Part 35

“All right, now tell me.” He said: “What you wished to say.”

Seeing this the chieftains of the Banu Tameem acknowledged without hesitation:

“The Muslim orators are without doubt superior to ours, both in eloquence and articulation. Your poets too are far better than those of the Banu Tameem in mastery over language and extempore composition. We acknowledge that you are a True Prophet, and that the Qur’an is the True Word of Allah. Your Companions are skilled and expert, and it is because of the blessing of having your companionship and training that simple rustics and shepherds have become sophisticated orators and poets, administrators and rulers with power and authority. O Messenger of Allah (38), we accept you sincerely and wholeheatedly. Please give us the opportunity to enter the safe haven of Islam This is our good fortune that today we have been in your blessed presence and seen your radiant face.”

The Prophet 3% then taught them how to swear allegiance to Islam; and all those chieftains swore fealty to Islam and Allah 38, thus elevating them. Among them was Qa’‘qa’ bin ‘Amr At-Tameem, whose heart was enlightened by the brilliant rays of Islam. Allah 8% had not liked the crude manner in which the prisoners of the Banu Tameem

“Verily, those who call you from behind the dwellings, most of them have no sense. And if they had patience till you could come out to them, it would have been better for them. And Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” (49:4,5)

The people of the Banu Tameem were shaken by this revelation and started to plead for forgiveness for their sins. The every act of accepting Islam and entering its hallowed circle is so loved by Allah 3%, that all those sins committed during the days of ignorance and darkness are automatically forgiven and erased. The Banu Tameem, exhibited great civility after accepting Islam. They put all they had at stake - their wealth, their intelligence, and their lives - for the promotion and advancement of their new faith. They fulfilled their obligations of love and loyalty to the Prophet 3%. When they heard of his passing away from this world, they were heart-broken and lamenting, they exclaimed:

“We will always regret the fact that we did not serve him as we should have. Alas, the time for service was passed in acts of hostility; the darkness of ignorance clouded our vision. If only more time had been granted to us to achieve our desire to serve him and his cause. But thanks to Allah 38, that at least now we are out of the darkness of ignorance; it is consolation that at least during his lifetime we had the good fortune to accept Islam, and our life is now made purer by its pervasive goodness.”

After this, two of the young men of the Banu Tameem, Qa‘qa’ bin ‘Amr At-Tameemi and his brother, ‘Asim bin ‘Amr became invaluable and outstanding Mujahid. All minds were obsessed with the desire to do their utmost for the triumphant spread of Islam even at the cost of their lives. They used to attack the enemy with such lightening speed that he used to be taken totally by surprise and could not face them.

Qa‘qa’ bin ‘Amr At-Tameemi -# joined the Muslim army as an ordinary soldier but because of his courage, valour, foresight and skill in strategy he was soon promoted to the position of General. During this period most of the Mujahideen realised that, that section of the army which had Qa’qa’ bin ‘Amr At-Tameemi in it was never defeated. On the other hand it always returned triumphant, This was the reason for the tribute paid by the Caliph Abu Bakr Siddiq quoted above.

Qa’ga’ bin ‘Amr At-Tameemi was not only a brave soldier, he had also attained spiritual eminence with his absolute faith and adherence to the principles of Islam. When there was the rebellious movement of apostates among his tribe of Banu Tameem after the passing away of the Prophet 38, he opposed them without caring for the ancient tradition of loyalty to the tribe first and foremost. On the grounds of support and loyalty to Islam, he fought swiftly and courageously battles against the movement of apostasy, destroying them. He was by nature indifferent to the accumulation of wealth, materialistic temptations or the lust for sovereign power over any territory or region. During his time the Islamic army won numerous victories and untold treasures came into the national treasury as booty of war. He could very well have amassed immense wealth. However, indifference to worldly considerations was a predominant feature of his character, and he never tainted himself with ‘filthy lucre.’

‘Algamah bin ‘Alathah Kalbi, a respected and famous member of the Banu Kalb tribe became a Muslim and then turned apostate during the life of the Prophet 3% and fled to Syria. Then when he heard of the passing away of the Prophet 3%, he returned to his tribe and started indoctrinating his people against Islam. Having strayed himself, he now tried to lead others too to perdition. When Abu Bakr Siddiq came to hear that he was responsible for spreading propaganda against Islam, he ordered the courageous and young warrior, Qa’qa’ bin ‘Amr #, to either capture him alive or kill him. When Qa’qa’ bin ‘Amr At-Tameemi % got this order from the Caliph, he set out on the mission at the head of an army.

When ‘Algamah bin ‘Alathah Kalbi learnt of the arrival of Muslim army he fled on his horse, taking advantage of the darkness of night. When the Muslim caught his wife and sons and questioned them, they admitted unhesitatingly that they were themselves Muslims, and they had absolutely nothing to do with his apostasy. Immediately the Muslims stopped questioning them and did not trouble them any further. When Qa’ga’ bin ‘Amr At-Tameemi reached Al-Madinah in search of ‘Alqamah, he came to know that he had already reached in the presence of Abu Bakr Siddiq and pledged his return to Islam. And the Caliph, Abu Bakr Siddiq 4 had trusted his repentance to be sincere and given him safe haven. In Islam all crimes are wiped out when one sincerely repents. Thus ‘Alqamah bin ‘Alathah Kalbi once again joined the caravan of Islam and started living life according to its tenets. Thus, a repentant sinner is forgiven and accepted into the fold of Istam when he finds his way back to the Truth.

On one occasion, the benefactor of Mankind, the Prophet 38, asked Qa‘qa’ bin ‘Amr At-Tameemi 4, “What preparations have you made for Jihad?”

He answered on hearing this:

“I have love and obedience for the Prophet 3% and a swift and daring horse. This is what I have made ready.”

This is very good preparation. What more could you possibly need to enter the battlefield of Jihad? Doubtless for a sincere Mujahid these are the best arms. If any Mujahid is armed with these weapons and turns in the direction of the battlefield of Jihad, success and triumph eagerly await him. Without doubt love for his Prophet and obedience to him, the riches of Faith and Trust in Allah 3% and a swift steed are invaluable and ample treasures for a hero of Jihad.

During the Caliphate of Abu Bakr -, in the 12" year of Hijrah, soon after General Khalid bin Waleed .# give a crushing defeat to Musailmah Kaththab and his men in Yamamah. After that Khalid bin

Waleed got orders from the Caliph to march towards the borders of Syria and Iraq with his army to join up with ‘Ayadh bin Ghanam who would be there with his army. They both were commanded to advance towards Syria; but the fearful [ranian General, Hormuz, who was already fully armed and waiting at Ablah, came forward to oppose them. In view of the situation, Khalid bin Waleed .# sent an emissary to the Caliph’s court and asked for reinforcements. Then Abu Bakr Siddiq -%, sent an army under the leadership of Qa’qa’ -, saying that an army which had such heroic and fearless Mujahideen like him who did not mind risking their lives, could never be defeated. When Qa’qa’ was leading his army met up with Khalid bin Waleed -, the latter sent the following letter to Hormuz.

“Accept Islam, it will be better for you. Or else Hormuz you and your people should continue to follow your religion and pay Jizyah. If you do not agree to either of these two conditions, you will be responsible for the consequences. [f you suffer any harm or injury do not blame us. I have come to your area with people who are as fond of death as you are of life.”

Hormuz looked at the letter very scornfully and did not even bother to reply. On the other hand, he arrogantly slapped his breast and stepped out on to the battlefield to test his strength against the Muslims.

Khalid bin Waleed bringing into play his experience and military tactics divided the army of Islam into three divisions. Mathna bin Harithah, ‘Adi bin Hatim and ‘Asim bin ‘Amr Tameemi p++ 4 2, were appointed Generals of each of the three divisions. Qa’qa’ bin ‘Amr At-Tameemi < take part in Jihdd under the command of his brother ‘Asim bin ‘Amr Tameemi #%. Another military strategy Khalid bin Waleed < adopted was to command the three generals to occupy the banks of any stream, where the [ranian troops might be encamped. In fact, he told them to try and take over control of all the streams they possibly could. He reminded them that only that army could put up a strong opposition who had access to plenty of water.

The Muslim army encamped ata stream and a violent battle ensued there between the opposing armies. Hormuz came out into the battlefield and shouted out a challenge: