The Best Advice

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas, Allah be pleased with him, was one of the early Muslims and a very close and beloved companion of the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace. Sa'd is mainly renowned as the commander-in-chief of the Muslim army that the second Caliph of Islam, Omar, Allah be pleased with him, dispatched to confront the Persians at Qadisiyyah. The Sassanian power had dominated the region for centuries and Omar wanted nothing less than an end to it.

The Persians were numerous and armed to the teeth, and facing them in the field was a daunting task. A powerful force had to be mustered. Omar sent dispatches to Muslim governors throughout the state to mobilize all able-bodied persons who had weapons or mounts. Those who had other talents or skills to place at the service of the army were also called upon. Thus it was, that bands of the Mujahideen converged upon Madina from every corner of the Muslim domain.

When they had all been mustered, Omar consulted the leading Muslims about the appointment of a commander-in-chief over the army. Omar proposed himself for the position. However, Ali ibn Abi Talib, Allah be pleased with him, suggested that the Muslims were in greater need of him as the Caliph than the army was in need of his presence on the field, and that he should not endanger himself. After discussion, Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas was chosen as the commander. Abdur Rahman ibn Awf, Allah be pleased with him, one of the veterans among the Companions of the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "You have chosen well! Who is there comparable to Sa'd?"

Omar stood before the great army spread around him and bade them farewell. To Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas, one of the ten promised Paradise, he said, "O Sa'd! Do not allow any statement that you are the maternal uncle of the Messenger of Allah or that you are the Companion of the Messenger of Allah distract you from Allah, the Almighty. Allah Almighty does not obliterate evil with evil but He wipes out evil with good.

"O Sa'd! There is no connection between Allah and any of His Servants except obedience to Him. In the sight of Allah, all people, whether common or noble, are the same. Allah is their Lord and they are His slaves, seeking elevation through taqwa (piety) and seeking to obtain what is good through obedience. Look at the way of Messenger of Allah, Allah bless him and grant him peace, from the time he was sent until he left us, and adhere to it, for it is the proper way. That is my advice to you, if you ignore it and turn away from it, you will be one of the losers. I am ordering you and the troops who are with you to fear Allah in all circumstances, as fear of Allah is the best weapon against the enemy, and the strongest weapon in war. I am commanding you and those who are with you to be more careful avoiding sin than avoiding your enemy. The Muslims are supported by their enemy's disobedience towards Allah. Were it not for that, we would not have any strength, as our numbers are not like theirs. If we were equally matched in sin, they would have an advantage over us in strength, and if we did not have an advantage over them by our virtue, we would not be able to defeat them by our strength."

Against the three thousand Muslims, the Persians had mobilized a force of one hundred and twenty thousand men under the leadership of Rustum, one of their most brilliant commanders. The Muslims were outnumbered by 40 to one. The battle raged for four days. The Muslim valor and skill were overshadowed by the sheer numbers of the Persians. To make matters worse, a military unit consisting of Persians mounted on elephants wrought havoc in the ranks of Muslims. The ferocious battle was only resolved when several Muslim warriors made a rush at Rustum. A storm arose and Rustum's canopy was blown into the river. As he tried to flee, he was detected and slain. The Persians fled in the complete confusion and disarray that reigned after their commander's death.

It was victory, but at a heavy price. About thirty thousand persons on both sides fell over the course of four days fighting. In one day alone, some two thousand Muslims and ten thousand Persians lost their lives. The Battle of Qadisiyyah is one of the major decisive battles in history. It sealed the fate of the Sassanian Empire just as the Battle of Yarmurk sealed the fate of the Byzantine Empire in the east.

Two years after Qadisiyyah, Sa'd went on to take Ctesiphon, the Sassanian capital, accomplished after a brilliant crossing of the Tigris while it was in flood. Sa'd has thus gone down in the annals of history as the Hero of Qadisiyyah and the Conqueror of Ctesiphon.

He lived until he was almost 80 years old. He was blessed with influence and wealth. In the year 54 A.H, when he felt his death approaching, he asked his son to open an old battered box. When his son had retrieved an equally battered coarse woolen jubbah (gown) from this box, Sa'd said, "Shroud me in this, for in this jubbah I met the mushrikin (polytheists) on the day of Badr (battle) and in it I desire to meet Allah Almighty."

Everything that happen around the Muslims is because we don't follow the Book of Allah and the sunnah of His Messenger, Allah bless him and grant him peace. We should fear our sins more than the enemy. Take heed of Omar's advice. It is you and your application of the deen that can give you success and victory.

May Allah protect us from the trials and tribulations of this life and the next. May Allah grant victory to the Muslims. Ameen. Please don't forget us in your night prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam