Suddenly it was a tense time in Medina, the town that witnessed many unfolding dramas for the last 10 years. This time however, the scene was extremely somber and very upsetting, since Allah's Messenger Muhammad (pbuh) had just passed away.
THE NEWS SPREADS The jarring news spread very fast: the leader and head of state, Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) had passed away. Upset and distraught, the people could hardly believe it; some thought the news was a malicious rumor. As a matter of fact, Omar, the Prophet's well‑known Companion, refused to believe the news to such an extent that he drew his sword, vowing to kill anyone who dared to confirm the Prophet's death! The emotions ran high, as the extremely distressing news spread across the land. The Holy Prophet's death was extremely painful, even to declare it or admit it—such was the intensity of love the people held for him. They loved the Prophet dearly and wanted him to live forever, as unrealistic as this was! The pain of his absence from among them was too much to bear.
RELATIVES ARE AROUND The house of the Prophet (pbuh) filled with relatives and close friends. All were crying very sad and with bleeding hearts. Ali, the Prophet's son-in-law and cousin, along with others prepared the body for burial and performed Salat of Janaaza. The Prophet's relatives (Aali Hashim) had very heavy hearts, and each was engulfed with the emotion of the loss. (Salat of Janaaza: Special Salat performed for the dead while the bier is present.) The scene outside the house was chaotic. Numerous people wanted Muhammad (pbuh) to be with them, thinking that he couldn't have died. Confusion reigned and a potential danger to Islam was obvious.
ABU BAKR BRINGS THEM TO THEIR SENSES.
Upset and talking incessantly, people gathered not far from the house of the Prophet. They did not want to believe this fact since no one wanted to lose the presence of the Prophet. Abu Bakr stood before the crowd, looking somber, pale, and shaking; and the people calmed down to observe him. Then people listened to Abu Bakr say: "He who was worshiping Muhammad, then Muhammad has died; but he who worships Allah, then Allah does not die." An eerie silence fell upon the men, and their hearts throbbed hard as they also heard Abu Bakr recite a Surah from the Holy Quran. It brought to their attention that there was a time for Muhammad (pbuh) to die and so he had. The people, therefore, had to be realistic and accept the painful fact of the Prophet's departure.
Abu Bakr, Omar, Abu Ubaida and others had learned of a meeting by the Ansaars, the supporting Muslims of Medina. The object of the meeting was to elect a Khalifa, Successor to the Prophet (pbuh). The Ansaars were joined soon by Abu Bakr, Omar, Abu Ubaida and some others. Heated arguments arose and took quite some time as to who should hold the Khalifa position. After much give and take Abu Bakr said, "Let us take Omar or Abu Ubaida for a Khalifa." But Omar and Abu Ubaida quickly replied, "Abu Bakr is our senior, let us take him as a Khalifa, and we give our allegiance to him.” (Salat of Janaaza: Special Salat performed for the dead while the bier is present.) Most of the others followed suit and they gave their allegiance to Abu Bakr as the Khalifa. A Khalifa means the administrator of the Islamic Ummah according to the Islamic guidelines. All of this was going on before the Prophet's body was even buried. Ali and many others were with extremely heavy hearts, they were preparing the body of the Prophet for burial. Ali took charge of the endeavor in its entirety; the washing of the body, burial rituals, and special Salat, and neither Ali nor others with him knew of the election of the Khalifa. Ali therefore missed participating in the pivotal process of choosing the Khalifa. His voice and his opinion, as fundamental as they were, had no chance for expression. Ali's presence at the election site would have been crucial, no doubt. Ali knew well of Ghadeer Khum, and how the Prophet had recommended that Ali was to lead the Ummah after the Prophet's death. (Sahih Muslim Vol 2, Page 362. Mustadrak Al-Haakim Vol 3, Page 109. Mus'nad Ahmad Vol 4, Page 281. Also see Books 5 and 14 of the Series of Islamic Books for Beginners.) But now Abu Bakr, the well‑known Companion of the Prophet, and 61 year old, was elected to carry the heavy responsibility as head of the growing nation of Islam. This was a critical moment in the history of the Islamic Ummah as it was.
KHALIFA ABU BAKR GIVES A SPEECH
"O people, I have been elected as your leader, though I am not better than any of you. If I do any good, give me your support. If I go wrong, then set me right. Truth is honesty and untruth is dishonesty. The weak among you are powerful in my eyes, as long as I do not get them their due, Allah willing. The powerful among you are weak in my eyes, as long as I do not take away from them what is due to others, Allah willing. Listen to me carefully, if people give up striving for the cause of Allah, He will send down disgrace upon them. If a people become evil‑doers, Allah will send down calamities upon them. Obey me as long as I obey Allah and His Messenger. If I disobey Allah and His Messenger, you are free to disobey me."
The speech was powerful and to the point. The first Khalifa was asking the Muslims to correct him if he were wrong; and to support and assist him if he were right. He was urging the Ummah to continue their struggle for the noble cause of Allah and asked them to disobey him if he, the Khalifa, were disobeying the Law of the Almighty and the Sunnah of the Prophet.
THE NEWS SPREADS After the speech, most people came forth and gave the pledge of loyalty to the new Khalifa. Ali, however, and most of the Hashim Clan, with many Sahaaba did not give their pledge until much later (Taareekh Al-Tibari, Ibn Atheer, Al-Khamees, and Al-Istee'aab.) since they vividly remembered the Prophet's recommendation at Ghadeer Khum. Ali took as long as six months before he gave his pledge of allegiance—because of his firm knowledge of his right to the Khilaafah as Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) had wished. (Muhammad Abdah in explanation of Nahjul Balaaghah Vol. 1, Page 34 ) Word spread about Abu Bakr's new leadership of the Muslim nation. People from far all around Arabia were anxious to learn about the direction in which the new leadership was heading. The majority were new to Islam and living far from Medina, the center of action. They wondered about Abu Bakr, interested in knowing more about him.
Abu Bakr was a close friend of the Prophet for a long time, being younger than the Prophet by two years. He was a successful merchant, well‑to‑do, and one of the earliest to embrace Islam. He struggled for Islam by using all the influence he had, and he used his money freely for the cause of Islam. He suffered because of the struggle he put forth for Islam, but saw to it that Islam continued to grow. He even bought slaves who had embraced Islam, just to set them free from the persecution their masters dealt them. Abu Bakr was the man who Muhammad (pbuh) chose to accompany him during the emigration from Mecca to Medina. The two were in the cave when the pagans were nearby, and while Abu Bakr shook with fear, the Prophet (pbuh) repeatedly calmed him. Abu Bakr participated in all of the defensive battles the Muslims endured. The Prophet married Abu Bakr's daughter, A'isha, about five years after his first wife, Khadija, died. Any new Muslim listening to the credentials and qualities of Abu Bakr would think highly of the new leader, and expect Abu Bakr to perform well for the new Islamic Nation.
THERE WAS A VACUUM, HOWEVER There was a deep and tremendous vacuum since the place of the Prophet was missing—the Prophet's marvelous personality, his vigor, and vitality had no match. The Sahaaba (the Companions of the Prophet) felt the loss very heavily, since they were extremely close to the Prophet. It was such an honor and privilege to be in the Prophet's company—they missed him dearly. Several points were recognized at this stage, too: ▪ A short period of adjustment was necessary. Islam was the unifying force of the people, and the new leader, Abu Bakr, had the honor and privilege to be the Khalifa. He was to do his best at all times. ▪ The forceful momentum of the vigorously growing Islam was to accelerate. It was to take hold, become firmer, and penetrate even better into Arabia. Islam was also to spread northward toward the Byzantine (Roman) and Persian Empires who were posing a grave danger to the emerging Islamic Ummah. This tremendous momentum was already started by Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), and had gathered great speed. Now the momentum needed to continue on its path and with its growing speed. ▪ There were, however, impending dangers to the Muslim Ummah which needed to be addressed too. They needed to be systematically approached and to be solved in the best manner possible.
AT THIS MOMENT OF HISTORY Abu Bakr had a small force at hand as previously prepared by the Prophet, with orders to confront the Byzantines (Romans) in the north. The reasons were not only to teach the Romans a lesson because of the harassment they were causing but also to take revenge for Mu'ta (See Book 5 of the Series of Islamic Books for Beginners.). ▪ At the same time however, many of the Arabs who were far away in the desert felt the time was ripe for rebellion. The leaders of some of the tribes viewed Prophet Muhammad more as a successful ruler than Allah's Messenger, while some of them falsely claimed to be Prophets! ▪ A good example occurred when Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was in his last sickness. A cunning trouble maker, by the name of Musailema, wrote to the Prophet, "Allah has made me your partner in Prophethood, so, let us divide the earth between us!" ▪ Prophet Muhammad answered, "To Musailema the Liar! Surely the earth belongs to Allah. He grants its possession to His servants as He likes." ▪ Musailema and other trouble makers were waiting for the opportune time to cause an uprising; the moment arrived after the Prophet's (pbuh) death.
ALL IN ALL The situation of the Islamic Ummah was precarious, if not critical at that time. The tremendous power of leadership which the Prophet exercised was absent, leaving a sense of emptiness. The responsibility of carrying the Islamic leadership was extremely heavy, it needed much wisdom. This immediate period showed that:
The Islamic Ummah was in a precarious if not very dangerous condition—a situation that would unnerve many.
Impending Dangers Facing the Islamic Ummah Internal and External factors:
U'SAMA TO GO NORTH Contrary to the advice of the Sahaaba (Companions) and despite the grave danger facing the Muslims in Arabia, Khalifa Abu Bakr ordered the small but vital Muslim force to confront the Byzantines (Romans). The Mu'ta Battle (See Book 5 of the Series of Islamic Books for Beginners or similar books.) had taken place only a brief period earlier in which Khalid Ibnil Waleed managed to save the Muslim force. The Byzantines to the north, in cooperation with many Arabs in the neighboring area, harassed the young emerging Islamic Ummah. At Mu'ta, the small force of Muslims failed to achieve its objective—mainly because of the vast numerical superiority of the Byzantine forces. Now a fresh and larger Muslim force was prepared by the Prophet before he died. The force was to march north under the leadership of the young U'sama with Abu Bakr and Omar in it and under the command of U'sama in that force, while Ali was to remain in Medina. Those were the directives of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) before he became terminally ill then passed away. In other words, preparations and readiness were already underway but the force waited for the Prophet's recovery, however the Prophet died.
THE CHOICES FACING ABU BAKR The future seemed cloudy at best. Many tribes in Arabia revolted upon learning of the Prophet's death while the entire social structure encountered fundamental changes. Additionally the Byzantines (Romans) presented a serious and ominous threat. Problems quickly accumulated; each threat seemed immense in itself, let alone combined. There were three alternatives:
Abu Bakr saw no alternative but to carry out the wishes of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). Danger or no danger, Abu Bakr's iron will and unbending determination yielded to no one. Many had advised him to change his mind and to concentrate on the rebels—but Abu Bakr refused to comply. The Muslim force was ordered to march North to confront the Byzantines, a mere three weeks after the Prophet (pbuh) had died!
U'SAMA'S FORCE SUCCEEDS Sure enough the small force under the 20 year old U'sama prevailed and the twenty day expedition was successful. The Byzantine army with its allies were defeated, and treaties were signed. Forty days later U'sama was in Medina again spreading the good news of his victory. U'sama then learned that some Arabian tribes demanded that Abu Bakr abolish the Zakat (Poor's due). Tension built in Medina as the challenges mounted worrying numerous Muslims. Numerous tribes new to Islam wanted to revert to paganism, now that Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah, was not alive. Because they embraced the Islamic faith not long before the Prophet (pbuh) died, they did not fully understand the essence of Islam. They were accustomed to the days of Jahiliya (ignorance) and the customs and traditions of previous centuries. The roots and practices of Jahiliya were very old and deep, while the roots of Islam were very shallow. Impostors arose in several areas and hypocrites were active everywhere. The majority wanted to follow their tribal leaders as they had done for centuries; false prophets appeared including a woman claiming to be a female prophet!
Islam demands discipline of the whole person. To be a true Muslim, a person must maintain very high morals as Divinely ordained, and follow a way of disciplinary worship. A Muslim must control his extreme desires and become the Master of himself—all for the sake of the Almighty and as the Almighty had directed. ▪ Islam radically changed the social structure, personal conduct, and morals of all its followers demanding great discipline. And the familiar customs at the time were to be conducted differently now once Islam was followed. All evil practices, ideas, and bad habits were suddenly to stop. The land became sober for a change, emphasis was on high integrity, all connected to the One, the Highest, Allah Almighty. The new ways and the lifestyle of Islam was an uprooting thing to many who, after the Prophet's (pbuh) death, wanted to return to the earlier and corrupt ways to which they were accustomed. ▪ To a pagan of the desert, the Islamic level of living is very difficult to uphold. To one accustomed to the tribal life with all its excesses, it takes a tremendous effort to attain the self-discipline demanded by Islam. In addition, to gain power and authority, the hypocrites, impostors, and demagogues also tried their best to undermine the faith of the ordinary people. ▪ Thus, the atmosphere for a revolt intensified, primarily in the tribes that were a far distance from Medina and who recently embraced Islam. Therefore, insurrection suddenly arose.
WHAT DID ABU BAKR DO?
Abu Bakr appointed U'sama (who was only about 20 years old) as his deputy in Medina. Abu Bakr led the Muslim force himself, and hurried the troops to the locality of the revolt where the people refused to pay Zakat. It wasn't difficult to route the rebels, Abu Bakr had a determined and eager force. But that was only one small link in a chain of encounters, the rebels and anarchists spread all across the vast desert. This period was worrisome indeed. Although the borders to the north were secured after U'sama's force defeated the Byzantines, the valuable time that had already passed aided the storm of rebellion among the tribes and made it more menacing. As Abu Bakr brought control over a number of rebellious tribes, there remained mischievous Musailema and his large force. No time was lost, however, a large force consisting of U'sama's troops in addition to numerous Muslim volunteers gathered to defend Islam and teach Musailema and other impostors the lesson they deserved.
The Muslim force was headed by Khalid ibnil Waleed, and it hurried toward Musailema. On their way they confronted the remaining rebellious tribes and brought them under control. Much of Arabia now was brought to order, and they gradually closed in on the last and the strongest of the rebels—the large and unified force of Musailema the Liar.
THE BATTLE BEGINS As Khalid was the Commander-in-Chief of the Muslim force, he hollered challenging the enemy, he was on a prancing horse, ready to sow anxiety in the hearts of the opposition. A fighter from the enemy accepted Khalid's challenge but was no match, Khalid soon finished him off. Another came, then another, and another, but with his incredible skill, Khalid easily prevailed over each one. Fear overtook the enemy as they hadn't seen anything like it. Then Khalid shouted, "Musailema the Liar! Come and show your prowess!" The two forces stood expectantly as silence reigned. Khalid and Musailema fought fiercely, and shortly afterwards, Musailema, seeing that he was no match to Khalid, tried to flee, but Khalid kept on the pressure. Being so overwhelmed, Musailema took to flight. Musailema's fighters shouted apprehensively, "Where is your Prophethood? Where are your promises?" Musailema shouted back, with a dry mouth and a quiver in his voice, "To the groves! Protect yourselves! To the orchards!" Musailema's army followed, taking cover in the nearby orchards, an area with a high fence (barricade) and good for protection. But with utmost speed the Muslims chased them; the Muslims even tore down sections of the barricade to enter the groves.
THEY ENGAGE MOST SEVERELY The ensuing battle with Musailema's forces was ferocious. Two large forces were face-to-face, one defending Allah's religion, the other defending the old ways of Jahiliya. The enemy consisted of 40,000. The battle was prolonged and difficult. Several times the Muslims penetrated deep into the body of the enemy despite their large size, a 40,000 no less. But on the other hand the enemy also penetrated once or twice into the body of the Muslim force, and at one time they were even near Khalid's headquarters! The noise of the battle was deafening with the clashing of the armor, moaning of the wounded, and noises of the frightened horses and camels. In the core of this pandemonium, however, someone was waiting with a spear in his hand!
MUSAILEMA GETS KILLED It was almost at the peak of the battle and Wahshi was anxiously waiting with a spear in his hand. He was the same warrior who had killed Hamza at the battle of Ohod. (Hamza was the uncle of the Prophet (pbuh) and his ardent supporter.) Wahshi was a disbeliever then. This time, however, Wahshi a believer in Islam and an enthusiastic defender, he is fighting for the cause of Islam. (See Book 5 of the Series of Islamic Books for Beginners.) Wahshi stood aside gripping a sharp, glistening spear awaiting the right opportunity to hit his target—the enemy of Allah, Musailema. Once the scene cleared, and Musailema could be easily targeted, Wahshi thrust the weapon with all his might, with every ounce of power. The spear whizzed through the air toward Musailema. In a flash the spear landed with a thud, in the very center of Musailema's body. With eyes open in agony and mouth gaping, Musailema fell to the ground stunned and in shock. Upon witnessing the scene, Musailema's fighters scrambled for safety. Confusion reigned; the shouts, the noises, the emotions, and the commotion intensified and the Muslims followed them relentlessly, vigorously, and falling on them with gusto. The enemy soon surrendered and most of Musailema's forces became prisoners of war. As they later learned Islam, they took the oath of loyalty. The enemy lost 10,000 fighters, while the Muslims lost a much smaller number, about 600. However, many of the Muslims' losses included very learned and valuable men, who had memorized the Quran word for word. This fierce battle though, ended the impostors and the trouble-makers, and made Arabia safe from within. When the news of the victory reached Medina everyone was relieved and very happy. They were grateful to the Almighty, now that Arabia is once more unified under the banner of Islam.
The work undertaken to expand the governing body in Medina was a mammoth job. It needed foresight, organization, and cooperation. It needed wisdom and statesmanship. Each was working for the expanding nation of Islam; thanks to Abu Bakr and the trustworthy people working with him. The work was to be accomplished with no media, no books, or other familiar means of communication of today. Energy was to be spent tirelessly, teaching by word of mouth, and with the utmost power of Faith. Administration aside, it was difficult and tough to teach Islam to so many people—thousands upon thousands of Arabs, nomads, or town settlers, all calling to learn about Islam. Teach and learn, learn and teach, all by mouth, and to teach the principles and practice of Islam to so many was a formidable task. The time was very short and there was so much to do. Somehow they succeeded, and the guidelines of Islam, as the Way of Life, took hold, and firmly so in all of Arabia. People took to it eagerly and the marvelous success was admirable.
MUSLIMS VERSUS THE PERSIAN EMPIRE
DANGER FROM THE NORTH WAS INCREASING
With these rapid internal developments, the two superpowers were turning menacingly toward Arabia. They were the superpowers of the day, the Persian and Byzantine Empires, no less! ▪ Arabia had been viewed very lightly by both empires. They paid little attention to it, seeing it as the home of the backward, wild people. Both had scoffed at the Arabs as uncivilized nomadic people posing no threats. Now that Arabia was emerging with Islam, the superpowers began to worry, fuss, and fume. ▪ The Byzantines and the Persians had been in existence for centuries. Both were frequently at war with each other. Their military was strong, well organized, and very well equipped. On occasion the Persians won the war with the Byzantines, while, at other times, the Byzantines were the victorious. ▪ The ordinary people of the two empires suffered from neglect, oppression, and heavy taxation. There were a great deal of riches in the hands of few, and a marked degree of poverty among the overwhelming majority of people. ▪ The people of Persia didn't worship Allah. They believed that two forces ruled the world, Ahuramazda (the god of light) and Ahriman (the god of darkness) who represented good and evil respectively. Their religion was called Zoroastrianism. People in the Byzantine Empire, on the other hand, were mostly Christian or followers of other religions. ▪ These factors did not bother the Muslims very much as did the threat they felt pressing upon their security. Skirmishes at the borders between the Muslims and the Persians became increasingly frequent and threatening. It seemed logical to fight a war of liberation against the enemy, before the enemy could prepare to annihilate the Muslims.
KHALID IBNIL WALEED, THE TALENTED COMMANDER
Khalid Ibnil Waleed had proven his remarkable military talent many times. During the battle of Ohod when he was non-Muslim, or the battle of Mu'ta when he was Muslim, or during the battle against the impostors, Khalid had distinguished himself with superb strategic skill. Abu Bakr chose Khalid for the difficult and daring tasks ahead. The 10,000 Muslim fighters Khalid commanded were not as well equipped or supplied with war material as that of the enemy. But the Muslims were very rich in faith and fully dedicated. Yes, Khalid and his daring, small force were to penetrate Iraq, i.e., the southern part of the Persian Empire. They were to remove the dangers of the Persian Empire that persistently threatened Arabia. But also their main goal was to liberate the oppressed, the poor, and the hungry, and to therefore teach Islam through example, letting people be free to choose. There was no compulsion in religion, and that is what the Holy Quran had directed. Khalid was to observe justice and fairness, and to relieve the oppression of the masses.
THE PLAN FOR
IRAQ Khalid was to concentrate on southern Iraq, while Ibn Ghanim was to command another Muslim force at the northwestern region of Iraq; these two areas formed the Western front of the Persian Empire. Both Muslim leaders were also to advance toward a town called Heera. Khalid divided his army into three major divisions, at the head of each was an experienced Muslim leader. It is said that the enemy forces consisted of 200,000 fighters, strong, and well equipped. They belittled the Muslim force and laughed at it, considering the Muslim force as trivial, an easy prey for them, and simple to defeat. After all, they thought, weren't they the Persians who had conquered the Romans so many times?! And weren't they the superpower itself, none but the Persian Empire?! And the sheer difference in their size was the assurance to their victory.
THEIR DREAMS WERE SOON TO VANISH
When the battles broke out, and to the surprise of all, it was not Khalid who was defeated, it was the Persian forces! In one battle after another, the majestic Persian army proved no match to the zeal of the Muslims despite their preparations and numbers, and their army met one defeat after another. The Persian armies were beaten time and time again. One by one, their Generals fell from Hormuz to others, and their forces fell in disarray. Alarmed by now, and highly demoralized, they were awakened to the fact that the Muslims were the very thing to be reckoned with, and though these forces were small, they were exceptionally dedicated. ▪ The Persians were alarmed at their defeats, a chain of defeat dealt to armies which knew not of Allah, as the Muslims did. The morale of the two sides was seas apart, and the fighters for Allah's cause were crowned with one victory after another. ▪ The Persian armies were large and hard to move, and their ranks intermittently broke. On the other hand, the Muslim force would dash in and out, and as it was blessed with superb leadership, it was cohesive. Using some unconventional clever tactics, often surprisingly, they frightened the opposing forces to no end. The Muslims were eager to die for Islam, and their inner force made them seem far superior to any other fighter. ▪ Khalid engaged the Persians in a total of 15 major battles, each with its unique and impressive plan. He startled the Persians, be they Generals or ordinary fighters, by his unique ways, and his success made the enemy hate him. They became very frightened on being face-to-face with him. Each of the 15 battles was brilliantly won by Khalid's Muslim force, amazing to say the least. ▪ The 15 battles were fought in a mere 11 months, and Iraq became almost wide open to the small Muslim force. It was an astonishing feat, most astonishing. The defenses of the Persian Empire were battered, and it was a matter of time before a more decisive defeat takes place. That was to come later, at the key battle of Qadisiya, which finally broke the backbone of the military of the Persian Empire. ▪ The Muslim force confronted Hormuz at Hafr, then entered Heera, the capital of the Province called Chaldaea, then Anbaar followed by Ayn al Tamr, among others.
BUT WHO WAS HORMUZ Hormuz was the Persian Governor of the southwestern region of the Persian Empire. He was known to be brutal and mean, and he was hated by the local people because of his vicious and arrogant ways. This hatred was especially true of the Arab tribes and inhabitants of that region. When Hormuz learned about Khalid's advances, he gathered a huge army. And just to be sure, he connected his soldiers in such a way as to form a chain! The reason was that in case those soldiers wanted to flee, the chain would stop them, so low was his confidence in his troops. His battle with the Muslims was called the battle of the chains because of the use of the chains. Face-to-face with each other at Hafr (Kuwait nowadays), and confident of his prowess, Hormuz challenged Khalid to a duel, and the duel was most severe. And no time passed before Hormuz found himself under incessant attacks by Khalid. Hormuz could hardly take a breather, for Khalid was so much on the aggressive. It was obvious that the end of Hormuz was near. Seeing that Hormuz was going to be killed, his Generals became alarmed, so they attacked. But before they could even reach Khalid, the Muslims counter-attacked, and the ferocious fight broke out. Hormuz was finished by Khalid, and his head‑wear, full of precious stones, was sent to Abu Bakr, who gave it as a gift to Khalid.
KHALID CONTINUES The small but determined force, with Khalid's brilliant leadership, played havoc with the Persian forces. The Battle of the Chains was a notable one, but a number of other battles were equally astounding. At Mathaar the Persians lost 30,000 soldiers dead, and Khalid gained a tremendous amount of arms including many battleships. Khalid's reputation as a brilliant commander spread fast. He was greatly feared by the enemy and loved by the Muslims. Each opponent to Khalid knew Khalid was no match to him despite the odds. Khalid was a man of sure victory. After the battle of Mathaar, Khalid's force crossed the wide Euphrates River, heading toward Heera, the capital of the Province. Upon arriving in Heera, the Muslims laid siege to it, and the city soon asked for peace consenting to a condition to pay a small tax. Once the arrangements were completed, the city was entered peacefully. The huge palace of the ruling King of Persia was entered, and it was dazzling. The large amount of valuables, gold, and precious stones was something to behold. Further north, west of present day Baghdad, Anbaar was fortified and tried to resist Khalid's force. But Khalid and his determined force quickly entered and seized the town. This was followed by others such as Ayn al Tamr, from which Khalid went to assist Ibn Ghanim who was facing trouble from the Persians at a place called Dawmat al Jundal.
BUT WHY
ALL THE BATTLES IN IRAQ? Before Islam Arabia was never united. Once Islam established itself the people had the sweet taste of unity under the noble leadership of the Prophet (pbuh). Arabia became one country, under one leadership, and one banner, the banner of Islam. The power of Islam was phenomenal and a great unifying source. The people lived much better, and were eager to see others be privileged with Islam as well.
It is to be remembered that it was King Khusrau II who was the Persian Emperor who insulted the envoy of the Prophet (pbuh) few years before and ordered the arrest of the Prophet!! Upon hearing that, Muhammad (pbuh) said, "Allah will tear his Kingdom." Such a prediction came true less than a decade later! No one at the time would have ever thought such was possible.
WHAT DID KHALID DO TO THE NEW TERRITORY?
With a whole region cleared of the Persian administration, Khalid proved to be a very good administrator. The cities and the territories were managed quite well. In each area he appointed a fair deputy, and a judge to settle disputes among people. Khalid was a kindhearted Muslim but tough on the enemy, and the people around him admired his qualities and loved him very much. He was a good example of a ruler—just, considerate, and loving. Khalid gave strict orders to his Muslim military to be good to all people, especially the peasants, the farmers, and the ordinary ones. By treating them fairly, the Muslims won the people's hearts, especially in the new territories. It was the first time these people were treated with honor, dignity, and respect. They loved the fairness and justice of the Muslims, and soon embraced Islam. Islam by now was the prestigious religion to take to. To summarize the major involvements with the Persian Empire, the Muslims went through the following:
WHY DID KHALID TREAT THEM WELL?
Khalid and his forces were Muslims in the true sense. Upon triumphing over a territory, the Muslims made Islam freely available to all. The Muslims were not dictators, did not show an air of superiority nor injustice—there was no difference among people based on color, creed, or race. It is the spirit of humility, love and understanding in Islam that people saw, and it is by the qualities of these new Muslim rulers that people judged. It was this very spirit that changed the hearts of the people in the newly conquered territory, and it was this spirit that made people embrace Islam. They embraced Islam by the thousands or tens of thousands, and were enthused about it and happy with it.
NEWS OF KHALID'S VICTORIES IN
MEDINA In Medina, as well as all over Arabia, everyone was eager to hear of Khalid's incredible victories over the Persians. The news was very exciting to say the least, and everybody in Arabia felt an irresistible power pushing him to join with Khalid and to contribute to the victories. Just about every tribe in Arabia wanted to participate and share in the glory and be a link in the chain of the Muslim victories. Every few weeks good news would filter, bringing inspiration and delight to the hearts of the Muslims. Their excitement was high and gratitude was most great to Allah Almighty. Besides, the news was very reassuring. The Muslims felt safe and reassured. No one ever thought that insignificant Arabia would be so miraculously transformed by Islam. The frequent success of Khalid was awakening the Muslims, stirring them to effect Allah's work on earth, to go forward, act, struggle, and produce so as to help humanity everywhere. Success breeds success, and the one victory after another worked like magic in the hearts of the Muslims. Arabia became restless, eager to participate in all the actions up north. See how the momentum of the Islamic activities, as started by Muhammad (pbuh), had taken over—it is just like lightning by now! Amazing how the power of Islam is!
MUSLIMS VERSUS THE BYZANTINE EMPIRE
THE BYZANTINE EMPIRE The Byzantines were not left alone either. How could they, and don't we remember the danger they presented to the Muslims only a few years back?! How about the Mu'ta encounter, when Khalid proved his brilliance? How about Tabuk, or U'sama and his encounter just recently? Didn't the Byzantines do the same thing the Persians did, i.e., try to undermine the newly emerging Muslim Arabia? The momentum of Islam's expansion was increasingly fast, and Abu Bakr was courageously determined to carry on. His goal was to remove every danger threatening Islam. Therefore, there was no hesitation on his part to ignore the Byzantines. Arabia was bubbling with feverish activity as Islam had molded the minds of the Muslims and united their hearts. Islam gave them a genuine sense of purpose, to serve Allah's cause. They were eager and enthused to continue the struggle and defend the weak, meek, oppressed, needy, and poor. Similar to the Persians, the average citizen under the Byzantine rule was miserable, suffering from wrongs, misrule, heavy taxation, and exploitation. With this situation Abu Bakr's eyes were courageously directed toward the North. Abu Bakr's plans were to liberate the area from the Byzantines and their oppressive rule. Islam was to spread the natural rights of all humans ensuring freedom for all.
PREPARATIONS AND
PLANS Abu Bakr lost no time in preparing a large Muslim force. The Muslim forces were all volunteer with the fighters and their leaders driven only by a sense of carrying out the spirit of serving Allah's Cause: Islam. The relatively large Muslim military was divided into four divisions with each division led by a different commander; each was to strike at a different point: 1. Abu Ubaida ibn Jarrah to march on Hims. 2. Amr ibnil Aas to march on Palestine. 3. Yazid ibn Abi Sufyan to march on Damascus. 4. Shurah'beel Ibn Hasna to march on Jordan. To diffuse the enemy and keep it occupied, the four Muslim forces were to strike almost at the same time. This plan was to increase the Muslims' chance to overtake and disperse the enemy with a less likelihood to be attacked by one large enemy force. The Byzantines had already tasted defeat at the hands of the Muslims a few years earlier, and remembered well their indignation. Their efforts toward undermining the new Muslim Ummah had failed as had the Persian's across the border. Arabia had become too alert and too powerful with its new fountainhead (the religion of Islam) to let such a thing pass.
EMPEROR
HERACLEUS IN JERUSALEM The Byzantine Emperor Heracleus was in Jerusalem at the time. He and his administration were worried as to whether or not they would be able to conquer the Muslims. They vividly remembered the dedication of the Muslims during the battle of Mu'ta and others encountered a few years earlier. They also heard of the amazing victories of Khalid as he led the Muslim forces against the Persians. The Muslims, therefore, were not taken lightly. Yet, as Heracleus and his Generals discussed the matter further, they became convinced the Muslims were no trouble, and their worries were unfounded. Heracleus held a council of the leaders, nobility, and the military Generals. They gathered together to pool opinions and evaluate the situation. Despite their worries, there was an air of superiority among the military, all without a doubt of a final victory over the Muslims. "After all," they thought, "We have Heracleus, Emperor of the Byzantine Empire; the conqueror of the world; the ruler of so much of the world! What is Arabia? Isn't it a backward country of insignificant nomads? What is so great about this new Islam?"
IT WAS A HUGE ARMY Having learned from previous encounters with the Muslims however, and still upset over their defeats, the Romans amassed a huge army, taking no chances. They didn't want to meet the same fate as the Persians did in Iraq. So important were their preparations that the Emperor's own brother was appointed the leadership. This showed the seriousness they attached to the oncoming military engagement with the Muslims.
THE MUSLIM COMMANDERS MAKE A DECISION
With a huge Byzantine army facing them, well trained, professional, and with the most modern arms, the Muslim Commanders had to consider a different tactic. The very number of the Byzantine forces was intimidating, therefore, the Muslim Generals united the four Muslim divisions and put themselves in a better and stronger fighting position? The two sides, Muslim versus Byzantine, were face-to-face at Yarmuk Valley, but neither dared to start the battle. It took weeks of waiting and worrying. The Muslims sent an informer to Abu Bakr asking for reinforcement. Abu Bakr sent a message saying, "Muslims can never be defeated because of their small numbers. But if their own misdemeanors overwhelm them, they will meet defeat. Therefore, let you all keep away from sins of all kinds." At that critical moment, Abu Bakr made a momentous decision, the Khalifa requested Khalid ibnil Waleed to head toward Syria. Khalid was commanded to hand-over his command in Iraq, take a force with him, and speed toward Syria to join the Muslim forces. Khalid handed over the command to Al‑Muthanna, he then headed a small force and speeded toward Syria, conquering many forts and cities on the way.
For weeks the Muslim and Byzantine forces were positioned in Yarmuk Valley, facing each other, but not fighting. The Byzantines had numerous advantages on their side with approximately 240,000 fighters who were extremely well equipped, the river was in front of them, and the mountains behind them. The Muslim forces, including the Commanders, were eager but patiently waiting; this was a very tense period for both sides.
KHALID GOES TO YARMUK It was a hard and tough journey, as most travel in the desert is. Water was a problem for both the men and the animals. The heat of the day and the strong sun added to the difficulty as well as the troublesome sandstorms. But these inconveniences did not bother the well-seasoned fighters under Khalid's leadership, what was most important was arriving quickly to Yarmuk, to help in the major battle. Sleep was but a luxury, the aim was Syria, the purpose was noble, and they hurried as fast as they could toward Yarmuk.
BUSRAH ON THE WAY A major frontier town by the name of Busrah was on the way of Khalid, an obstacle that had already repelled three Muslim military engagements. But when Khalid appeared on the scene, his reputation preceded him to this town. Soon they engaged in a battle and Khalid was able to defeat the Byzantine garrison, and Busrah could resist no more and with cries of Allaahu‑Akbar loud and clear, the Romans could hear the Muslims and see them march through the town. Things were for the better from then on.
KHALID AT YARMUK Having reached the Yarmuk Valley, Khalid and his men lost no time to give help. Khalid investigated the situation thoroughly and noted that four Muslim Commanders, each independent of the other, were gathered in one place—yet, each was responsible for his own unit, even performing Salat separately with his troops. Khalid knew this disunity looked unhealthy and a potential source for trouble. What a high price disunity was going to be, Khalid thought to himself. What a way to put us in the grip of danger, Khalid thought again! Khalid also noticed that the Byzantine forces were massive; forty thousand troops were chained so as not to be able to escape, another forty thousand linked to each other, eighty thousand were the cavalry, and another eighty thousand were the infantry. The enemy displayed much activity, indicating they were about to attack.
Khalid suggested unifying the Muslim divisions under one command, and the four Generals appointed him immediately as the Commander-in-Chief. Under one leadership and thus reorganized, the Muslims became unified. Khalid reorganized the Muslim forces in such a way as to put them in the most favorable position. Even fighters on horses were subdivided into divisions with an experienced person leading the division. Khalid's own son, only 18 years old, was one of these leaders.
A BYZANTINE GENERAL BECOMES MUSLIM
At such a critical moment, an Armenian Byzantine leader, the head of 12,000 men, came out to challenge Khalid. When they were face-to-face the two seemed to be talking for a long time, with no duel and no fighting! The two walked to a tent, with everyone watching in curiosity. "What is going on?" each asked the other. The two came out of the tent, and lo and behold the Byzantine General announced his embracing Islam! He became close to Khalid, and instead of fighting the Muslims, he fought for them against the Byzantines! What a jolt the Byzantines had, how unexpected!
THE BYZANTINES ATTACK Having seen this, the Byzantines became furious and incensed, and they made a surprise attack. They pressed on and on, and some of the Muslim cavalry reeled under. The pressure was tremendous and some of the Muslims started to flee. The fighting continued in a fierce and unrelenting manner. At one time it even approached the command-tent of Khalid. As the fighting continued, and as ferocious as it was, Ikrama pledged to fight to death. He held his hand to receive pledges first from his son, his uncle, and then several hundred Muslims, all ready to die for the cause. Having pledged, the group shrieked in unison, Allaahu Akbar and fiercely attacked the enemy. The Muslims penetrated deeper and deeper into enemy territory, and the deeper they went the more fear they planted in the hearts of the Romans. Each Muslim fighter seemed to be equal to 100 or more of the Byzantines—the Muslims were daring, skillful and capable. Khalid and the well‑seasoned, well‑organized Muslim force persistently pressed further. The whole day witnessed clanks of swords, movement of a mass of humanity, agonizing moans of the wounded, noise of trotting horses, and shouts of Allaahu Akbar filling the air. Even the Muslim women could be heard from a distance, encouraging and cheering the Muslims. When it became dark, the two sides disengaged, as was customary, and each rested in its place. The wounded were carried to be cared for by the women, and the dead were to be buried. What an exhausting day, but how marvelous and how bold the Muslims were through Allah's Grace!
DURING THE BATTLE OF YARMUK At night, during the Battle of Yarmuk, news reached Khalid that Khalifa Abu Bakr had died. It was a serious blow and very depressing news. The letter also read, that Omar was the newly appointed Khalifa, and he decreed that Khalid was to give his position as Commander-in-Chief to Abu Ubaida. This was hard to accept, it was very hard for Khalid to swallow. Now that Omar has taken the place of Abu Bakr, Khalid was commanded to surrender his post to Abu Ubaida. The question remained whether or not it would be wise to immediately inform the Muslim forces. The timing was critical at this stage. Khalid thought to himself for some time. Khalid understood the gravity of the situation, so he decided to keep the letter and break the news later. He did this so the Muslims' enthusiasm during the battle would continue at its high peak. (The news was announced when the battle of Yarmuk was over. Khalid's decision worked extremely well, and proved his wisdom, saving the Muslims possible unfavorable consequences.)
THE NEXT MORNING After Salat of Subh, with spirits very high and eager to finish the battle, the Muslims were once more impatient to finish off the fighting. They charged forward, cutting their way deeply into the body of the Byzantine Army. Ikrama and his group attacked wildly, pressing on and on, and as they charged they recited poems of enthusiasm. The Byzantines, in disbelief, continued retreating further, then faster. Confusion eventually set in as the Byzantine Cavalry went in disarray, reeling under the relentless pressure of the Muslims. When the Byzantines tried to flee, the Muslims fought even harder, falling on them like thunder, and they attacked from left and right, and it was absolutely massive, incredible! The Byzantine Cavalry fled, chased by the Muslims, leaving the heart of the Byzantine Infantry wide open. The human barrier of 40,000 Romans, chained as a precaution, fell as an easy prey to the attacking Muslims. Khalid fell on the Byzantine infantry like lightning. The Byzantine forces, bewildered and confused, were helplessly vulnerable. The retreat of the Byzantine, with their bewilderment and disarray, the noise, clouds of dust, and relentless push of the Muslim forces, shrieking a powerful Allaahu Akbar, were an awesome scene. With nowhere else to run to, the Byzantine soldiers, so frightened, threw themselves in the river. They couldn't climb the mountain because of their heavy arms, so they threw themselves into the river. By doing so, the heavy arms made it impossible to swim, thus drowning most of them. This helped bring a quick end to a large part of the fleeing army. Exultant and victorious, the Muslim troops shouted a thunderous Allaahu‑Akbar repeatedly. During this decisive Yarmuk Battle, only 3,000 Muslims lost their lives while the Romans lost approximately 120,000 fighters, mostly from drowning! Battles of destiny, such as this one, saw what a relentless force the Muslims were.
THE WOMEN DID THEIR SHARE Yarmuk was quite a spectacle. Behind the lines and standing at a ridge the Muslim women helped not only in encouraging the fighters but also by tending to the wounded. Most of them had stones in their hands with their eyes fixed on the Muslim fighters—any Muslim fighter who dared to flee was met with a shower of stones from the women. He had to go back to the battle field! The women's screams of encouragement were very loud, as they pressed the Muslims to continue, to be brave, and to fight until the end. This provided a tremendous psychological boost. The real miracle, however, was the faith in the hearts of all the Muslims.
It was only a few years earlier since Arabia became united under the banner of Islam. Islam was not only the very basis upon which everything rested, but also the very thing Muslims guarded with life. The Muslims, happy with their new and pure way of life, had new, bubbling energy irresistibly driving them to work for Islam. Muhammad (pbuh) had started the immense momentum, and now it is going at an ever faster speed. The news of the wonderful victories created a great impetus for virtually everyone. Hardly a few weeks passed without news about a new success and a great victory. Advances were everywhere, and the people talked in ecstasy about the miraculous achievements. Everyone yearned to participate and have the pleasure of having Khalid and other Generals with them. The numerous battles in Persia lay open a whole new territory to Islam and the Muslims. Numerous administrators, teachers, judges, and other personnel were needed and accordingly appointed. Each was very busy doing what his new job demanded. The same thing happened in Syria. Khalid, the greatest military commander of the time, brilliantly routed the Byzantines (Romans) from many areas before the battle of Yarmuk. Damascus couldn't stand in the way, and the battle of Ajnadain was another brilliant success, one in the chain of other victories. Numerous towns and territories fell under the rule of the Muslims, and the need for knowledgeable Muslims, to rule fairly and justly, was quickly met.
ABU BAKR DIES Only about two years after becoming Khalifa, Abu Bakr, at 63 years of age, died of an illness that did not last long. The two years of his Khilaafah witnessed numerous changes. The changes were even too fast to let people adjust easily. The spirit of Islam, so well-guarded by the Muslims, and as headed by Abu Bakr, relentlessly propelled forward. The social change and victories that the Muslim world experienced was wondrous in deed. The whole social structure had radically changed, ever so much, and for the better, now that it is under Islam.
THE TWO YEARS OF
ABU BAKR
In the two years of Abu Bakr's Khilaafah numerous and startling changes occurred at a dizzying speed.
Imam Ali was very busy during this period, registering the tremendous store of knowledge the Prophet passed on to him among other things. Ali was the closest of any person to the Prophet (pbuh) and his keen mind was the storage place for Islamic knowledge, as taught to him by the Prophet. Muhammad (pbuh) said, "I am the locality of knowledge and Ali is its gateway.” (Tirmidhi, Vol. 5, Page 201. Also Al-Haakim, Mustadrak, Vol. 3, Page 126. See Book 14 of the Series of Islamic Books for Beginners.) Therefore, it was common sense that recording this knowledge was paramount, and it was necessary for it to be done at the utmost speed. Ali embarked upon the following:
The writing took a long time, but it was extremely important to preserve this Islamic treasure from being misquoted. This store of knowledge transferred from Ali to his sons and from each to the one following him and be in charge. (See Book 14 of the Series of Islamic Books for Beginners.) Fatima (a.s.) died about 6 months after the
Prophet's (pbuh) death, and Ali was a widower for a while. Al-Hasan and Al-Husain were still young, 10 and 9 years old at this time respectively.
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