Pictures from the lives of the followers | D. Abdul Rahman Raafat Al-Basha | Episode (10) | Rabia Al-Rai, may God have mercy on him

0:00 In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful.

0:03 The best of generations in stances and exemplary conduct,

0:08 Following the Messenger whenever he strove or spoke.

0:13 Mawaddah Association

0:15 Presents:

0:17 Portraits from the Lives of the Tabi'un,

0:21 By Dr. Abd al-Rahman Ra'fat al-Basha,

0:25 May Allah have mercy on him.

0:27 Rabi'ah al-Ra'y,

0:33 May Allah have mercy on him.

0:41 Here we are in the fifty-first year of the Hijrah,

0:45 And here are the Muslim battalions journeying through the vast expanses of the earth, east and west,

0:51 Carrying to humanity the edifying creed,

0:54 Extending toward it a reforming, compassionate hand,

0:58 And spreading throughout its lands the divine law that liberates mankind from the servitude of mankind,

1:04 Directing all allegiance to Allah alone, without partner.

1:08 And here is the venerable Companion,

1:10 Al-Rabi' ibn Ziyad al-Harithi,

1:13 The governor of Khurasan,

1:15 The conqueror of Sijistan,

1:17 And the triumphant commander,

1:19 Advancing at the head of his army, campaigning in the path of Allah,

1:23 Accompanied by his valiant youth, Farrukh.

1:26 For after Allah had blessed him with the conquest of Sijistan and other territories, he resolved

1:32 To crown his eventful life

1:35 By crossing the Jaxartes River (Sayhun),

1:37 And raising the banners of monotheism over the peaks of those realms

1:41 Known as Transoxiana.

1:45 Al-Rabi' ibn Ziyad made full preparations for the fateful battle,

1:52 Readied all necessary provisions,

1:55 And strictly dictated both its time and place to the enemies of Allah.

2:00 When the fighting broke out,

2:02 Al-Rabi' and his valiant soldiers acquitted themselves with an excellence

2:06 That history still recalls with moist praise

2:11 And deep veneration.

2:13 In the arenas of combat, his youth Farrukh displayed

2:15 Such forms of valor and acts of daring

2:20 As increased Al-Rabi's admiration, veneration,

2:24 And esteem for his noble qualities.

2:26 The battle concluded in a decisive victory for the Muslims;

2:30 They shook the ground beneath their enemy's feet,

2:33 Tore through their ranks, and scattered their hosts.

2:37 Then he crossed the river that had long separated them from sweeping across the lands of the Turks,

2:43 Preventing their advance toward the land of China,

2:46 And deep into the Kingdom of Sogdia.

2:49 Sogdia was a region located in Central Asia.

2:53 No sooner had the great commander crossed the river

2:56 And set foot firmly upon the opposite bank,

3:00 Than he and his soldiers hastened to perform ablution from its water,

3:04 Completing their ablution thoroughly.

3:06 He faced the Qiblah,

3:08 And they prayed two rak'ahs in gratitude to Allah, the Granter of victory.

3:12 Then the great commander rewarded his youth Farrukh for his exceptional valor,

3:17 Manumitting him from bondage,

3:20 Allotting him his share of the vast and abundant spoils of war,

3:24 And giving him a generous extra portion of his own accord.

3:28 Life did not long continue after that radiant, glorious day

3:32 For Al-Rabi' ibn Ziyad al-Harithi;

3:35 His appointed term arrived just two years after fulfilling his great dream,

3:42 And he departed to his Lord, well-pleased and pleasing to Him.

3:46 As for the brave and valiant young man, Farrukh,

3:50 He returned to Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah,

3:53 Bearing with him his substantial share of the spoils,

3:56 And the lavish gift bestowed upon him by his great commander.

4:01 Above all, he carried his precious freedom,

4:05 And his rich memories of magnificent heroism,

4:09 Crowned with the dust of battlefields.

4:14 When Farrukh arrived in the city of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him,

4:19 He was a young man in the prime of his youth,

4:22 Brimming with vitality,

4:24 Full of vigor and chivalry,

4:27 Approaching thirty years of age.

4:30 Farrukh resolved to acquire a home of his own wherein he could settle,

4:36 And a wife in whom he could find tranquility.

4:38 So he purchased a house in an average neighborhood of the city,

4:42 And chose a woman of sound intellect,

4:45 Complete virtue, and steadfast religious commitment,

4:48 Close to him in age,

4:50 And he married her.

4:52 Farrukh lived happily in the home with which Allah had blessed him,

4:56 And found in his wife's companionship a delightful life, affectionate treatment, and radiant joy

5:03 Far exceeding what he had ever hoped or anticipated.

5:06 Yet that well-established home,

5:08 Despite all the comforts it afforded,

5:11 And that righteous wife,

5:14 Despite all the noble characteristics and illustrious virtues Allah had endowed her with,

5:19 Could not overpower the faithful knight's yearning to plunge into battles,

5:25 His longing to hear the clash of blades upon blades,

5:29 And his passion for resuming jihad in the path of Allah.

5:33 Whenever news echoed throughout the city of victories won by Muslim armies

5:39 Campaigning in the path of Allah,

5:42 His yearning for jihad was rekindled,

5:45 And his longing for martyrdom intensified.

5:48 One Friday,

5:53 Farrukh heard the preacher in the Prophet's Mosque

5:57 Announcing glad tidings to the Muslims of the Muslim armies' victories on multiple fronts,

6:03 Urging people to engage in jihad in the path of Allah,

6:06 And encouraging them toward martyrdom to bring honor to His religion

6:10 And seek His pleasure.

6:13 He returned home,

6:15 Having firmly resolved to join one of the banners of the Muslims

6:20 Deployed beneath every star.

6:23 He made this resolve known to his wife,

6:26 And she said to him:

6:28 "O Abu Abd al-Rahman,

6:30 To whom do you leave me, and this child I carry in my womb?

6:36 You are a stranger to this city,

6:39 Having neither family nor kinfolk here."

6:42 He said:

6:44 "I leave you in the care of Allah and His Messenger.

6:47 Moreover, I have left behind thirty thousand dinars for you,

6:50 Which I gathered from the spoils of war.

6:53 Safeguard them and invest them profitably,

6:56 And spend from them on yourself and your child honorably,

7:00 Until I return to you safely with spoils,

7:04 Or Allah grants me the martyrdom I long for."

7:08 Then he bade her farewell and set out for his destination.

7:12 A few months after her husband's departure, the dignified lady gave birth,

7:18 And it was a boy of radiant countenance,

7:21 Charming features,

7:23 And striking appearance.

7:25 She rejoiced over him with immense joy,

7:27 Which almost made her forget the parting from his father,

7:30 And she named him Rabi'ah.

7:35 Marks of noble distinction appeared upon the young boy from his earliest childhood,

7:40 And signs of intelligence manifested in his deeds and words.

7:45 So his mother entrusted him to teachers,

7:48 Instructing them to educate him well,

7:51 And summoned tutors for him,

7:53 Urging them to discipline and cultivate him thoroughly.

7:56 Before long, he had mastered writing and reading;

8:01 Then he memorized the Book of Allah, Mighty and Majestic,

8:04 Reciting it fresh and moist,

8:07 Just as it had been revealed unto the heart of Muhammad, blessings and peace of Allah be upon him.

8:13 He learned whatever hadith of the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, was made easy for him,

8:19 And memorized of the speech of the Arabs

8:21 Whatever was befitting for one of his stature to retain,

8:24 Acquiring proper understanding of religious matters as required.

8:28 Rabi'ah's mother generously lavished money and gifts

8:32 Upon her son's teachers and tutors;

8:36 Whenever she saw him increase in knowledge,

8:39 She increased their reward and honor.

8:42 She constantly awaited the return of his absent father,

8:45 Striving to make the boy a source of joy and pride for both of them.

8:50 But Farrukh's absence grew long,

8:53 And conflicting reports circulated concerning him:

8:56 Some said he had fallen captive into enemy hands,

9:01 Others said he was still free and actively pursuing jihad,

9:07 While a third group, returning from the fields of combat, said

9:11 That he had attained the martyrdom he so desired.

9:15 This last report seemed most probable to Rabi'ah's mother due to the cessation of all news from him,

9:21 And she grieved over him with a sorrow that weighed heavily upon her,

9:25 Before seeking her solace and reward with Allah.

9:28 By that time, Rabi'ah had grown into adolescence, approaching manhood.

9:35 Well-wishers said to his mother:

9:38 "Here is Rabi'ah;

9:40 He has attained all the reading and writing a youth like him should master,

9:46 And surpassed his peers,

9:48 Having memorized the Qur'an and narrated hadith.

9:51 If only you would choose a trade for him,

9:54 He would quickly master it

9:57 And spend upon you and himself from its earnings."

10:02 She replied:

10:03 "I ask Allah to choose for him what holds righteousness for his worldly life and the Hereafter.

10:10 Rabi'ah has chosen knowledge for himself,

10:13 And has resolved to live as a student and a teacher

10:17 For as long as life may last."

10:21 Rabi'ah proceeded along the path he had charted for himself, never faltering nor falling short.

10:27 He turned eagerly toward the circles of knowledge that filled the Prophet's Mosque,

10:32 Just as the thirsty rush toward sweet springs of water.

10:36 He attached himself to the remaining noble Companions,

10:40 Foremost among them Anas ibn Malik,

10:43 The servant of the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him;

10:47 And he learned from the first generation of the Tabi'un,

10:50 At their head Sa'id ibn al-Musayyab,

10:54 Makhul al-Shami, and Salamah ibn Dinar.

10:58 He joined the toil of his nights to the toil of his days until exhaustion wore him down.

11:04 Whenever someone spoke to him about that and urged him to be gentle with himself,

11:09 He said:

11:10 "We heard our teachers say:

11:13 'Knowledge will never give you a part of itself

11:16 Until you give it your entire self.'"

11:20 Before long, his renown spread,

11:24 His star rose, his companions grew numerous,

11:27 His students became devoted to him, and his people recognized him as their leader.

11:31 The Madinan scholar's life progressed peacefully and serenely:

11:36 One part of his day spent at home with his family and brothers,

11:41 And another in the Mosque of the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him,

11:45 Attending assemblies and study circles of sacred knowledge.

11:48 His life continued in this steady course,

11:51 Until something completely unexpected took place.

11:55 "I have never seen anyone with a greater retention of the Sunnah than Rabi'ah."

12:04 — Ibn al-Majishun.

12:22 They departed, leaving in the conscience a lingering question:

12:26 Has a star ever risen and shone as brightly as they did?

12:31 They filled life with glories through their deeds,

12:36 And our lands flourished through them.

Pictures from the lives of the followers | D. Abdul Rahman Raafat Al-Basha | Episode (10) | Rabia Al-Rai, may God have mercy on him | Part 1

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