Hazrat Umar Farooq — Page 21
He promised that if he survived he would come back and she could chain him again but she also refused. Totally dejected, Abu Mahjan composed some verses and began to sing aloud. In these verses he cursed himself for being unlucky. He regretted that he was tied up in prison while his comrades were fighting outside. He repented at what he had done and longed for his release so that he could do something for the sake of Islam. Moved by these verses Hadhrat Salma set him free on the condition that he would return after the battle each day. Abu Mahjan rushed to the stable and saddling one of Hadhrat Sa`ad’s horses went straight into the thick of the battle and fought very bravely. He covered his face with a piece of cloth so that no one could recognise him. As evening fell Abu Mahjan came back to his prison unnoticed and Hadhrat Salma chained him again. Everyone in the battlefield, including Hadhrat Sa`ad, was amazed at the bravery of this stranger. “He could not be my prisoner,” Sa`ad said to himself “because he is kept in chains. ” After the battle his wife told him the whole story. Seeing his devotion to Islam, Hadhrat Sa`ad set him free. Hadhrat Umar was anxiously waiting for the outcome of the battle. He used to go outside Madinah to see if there was any messenger with the news from the battlefront. One day he saw a camel rider coming from that direction. Hadhrat Umar asked him, “Where are you coming from?” “I am coming from Qaadsia,” replied the rider. Hadhrat Umar asked, “What is the news?” The rider not knowing that he was talking to the Khalifah replied, “Alhamdu Lillah! Muslims won,” and then carried on hastily towards the city on his camel while Hadhrat Umar kept running by his side trying to get more information from him about the battle. By the time they reached the streets of Madinah and people began to address Hadhrat Umar as ‘Ameer-ul-Momineen’. The rider realised his mistake and apologised to Hadhrat Umar saying, as the message was for the Khalifah only, he did not want to stop on the way. “I wish I had known your identity earlier,” he said. Hadhrat Umar replied, “Never mind,” and then he read out Hadhrat Sa ‘ ad’s letter to the people giving the good news of the victory and that the Muslims had reached the outskirts of Madaain. Madaain, the capital of the Persian Empire, was a beautiful city on the bank of river Tigris. The Muslim force camped on the riverbank. They could see the mighty palace of the Emperor of Persia and the beautiful city of Madaain across the river. As the Persians destroyed all the bridges the Muslims could not go further. Hadhrat Sa`ad gathered his army and told them that the only way for them to cross the river was by riding their horses through the water. He asked, “Who among you wants to confront the enemy first?” A young soldier Aasim replied that he was ready. Six hundred soldiers also volunteered. Aasim with sixty of the volunteers was the first to go. They rode their horses and jumped into the river to cross. The Persians were watching them keenly from the other bank. They were overawed at seeing these brave and daring soldiers. In no time the whole Muslim Force crossed the river. The enemy soldiers tried to resist the attack but were soon overpowered and surrounded. Many of them fled for their lives. Hearing the news of the defeat, Emperor Yezdgird also fled from the city. Muslim soldiers entered into the palace and thanked God Almighty for the victory. They had the wealth of the Emperor of Persia. A party was sent back with the booty to Madinah. Hadhrat Umar saw the valuables and remarked how honest these people were who brought the wealth to him. Hadhrat Ali, who was present on that occasion remarked, “It is because you are honest, sir. Had you been dishonest, they would have been dishonest too. ” Hadhrat Umar distributed the booty among the Muslims. While he was doing so he remarked, “O Allah, the Dearest! You did not grant these bounties to us at the time when the Holy Prophet 21