Nu’maan ibn Maqarrin (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu)

Source:

• Companions of the Prophet by: Abdul Wahid Hamid
• Ashab Ar-Rasool (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wassallam) by Mahmoud al-Masri

The tribe of Muzaynah had their habitations some distance from Yathrib (Madinah) on the caravan route which linked the city to Makkah. News of the Prophet’s (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) arrival in Madinah spread rapidly and soon reached the Muzaynah through members of the tribe who had left and returned.

 One evening the chieftain of the tribe, Nu’maan ibn Maqarrin, sat among the elders and other members of the tribe and addressed them:

“O my people, by Allaah, we have only seen noble qualities in 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.”

Nu’maan must have been a persuasive chieftain for his words had a wondrous effect on the ears of his people. The following morning Nu’maan’s ten brothers as well as four hundred horsemen of the Muzaynah were all ready to go with him to Madinah to meet the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam), and enter the religion of Islam. [Suwar min Hayaat as-Sahaabah]

His appointment with eternal happiness

Nu’maan felt embarrassed to go to the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) with such a numerous following without taking any gifts for him and the Muslims, but 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, Nu’maan 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 (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam), he and his fellow tribesmen announced their acceptance of Islam.

The whole of Madinah was agog with excitement with the coming of Nu’maan 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.

Because of that, ‘Abdullah ibn Mas’ood (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) said: “Verily, there are houses for Faith and houses for hypocrisy; and of the houses of Faith is the house of Nu’maan ibn Muqarrin.”

The noble Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) was extremely happy and rejoiced greatly. Indeed the sincerity of their effort was accepted and commended by Allaah Almighty when He revealed the following words of the Qur’an to the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam):

“And among the nomad Arabs are such as believe in Allaah and the Last Day, and regard all that they spend in Allaah ‘s Cause as a means of drawing them nearer to Allaah and of (their being remembered in) the Apostle’s prayers. Oh, verily, it shall (indeed) be a means of (Allaah’s) nearness to them, (for) Allaah will admit them into His Mercy. Verily Allaah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” [Surah at-Tawbah 9:99]

Nu’maan (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) lived under the guidance of the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) and participated in all the campaigns he waged with valor and dedication. He (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) participated in the Battle of the Trench with the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) and during the  Conquest of Makkah, Nu’maan (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) was carrying the standard of Muzaynah.

When the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) passed away, Nu’maan (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) was saddened, to the extent that he felt the life of this world being straitened upon him and he began remembering the day when he entered Madinah and embraced Islam at the hand of the beloved Messenger (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam).

Nu’maan (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) remained steadfast with the guidance shown by the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam), defending the religion and Shari’ah (Islamic Law). In the time of Abu Bakr (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu), 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 (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu), Nu’maan distinguished himself, in particular, in the encounters with the Sasanian Empire.

His Jihad

Shortly before the Battle of Qadisiyyah, the commander of the Muslim forces, Sa’d ibn Abi Waqqas (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) sent a delegation to the Sasanian Emperor, Yazdagird. The delegation was headed by Nu’maan ibn Muqarrin (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) and its main purpose was to invite the emperor to Islam.

When Nu’maan (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) 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 deterred 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.'”

Nu’maan (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) turned to his men and said: “If you wish, I shall reply to him on your behalf. If any one of you wants to speak, let him do so first.”

The Muslims told Nu’maan to speak and turning to the Emperor, said: “This man speaks with our tongue so do listen to what he says.”

Nu’maan (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) began by praising and glorifying Allaah and invoking peace and blessings on His Prophet. Then he said: “Indeed Allaah has been Kind and Merciful to us and has sent a Messenger to us to show us the good and command us to follow it; to make us realize what is evil and forbid us from it.

The Messenger (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) promised us if we were to respond to what he summoned us, Allaah would bestow on us the good of this world and the good of the Hereafter.

Not much time has elapsed but Allaah 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 (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) 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 disbelief 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 Allaah in your midst and help you to live according to it and rule according to its laws. We would then leave you to conduct your own affairs.

Should you refuse, however, to enter the religion of Allaah, 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 from 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 Nu’maan’s delegation responded sharply to this and Yazdagird flew into a rage once more and shouted: “Were it not 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 (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) accepted the load as a happy augury (omen) and took it to the commander-in-chief, Sa’d ibn Abi Waqqas (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) and said to him: “Accept our congratulations for the victory. The enemy has voluntarily surrendered his territory to us.”

The Battle of Qadisiyyah succeeded (followed) 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 (abet) insurrection in the provinces which had come under Muslim control.

‘Umar (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) had counseled 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, but 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,” he said.

“You know your army best, O Amir al-Muminin,” they replied and after some thought ‘Umar exclaimed: “By Allaah, 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 Nu’maan ibn Muqarrin al-Muzayni.” To him, ‘Umar (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) despatched a letter:

From the servant of Allaah, ‘Umar ibn al-Khattab, to Nu’maan ibn Muqarrin: “I have received news that a large number 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 Allaah, with whoever of the Muslims is with you. Don’t take the Muslims over a 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.” [Taareekh at-Tabari]

Nu’maan (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) responded to the orders of the Amir al-Muminin and mobilized the Muslim forces. He dispatched an advanced detachment of cavalry to survey 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, Nu’maan (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) ordered the horsemen to remain where they were and at nightfall they were to light fires for the enemy to see them. They were also instructed 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 plan worked. When the Persians saw the vanguard 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 thereby gaining control of the approaches to the city.

Nu’maan (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) pitched camp on the outskirts of the city and decided to make a determined assault on the city. He addressed his soldiers: “When I decide the matter, be prepared, I shall say Allaahu Akbar three times; the first time, get yourselves ready (by relieving yourselves and making Wudu’), the second time, let every man of you ready his weapon and gird (bind) them on, and the third time, I shall move against the enemies of Allaah and you must join in the attack with me.” He went on:

“And if Nu’maan is killed, let no one tarry over him. For I shall (now) make a supplication to Allaah Almighty and I want every one of you to say ‘Ameen’.” He then prayed: “O Allaah! I ask You to comfort my eyes today with a conquest, that Islam will be honored and the disbelievers disgraced. Then after that, take my soul to You in martyrdom, and make Nu’maan the first witness today over the glorification of Your religion and victory of Your slaves…. Say ‘Ameen, may Allaah be merciful with you’.” The Muslims said Ameen while weeping.

Three times Nu’maan (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) shouted Allaahu Akbar. On the third time, he plunged into the ranks of the enemy and the Muslims rushed on behind him. They were outnumbered six to one but still were able to inflict terrible losses on the Persians.

Nu’maan (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) received a mortal blow during the battle. Hudhaifah ibn al-Yamaan (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) took the standard from his hand and gave it to his brother Na’eem ibn Muqarrin (in another version, says Mi’qal ibn Muqarrin). His brother then 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”.

After the battle was over, the victorious soldiers asked for their valiant commander. His brother lifted the burdah and said: “This is your Amir. Allaah has shown him victory and blessed him with martyrdom.”

It is reported that Mi’qal ibn Muqarrin said: “I came to Nu’maan and he was in the last stage (still alive). I washed his face. He asked, “Who are you?” I answered: “Mi’qal.” He said: “How did the Muslims do?” I said: “Receive the good news of Allaah’s Support and Victory.”  He said: “Alhamdulillaah. Write to ‘Umar.””

When the news was brought to ‘Umar (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) in Madinah, a companion who was with him said: “I saw ‘Umar, (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu). When he heard of the death of Nu’maan ibn Muqarrin (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu), he placed his head in his hands and wept.”