1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:03,000 In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. 2 00:00:15,320 --> 00:00:18,320 Mawaddah Association is pleased 3 00:00:18,320 --> 00:00:22,320 to present to you vignettes from the lives of the Companions, 4 00:00:22,320 --> 00:00:25,320 by 'Abd al-Rahman Ra'fat al-Basha, 5 00:00:25,320 --> 00:00:27,350 may Allah have mercy on him. 6 00:00:27,350 --> 00:00:32,179 'Adi ibn Hatim al-Ta'i, 7 00:00:32,179 --> 00:00:34,179 may Allah be pleased with him. 8 00:00:46,229 --> 00:00:48,229 In the ninth year of the Hijrah, 9 00:00:48,229 --> 00:00:52,229 an Arab king yielded to Islam after long aversion, 10 00:00:52,229 --> 00:00:56,229 softened to faith after turning away and resisting, 11 00:00:56,229 --> 00:01:01,229 and offered allegiance to the Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, after refusal. 12 00:01:01,229 --> 00:01:04,230 That was 'Adi ibn Hatim al-Ta'i, 13 00:01:04,230 --> 00:01:07,230 whose father's legendary generosity was proverbially renowned. 14 00:01:07,230 --> 00:01:10,260 'Adi inherited leadership from his father, 15 00:01:10,260 --> 00:01:13,260 so the tribe of Tayy made him their king, 16 00:01:13,260 --> 00:01:16,260 allocated a fourth of their war spoils to him, 17 00:01:16,260 --> 00:01:18,260 and surrendered their leadership to him. 18 00:01:18,260 --> 00:01:22,260 When the noble Messenger openly proclaimed the call to guidance and truth, 19 00:01:22,260 --> 00:01:25,260 and tribe after tribe of the Arabs submitted to him, 20 00:01:25,260 --> 00:01:29,260 'Adi saw in the call of the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, 21 00:01:29,260 --> 00:01:33,260 a leadership that threatened to extinguish his own authority, 22 00:01:33,260 --> 00:01:37,260 and a rule that would lead to the erasure of his reign. 23 00:01:37,260 --> 00:01:40,260 So he harbored against the Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, 24 00:01:40,260 --> 00:01:43,260 the fiercest animosity, despite not even knowing him, 25 00:01:43,260 --> 00:01:47,260 and hated him with the deepest hatred before ever seeing him. 26 00:01:47,260 --> 00:01:51,260 He remained hostile toward Islam for nearly twenty years, 27 00:01:52,260 --> 00:01:56,260 until Allah opened his heart to the call of guidance and truth. 28 00:01:56,260 --> 00:02:00,390 The story of 'Adi ibn Hatim's conversion to Islam is unforgettable, 29 00:02:00,390 --> 00:02:03,390 so let us leave it to the man himself to recount his story, 30 00:02:03,390 --> 00:02:07,390 for he is the most entitled to tell it and the most fitting to narrate it. 31 00:02:07,390 --> 00:02:12,389 'Adi said, "There was no man among the Arabs who hated 32 00:02:12,389 --> 00:02:15,389 the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, more than I did 33 00:02:15,389 --> 00:02:17,389 when I first heard of him. 34 00:02:17,389 --> 00:02:19,389 I was a nobleman of high status, 35 00:02:19,389 --> 00:02:21,389 a Christian, 36 00:02:21,389 --> 00:02:24,389 and I used to rule over my people by taking the *mirba'*, 37 00:02:24,389 --> 00:02:26,389 taking a fourth of their spoils of war, 38 00:02:26,389 --> 00:02:29,389 as was the custom of other Arab kings. 39 00:02:29,389 --> 00:02:33,389 So when I heard of the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, 40 00:02:33,389 --> 00:02:34,389 I despised him. 41 00:02:34,389 --> 00:02:37,389 As his cause grew prominent and his strength formidable, 42 00:02:37,389 --> 00:02:42,389 with his armies and military expeditions sweeping east and west across the Arab lands, 43 00:02:42,389 --> 00:02:45,389 I said to a servant of mine who grazed my camels, 44 00:02:45,389 --> 00:02:47,389 'May you be well! 45 00:02:47,389 --> 00:02:51,389 Prepare for me several fat, manageable sheath-camels from my herd, 46 00:02:51,389 --> 00:02:53,389 and keep them tethered near me. 47 00:02:53,389 --> 00:02:57,389 If you hear that Muhammad's army or one of his raiding parties 48 00:02:57,389 --> 00:02:59,389 has stepped foot in this land, 49 00:02:59,389 --> 00:03:01,460 inform me immediately.' 50 00:03:01,460 --> 00:03:02,460 One morning, 51 00:03:02,460 --> 00:03:05,460 my servant came to me and said, 52 00:03:05,460 --> 00:03:06,460 'My master, 53 00:03:06,460 --> 00:03:08,460 whatever you intended to do 54 00:03:08,460 --> 00:03:11,460 if Muhammad's cavalry should tread upon your land, 55 00:03:11,460 --> 00:03:13,460 do it now!' 56 00:03:13,460 --> 00:03:14,460 I said, 57 00:03:14,460 --> 00:03:16,460 'May your mother be bereaved of you! What is it?' 58 00:03:16,460 --> 00:03:17,460 He said, 59 00:03:17,460 --> 00:03:21,460 'I saw banners advancing through the settlements, 60 00:03:21,460 --> 00:03:22,460 so I inquired about them, 61 00:03:22,460 --> 00:03:25,460 and I was told, "These are the armies of Muhammad."' 62 00:03:25,460 --> 00:03:27,460 I said to him, 63 00:03:27,460 --> 00:03:30,460 'Ready the camels I instructed you to prepare, 64 00:03:30,460 --> 00:03:32,460 and bring them close to me.' 65 00:03:32,460 --> 00:03:34,460 I then rose immediately, 66 00:03:34,460 --> 00:03:39,460 called my family and children to depart from the land we loved, 67 00:03:39,460 --> 00:03:42,460 and began hastening our journey toward the lands of the Levant, 68 00:03:42,460 --> 00:03:45,460 to join my fellow Christians 69 00:03:45,460 --> 00:03:47,460 and settle among them. 70 00:03:47,460 --> 00:03:51,460 However, the urgency of the matter prevented me from gathering my entire family. 71 00:03:51,460 --> 00:03:53,460 Once I crossed the dangerous areas, 72 00:03:53,460 --> 00:03:55,460 I checked on my family 73 00:03:55,460 --> 00:03:59,460 and discovered I had left a sister of mine behind in our homelands in Najd, 74 00:03:59,460 --> 00:04:02,460 along with those of Tayy who remained there. 75 00:04:02,460 --> 00:04:06,460 I had no way of returning to her, 76 00:04:06,460 --> 00:04:09,460 so I pressed on with those who were with me until I reached the Levant, 77 00:04:09,460 --> 00:04:12,460 where I resided among my coreligionists. 78 00:04:12,460 --> 00:04:13,460 As for my sister, 79 00:04:13,460 --> 00:04:17,459 what I had anticipated and feared befell her. 80 00:04:17,459 --> 00:04:20,459 News reached me while I was in the Levant 81 00:04:20,459 --> 00:04:23,459 that Muhammad's cavalry had raided our lands 82 00:04:23,459 --> 00:04:27,459 and taken my sister among the captives they seized, 83 00:04:27,459 --> 00:04:29,459 driving her to Yathrib. 84 00:04:29,459 --> 00:04:35,459 There, she was placed with the rest of the captives in an enclosure by the door of the Mosque. 85 00:04:35,459 --> 00:04:38,459 The Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, passed by her, 86 00:04:38,459 --> 00:04:40,459 so she stood up before him and said, 87 00:04:40,459 --> 00:04:42,459 'O Messenger of Allah, 88 00:04:42,459 --> 00:04:45,459 my father has passed away, and my protector is absent, 89 00:04:45,459 --> 00:04:48,459 so show me favor, and may Allah show favor to you.' 90 00:04:48,459 --> 00:04:51,459 He asked, 'And who is your protector?' 91 00:04:51,459 --> 00:04:54,459 She replied, ''Adi ibn Hatim.' 92 00:04:54,459 --> 00:04:58,490 He said, 'The one who fled from Allah and His Messenger?' 93 00:04:58,490 --> 00:05:03,490 Then the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, walked on and left her. 94 00:05:03,490 --> 00:05:05,490 The next day, 95 00:05:05,490 --> 00:05:09,490 he passed by her again, and she spoke to him as she had the day before, 96 00:05:09,490 --> 00:05:11,490 and he replied to her as he had previously. 97 00:05:11,490 --> 00:05:13,519 On the third day, 98 00:05:13,519 --> 00:05:16,519 he passed by her when she had lost all hope in him, 99 00:05:16,519 --> 00:05:18,519 so she said nothing. 100 00:05:18,519 --> 00:05:20,519 A man standing behind him gestured to her, 101 00:05:20,519 --> 00:05:23,519 'Stand up and speak to him.' 102 00:05:23,519 --> 00:05:25,519 So she stood up before him and said, 103 00:05:25,519 --> 00:05:27,519 'O Messenger of Allah, 104 00:05:27,519 --> 00:05:30,519 my father has passed away, and my protector is absent, 105 00:05:30,519 --> 00:05:33,519 so show me favor, and may Allah show favor to you.' 106 00:05:33,519 --> 00:05:35,519 He said, 'I have done so.' 107 00:05:35,519 --> 00:05:37,519 She said, 108 00:05:37,519 --> 00:05:40,519 'I wish to join my family in the Levant.' 109 00:05:40,519 --> 00:05:42,519 He said, 110 00:05:42,519 --> 00:05:44,519 'Do not leave in haste 111 00:05:44,519 --> 00:05:47,519 until you find someone trustworthy from your people 112 00:05:47,519 --> 00:05:49,519 to escort you safely to the Levant. 113 00:05:49,519 --> 00:05:52,519 When you find a reliable person, let me know.' 114 00:05:52,519 --> 00:05:55,519 After the Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, left, 115 00:05:55,519 --> 00:05:59,519 she inquired about the man who had gestured to her to speak to him, 116 00:05:59,519 --> 00:06:01,519 and she was told, 117 00:06:01,519 --> 00:06:03,519 'That was 'Ali ibn Abi Talib,' 118 00:06:03,519 --> 00:06:05,519 may Allah's pleasure be upon him. 119 00:06:05,519 --> 00:06:09,519 She remained there until a caravan arrived containing people she trusted, 120 00:06:09,519 --> 00:06:13,519 so she came to the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, 121 00:06:13,519 --> 00:06:14,519 and said, 122 00:06:14,519 --> 00:06:16,519 'O Messenger of Allah, 123 00:06:16,519 --> 00:06:18,519 a group of my people has arrived, 124 00:06:18,519 --> 00:06:20,519 among whom are trustworthy men who can convey me safely.' 125 00:06:20,519 --> 00:06:24,519 The Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, clothed her, 126 00:06:24,519 --> 00:06:27,519 gifted her a riding camel to carry her, 127 00:06:27,519 --> 00:06:30,519 and gave her ample funds for her journey, 128 00:06:30,519 --> 00:06:32,519 so she set out with the caravan. 129 00:06:32,519 --> 00:06:34,519 'Adi continued, 130 00:06:34,519 --> 00:06:37,519 'Thereafter, we began watching for news of her, 131 00:06:37,519 --> 00:06:39,519 awaiting her arrival, 132 00:06:39,519 --> 00:06:43,519 hardly able to believe what was reported to us regarding her experience with Muhammad, 133 00:06:43,519 --> 00:06:46,519 and his utmost benevolence toward her— 134 00:06:46,519 --> 00:06:49,519 despite everything I had done against him. 135 00:06:49,519 --> 00:06:52,519 By Allah, as I was sitting among my family, 136 00:06:52,519 --> 00:06:56,519 I caught sight of a woman in her litter heading toward us. 137 00:06:56,519 --> 00:06:57,519 I said, 138 00:06:57,519 --> 00:06:59,519 "The daughter of Hatim!" 139 00:06:59,519 --> 00:07:01,519 And indeed, it was her. 140 00:07:01,519 --> 00:07:03,519 When she stopped before us, 141 00:07:03,519 --> 00:07:05,519 she immediately confronted me, saying, 142 00:07:05,519 --> 00:07:07,519 "You ruthless, unjust man! 143 00:07:07,519 --> 00:07:10,519 You evacuated your own family and children, 144 00:07:10,519 --> 00:07:13,519 while abandoning your father's remaining bloodline and defense!" 145 00:07:13,519 --> 00:07:14,519 I said, 146 00:07:14,519 --> 00:07:16,519 "O my sister, 147 00:07:16,519 --> 00:07:18,519 say nothing but good." 148 00:07:18,519 --> 00:07:21,519 I kept soothing her until she was appeased, 149 00:07:21,519 --> 00:07:23,519 and she related her story to me. 150 00:07:23,519 --> 00:07:26,519 It was exactly as the reports had reached me. 151 00:07:26,519 --> 00:07:27,519 I said to her— 152 00:07:27,519 --> 00:07:30,519 and she was a resolute, intelligent woman— 153 00:07:30,519 --> 00:07:32,519 "What is your opinion regarding this man's affair?" 154 00:07:33,519 --> 00:07:36,519 meaning Muhammad, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him. 155 00:07:36,519 --> 00:07:37,519 She said, 156 00:07:37,519 --> 00:07:40,519 "By Allah, I advise that you join him swiftly. 157 00:07:40,519 --> 00:07:42,519 For if he is a prophet, 158 00:07:42,519 --> 00:07:44,519 those who precede others to him gain virtue; 159 00:07:44,519 --> 00:07:46,519 and if he is a king, 160 00:07:46,519 --> 00:07:49,519 you will never be humiliated in his presence, being who you are." 161 00:07:49,519 --> 00:07:50,620 'Adi said, 162 00:07:50,620 --> 00:07:52,620 'So I prepared my provisions 163 00:07:52,620 --> 00:07:58,620 and set off until I presented myself before the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, in Medina, 164 00:07:58,620 --> 00:08:00,620 without any grant of immunity or written treaty. 165 00:08:00,620 --> 00:08:03,620 News had reached me that he had said, 166 00:08:03,620 --> 00:08:07,620 "I hope that Allah will place 'Adi's hand in mine." 167 00:08:07,620 --> 00:08:09,620 I entered upon him while he was in the mosque, 168 00:08:09,620 --> 00:08:11,620 and greeted him with peace. 169 00:08:11,620 --> 00:08:12,620 He asked, 170 00:08:12,620 --> 00:08:14,620 "Who is this man?" 171 00:08:14,620 --> 00:08:15,620 I replied, 172 00:08:15,620 --> 00:08:17,620 "'Adi ibn Hatim." 173 00:08:17,620 --> 00:08:19,620 He stood up for me, 174 00:08:19,620 --> 00:08:22,620 took me by the hand, and set off with me toward his house. 175 00:08:22,620 --> 00:08:25,620 By Allah, as he was walking with me toward his house, 176 00:08:25,620 --> 00:08:28,620 an elderly, frail woman met him, 177 00:08:28,620 --> 00:08:31,620 accompanied by a small child. 178 00:08:31,620 --> 00:08:32,620 She asked him to stop, 179 00:08:32,620 --> 00:08:35,620 and began speaking to him about a need of hers, 180 00:08:35,620 --> 00:08:39,620 so he stayed with them until he fulfilled their need, 181 00:08:39,620 --> 00:08:40,620 while I stood waiting. 182 00:08:40,620 --> 00:08:42,620 I said to myself, 183 00:08:42,620 --> 00:08:44,620 "By Allah, this is no conduct of a king." 184 00:08:44,620 --> 00:08:49,620 Then he took my hand and led me until we arrived at his home. 185 00:08:49,620 --> 00:08:51,620 He took a leather cushion, 186 00:08:51,620 --> 00:08:53,620 stuffed with palm-fiber, 187 00:08:53,620 --> 00:08:55,620 threw it to me, 188 00:08:55,620 --> 00:08:56,620 and said, 189 00:08:56,620 --> 00:08:58,620 "Sit on this." 190 00:08:58,620 --> 00:09:00,620 I felt embarrassed before him and said, 191 00:09:00,620 --> 00:09:02,620 "No, you sit on it." 192 00:09:02,620 --> 00:09:03,620 He said, 193 00:09:03,620 --> 00:09:05,620 "Rather, you." 194 00:09:05,620 --> 00:09:07,620 So I complied and sat upon it, 195 00:09:07,620 --> 00:09:11,620 while the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, sat upon the bare ground, 196 00:09:11,620 --> 00:09:14,620 as there was no other cushion in the house. 197 00:09:14,620 --> 00:09:16,620 I said to myself, 198 00:09:16,620 --> 00:09:19,620 "By Allah, this is not how a king behaves." 199 00:09:19,620 --> 00:09:21,620 Then he turned to me and said, 200 00:09:21,620 --> 00:09:24,620 "What is holding you back, O 'Adi Ibn Hatim? 201 00:09:24,620 --> 00:09:26,620 Were you not a Rakusi— 202 00:09:26,620 --> 00:09:29,620 professing a faith between Christianity and Sabianism?" 203 00:09:29,620 --> 00:09:31,620 I replied, "Indeed, I was." 204 00:09:31,620 --> 00:09:32,620 He then said, 205 00:09:32,620 --> 00:09:35,620 "Did you not use to exact a fourth of the spoils (*mirba'*) from your people, 206 00:09:35,620 --> 00:09:39,620 taking from them that which was not lawful for you in your own religion?" 207 00:09:39,620 --> 00:09:41,620 I replied, "Indeed, I did." 208 00:09:41,620 --> 00:09:43,620 And I realized then that he was a prophet sent by Allah. 209 00:09:43,620 --> 00:09:45,649 Then he said to me, 210 00:09:45,649 --> 00:09:47,649 "Perhaps, O 'Adi, 211 00:09:47,649 --> 00:09:50,649 the only thing holding you back from entering this religion 212 00:09:50,649 --> 00:09:53,649 is the poverty and need you see among the Muslims. 213 00:09:53,649 --> 00:09:57,649 By Allah, wealth will soon overflow among them 214 00:09:57,649 --> 00:10:00,649 to the point that no one can be found to accept it. 215 00:10:00,649 --> 00:10:02,649 And perhaps, O 'Adi, 216 00:10:02,649 --> 00:10:05,649 the only thing holding you back from entering this religion 217 00:10:05,649 --> 00:10:09,649 is the small number of Muslims you see and the great number of their enemies. 218 00:10:09,649 --> 00:10:12,649 By Allah, you will soon hear of a woman 219 00:10:12,649 --> 00:10:15,649 traveling all the way from al-Qadisiyyah on her camel 220 00:10:15,649 --> 00:10:18,649 until she visits this House, 221 00:10:18,649 --> 00:10:20,649 fearing no one except Allah. 222 00:10:20,649 --> 00:10:24,649 And perhaps the only thing holding you back from entering this religion 223 00:10:24,649 --> 00:10:28,649 is that you see kingship and authority in the hands of non-Muslims. 224 00:10:28,649 --> 00:10:30,649 By Allah, 225 00:10:30,649 --> 00:10:34,649 you will soon hear that the white palaces of Babylon 226 00:10:34,649 --> 00:10:36,649 have been conquered by them, 227 00:10:36,649 --> 00:10:38,649 and that the treasures of Chosroes son of Hormizd 228 00:10:38,649 --> 00:10:40,649 have fallen into their hands." 229 00:10:40,649 --> 00:10:42,679 I asked in astonishment, 230 00:10:42,679 --> 00:10:44,679 "The treasures of Chosroes son of Hormizd?" 231 00:10:44,679 --> 00:10:46,679 He replied, "Yes, 232 00:10:46,679 --> 00:10:48,679 the treasures of Chosroes son of Hormizd." 233 00:10:48,679 --> 00:10:50,679 'Adi said, 234 00:10:50,679 --> 00:10:54,679 "At that moment, I bore the testimony of truth and embraced Islam." 235 00:10:54,679 --> 00:10:58,679 'Adi Ibn Hatim (may Allah be pleased with him) lived a long life, 236 00:10:58,679 --> 00:11:00,679 and he used to say, 237 00:11:00,679 --> 00:11:02,679 "Two of the prophecies have already been fulfilled, 238 00:11:02,679 --> 00:11:04,679 and the third remains. 239 00:11:04,679 --> 00:11:07,679 By Allah, it shall surely come to pass! 240 00:11:07,679 --> 00:11:12,679 For I have seen the woman travel from al-Qadisiyyah on her camel, 241 00:11:12,679 --> 00:11:16,679 fearing nothing until she reached this House; 242 00:11:16,679 --> 00:11:21,679 and I was among the first cavalry force that raided the treasures of Chosroes and seized them. 243 00:11:21,679 --> 00:11:25,679 And I swear by Allah, the third prophecy will surely come to pass." 244 00:11:25,679 --> 00:11:31,679 Allah willed to fulfill the words of His Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), 245 00:11:31,679 --> 00:11:37,679 and the third prophecy came to pass during the reign of the ascetic, devout Caliph 'Umar Ibn 'Abd al-'Aziz, 246 00:11:37,679 --> 00:11:40,679 when wealth overflowed among the Muslims 247 00:11:40,679 --> 00:11:43,679 to the extent that he had his town crier call out 248 00:11:43,679 --> 00:11:47,679 for anyone willing to accept zakat funds meant for the poor among the Muslims, 249 00:11:47,679 --> 00:11:49,679 but he could not find a single person. 250 00:11:49,679 --> 00:11:53,679 The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) spoke the truth, 251 00:11:53,679 --> 00:11:57,679 and 'Adi Ibn Hatim fulfilled his oath. 252 00:11:57,679 --> 00:12:00,769 "You believed when they disbelieved, 253 00:12:00,769 --> 00:12:02,769 you acknowledged the truth when they denied it, 254 00:12:02,769 --> 00:12:04,769 you remained faithful when they betrayed, 255 00:12:04,769 --> 00:12:07,769 and you came forward when they turned away." 256 00:12:07,769 --> 00:12:10,149 — 'Umar Ibn al-Khattab. 257 00:12:15,730 --> 00:12:17,730 Inspire me to elaborate 258 00:12:17,730 --> 00:12:19,730 in praising them—are they not the adornment of mankind?