Part 15

‘Umar Faroog 4 replied that he should not fear and let the Iranians enter the battlefield. He should remember always that total power lay in the control of Allah Almighty. He should concentrate on entreating Allah Almighty and offering supplications to Him for assistance and depend on Him every moment. Secondly, send a delegation consisting of the most excellent, most experienced, most intelligent and most eloquent Mujahideen to the Iranian Empire. They should talk to him about Islam and invite him to pledge allegiance to it. He wanted Sa’d bin Abi Waqas -# to report to him in detail about how the delegation was received by the Iranian Empire; further it was extremely important that he be kept fully informed about each and every

development. Finally he prayed that Allah Almighty be his Supporter and Helper.

Following the orders of ‘Umar Farooq , Sa‘d bin Abi Waqas selected the most eloquent, diplomatic, skilled, perceptive and dignified people from those serving under him to form the delegation and sent them to the Iranian Empire. The delegation went to the court of the Empire in the very simple attire of those who are indifferent to worldly pomp and show.

Looking at their simple dress yet regal and majestic manners the whole court seemed to tremble and quake. The head of the delegation addressed the Iranian Empire and said that Allah Almighty had selected them, so that they should take out mankind from the filthy morass of idol worship and guide them to the clear fountain of the adoration of the One True Allah. He wanted them to lead people from the darkness of ignorance to the brilliant light of knowledge. The common man had to be freed from the oppression of tyrants and taken into the fresh open air of Islam to enjoy the blessings of the justice of Islam.

All those who accept this invitation would be welcomed and nor would their territories be annexed. They would be given total control of the organisation and governance of their lands. But if anyone opposed them and refused their invitation, then they would declare war against them, and this war would continue until the Law of Allah Almighty was established on this earth and His Promise was fulfilled.

The Iranian Empire asked in amazed tones: “What Allah Almighty had promised them?”

They answered that He had promised them Paradise after death and an exalted status for those who lived on. And very proudly they added that if he did not accept Islam this land of his would very soon be under their control, he would lose his throne and crown and all his pomp and power would become a story from the past.

The Iranian Empire felt that each phrase of theirs was a poisoned

arrow hitting the target - his heart. With smouldering eyes anda thundering voice he called out to his man. The man came forward and asked what was his command.

He asked him to go out and get some soil immediately. The man went out and quickly brought a basket filled with soil. Contemptuously he threw itat the delegation. Asim bin ‘Umar picked up the basket put it in his robe and took it to Sa‘d bin Abi Wags -&, and said:

“Congratulations! The Iranian Empire has himself given us his land.”

The fact of the matter was that when the delegation declared that war was inevitable, Sa‘d bin Abi Waqis was sick. He had sores all over his body and he suffering from sciatica. It was very difficult for him to walk or even to sit down. And as for riding, it was just impossible. He was in a dilemma and just did not know what to do. Suddenly it occurred to him that he should never have used the words ‘if only’ or ‘I wish’. The Prophet 3% had told Muslims never to use these words. As soon as this thought came to his mind he stood up with a renewed fervour and addressed his army passionately, quoting the following Ayah:

“And indeed We have written in Az-Zabiir [i.e. all the revealed Holy Books — the Taurat (Torah), the Injeel (Gospel), the Psalms, the Quran] after (We have already written in) Al-Lauh Al-Mahfiiz (the Book that is in the heaven with Allah) that My righteous slaves shall inherit the land (ie. the land of Paradise).” (21:105)

After the address he led the army in the noon prayers. Then the army got ready and the men armed themselves. Famous poets and popular

orators started delivering speeches. This roused the men’s passions. The famous orator Hatheel Asadi said:

“O companions of the great General Sa’d_ bin Abi Waqas <3! Make your swords your forts and become lions in opposing the enemy; when your swords get blunted use your arrows. Remember where the arrow makes it own way, the sword becomes helpless.”

Scenes of passion and enthusiasm could be seen on all sides. The famous Qérees! were reciting the Aydt from Strah Anfal and Stirah Taubah relating to Jihad and spurring on the Mujahdeen. The listeners hearts were shaken to the core by these Aydt. When their fervour had reached its highest point, Sa’d bin Abi Waqas 4 shouted ‘Allaho Akbar’ and asked the Mujahideen to fall upon the enemy. Following the tradition of those days before the whole army fought, the warriors came out to fight on a one-to-one basis. The fighting started. A very strong youth of the Iranian army, wearing an armour made of silk came out to the battlefield. To oppose him “Amr bin Ma‘di Karb came out. The Iranian took careful aim and shot his arrow, but ‘Amr dodged it and rode his horse hard and fast towards him and in seconds his sword with a clean powerful stroke cut off the enemy’s head, which rolled far away. As was the tradition many individuals now confronted each other, one by one, each one displaying his skill and mastery.

Finally both the armies came out on the battlefield and intense fighting broke out. Iranians brought their elephants. The horses of the Mujahideen started to panic and rear up in fear when they saw the elephants. Sa’d bin Abi Waqas % was sitting in the terrace and watching these painful proceedings. When he realised that if things continued in the same way it would be disastrous for the Mujahideen, he ordered young men of the tribe of Asad to show their mettle. The great General of the tribe of Asad, Talihah trying to inspire his men saying:

“Advance O youth of Banu Asad, Sa‘d bin Abi Waqas & has

! Trained people who recite the Noble Qur’an.

called you acknowledging your greatness. Today is a test of your military experience and courage; get ready to sacrifice your lives for the glory of Islam and to confound the enemy. Move forward and clash with the mountainous looking elephants. With a kick from your feet even mountains have been known to crumble.”

The youth of Banu Asad steeped in the passion of Jihad, with spears in their hands, attacked the elephants. Even the gigantic elephants could not stand up against their bravery and resoluteness of purpose. First they rained arrows on the soldiers riding on the elephants, who fell off their mounts like ripe fruit from trees. Some of the youth cut off the trunks of the elephants with their swords; this caused a stampede among the elephants rapidly retreated in panic-stricken terror, crushing their own army. Some few Mujahideen lost heir lives, but the victory on that first day belonged to the Muslim army.

This first encounter in the Battle of Qadisiyah helped to impress the enemy with the might and power of the Muslim army.

When the sun rose the next day the bodies of the martyrs were buried and arrangements were made for treating the wounded. The Mujahideen were ordered to form ranks for the battle. Before the actual fighting began the reinforcements sent by Abu ‘Ubaidah 2 reached the battlefield under the Command of Hisham bin ‘Utbah. Qa’‘qa’ bin ‘Amr was the commander of every advance guard. At first the individual warriors of each army came on the battlefield. The experienced commander of the Muslim army, Qa’qa’ bin ’Amr, slew the commander of the Iranian army, Behmen. And the famous warrior

of the Iranian army, A’wan bin Qatbah was also killed.

The most excellent heroes of the Iranian army were slain. When the fighting was at its most intense, and both sides were attacking each other furiously, Qa’qa’ bin ‘Amr, in order to startle the horses of the enemy, draped his camels with black robes and let them loose on the battlefield. The horses, on seeing this terrifying scene, went on a rampage and could not be controlled by their riders. There was total

chaos, and shouting and screaming in the enemy ranks.

Action on the battlefield was at its most intense. Abu Mahjan, the

famous poet and warrior was in chains and watching the scene of the battle from his cell. He wanted go and fight but he was helpless and could not express his courage and bravery in action. He requested the wife of Sa‘d bin Abi Wags -%% to let him go free on the condition that if he survived he would return and put on the chains on his feet himself. At first Salama, the wife of Sa’d bin Abi Waqas 2%, refused to give him his liberty. But when he insisted and started reciting some verses in sorrowful.

This is enough grief foe me

The warriors are wielding their spears

And | have been restricted by chains

And the cords binding me have been tightened. When I try to rise up my chains stop me

When I call out the door deafens the listener Every sound | make seems

Like a call lost in the desert.

These verses were recited in such sorrowful tones that Salama broke into tears. She moved forward and cut off the chains and set him free to fight. The horse of Sa’d bin Abi Waqas 4 was standing in the stable; he got on to it and rushed into the enemy ranks displaying marvellous courage. He moved from the left to the right and made such a powerful attack that he reaped through the enemy ranks chopping off heads which were falling to the ground as vegetables. Sa’d bin Abi Waqas . was surprised and turning to his wife, who was seated next to him, he said that this man’s manner reminded him of Abu Mahjan, but he was in chains in jail. His wife told him that it was the poet. Because of his humble entreaties she had freed him on condition he would return if he survived. Sa’d bin Abi Waqas -# swore by Allah Almighty and said he could never keep such a brave man in chains and forthwith declared him to be a free man.