A glimpse from the history of Islam

 

A glimpse from the history of Islam

 

Waaqidi (May Allah shower His Mercy on him) has written in Futuhush Shaam on Pg. No. 215 that Muslims conquered many cities of Syria.  Emperor Heraclius panicked and summoned armies from all provinces and sent an army of 1 million soldiers against the Muslims.  The Muslim army was only 30,000.  The commander was Hadhrat Abu ‘Ubaidah bin Jarrah (May Allah be well pleased with him).  He wrote a letter to the caliph Hadhrat 'Umar (May Allah be well pleased with him) that the army of Heraclius was so huge that only the soldiers numbered 800,000.  Thus, the national army should be sent as soon as possible.  He handed over the letter to Hadhrat ‘Abdullah bin Qart (May Allah be well pleased with him) and instructed him to take the letter to the caliph as soon as possible.

 

Hadhrat ‘Abdullah reached Madina in 8 days.  Hadhrat 'Umar (May Allah be well pleased with him) stood on the pulpit and read out the letter to all who were present which made the Companions (May Allah be well pleased with them) anxious.  Then Hadhrat 'Umar (May Allah be well pleased with him) asked everyone about what the future course of action.  Hadhrat ‘Ali (May Allah be well pleased with him) said:  I have heard about this battle from the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam).  He said that this battle will be so fierce that it will be remembered for ever afterwards.  Those who worship the cross will be destroyed in this.  O commander of the faithful!  You write a letter of assurance to Abu ‘Ubaidah.

 

Thus, as per the words and suggestion of Hadhrat ‘Ali (May Allah be well pleased with him), Hadhrat 'Umar (May Allah be well pleased with him) wrote a letter to Hadhrat Abu ‘Ubaidah (May Allah be well pleased with him) the substance of which was:

 

Victory does not depend on the numbers of the army.  It depends on the help of Allah Most High.  Sometimes it happens that a small number defeats a much larger army.  Now you should put your trust in Allah and be patient.”

 

Hadhrat 'Umar (May Allah be well pleased with him) handed over the letter to ‘Abdullah bin Qart.  He requested Hadhrat 'Umar (May Allah be well pleased with him) to supplicate (for the army).  Hadhrat 'Umar did so.

 

Then Hadhrat ‘Abdullah (May Allah be well pleased with him) went to pay his respects to the blessed grave of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam).  At that moment, Hadhrat ‘Ali with his 2 sons, Hadhrat ‘Abbas and the mother of the believers Hadhrat ‘Aisha (May Allah be well pleased with them) were present.  Hadhrat ‘Abdullah says:  When I started to leave after paying my respects, Hadhrat ‘Ali (May Allah be well pleased with him) said:  O Ibn Qart!  Are you going now itself?  I said:  Yes, as I am anxious that if I reach them right on the eve of the battle and they don’t see the national army with me, there is a danger of their becoming impatient.  That’s why it is my wish that that I reach there before the battle starts and convey the instructions which the commander of the faithful has told me.

 

Hadhrat ‘Ali (May Allah be well pleased with him) said:  Did you not ask 'Umar (May Allah be well pleased with him) to pray for you?  Do you not know that his prayers are not rejected?  The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said about him:  If there was a prophet after Me (i.e. there is no prophet), it would have been ''Umar.  His command is as per the Holy Quran.  The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said: If the world is punished, then except 'Umar no one will be delivered…..Hadhrat 'Ali (May Allah be well pleased with him) described many excellences of Hadhrat ‘Umar (May Allah be well pleased with him)…the intent being that when you have asked Hadhrat 'Umar (May Allah be well pleased with him) to pray for you, don’t be anxious as (he is) the one whose excellence is that his supplication is never rejected.

 

This shows how much respect Hadhrat ‘Ali had for Hadhrat 'Umar (May Allah be well pleased with them).

 

[Excerpted from Maqasid Ul Islam, Vol. 5]