IMAM HUSSAIN-the true Imam

Third attack on Constantinople

 

The third attack on Constantinople was in 44 Hijri or 46 Hijri.  It is mentione in Tarikh Kamil in the incidents of the year of 44 Hijri:

 

Translation: In 44 Hijri Muslims with Hadhrat ‘Abdur Rahman bin Khalid bin Walid (May Allah be well pleased with them) entered Rome and spent the winter there itself and Hadhrat Busr bin Artaah (May Allah be well pleased with him) fought through the sea.  (Tarikh Kamil, Vol. 3, Pg no. 298)

 

It is given in the same book in the incidents of 46 Hijri:

 

Translation: Hadhrat Malik bin ‘Abdullah (May Allah be well pleased with him) remained in the kingdom of Rome and it has also been said that Hadhrat ‘Abdur Rahman bin Khalid bin Walid (May Allah be well pleased with them) stayed there and returned to Hims the same year and passed away into the presence of Allah.  (Al Tarikh Al Kamil, Vol. 3, Pg No. 309)

 

The Commander of third army to attack to Constantinople was Hadhrat ‘Abdur Rahman bin Khalid bin Walid (May Allah be well pleased with them).  This attack has been mentioned not only in the books of history, but also in Sunan Abu Dawood, which is a reliable book from the 6 most authentic and reliable books of Hadith (Sihah Sittah).  It is given in Sunan Abu Dawood, Vol. 1, Kitab Ul Jihad, Pg No. 340 (Hadith No: 2151) that Muslims attacked Constantinople and in this battle, Hadhrat ‘Abdur Rahman bin Khalid bin Walid (May Allah be well pleased with him) was the commander.

Translation:  It is narrated on the authority of Hadhrat Abu ‘Imran (May Allah be well pleased with him): We left Madina with the intention of attacking Constantinople.  The commander of the army was Hadhrat ‘Abdur Rahman bin Khalid bin Walid (May Allah be well pleased with him).  The Romans had their backs to the ramparts.  A person readied himself for attack.  The people said: La Ilaha Illallah, he is taking himself to death.  Hadhrat Abu Ayyub Ansari (May Allah be well pleased with him) said: This verse has been revealed about us, when Allah helped the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) and made Islam dominant, then we said: Come let us remain with our property and wealth and set them right.  Then Allah Most High sent this command: And spend in the way of Allah and do not put yourself in mortal danger.”  Surah Baqarah (2:195) and so to take oneself to death is to remain with our property, busy oneself in setting them right and abandon Jihad.  Hadhrat Abu ‘Imran says that Hadhrat Abu Ayyub Ansari (May Allah be well pleased with him) used to perform Jihad for the sake of Allah to the extent that he was buried in Constantinople.

 

According to the above mentioned details, the army, which attacked Constantinople under Ameer Mu‘awiyah (May Allah be well pleased with him) in 32 Hijri is the first army and this is the army, which according to Sahih Bukhari, is forgiven.

 

It is made clear by the Hadith of Sunan Abu Dawood, that the Commander of the army, which attacked Constantinople was Hadhrat ‘Abdur Rahman bin Khalid bin Walid (May Allah be well pleased with them), who passed away in either 46 or 47 Hijri, as given in Tarikh Kamil in the incidents of 46 Hijri.  Al Tarikh Al Kamil, Vol. 3, Pg No. 309.

 

In Bidayah Wan Nihayah, Vol. 8, Pg No. 34 also, his year of passing away is mentioned as 46 Hijri, but in "Usudul Ghaba Fi Ma’arifatis Sahabah", it is mentioned as 47 Hijri:

 

Sunan Abu Dawood is from among the six most authentic books of Hadith (Sihah Sittah).  It is by all standards more preferable than the books of history.  This proves beyond doubt that under the leadership of Hadhrat Abdur Rahman bin Khalid bin Walid (May Allah be well pleased with them) Constantinople was attacked before 46 or 47 Hijri, as the canons of history and Hadith criticism establish that Hadhrat ‘Abdur Rahman bin Khalid bin Walid (May Allah be well pleased with them) passed away in 46 or 47 Hijri.

 

In 32 Hijri, in 43 Hijri, in 44 Hijri or 46 Hijri, Yazid did not participate in any of these 3 sieges.