00:00:57.590 the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, set out from Medina 00:00:57.590 --> 00:01:00.590 with fifteen hundred of his Companions, 00:01:00.590 --> 00:01:03.590 turning their faces toward the Sacred Mosque, 00:01:03.590 --> 00:01:05.590 intending to perform the Umrah. 00:01:05.590 --> 00:01:08.590 No sooner did the Quraysh learn of them 00:01:08.590 --> 00:01:12.590 than they resolved to prevent them from entering Mecca, 00:01:12.590 --> 00:01:15.590 no matter the cost. 00:01:15.590 --> 00:01:18.590 However, they preferred that this be achieved through a peace treaty, 00:01:18.590 --> 00:01:21.659 if a path to peace could be found. 00:01:21.659 --> 00:01:24.659 When the Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, reached 00:01:24.659 --> 00:01:26.659 the area of al-Hudaybiyah, 00:01:26.659 --> 00:01:28.659 a day's journey from Mecca, 00:01:28.659 --> 00:01:30.659 and pitched his camp there, 00:01:30.659 --> 00:01:34.659 envoys began to go back and forth between him and the Quraysh. 00:01:34.659 --> 00:01:38.659 The negotiations and back-and-forth between the two parties dragged on 00:01:38.659 --> 00:01:40.659 until Suhayl ibn 'Amr came 00:01:40.659 --> 00:01:42.659 as an ambassador for the polytheists. 00:01:42.659 --> 00:01:46.659 He made peace with the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, 00:01:46.659 --> 00:01:49.659 on the condition that he return to Medina 00:01:49.659 --> 00:01:52.659 and postpone his Umrah until the following year, 00:01:52.659 --> 00:01:55.659 provided that he enter Mecca without weapons, 00:01:55.659 --> 00:01:59.659 and that he and those with him leave after three days, 00:01:59.659 --> 00:02:02.659 and that there be a peace treaty between the Muslims and the Quraysh 00:02:02.659 --> 00:02:04.659 lasting for ten years, 00:02:04.659 --> 00:02:07.659 during which peace would prevail between the two parties. 00:02:07.659 --> 00:02:10.659 This weighed heavily upon the Muslims, 00:02:10.659 --> 00:02:13.659 and it was difficult for them that the polytheists should prevent them 00:02:13.659 --> 00:02:16.659 from the Sacred House of Allah in this manner, 00:02:16.659 --> 00:02:19.659 and that they should conclude this treaty with the Quraysh. 00:02:19.659 --> 00:02:23.780 What made the matter even more painful for the hearts of the noble Companions 00:02:23.780 --> 00:02:28.780 was that Suhayl ibn 'Amr stipulated to the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, 00:02:28.780 --> 00:02:32.780 that whoever came to the Muslims from the Quraysh as a believer, 00:02:32.780 --> 00:02:34.780 whether man or woman, 00:02:34.780 --> 00:02:38.780 the Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, would return them to the Quraysh, 00:02:38.780 --> 00:02:41.780 while whoever came to the Quraysh from the Muslims, 00:02:41.780 --> 00:02:43.780 having apostatized from Islam, 00:02:43.780 --> 00:02:47.780 they would not return to the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him. 00:02:47.780 --> 00:02:51.780 This provoked the indignation of Umar ibn al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him, 00:02:51.780 --> 00:02:53.780 so he rushed to the Truthful One (Abu Bakr) and said, 00:02:53.780 --> 00:02:55.780 "O Abu Bakr!" 00:02:55.780 --> 00:02:57.780 He replied, "Yes." 00:02:57.780 --> 00:03:00.780 He said, "Is he not the Messenger of Allah?" 00:03:00.780 --> 00:03:02.780 He replied, "Yes." 00:03:02.780 --> 00:03:05.780 He said, "Are we not Muslims?" 00:03:05.780 --> 00:03:06.780 He replied, "Yes." 00:03:06.780 --> 00:03:09.780 He said, "Are they not polytheists?" 00:03:09.780 --> 00:03:11.780 He replied, "Yes." 00:03:11.780 --> 00:03:15.780 He said, "Then why should we accept humiliation in our religion?" 00:03:15.780 --> 00:03:18.780 Abu Bakr replied firmly, 00:03:18.780 --> 00:03:22.780 "Adhere to the command of the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, O Umar, 00:03:22.780 --> 00:03:25.780 for I bear witness that he is the Messenger of Allah." 00:03:25.780 --> 00:03:26.780 Umar said, 00:03:26.780 --> 00:03:29.780 "And I bear witness that he is the Messenger of Allah." 00:03:29.780 --> 00:03:34.009 Then Umar went to the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, and said, 00:03:34.009 --> 00:03:36.009 "O Prophet of Allah, 00:03:36.009 --> 00:03:38.009 are you not the Messenger of Allah?" 00:03:38.009 --> 00:03:40.009 He replied, "Yes." 00:03:40.009 --> 00:03:43.009 He said, "Are we not Muslims?" 00:03:43.009 --> 00:03:44.009 He replied, "Yes." 00:03:44.009 --> 00:03:47.009 He said, "Are they not polytheists?" 00:03:47.009 --> 00:03:49.009 He replied, "Yes." 00:03:49.009 --> 00:03:53.009 He said, "Then why should we accept humiliation in our religion?" 00:03:53.009 --> 00:03:55.009 He, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, replied, 00:03:55.009 --> 00:03:58.009 "I am the servant of Allah and His Messenger; 00:03:58.009 --> 00:04:00.009 I will not disobey His command, 00:04:00.009 --> 00:04:03.009 and Allah will never abandon me." 00:04:03.009 --> 00:04:04.009 Umar said, 00:04:04.009 --> 00:04:08.009 "I continued thereafter to give charity, fast, 00:04:08.009 --> 00:04:09.009 pray, and free slaves, 00:04:09.009 --> 00:04:13.009 fearing the words I had spoken that day, 00:04:13.009 --> 00:04:17.009 until I hoped that Allah had forgiven me." 00:04:17.009 --> 00:04:22.009 When the treaty was signed between the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, and the Quraysh, 00:04:22.009 --> 00:04:27.009 the Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, returned to Medina. 00:04:27.009 --> 00:04:31.009 But he had barely settled there for a short while 00:04:31.009 --> 00:04:36.009 when his covenant and pledges, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, 00:04:36.009 --> 00:04:39.009 were put to a harsh test because of Abu Basir, 00:04:39.009 --> 00:04:41.009 'Utbah ibn Usayd, 00:04:41.009 --> 00:04:43.009 the hero of this story of ours. 00:04:43.009 --> 00:04:45.009 So let us leave the narration to him, 00:04:45.009 --> 00:04:47.009 to tell his exciting story. 00:04:47.009 --> 00:04:49.100 Abu Basir said, 00:04:49.100 --> 00:04:53.170 "I was a man among the oppressed believers, 00:04:53.170 --> 00:04:56.170 for I had no tribe in Mecca to protect me, 00:04:56.170 --> 00:04:58.170 nor men to grant me sanctuary. 00:04:58.170 --> 00:05:02.170 The Quraysh had poured upon me the lash of their torment 00:05:02.170 --> 00:05:05.170 because of my departure from their religion 00:05:05.170 --> 00:05:07.170 and my rejection of their idols. 00:05:07.170 --> 00:05:10.170 When the Muslims began to migrate to Medina, 00:05:10.170 --> 00:05:12.170 the Quraysh imprisoned me, 00:05:12.170 --> 00:05:15.170 and did not allow me to migrate with the emigrants. 00:05:15.170 --> 00:05:20.170 They left me to turn on a fire fueled by their rage and hatred. 00:05:20.170 --> 00:05:25.170 So whenever the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, defeated them 00:05:25.170 --> 00:05:27.170 in a battle or expedition, 00:05:27.170 --> 00:05:31.170 they would take their revenge on me and my brothers among the oppressed, 00:05:31.170 --> 00:05:34.170 whom they had imprisoned, with the most severe vengeance. 00:05:34.170 --> 00:05:37.170 Then, an opportunity arose due to the negligence of the Quraysh, 00:05:37.170 --> 00:05:39.170 and I seized it, 00:05:39.170 --> 00:05:44.170 and fled with my religion to the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, 00:05:44.170 --> 00:05:49.170 while I knew little of the details of the Treaty of al-Hudaybiyah." 00:05:49.170 --> 00:05:51.170 Abu Basir said, 00:05:51.170 --> 00:05:54.170 "I set out, quickening my pace toward Medina, 00:05:54.170 --> 00:05:58.170 longing to meet the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, 00:05:58.170 --> 00:06:02.170 and driven by the yearning to live with the Muslims. 00:06:02.170 --> 00:06:05.170 No sooner had my feet touched Medina, 00:06:05.170 --> 00:06:09.170 and my eyes been cooled by the sight of the Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, 00:06:09.170 --> 00:06:14.170 than the Quraysh sent a letter to the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, 00:06:14.170 --> 00:06:16.170 with a man from Banu 'Amir 00:06:16.170 --> 00:06:18.170 and a client of theirs, 00:06:18.170 --> 00:06:21.170 requesting the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, 00:06:21.170 --> 00:06:23.170 to return me to them, 00:06:23.170 --> 00:06:25.170 in accordance with the terms of the peace treaty." 00:06:25.170 --> 00:06:27.170 Abu Basir said, 00:06:27.170 --> 00:06:32.170 "I did not expect that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, would command me 00:06:32.170 --> 00:06:35.170 to return to the affliction I had been in, 00:06:35.170 --> 00:06:37.170 and to return to the captivity of the Quraysh, 00:06:37.170 --> 00:06:41.170 after I had saved myself and my religion. 00:06:41.170 --> 00:06:44.170 But the Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, 00:06:44.170 --> 00:06:46.170 turned to me and said, 00:06:46.170 --> 00:06:48.170 'O Abu Basir, 00:06:48.170 --> 00:06:53.170 we have given these people the pledge you know of, 00:06:53.170 --> 00:06:55.170 and treachery is not permitted in our religion. 00:06:55.170 --> 00:07:01.170 Allah will surely grant you and those with you among the oppressed relief and a way out.' 00:07:01.170 --> 00:07:03.170 'Go back to your people.' 00:07:03.170 --> 00:07:05.170 I said, 'O Messenger of Allah, 00:07:05.170 --> 00:07:07.170 will you return me to the polytheists 00:07:07.170 --> 00:07:09.170 so they may persecute me in my religion?' 00:07:09.170 --> 00:07:12.199 He, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said, 00:07:12.199 --> 00:07:14.199 'O Abu Basir, 00:07:14.199 --> 00:07:15.199 go, 00:07:15.199 --> 00:07:17.199 for Allah the Almighty 00:07:17.199 --> 00:07:22.199 will grant you and those with you among the oppressed relief and a way out.'" 00:07:22.199 --> 00:07:24.360 Abu Basir said, 00:07:24.360 --> 00:07:26.360 "So I set out with the two men, 00:07:26.360 --> 00:07:29.360 until we reached Dhu al-Hulayfah, 00:07:29.360 --> 00:07:32.360 seven miles from Medina. 00:07:32.360 --> 00:07:35.360 We sat down to get some rest. 00:07:35.360 --> 00:07:37.360 I said to the Qurayshi, 00:07:37.360 --> 00:07:40.360 'Is this sword of yours sharp, O brother of Banu 'Amir?' 00:07:40.360 --> 00:07:42.360 He said, 'Yes.' 00:07:42.360 --> 00:07:45.360 And he began to tell me about it, saying this and that. 00:07:45.360 --> 00:07:48.360 I expressed my admiration for it. 00:07:48.360 --> 00:07:51.360 When he saw me admiring the sword so much, 00:07:51.360 --> 00:07:52.360 he said, 00:07:52.360 --> 00:07:54.360 'Look at it if you wish.' 00:07:54.360 --> 00:07:56.360 When the sword was in my hand, 00:07:56.360 --> 00:07:58.360 I said to myself, 00:07:58.360 --> 00:08:01.360 'A polytheist is leading me to the polytheists 00:08:01.360 --> 00:08:03.360 to persecute me for my religion 00:08:03.360 --> 00:08:05.360 and make me taste the worst of torments. 00:08:05.360 --> 00:08:09.360 By Allah, I will not submit to him nor go with him. 00:08:09.360 --> 00:08:13.360 The responsibility of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, has been fulfilled 00:08:13.360 --> 00:08:15.360 when he handed me over to him. 00:08:15.360 --> 00:08:17.360 So what is it to me if I kill him?' 00:08:17.360 --> 00:08:19.360 Then I drew the sword from its scabbard, 00:08:19.360 --> 00:08:22.360 struck his head with it, and killed him. 00:08:22.360 --> 00:08:26.360 When the client who was with him saw his death, 00:08:27.360 --> 00:08:29.360 he fled, 00:08:29.360 --> 00:08:31.360 and I did not pursue him, 00:08:31.360 --> 00:08:33.360 and he went to Medina, 00:08:33.360 --> 00:08:37.360 until he came to the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, 00:08:37.360 --> 00:08:39.360 while he was sitting in the mosque. 00:08:39.360 --> 00:08:44.360 When the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, saw him approaching, 00:08:44.360 --> 00:08:45.360 he said, 00:08:45.360 --> 00:08:47.360 'This man is terrified; 00:08:47.360 --> 00:08:49.360 he has been struck by fear.' 00:08:49.360 --> 00:08:52.360 When he reached the Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, 00:08:52.360 --> 00:08:53.360 he said to him, 00:08:53.360 --> 00:08:54.360 'Woe to you, 00:08:54.360 --> 00:08:55.360 what is the matter with you?' 00:08:55.360 --> 00:08:56.360 He said, 00:08:56.360 --> 00:08:58.360 'Your companion killed my companion.' 00:08:58.360 --> 00:09:00.389 Abu Basir said, 00:09:00.389 --> 00:09:03.389 "By Allah, the man had not left his place 00:09:03.389 --> 00:09:07.389 before I appeared before the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, 00:09:07.389 --> 00:09:11.389 wearing the sword with which I had killed the Qurayshi, 00:09:11.389 --> 00:09:12.389 and I said, 00:09:12.389 --> 00:09:14.389 'O Messenger of Allah, 00:09:14.389 --> 00:09:16.389 your responsibility has been fulfilled, 00:09:16.389 --> 00:09:17.389 and Allah has acquitted you.' 00:09:17.389 --> 00:09:19.389 He said, 'How so?' 00:09:19.389 --> 00:09:20.389 I said, 00:09:20.389 --> 00:09:22.389 'You fulfilled your covenant 00:09:22.389 --> 00:09:25.389 and handed me over to the people, hand to hand. 00:09:25.389 --> 00:09:28.389 Then I defended myself against them, 00:09:28.389 --> 00:09:30.389 and saved my religion, 00:09:30.389 --> 00:09:33.460 fearing that they would persecute me or toy with me.' 00:09:33.460 --> 00:09:36.460 The Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, turned 00:09:36.460 --> 00:09:38.460 to those with him and said, 00:09:38.460 --> 00:09:41.460 'Woe to his mother, he is a fuel for war! 00:09:41.460 --> 00:09:43.460 If only he had men with him.' 00:09:43.460 --> 00:09:47.490 This statement of his made a deep impression on me." 00:09:47.490 --> 00:09:50.740 Then Abu Basir added, saying: 00:09:50.740 --> 00:09:54.740 It was not within the Messenger of Allah's (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) power 00:09:54.740 --> 00:09:56.740 to keep me with him, 00:09:56.740 --> 00:09:58.740 in fulfillment of his covenant. 00:09:58.740 --> 00:10:01.740 And it was not within my power to return to Quraysh 00:10:01.740 --> 00:10:03.740 after I had killed their companion. 00:10:03.740 --> 00:10:07.740 So I proceeded until I reached Al-'Ays, by the sea, 00:10:07.740 --> 00:10:12.740 on the route that Quraysh used for their trade with Sham. 00:10:12.740 --> 00:10:14.740 And I stayed there. 00:10:14.740 --> 00:10:17.899 Then it was not long before the Muslims detained 00:10:17.899 --> 00:10:21.899 in Mecca heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) say about me: 00:10:21.899 --> 00:10:23.899 "Woe to his mother, a firebrand of war! 00:10:23.899 --> 00:10:25.899 If only he had men with him!" 00:10:25.899 --> 00:10:29.899 So they began to come out to me, one after another, 00:10:29.899 --> 00:10:33.899 until we numbered about seventy men. 00:10:33.899 --> 00:10:36.899 And the first of these to come out to me was 00:10:36.899 --> 00:10:39.899 Abu Jandal, son of Suhail ibn 'Amr. 00:10:39.899 --> 00:10:43.899 So we began to intercept the trade route of Quraysh, 00:10:43.899 --> 00:10:46.899 and we would not capture anyone from them except we killed them. 00:10:46.899 --> 00:10:50.899 And no caravan would pass by us except we seized it. 00:10:50.899 --> 00:10:52.899 And our strength grew, 00:10:52.899 --> 00:10:54.899 and our might increased. 00:10:54.899 --> 00:10:56.899 And we became a thorn in the throat of Quraysh, 00:10:56.899 --> 00:10:58.899 disturbing their peace, 00:10:58.899 --> 00:11:00.899 and sowing terror among their caravans, 00:11:00.899 --> 00:11:03.899 until they were utterly exasperated with us. 00:11:03.899 --> 00:11:06.970 And their stratagems in our matter were exhausted. 00:11:06.970 --> 00:11:10.970 So they wrote to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), 00:11:10.970 --> 00:11:13.970 imploring him by their kinship ties to call us to him, 00:11:13.970 --> 00:11:17.970 and declaring to him that they had rescinded their condition concerning us. 00:11:17.970 --> 00:11:21.970 Abu Jandal, the companion of Abu Basir, said: 00:11:21.970 --> 00:11:23.970 And while we were in that state, 00:11:23.970 --> 00:11:27.970 the letter of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) reached us, 00:11:27.970 --> 00:11:30.970 inviting us to come to him. 00:11:30.970 --> 00:11:33.970 And at that time, my brother Abu Basir 00:11:33.970 --> 00:11:35.970 was critically ill. 00:11:35.970 --> 00:11:41.000 So I gave him the letter of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). 00:11:41.000 --> 00:11:44.000 He raised it to his lips and kissed it, 00:11:44.000 --> 00:11:47.000 then his soul departed while he was saying: 00:11:47.000 --> 00:11:53.000 "Convey my greetings to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him)." 00:11:53.000 --> 00:11:56.190 So we buried him there. 00:11:56.190 --> 00:12:00.190 And we joined the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). 00:12:00.190 --> 00:12:04.350 May Allah be pleased with Abu Basir, the firebrand of war. 00:12:04.350 --> 00:12:07.350 For he lived tormented in the cause of Allah, 00:12:07.350 --> 00:12:11.350 and died displaced in the cause of Allah as well. 00:12:11.350 --> 00:12:18.190 "Woe to his mother, a firebrand of war! 00:12:18.190 --> 00:12:21.259 If only he had men with him!" 00:12:21.259 --> 00:12:24.289 Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.