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PREACHING DURING CALIPHATE OF OMAR BEFORE A BATTLE continued ABDULLAH, SON OF MU’TAM AMR, SON OF AL ‘AS SALAMA, SON OF QAIS ASH’JA’E ABU MOSA ASH’ARI ABU DARDA Hayatus Sahabah by Muhadith Kandahlawi (Kandhelvi) Rendered into current English by Khadeijah Abdullah Darwish (Anne Stephens) Free give away Acquired from Amazon’s Kindle Not for sale or resale by any third party ©2013 - www.Muhammad.com ABDULLAH, SON OF MU’TAM AND THE TRIBE OF TAGHLIB AND THE BATTLE OF TIKRIT Talha and others narrate that during the battle of Tikrit, the Romans saw that every offensive they launched against the Muslims backfired on them, and that every time they fought against the Muslims they suffered defeat. With this realization they deserted their leaders and loaded their belongings on boats (to leave). When spies from the (Arab-Christian) tribes of Taghlib, Iyad and Nanir sent the news to Abdullah, son of Mu’ta, (the Muslim commander) they requested a peace treaty between the Muslims and their tribes, and also added that their tribes were willing to accept Islam. Abdullah sent a message back to them saying, “If you are sincere, you should bear witness that there is no god except Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. In addition to this, you must accept everything the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, brought from Allah. You should then inform us of your decision.” The messengers took Abdullah’s message and returned with the news that the people had accepted Islam. THE PREACHING OF AMR , SON OF AL ‘AS BEFORE THE BATTLE OF EGYPT Khalid, the son of Waleed and Ubadah narrate that Amr, son of Al ‘As marched to Egypt after Omar had returned to Medina (from Al Shams). Zubair followed him (with another contingent) and the two joined up with Amr Al ‘As at a place called Illyon. Upon their arrival they were met by a High Priest of the Christian Coptic Church in Egypt whose name was Abu Maryam accompanied by another high priest and the Egyptian army that had been sent to defend Egypt. When Amr arrived, the Egyptians had already prepared themselves for battle, but Amr sent a messenger to tell them not to be too hasty and should first listen to their reason for coming to Egypt and then decide upon what course of action to take. The Egyptian attack was put on hold and Amr sent another message saying that he was coming (to talk) and asked that Abu Maryam and his companion should also come forth. The Egyptians accepted and each party guaranteed the safety of the other. Upon meeting the two high priests, Amr said, “You are two senior priests of this country, so (I ask you to) listen. Allah has sent Muhammad with the truth and ordered us to follow His truth. Muhammad, praise and peace be upon him, has conveyed this command to us together with all the commands Allah has issued. Muhammad, praise and peace be upon him, passed away – may Allah’s choicest blessings and mercy be showered upon him and fulfilled his duty and left us on a clear path. Amongst his instructions to us was to wish goodness for people and therefore we invite you to accept Islam. Whosoever accepts Islam will be one of us but whosoever refuses to accept is to be given the option of paying the head tax (Jizya). In return we will do everything without our capacity to provide protection. The Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, also informed us that we will without doubt conquer you and advised us to be good to you and to maintain the family ties that exist between us (the mother of his son Ibrahim was Egyptian). If you accept this option (Jizya), you will have in your favor another right (of being family) in addition to the right of protection. Among the commands that our leader gave were that we treat the Copts well because the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, reminded us that they are our relatives and deserve to be well protected.” The high priests said, “It is only the prophets who would maintain such distant relations. (Referring the Lady Haggar who was an Egyptian and wife of Prophet Abraham) they said, “She was indeed an honorable lady who was the daughter of our king. She belonged to the House of Manf who were the ruling family. However, the House of Aynush Shams attacked them, killing many and seized their kingdom and those who remained were forced into exile. After a while she became the wife of Prophet Abraham, peace be upon him. Your coming is a most welcome and happy event for us. Leave us in peace and we will return to you (after consulting with the others).” Amr, son of Al ‘As said, “You will be unable to deceive us and have three days to think over the matter and to consult with your people. Otherwise we will have to attack you.” The two priests requested the time to be extend, and Amr gave them an extra day. They asked for more time and he added another day. 2 Thereafter the two priests returned to the king who seriously considered the alternatives. However, a person by the name of Artabon (a Roman general defeated in Palestine who fled to Egypt) refused to submit and ordered an attack against the Muslims. The two priests told the people, “We will do our best to defend you without returning to the Muslims. However, there are still four days left in which we can hope for nothing except peace from them.” The army of Farqab launched an attacked against Amr.and Zubair at night, however, Amr was prepared for the attack. They engaged the enemy and slew Farqab’s people and those who were with him (Artabone was amongst those killed).those who survived fled. Amr and Zubair (and their army) then left for Aynush Shams. Abu Haritha and Abu Othman narrate that on the 4th day when Amr set up camp at Aynush Shams, the Egyptians said to their king, “What do you wish to do against the people who have defeated the Persians and Caesar and occupied their lands? Enter into negotiations with them and draw up a treaty without fighting them or leading us against them.” However, the king refused and the Egyptians attacked the Muslims. The Muslims repulsed the attack and Zubair managed to climb the wall of their stronghold. When the Egyptians saw this, they opened the gates for Amr and came out to enter into negotiations. Amr accepted their submission and Zubair climbed down from the wall as conqueror. PREACHING PRIOR TO A BATTLE UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF SALAMA, SON OF QAIS ASH’JA’E Sulayman, son of Buraydah narrates that whenever a Muslim regiment was assembled, the Prince of Believers, Omar appointed someone to be their commander who was knowledgeable and whose judgment was sound.. His choice at one time was Salama, son of Qais, Ash’ja’e who was the leader of one of the contingents. Salama addressed the army saying, “March in the Name of Allah and for the pleasure of Allah, you should fight those who disbelieve. When you meet the unbelieving enemy, invite them to accept one of three options: Invite them to Islam, if they accept and choose to remain in their own homes, they will still have to pay the obligatory charity from their wealth but will have no share of the spoils of war Muslims receive. However, if they chose to join you they will enjoy the same privileges that you do and will be obligated to bear the same responsibilities that you do. If they refuse to accept Islam, ask them to pay the head tax (Jizya). If they agree to this fight their enemies for them thereby freeing them to pay the head tax. Do not place responsibilities on them beyond their capacity. If they refuse even this, fight them and Allah will assist you against them. If they take refuge in a fortress and ask you to allow them to come out on the conditions of Allah and His Messenger, praise and peace be upon them, do not permit it because you know the injunctions and they do not .know what Allah and His Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, issue concerning them. Should they ask to be allowed to come out in under the protection of Allah and His Messenger, do not allow it, rather allow them to come out under your protection. If they fight you, ensure that you do not steal from the spoils of war, do not deceive, neither mutilate nor kill children.” Salama said, “We marched and when we met the unbelieving enemy, we spoke to them about Islam as the Price of Believers had instructed. When they refused to accept Islam, 3 and when we called upon them to pay the head tax they refused. So we fought them and Allah assisted us to defeat them. We killed their soldiers, captured their families and collected their wealth (the spoils of war).” The narration continues in great detail. THE PREACHING OF MOSA ASH’ARI BEFORE THE BATTLE OF ISFAHAN Abu Umayah narrates that when Mosa Ash’ari struck camp at Isfahan he invited the people to accept Islam. Upon their refusal he proposed the head tax and they opted to enter into negotiations with him. Although they had opted for peace that night, the following morning they betrayed the Muslims and launched a surprise attack. However, Allah made the Muslims victorious. THE CHARACTER AND ACTIONS OF THE COMPANIONS Regarding Amr, son of Jamoh acceptance of Islam and the role that his son and Mu’adh, son of Jabal played, the son of Isaac narrates that after some of the Ansar had pledged allegiance to the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, (in Mecca) they returned to Medina and Islam started to manifest it there. However, there remained among their tribe some unbelievers who adhered to their religion. Amongst such people was Amr, son of Jamoh, whose son Mu’aadh had been one of those who had pledged allegiance to the Messenger of Allah at Aqabah. Amr was a chieftain of the tribe of Banu Salsa, and one of the most respected people among them. It was customary at that time that noble people such as Amr kept a wooden idol named Manat in their homes. Amr worshipped it and always kept it clean. After accepting Islam, several youths from the tribe of Banu Salma together with others who had pledged their allegiance to the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, at Aqabah including Mu’adh, son of Jabal and Amr’s son who was also named Mu’adh would take the idol and throw it head first into one of the garbage dumps. In the morning, Amr, son of Jamoh would say, “Woe to those who have mistreated our god last night” and he would go in search of the idol. Eventually when he found it he would wash and cleanse it thoroughly then perfume it swearing by Allah that if he found out who the culprits were who did this he would put them to shame. However, the same youths would return and repeat what they had done the previous night as soon as Amr went to sleep. The same thing happened again night after night and he would retrieve it once more from the garbage dump, cleanse and perfume it, however, this time he hung his sword around its neck saying, “By Allah, I have no idea who is doing this to you. If you have the courage, you should defend yourself now that you have this sword with you.” When night fell and Amr had gone to sleep the youths seized the idol and after having removed the sword from its neck tied it to a dead dog and threw it into the unused well of Abu Salma that was used for a garbage dump. The next morning when Amr did not find the idol in its alcove, he went out in search for it and found it lying on its head in the well with the dead dog tied to it. When he saw what had happened it was then that he realized the worthlessness of his idol. The Muslims spoke to him about Islam and Amr accepted and became an excellent Muslim. May Allah shower His Mercy upon him. Another narration states that when several members of the tribe of Banu Salma accepted Islam, the wife and son of Amr, son of Jamoh also accepted Islam whereas 4 Amr did not. He said to his wife, “Do not allow any of the children to go to your family until I look into what they are doing.” She replied, “I will do as you ask, but won’t you listen to your son who has heard from that person (the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him)?” Amr said, “Perhaps he has become irreligious.” “No” replied his wife, “he was just one of the people.” Amr asked his son to come to him then said, “Tell me what you heard from that person.” Whereupon his son recited: “Praise be to Allah, Lord of the Worlds, the Merciful, the Most Merciful, Owner of the Day of Recompense. You (alone) we worship; and You (alone) we rely for help. Guide us to the Straight Path, the Path of those upon whom You have favored, not those upon whom is the anger, nor the astray.” Koran Ch. 1 1-5 Amr declared, “This is most excellent and beautiful, is all his speech like this? His son said, “Yes, dear father. Do you wish to follow him? Most of our people are already doing so.” Amr replied, “I won’t do so until I have consulted with Manat and see what he says.” When the unbelievers attempted to speak with the idol Manat, an old woman would stand behind the idol and impersonate by speaking on its behalf. However, the woman was not there when Amr approached it. As he stood by the idol he praised it excessively and then said, “O Manat, you should know that you are being faced with a serious danger of which you are unaware. A man has come who forbids us to worship you and who instructs us to get rid of you. I did not want to pledge allegiance to him until I had consulted with you” and he continued to speak to the idol for a long time, but there was no response. As there was no reply, Amr said to it, “You seem to be angry with me, but I have done nothing impolite to you.” Then Amr broke the idol into pieces. In another narration it adds that when Amr accepted Islam and recognized the authority of Allah, he composed some verses expressing his experience and spoke of the helplessness of the idols. He also thanked Allah for saving him from spiritual blindness and the deviation that had almost consumed him: “I repent to Allah for the wrongs I committed in the past And desire that Allah rescue me from the fire of Hell Praise be to Him for His bounties He who is the Lord of the Kab’ah and its covering May He be glorified to the extent of the number of sinners And the extent of the raindrops falling from the sky He guided me when I was in darkness When I was worshipping Manat and other stones After my hair had turned white because of old age, He saved me from the blight of idol worship and its shame I was on the verge of being totally destroyed in darkness But He rescued me by His tremendous might Therefore I praise Him and thank Him as long as I live He who is the Lord of mankind and All Powerful over them When I say these words my only desire is 5 to earn proximity to Allah in His home Paradise." In condemnation of the idol Manat, Amr composed the following verses: "By Allah! had you been a true god, you would never have been thrown deep down in a well bound tied to a dog. Curses to the place where you have been thrown, lying there in disgrace despite being a god we have now discovered your tremendous harmfulness All praises belong to the Exalted Allah who bestows favors The Giver, the Sustainer and the One who rewards every good- practice It was He who rescued me Before I became a grave trapped in darkness" ABU DARDA EMBRACES ISLAM Waaqidi says that it is commonly believed that Abu Darda was the last person from his family to accept Islam. He was a devoted worshipper of his idol and kept it covered with a cloth. During the Time of Ignorance, Abdullah, son of Rawaha had been Abu Darda’s very close friend and had constantly invited him to accept Islam but each time he refused. One day, Abdullah, son of Rawaha saw Abu Darda leaving his house, so he entered the house and surpised Abu Darda’s wife who was combing her hair. Abdullah asked her were Abu Darda was and she replied, “Your brother has just left.” Then with axe in hand, Abdullah entered the room in which the idol had been placed and smashed it into pieces. As he smashed it, he mentioned the name of the idol and composed a short verse: “Behold, everything that is worshipped other than Allah is false.” Abu Darda’s wife had heard the noise of the axe and when Abdullah came out of the room, she cried out, “O son of Rawaha, you have ruined me!” Abdullah had not long left the house when Abu Darda returned and found his wife sitting crying, fearful of his reaction. He asked her what the matter was and she told him, “Your brother Abdullah, son of Rawaha came here by surprise and did what you see.” Abu Darda flew into a towering rage, but then thought to himself that if his idol was of any good, it would have defended itself whereupon he went to the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, and found Abdullah sitting with him and accepted Islam. OMAR’S LETER TO AMR, SON OF AL ‘AS CONCERNING THE HEAD TAX AND THE PRISONERS OF WAR Ziyad, son of Zubaydi narrates a lengthy report about what happened after the Muslims conquered Alexandria during the Caliphate of Omar. In this report he also mentions that they stopped at a place called Balheb where they waited for Omar’s letter to arrive. When it arrived Amr, son of Al ‘As read the letter to the Muslims which stated: “Your letter has reached me with the news that the King of Alexandria has opted to pay to pay the head tax on condition that all the prisoners of his country are returned to him. By my life, the head tax we receive and what the Muslims after us receive is more beloved to me than the spoils of war that are distributed then finished. Suggest to the King of Alexandria that he should pay the head tax on condition that the prisoners in 6 your custody should be given the choice of either accepting Islam, or remain in their religion. Whoever among them accepts Islam would become of the Muslims and enjoy the privileges all Muslims enjoy together with bearing the responsibilities all Muslims bear. Those who choose the religion of their people will have to pay the same amount of head tax fixed for the people of his faith. As for those prisoners who have been taken to Arabia and reached destinations such as Mecca, Medina or Yemen, we will be unable to return them to him, and we cannot enter into an agreement which we will be unable to fulfill.” THE ACTIONS OF THE COMPANIONS DURING THE CONQUEST OF ALEXANDRIA Ziyad, son of Jaz adds, “Thereafter Amr, son of Al ‘As sent a letter to the King of Alexandria, detailing the instructions which Omar, Prince of Believers had written to him. The king accepted the proposal and we gathered the prisoners to us. When all the Christian prisoners had been gathered, we approached them individually and offered them the choice between Islam or Christianity. When those of them accepted Islam, we exclaimed, “Allahu Akbar louder than we did when we conquered any town and took him under our protection. Those who chose to remain as Christians would make a noise and take him into their protection and we would impose the head tax upon him. When this happened, we were so grieved that (he did not accept Islam) it almost appeared as if one of us had defected to them. Among those who came to us was Abu Maryam (whose name was) Abdullah. Another narrator says he met Abu Maryam when he was with the chief of the tribe of Banu Zubayd. Ziyad, son of Jaz continues saying, “When we approached Abu Maryam, whose parents and brothers were all Christians to give him the choice between Islam and Christianity, he opted to accept Islam. As we took him into our protection, his parents and brothers darted across to pull him away from us, and tore his clothing. However, he is now, as you can see, our chief.” ALI’S SUIT OF ARMOR Sha’bi narrates that Ali, the Prince of Believers went one day to the marketplace and found a Christian selling a coat of armor that had belonged to him. Ali approached him saying “That coat of armor belongs to me. Let us get a Muslim judge to decide the matter between us.” The judge they called upon was Qadi Shuray and Ali asked him to preside. Shuray asked, ”What do you have to say, Prince of Believers?” Ali told him, “This coat of armor belongs to me. I lost it a long time ago.’ Judge Shuray then asked the Christian, “What have you to day, O Christian?” The Christian replied, “No, the Prince of Believers is mistaken, the armor is mine.” Judge Shuray ruled, “The armor cannot be taken from the Christian unless you have proof (of ownership).” Ali submitted, saying, “Shuray is right.” Having heard this the Christian said, “As for me, I bear witness that it is certainly the judgment of the Prophets that the Prince of Believers can come to a judge under his power who passes judgment against him, O Prince of Believers, I swear by Allah that the armor belongs to you. As I walked behind you one, the armor fell from your brown camel and I picked it up.” Thereafter he declared, “I bear witness that there is no god except Allah, and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.”, Whereupon Ali said to him, “Now that you have accepted Islam, you may have it,” and the man took it and loaded it on his horse. 7 In the narration of Hakim, he says that the amor of Ali had fallen from his camel and was found by a person who sold it. When the armor was found in the possession of a Jew, Ali took the case to Judge Shuray. Ali’s son Hasan and is freed slave Qambar testified in favor of Ali. Judge Shuray then said, “Bring me another witness in place of Hasan.” Ali asked, “Don’t you want to accept the testimony of Hasan? The judge replied, “No, I recall that you told me it was not permissible for a son to testify in favor of his father.” Yazid Tamemi reports a lengthy narration in which he states that Judge Suray said to Ali, “We will accept the testimony of your freed slave but not that of your son.” Ali exclaimed, “Have you not heard Omar report that the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, said, ‘Hasan and Nusain will be the leaders of the youth in Paradise?’ Then, turning to the Jew Ali said, “You may have the armor, O Jew.”The Jew said in astonishment, “O Prince of Believers. You take the case before the judge of Muslims who passes judgment against you and you accept it! O Prince of Believers, I swear by Allah you have spoken the truth. The armor is yours, I picked it up when it fell off your camel.” Then he declared, “I bear witness that there is no god except Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.” Ali gave him the armor as a gift together with seven hundred dirhams. The former Jew stayed in close company of Ali and was martyred in the Battle of Siffen. May Allah be pleased with all the Companions. 8