Pictures from the lives of the followers | D. Abdul Rahman Raafat Al-Basha | Episode (17) | Muhammad bin Wasi’ al-Azdi, may God have mercy on him (Part 1)

0:00 In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

0:03 The finest of generations in deeds and example,

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 upon him.

0:27 Muhammad ibn Wasi' al-Azdi,

0:32 May Allah have mercy upon him.

0:43 We are now in the caliphate of the Commander of the Faithful,

0:46 Sulayman ibn Abd al-Malik.

0:48 Here is Yazid ibn al-Muhallab ibn Abi Sufrah,

0:51 One of the unsheathed swords of Islam

0:54 And the formidable governor of Khurasan.

0:57 He sets forth with his army of one hundred thousand fighters,

1:01 Aside from the volunteers seeking martyrdom and desiring reward.

1:06 He was resolved to conquer Jurjan and Tabaristan.

1:11 At the forefront of the volunteers alongside him was

1:14 The eminent Tabi'i, Muhammad ibn Wasi' al-Azdi al-Basri,

1:19 Nicknamed "The Adornment of the Jurists,"

1:22 Renowned as "The Worshiper of Basra,"

1:25 And a student of the noble Companion, Anas ibn Malik al-Ansari,

1:30 The servant of the Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him.

1:35 Yazid ibn al-Muhallab encamped with his army at Dehestan,

1:39 Which was inhabited by a Turkic people

1:42 Of fierce might,

1:44 Great resilience,

1:46 And impregnable fortresses.

1:48 They would ride out to fight the Muslims every day;

1:52 Whenever exhaustion overcame them

1:54 Or the fighting grew too severe,

1:56 They retreated to their strongholds in the mountain passes,

2:00 Fortifying themselves behind their impregnable walls

2:03 And seeking refuge atop their lofty peaks.

2:06 Muhammad ibn Wasi' al-Azdi played

2:09 A significant role in this war,

2:12 Despite his frail build and advanced age.

2:16 The Muslim soldiers drew solace

2:19 From the light of faith that beamed from his gentle face,

2:23 Found vigor in the warmth of remembrance

2:26 Radiating from his eloquent tongue,

2:29 And gained tranquility through his answered supplications

2:32 In moments of hardship and distress.

2:35 It was his custom,

2:37 Whenever the army commander joined battle,

2:40 To cry out:

2:42 "O cavalry of Allah, mount up!"

2:44 "O cavalry of Allah, mount up!"

2:46 No sooner did the Muslim soldiers

2:48 Hear his call

2:50 Than they would rush to fight their enemy

2:53 Like startled lions,

2:56 Charging into the battlefield

2:59 As the thirsty plunge toward cool water

3:02 On a sweltering day.

3:04 On a certain day during one of those fierce,

3:08 Grinding battles,

3:10 A warrior emerged from the enemy ranks—

3:13 Eye had never beheld a man of grander stature,

3:17 Greater strength,

3:19 Daring boldness, or sharper resolve.

3:23 He began wheeling and charging between the lines

3:26 Until he pushed the Muslims back from their positions

3:29 And struck fear and awe into their hearts.

3:33 He then began calling for duels,

3:36 Defiant and arrogant,

3:38 Persisting in his challenge.

3:40 Muhammad ibn Wasi'

3:43 Stepped forward, intending to duel him himself.

3:46 At that, protective zeal surged in the hearts of the Muslim horsemen,

3:51 And one of them rushed to the elder,

3:54 Adjuring him not to do it,

3:57 Beseeching him to leave the duel to him instead.

4:00 The elder honored his oath,

4:02 Praying for his victory and divine support.

4:05 Each of the two warriors charged his opponent

4:08 Like impending doom,

4:10 Clashing like two ferocious lions.

4:14 The eyes and hearts of the troops everywhere hung upon them.

4:19 For an hour they jousted and circled each other,

4:23 Until sheer exhaustion wore them down completely.

4:27 Then they exchanged two simultaneous sword blows aimed at each other's heads.

4:33 The Turk's sword lodged in the iron helmet of the Muslim knight,

4:38 While the Muslim's sword struck the forehead of the Turkic warrior,

4:42 Cleaving his head in two

4:45 And splitting his crown into two pieces.

4:48 The victorious knight then returned to the Muslim ranks

4:52 In a sight the likes of which no eye had ever seen:

4:56 A sword in his hand dripping with blood,

4:59 And another sword stuck in his helmet, gleaming under the sun.

5:05 The Muslims greeted him with acclamations of *Tahlil*, *Takbir*, and *Tahmid*.

5:10 Yazid ibn al-Muhallab looked at the tangle of two swords, helmet, and armor upon the man,

5:17 And exclaimed, "May his father be blessed! What a knight! What a man!"

5:23 It was said to him, "He is a man blessed by the supplications of Muhammad ibn Wasi' al-Azdi."

5:30 The balance of power shifted after the slain Turkic warrior fell;

5:37 Terror and panic spread through the hearts of the polytheists like wildfire through dry grass,

5:43 While the flames of pride and honor blazed in the breasts of the Muslims.

5:48 They swept over the enemies of Allah like a torrent,

5:52 Encircling them as a collar grips the neck,

5:55 And cutting off their water and provisions.

5:58 Their king had no choice but to seek a treaty;

6:02 He sent word to Yazid offering peace,

6:05 Expressing his readiness to hand over the lands under his control,

6:10 Along with everything and everyone in them,

6:13 Provided he guarantee safety for his life, wealth, and family.

6:18 Yazid accepted the peace terms,

6:20 Stipulating that he pay seven hundred thousand dirhams in installments,

6:26 An immediate cash payment of four hundred thousand dirhams,

6:29 Four hundred beasts of burden laden with saffron,

6:34 And four hundred men,

6:37 Each holding a silver goblet in his hand,

6:41 Wearing a hood of fine silk,

6:44 Over which was a velvet mantle

6:47 And a silk sash,

6:49 To be worn by the soldiers' wives.

6:52 When the war drew to a close,

6:57 Yazid ibn al-Muhallab said to his treasurer,

7:00 "Have we tallied the spoils

7:02 So that we may give every rightful claimant his due?"

7:05 The treasurer and his assistants attempted to count them,

7:09 But proved unable to do so.

7:11 So the spoils were distributed among the soldiers with generous leniency.

7:16 Among these spoils, the Muslims found

7:20 A crown forged from pure gold,

7:23 Adorned with pearls and jewels,

7:26 And decorated with exquisite engravings.

7:29 Necks strained to catch a glimpse of it,

7:31 And eyes were transfixed by its luster.

7:34 Yazid took it in his hand

7:37 And raised it high so that even those who could not see it among the troops could behold it.

7:42 He then said,

7:44 "Do you think anyone could be indifferent to this crown?"

7:47 They replied, "May Allah rectify the commander's affairs!

7:51 Who could possibly be indifferent to it?"

7:53 He said,

7:55 "You shall see that there are still those in the Ummah of Muhammad, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him,

8:00 Who are indifferent to it,

8:02 And to an earth full of its like."

8:05 Then he turned to his chamberlain and said,

8:08 "Find Muhammad ibn Wasi' al-Azdi for us."

8:12 The chamberlain went searching for him in every direction,

8:16 Finding him standing in a remote spot away from the people,

8:20 Engaged in voluntary prayer, supplicating,

8:23 Imploring Allah, and seeking His forgiveness.

8:26 He approached him and said,

8:28 "The commander summons you to meet him

8:31 And asks that you proceed to him at once."

8:34 So he went with the chamberlain,

8:37 And upon reaching the commander,

8:40 He greeted him and sat near him.

8:43 The commander returned the greeting with an even better one,

8:46 Then raised the crown in his hand and said,

8:49 "O Abu Abd Allah,

8:51 The Muslim army has gained this precious crown as booty,

8:56 And I have decided to bestow it upon you

8:59 And make it your portion."

9:01 The troops were entirely pleased with this.

9:04 He said,

9:06 "You make it my portion, O commander?"

9:09 He replied, "Yes, your portion."

9:12 He said,

9:14 "I have no need for it, O commander.

9:17 May Allah reward you and them with good on my behalf."

9:20 The commander said,

9:22 "I adjure you by Allah, you shall take it!"

9:25 Bound by the commander's oath,

9:27 Muhammad ibn Wasi' took the crown,

9:30 Asked permission to leave, and departed.

9:33 Some of those who did not know the elder remarked,

9:36 "Look at him, taking the crown for himself and walking away!"

9:40 So Yazid instructed one of his servants

9:43 To follow him secretly,

9:46 Observe what he would do with the crown,

9:49 And bring back news of him.

9:51 The servant followed him

9:53 Unbeknownst to the elder.

9:56 Muhammad ibn Wasi' continued on his way,

9:59 Holding the crown in his hand,

10:01 When an unkempt, dust-covered man

10:04 Of shabby appearance crossed his path.

10:06 The man asked him, saying,

10:08 "Give me from what belongs to Allah."

10:10 The elder looked to his right, to his left, and behind him;

10:14 Once he was certain no one was watching him,

10:17 He handed the crown to the beggar,

10:20 Then walked away joyful and relieved,

10:23 As though he had cast off a burden

10:25 That had weighed heavily upon his back.

10:27 The servant took the beggar by the hand

10:30 And brought him to the commander,

10:32 Relating to him what had transpired.

10:34 The commander took the crown from the beggar

10:37 And compensated him with ample wealth until he was well pleased.

10:41 He then turned to the soldiers and said,

10:44 "Did I not tell you that there are still those in the Ummah of Muhammad,

10:48 Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, who are indifferent to this crown,

10:52 And to far greater than its like?"

10:56 Muhammad Ibn Wasi' al-Azdi continued

10:59 fighting the polytheists under the banner of Yazid Ibn al-Muhallab

11:03 until the time for the Hajj pilgrimage drew near.

11:06 When only a short time remained before him,

11:10 he entered upon Yazid

11:12 and asked his permission to depart to perform the rites.

11:16 Yazid said to him,

11:18 "Your permission is in your own hands, O Abu 'Abdillah.

11:21 Depart whenever you wish,

11:23 and we have allocated a sum of money for you

11:25 to assist you with your pilgrimage."

11:27 Muhammad said to him,

11:29 "Will you order a similar amount of money for every single soldier among your troops, O commander?"

11:35 He replied, "No."

11:37 Muhammad said, "I have no need for anything granted exclusively to me apart from the rest of the Muslim army."

11:43 Then he took his leave of him and departed.

11:48 The departure of Muhammad Ibn Wasi' al-Azdi weighed heavily on Yazid Ibn al-Muhallab,

11:53 just as it weighed heavily on the Muslim soldiers who had enjoyed his companionship.

11:58 They grieved over their victorious army being deprived of his blessings,

12:02 and they wished that he would return to them once he finished performing his rites.

12:08 And no wonder,

12:09 for the commanders of the Muslims scattered across the corners of the earth

12:14 were deeply eager to have the worshiper of Basra,

12:19 Muhammad Ibn Wasi' al-Azdi, among the ranks of their army.

12:24 They would rejoice at his presence among them, expecting much good,

12:29 and they hoped that Allah, Mighty and Majestic, would grant them decisive victory through his righteous supplications and abundant blessings.

12:38 To conclude:

12:40 how noble were these souls that were humble in their own eyes,

12:46 yet great in the sight of Allah and the people!

12:49 And how magnificent is this history that was blessed with such exceptional, remarkable men!

12:56 Until our next encounter with the worshiper of Basra, Muhammad Ibn Wasi' al-Azdi.

13:03 "Rulers have their reciters,

13:08 and the wealthy have their reciters,

13:12 but Muhammad Ibn Wasi' is indeed among the reciters of the Most Merciful." — Malik Ibn Dinar

13:17 Malik Ibn Dinar.

13:20 In stance and example,

13:25 they followed the Messenger whenever he strove or spoke.

13:30 They were here, quenching the thirst of our lives like a rain cloud,

13:35 and as long as we endure, their memory rises high.

13:40 They departed, leaving a question in our conscience:

13:46 Has any star ever risen and shone brightly like them?

13:51 They filled life with glorious deeds through their actions,

13:56 and the world of humanity beamed with pride through them.

Pictures from the lives of the followers | D. Abdul Rahman Raafat Al-Basha | Episode (17) | Muhammad bin Wasi’ al-Azdi, may God have mercy on him (Part 1)

Transcript