Part 54

We are the girls of the tribes of Taba’ and Hameer, It is no great thing for us to put you to the sword, In battle we are a flaming fire and you are ina great torture!

When Dharar # heard of the capture of the women, he and the other Mujahideen attacked the enemy fiercely and started slaughtering them. The women were finally freed and all the Mujahideen prostrated before Almighty Atiah in gratitude. The army of Islam now continued on its journey to Ajnadain, the famous city of Syria, bordering Palestine. They met up with the army of the Roman Emperor which was encamped there. The Roman Emperor Hergal himself stayed at Hamas and sent a hundred thousand troops to Ajnadain. The Muslim army faced them determinedly and defeated them. However, some of the famous Muslim generals were martyred in this battle. Among them were ‘Ikrimah, Jarsha bin Hisham, Ya’am bin ‘Abdullah AlBa’doori, Hisham bin ‘Aas bin Wa’il Al-Sa’ji, Fadhal bin ‘Abbas bin ‘Abdul Mutallib, Aban bin Sa’eed bin ‘Aas and last but not least, Dharar bin Azwar Asadi p++ 4 wen

He entered the battlefield wearing a very strong armour made of iron and_ started putting the enemy to the sword in whichever direction he turned. Even the greatest of warriors was not able to face him. He killed the Roman general Rawan. All told, about fifty thousand Romans were killed. Then the Muslim army turned again towards Damascus, laid siege to it and within a short time gained control over it. After taking Ajnadain and Damascus the Muslim army gained another notable victory at the Battle of Fahl.

Two battles were fought at Ajnadain - in the year 10‘ Hijra and in the year 13'* Hijrah. If we take it that Dharar bin Azwar Asadi & was martyred in the the later battle, then he must have fought in the Battles of Fahl and Yarmook. In any case, after accepting Islam Dharar bin Azwar Asadi # fought in every war, bravely and loyally risking his life at all times. His feats with all kinds of weapons, whether the sword or the spear were astounding and are the subject of a golden and glittering chapter in the history of Islam. All generals of Islam, of every day and age have drawn inspiration from his example and performed great and meritorious deeds in the field of Jihdd. And Insha’ Allah they will continue to do so in the future as well.

“Come back to your Lord, well-pleased (yourself) and wellpleasing (unto Him)!” (89:28)

‘Abdullah bin ‘Amr # says that one-day a lady brought a yery expensive and exquisite sheet to the Prophet % and said: “I have made intention to present this to a member ofa

The Prophet % pointed towards Sa‘eed bin Al-‘Aas #, and told her to gift it to him.

Sa‘eed bin Al-‘Aas 4

Self-respecting with head held high, he was a fearless Mujahid whose exploits are the subject of a golden chapter in Islamic history. Sa’eed bin Al-’Aas 8 was quick-witted, wise, generous, sensitive, kind and soft-hearted. He was also extremely eloquent with a good command of the language. He was an illustrious leader who was just and dignified. He had been a wise and intelligent Governor of Kufah. Asa warrior and General he was an experienced and glorious hero, the victor of Jarjan and Tibristan.

At the time when the Prophet 38 passed away, Sa’eed bin Al-’Aas <6 was only nine years old. His father was a very wealthy member of the tribe of Quraish and was known as the ‘Master of the Crown.’ When he wore a crown, no one else wore one, out of respect for him. This was because he was an excellent man and was held in such a degree of respect. No other was in a position superior to his. His father was famous as a skilled rider and was killed by ‘Ali % in the Battle of Badr.

On one occasion ‘Umar Faroog -# told Sa’eed bin Al-’Aas :

“You are looking me as if I had killed your father. I did not do so; and even if I had done so, | would not have offered excuses for the act. It would have been justified because he was a disbeliever and associated others with the One True Allah.”

Sa’eed bin Al-’ Aas 4 answered him very calmly and courageously:

“O Caliph of believers, even if you had killed him you would have done the right thing since my father was on the side of Evil.”

Islam had erased every kind of bias or bigotry based on ties of blood or tribal affiliations from the heart of Sa‘eed bin Al-’ Aas +4. He used to say:

“I am the son of Islam. Iam proud to be a Muslim. But people generally pride themselves on tribal affiliations.”

His mother was of a noble lineage both from her father’s side as well as her mother’s side. Her name was Umm Kulthum and she was the daughter of ‘Abdullah bin Qais bin ‘Amr.

From his very childhood the heart of Sa‘eed bin Al-’Aas 4% was irradiated by the light of Islam. Throughout his life his heart and his mind remained crystalline clear and pure, and his values were the values of Islam. During the caliphates of both Abu Bakr As-Siddiq and “Umar Farooq t4—+ 4! 2, he performed daring and heroic exploits in the fields of Jihdd. During the caliphate of ‘Uthman # a committee was formed and given the task of compiling the Noble Qur‘an into one complete volume. Sa‘eed bin Al-‘Aas 48 was nominated a member of this committee. He used to recite the Noble Qur’an with exactly the same intonation as the Prophet 38. He had an excellent command of the language and spoke so eloquently that he held the hearers spellbound.

The writer, Rafiq Al-Adham in his book, Ashhar Al-Mashaheer AlIslam Fi Harb wa Al-Siyasah writes that when Sa’eed bin Al-’ Aas <4 was asked to compete with ‘Ali 4%, he asked:

He said this and left for Makkah with Mughirah bin Shu’bah and other members of the Banu Hawazan tribe. He stayed in Makkah until the battles of Jaml and Safain with the consequent heartrending incidents were over. And he kept himself totally aloof from these tumultuous disagreements and feuds due to the fact that he was blessed with intelligence, wisdom and fear of Allah.

During the rule of Amir Mu‘awiyah <, Sa‘eed bin Al-'Aas 4% was appointed Governor of Al-Madinah. He was the brother-in-law of Marwan bin Hakam and was from the Abu ‘Uthman family. He was slightly built but sturdy and had a slightly tanned complexion. He was a patient and forbearing man under the most difficult conditions. He had a strong faith and faced the enemy in Jihad very courageously. As a general he could inspire his men with his eloquent speeches. He was generous, brave and had strong faith, courage and wisdom.

The Arabs were well known for their thirst for revenge. Tribal feuds among them could be extended affairs and carry on for generations. Their wars caused the death of many members of the families involved. But Islam totally removed all feelings of ignorance, bigotry and prejudice from the heart of Sa’eed bin Al-’Aas &. This is why he could tell ‘Umar Farooq 4 very frankly that even if he had killed his father he would have been in the right and his father in the wrong as he was a disbeliever and associated others with the One True Allah. This astounding change in values and priorities was brought about in his personality by his love for Islam. Only a man who loved Allah sincerely and whose heart was irradiated with love for Islam could have given such an answer in such a delicate situation. This is a moment which tests one’s love and loyalties - loyalty to the One True Allah or love for one’s kith and kin - which is the paramount consideration?

Sa’eed_ bin Al-’Aas was an eloquent man who had command of the language and whose intonation and accent was exactly like that of the Prophet 3%. Great scholar Jahadh writes in his book, Al-Bayan wa Al-

Tabiyeen that Sa’eed bin Musayyab was asked who had the best command of the Arabic language and he answered that the Prophet was the best. The person who questioned him said that he was not talking about the Prophet 3%, but about the Ummah or followers of the Prophet 38. Sa’eed bin Musayyab answered:

“Amir Mu’awiyah and _ his son, Yazid,’Amr bin Sa’eed bin Al- ‘Aas and his son ‘Uthman + ail 2).

‘Abdullah bin ‘Amr . says that one-day a lady brought a very expensive and exquisite sheet to the Prophet 38 and said:

“T have made intention to present this toa member of a noble Arab family.”

The Prophet % pointed towards Sa’eed bin Al-’ Aas -#, and told her to gift it to him. This statement, coming as it did from the lips of the Prophet 38 was indeed a great tribute and one given to very fortunate people indeed.

Sa’eed bin Al-’Aas # was famed for his generosity. Every Friday he would invite a number of Companions for lunch and give them very expensive gifts. There are many incidents in his life which display his amazing magnanimity. There are very few people who would spread out a whole array of things before those in need and ask them to choose anything they pleased.

A man who was very learned in religious matters, was so needy that he was on the verge of starvation. His wife, a good woman, advised him to approach their governor, Sa’eed bin Al-’Aas +, who was a very kind and generous man and describe to him their financial problems. She was sure that he would not return empty-handed. But the religious scholars of those days were very proud and did not like to ask for favours. His sense of honour and self-respect and his faith in Allah 3% did not allow him to ask any other person for help. He preferred to die of hunger rather than ask another for alms or charity. His wife tried to persuade him saying that there was nothing shameful about it and the governor was always pleased to help the needy, and he would not have to face any embarrassment. Finally, to please his insistent wife he went to see Sa’eed bin Al-‘Aas -. When he was holding an audience with the citizens to discuss their needs or grievances. He sat at the back quietly as if he had been struck dumb. Finally everyone left, but he continued to sit silently. He was so uneasy that his throat was parched and he could not summon up courage to utter a word. The governor, Sa’eed bin Al-‘Aas .# could sense his predicament and realized that he was feeling too embarrassed to speak. He asked the attendants to leave and turning to the scholar said: