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The tribe of Muzaynah had their habitations some distance from Yathrib
on the caravan route which linked the city to Makkah. News of the Prophet's
arrival in Yathrib spread rapidly and soon reached the Muzaynah through
members of the tribe who had left and returned.
One evening the chieftain of the tribe, an-Numan ibn Maqarrin, sat among
the elders and other members of the tribe and addressed them:
"O my people, by God, we have learnt only good about Muhammad, and of
His mission we have heard nothing but mercy, kindness and justice. What's
wrong with us? Why do we tarry while people are hastening to him?" "As
for myself," he continued, "I have made up my mind to leave early in the
morning to join him. Whoever of you wishes to go with me, let him get
ready."
An-Numan must have been a persuasive chieftain. His words had a wondrous
effect on the ears of his people. The following morning an-Numan's ten
brothers and four hundred horsemen of the Muzaynah were all ready and
prepared to go with him to Yathrib to meet the Prophet, may God bless
him and grant him peace, and enter the religion of Islam.
An-Numan however felt embarrassed to go to the Prophet with such a numerous
following without carrying any presents for him and the Muslims. There
wasn't much he could carry anyway. That year was a year of drought and
famine for the Muzaynah and much of their livestock and crops had perished.
Still, an-Numan went around the dwellings of his fellow tribesmen and
gathered up whatever sheep and goats were left. These he drove before
him and made his way to Madinah. There in the presence of the Prophet,
he and his fellow tribesmen announced their acceptance of Islam.
The whole of Madinah was agog with excitement with the coming of an-Numan
and his companions. Never before had there been a single family with all
eleven brothers accepting Islam at the same time together with four hundred
horsemen. The noble Prophet was exceedingly glad and rejoiced greatly.
Indeed the sincerity of their effort was accepted and commended by God
Almighty when He revealed the following words of the Quran to the Prophet:
"And among the nomad Arabs are such as believe in God and the Last Day,
and regard all that they spend in God's cause as a means of drawing them
nearer to God and of (their being remembered in) the Apostle's prayers.
Oh, verily, it shall (indeed) be a means of (God's) nearness to them,
(for) God will admit them into His grace. Verily God is much-Forgiving,
most Merciful." (The Quran, Surah at-Tawbah, 9:99).
An-Numan lived under the guidance of the Prophet and participated in
all the campaigns he waged with valor and dedication. In the time of Abu
Bakr, he and the people of Muzaynah played a major and commendable role
in putting an end to the fitnah of apostasy. During the caliphate of Umar
al-Faruq, an-Numan distinguished himself, in particular, in the encounters
with the Sasananian Empire.
Shortly before the Battle of Qadisiyyah, the commander of the Muslim
forces Sad ibn Abi Waqqas sent a delegation to the Sasanian Emperor, Yazdagird.
The delegation was headed by an-Numan ibn Muqarrin and its main purpose
was to invite the emperor of Islam. When an-Numan and his delegation reached
Ctesiphon, the Sasanian capital, the people of the city looked upon them
with curiosity and some disdain. They remarked on their simple appearance,
their rough clothes and shoes and their weak-looking horses. The Muslims
were in no way overwhelmed and sought an audience with Yazdagird. He granted
them permission, summoned an interpreter and said to him:
"Say to them (the Muslims): why have you come to our dominions and why
do you want to invade us? Perhaps, you have designs on us... and seek
to venture against us because we are preoccupied with you. But we
do not wish to inflict punishment on you." An-Numan turned to his men
and said:
"If you wish, I shall reply to him on your behalf. But if any one of
you wants to speak let him do so first." The Muslims told an-Numan to
speak and turning to the Emperor, said: "This man speaks with our tongue
so do listen to what he says." An-Numan began by praising and glorifying
God and invoking peace and blessings on His Prophet. Then he said:
"Indeed God has been Kind and Merciful to us and has sent to us a Messenger
to show us the good and command us to follow it; to make us realize what
is evil and forbade us from it.
"The Messenger promised us if we were to respond to what he summoned
us, God would bestow on us the good of this world and the good of the
hereafter.
"Not much time has elapsed but God has given us abundance in place of
hardship, honor in place of humiliation and mercy and brotherhood in place
of our former enmity.
"The Messenger has commanded us to summon mankind to what is best for
them and to begin with those who are our neighbors.
"We therefore invite you to enter into our religion. It is a religion
which beautifies and promotes all good and which detests and discourages
all that is ugly and reprehensible. It is a religion which leads its adherents
from the darkness of tyranny and unbelief to the light and justice of
faith."
"Should you respond positively to us and come to Islam, it would be our
duty to introduce the Book of God in your midst and help you to live according
to it and rule according to its laws. We would then return and leave you
to conduct your own affairs.
"Should you refuse, however, to enter the religion of God, we would take
the jizyah from you and give you protection in return. If you refuse to
give the jizyah, we shall declare war on you."
Yazdagird was angry and furious at what he had heard and said in ridicule:
"Certainly I do not know of a nation on earth who is more wretched than
you and whose numbers are so few, who are more divided and whose condition
is more evil."
"We have been used to delegate your affairs to our provincial governors
and they exacted obedience form you on our behalf." Then softening his
tone somewhat, he continued, but with greater sarcasm:
"If there is any need which has pushed you to come to us, we would enlist
forces to help you make your lands fertile. We would clothe your leaders
and the notables of your people and place a king from among ourselves
over you who would be gentle to you."
One of an-Numan's delegation responded sharply to this and Yazdagird
flew into a rage once more and shouted: "Were it for the fact that ambassadors
are not killed, I would kill you all. "Get up. You shall have nothing
from me. And tell your commander that I am sending Rustum against him
to bury him and you together in the ditch of al Qadisiyyah."
Yazdagird then called for a basketful of earth and ordered that it should
be borne outside the city gates by the one whom the Muslims considered
to be the most noble among them as a sign of humiliation. Asim the son
of Umar accepted the load as a happy augury and took it to the commander-in-chief,
Sad ibn Abi Waqqas, and said to him:
"Accept our congratulations for the victory. The enemy has voluntarily
surrendered his territory to us." The Battle of Qadisiyyah ensued and
after four days of bitter fighting, the Muslim forces emerged victorious.
The victory paved the way for the Muslim advance into the plains of the
Euphrates and the Tigris. The Persian capital, Ctesiphon, fell and this
was followed by a number of engagements as the Persians withdrew northwards.
Despite other defeats and setbacks, Yazdagird refused to yield and constantly
organized new levies to attack the Muslims and foment insurrection in
the provinces which had come under Muslim control.
Umar had counselled moderation on his generals and ordered them not to
press too far eastwards. However he received news of a massive Persian
mobilization of about 15O,OOO warriors against the Muslims. He thought
of leaving Madinah and facing the massive threat himself. He was advised
against this by prominent Muslims in Madinah who suggested instead that
he should appoint a military commander to confront the grave situation.
"Show me a man whom I can appoint for this task." said. "You know your
army best, O Amir al-Muminin," they replied and after some thought Umar
exclaimed:
"By God, I shall appoint as commander-in-chief of the Muslim army a man
who, when the two armies meet, will be the most active. He is an-Numan
ibn Muqarrin al-Muzani." To him, Umar despatched a letter: "From the servant
of God, Umar ibn al-Khattab, to an-Numan ibn Muqarrin:
"I have received news that large numbers of Persians
have gathered to fight you in the city of Nihawand.
When this my letter reaches you go forward (to confront
them) with the help of God, with whoever of the
Muslims are with you. Don't take the Muslims over too
difficult terrain lest they may be hurt, for one Muslim
person is dearer to me than a hundred thousand dinars.
And Peace be unto you."
An-Numan responded to the orders of the Amir al-Muminin and mobilized
the Muslim forces. He despatched an advanced detachment of cavalry to
reconnoiter the approaches of the city. Just outside Nihawand, the horses
stopped and despite prodding would go no further. The riders dismounted
and discovered iron nails in the horses' hooves. They looked around and
found that all approaches to the city were strewn with these iron spikes
to halt the advance of the Muslim army. On being informed of this, an-Numan
ordered the
horsemen to remain where they were and at nightfall to light fires for
the enemy to see them. They were also to feign fear and defeat in order
to entice the enemy to come out to them and in the process clear the approaches
of the iron spikes. The ruse worked. When the Persians saw the van guard
of the Muslim army appearing dejected and defeated before them, they sent
workers to clear the area of the spikes. These workers were captured by
the Muslim cavalry who gained control of the approaches to the city.
An-Numan pitched camp on the outskirts of the city and decided to make
a determined assault on the city. He addressed his soldiers: "I shall
say Allahu Akbar three times. At the first time, get Yourselves ready
(by performing your toilet and making wudu). At the second time, let every
man of you get ready his weapons and gird them on. And the third time,
I shall move against the enemies of God and you must join in the attack
with me." He went on:
"And if an-Numan is killed, let no one tarry over him. For I shall (now)
make a supplication to God Almighty and I want everyone of you to say
'Ameen'. "He then prayed: "May God grant martyrdom to an-Numan this day
and may He grant victory to the Muslims."
Three times an-Numan shouted Allahu Akbar. On the third time, he plunged
into the ranks of the enemies and the Muslims rushed on behind him. They
were outnumbered six to one but inflicted terrible losses on the Persians.
An-Numan received a mortal blow during the battle. His brother took the
standard from his hand, and covered him with a burdah and concealed his
death from the others.
The Muslim forces emerged victorious. The Persians never recovered themselves
after this battle which Muslim historians have called "the Victory of
Victories".
The battle over, the victorious soldiers asked for their valiant commander.
His brother lifted the burdab and said: "This is your Amir. God has shown
him victory and blessed him with martyrdom."
When the news was brought to Umar in Madinah, a companion who was with
him said: "I saw Umar, may God be pleased with him. When he heard of the
death of an-Numan ibn Muqarrin, he placed his head in his hands and began
to cry."
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