Saturday

Abu Mihjan Al Tsaqafi RA

Abu Mihjan Ats-Tsaqafi RA RA.The Story of Courage from the Battle of Qadisiyyah.

 
Abu Mihjan RA belonged to the Tsaqafi clan. He was a cousin of Abu Ubaid RA who had commanded the Muslim forces in Iraq and was martyred at the battle of the Bridge.
The home town of Abu Mihjan RA was Taif. When the Muslims under Rasulullah besieged Taif after the fall of Makkah, Abu Mihjan RA fought against the Muslims. His arrow mortally wounded Abdullah son of Saidina Abu Bakr As Siddiq RA.
Later when the Tsaqafi submitted to Rasulullah and accepted Islam, Abu Mihjan RA also became a Muslim. He was staunch in his faith in Islam, but he had weakness for liquor, and sometimes secretly drank wine. 




 
At the battle of the Bridge, Abu Mihjan was the commander of the cavalry. He drove back the elephant which had crushed Abu Ubaid to death. After the disaster of the battle of the bridge, Abu Mihjan stayed on with Muthanna at Ulleis for some time. Then he returned to Madina.
At Madina, Khalifah SaidinaUmar Ibn Al Khatab RA caught Abu Mihjan RA drinking and as a punishment he was exiled to Yemen. Later he was forgiven and was allowed to join the Muslim forces in Iraq under Saidina Saad Ibn Abi Waqass RA. In camp, Abu Mihjan RA drank again, and on discovering his offense Saidina Saad Ibn Abi Waqqas RA had him whipped and thrown into a cellar in fetters. His cell was in the palace at Al Udzaib in Qadisiyyah where Saad Ibn Abi Waqqas RA was lodged and from where he commanded the war operations.

This war occurred during the time of Khalifah 'Umar bin Al-Khathab RA with the commander he sent to land 'Iraq at that time was Saidina Saad bin Malik Abi Waqqas RA . Many stories of companions in the war, a story full of blood and tears, and during the battle of Qadisiyyah the commander Saidina Saad Ibn Abi Waqqas RA who was exposed to a kind of boil-like boil that infected him all over his body that made him unable to go down to the battlefield and he decided to command from Al -'Udzaib, a place which is a spring near the Qadisiyyah, where he built a base to monitor the forces of the Muslims.

The Battle of Qadasiyyah, the war that became one of the unbreakable spears of Islam that finally settled on the Persian land, thanks to the tireless jihad of the Arab lions - with the permission of Allah The Almighty which succeeded in conquering the infamous kingdom of the famous Persian might and very difficult to conquer even by the Romans Empire. King Yazdagird escaped, some of the Persian warlords like Rustum and Jalinus were killed in the hands of the Muslim forces and Yazdagird's daughters to be prisoners of the Muslims. One of his daughters was liberated and married by the grandson of the Rasulullah ﷺ , Saidina Husain bin' Ali RA.

 
One of the most memorable stories of the war, is the story of Abu Mihjan Ats-Tsaqafiy RA. A story that marks the courage of a friend who is not afraid of breaking the ranks of the enemy in order to fulfill the call of jihad from Allah Ta'ala

Abu Mihjan Ats-Tsaqafiy RA

His name is disputed, Al-Haafizh rahimahullah in Al-Ishaabah saying his name is 'Amr bin Habiib bin' Amr bin 'Umair bin' Auf bin 'Uqdah bin Tsaqiif, his name is his kunyyah while his other kunyyah is Abu' Ubaid, is Malik, and is said to be the 'Abdullaah, but he is best known for his kunyita, Abu Mihjan. Al-Imam Abu Ahmad Al-Haakim rahimahullah said that he is a companion.

Abu Mihjan RA is a poet and likes to drink khamr, this is what makes him repeatedly punished, and his favorite is what troubles his companions when they are gathering strength in the face of the Qadisiyyah war. However, his blood is always turbulent when it is needed to defend this noble Allah's religion. Narrated that Saidina Saad Ibn Abi Waqqas RA as the commander of Qadisiyyah met Abu Mihjan RA in the middle of being drunk, then Saidina Saad Ibn Abi Waqqas RA ordered to tie him. At the end of the story, Abu Mihjan RA eventually repented not to drink khamr forever

The full story is recorded by Al-Imam Abu Bakr ibn Abi Syaibah rahimahullah in his Mushannaf, with sanad and narrators:

Narrated Abu Hurayrah, from 'Amr bin Muhaajir, from Ibraahiim bin Muhammad bin Sa'd, from his father, he said:

"One day Saidina Saad bin Abi Waqqas RA was approached by Abu Mihjan on the day of the war of Qadisiyyah while Abu Mihjan was drunk for drinking khamr. So Saidina Saad Ibn Abi Waqass RA ordered his subordinates to bind Abu Mihjan RA. "Muhammad bin Sa'd continued," At that time Saidina Saad's body had a rashes (because it was ill) and he did not come out with the army on that day. So Saidina Saad Ibn Abi Waqass RA subordinates raised him to Al-'Udzaib to monitor the forces of the Muslims, Saidina Saad ibn Abi Waqass RA also assigned Khalid bin 'Urfuthah RA to lead the troop.
From his cellar, Abu Mihjan Ra saw the battle waging in great fury. Abu Mihjan RA was a born soldier, and when the other Muslims were locked up in life and death struggle, he pined to be free to wield the sword against the enemy. He approached Saad Ibn Abi Waqas RA, and asked for permission to fight. Saad's rebuked him and ordered him back to his cellar. 

 
When the forces of the Muslims confronted the enemy, Abu Mihjan RA also wrote:

Suffice it because of the fall of the horse by the spear

While I was releasing myself which was bound strongly by the shackles.
Returning to his cellar, Abu Mihjan met Salma the new wife of Saad. He wanted her to help him, but Salma was not inclined to interfere.
Back in his cellar, Abu Mihjan burst into pathetic verses:
"It is sufficient sorrow when you see a cavalier,
Deprived, abandoned and bound in shackles,
While I stand these fetters detain me,
While others are fighting.
I was once a man with wealth and kinsmen,
But I am now left entirely alone.
By Allah, I give the pledge,
If freed, I will never drink again."
Salma heard the song and was moved. She wanted to know what she could do for him.

Abu Mihjan said to Salma Bintu Khashafah RA, Saidina Saad Ibn Abi Waqass RA wife
“Release this shackle and I promise you, if Allah saves me in this war, I will come back here until I put these two legs into bonds. But if I'm killed, then you will be free from me. Saidina Saad's wife then released Abu Mihjan RA just in the middle of the ragging battle and both troops met.

Without thinking, Abu Mihjan RA immediately jumped on a horse of Saad's named Al-Balqaa 'and grabbed a nearby spear, then he went out to the battlefield, so it was not Abu Mihjan RA attacking from the direction of the enemy unless he would destroy the ranks them. The Muslims who saw Abu Mihjan on the horse said, "The man is like an angel!"

Saidina Saad Ibn Abi Waqass RA finally saw the brave figure dividing the wing of the enemy forces, he was amazed and wondered, "The leap of the war is like Al-Balqaa leap, and the rider's tires are similar to Abu Mihjan! but not Abu Mihjan! He's being bound "

When Abu Mihjan RA finished destroying the ranks of the enemy, he returned to the custody and then put his legs back into the bound. Seeing this, Salma Bintu Khashafah RA immediately told Saidina Saad Ibn Abi Waqass RA about the matter of Abu Mihjan (who fulfilled his promise to return to detention). Saidina Saad said, "By Allah, as from today I will not whack a man whom Allah has tested the Muslims on his hands on all things which have caused them trouble," and Saidina Saad Ibn Abi Waqass RA liberated Abu Mihjan RA.

Al-Mihjan RA pledged, "Really, I've been drinking the khamr which, because of my custom, this is the punishment for me, then I'm cleaning myself up from it. And now Saidina Saad Ibn Waqass RA approve of me (free from punishment), then by Allah, I will not drink khamr again forever! "

[Al-Mushannaf 11/520, no. 34309]

Takhrij and Degrees Story

The narrators of Ibn Abi Syaibah are the people of tsiqah.

Abu Mu'aawiyah is Muhammad bin Khaazim Adh-Dhariir Al-Kuufiy. Reciter Ash-Shahiihain. Al-Haafizh in At-Taqriib no. 5841 says, "Tsiqah, the most haphazarded hadith of Al-A'masy, sometimes experiences waham on the hadith otherwise. The accused understood the word '. "

'Amr bin Muhaajir bin Abu Muslim Al-Anshaariy, Abu' Ubaidah Ad-Dimasyqiy. One who is tsiqah. See At-Taqriib no. 5120.

Ibraahiim bin Muhammad bin Sa'd bin Abi Waqqaash Al-Madaniy, tsumma Al-Kuufiy. Al-Haafizh in At-Taqriib no. 233 says, "Tsiqah, Ibn Hibbaan said: did not hear from his companions."

His father, Muhammad bin Sa'd bin Abi Waqqaash Az-Zuhriy, Abul Qaasim Al-Madaniy. Tsiqah, was killed by Al-Hajjaaj bin Yuusuf after 80 AH. See At-Taqriib no. 5904. Ibn Sa'd in his Thabaqat mentions that he has hadiths which are small.

So sanad Ibn Abi Syaibah was zhahirnya hasan to Muhammad bin Sa'd but he did not declare tahdits (haddatsanaa or akhbaranaa) from his father Sa'd or from the witnesses of the war of Qaadisiyyah, but he ma'ruf narrated from Sa'd and he did not known as a historian who often disperses history, so it is possible that he hears this story from his own father. However, Muhammad bin Sa'd was not a witness of the Qaadisiyyah war so he had to express the tahdits of his father or of the war witnesses. Wallaahu a'lam.



Also narrated by Al-Imam Sa'iid bin Manshuur rahimahullah in his Sunan no. 2502 with a chain like Ibn Abi Shaykh.

Narrated by Al-Imam 'Abdurrazzaaq Ash-Shan'aaniy rahimahullah in Al-Mushannaf no. 17077, with sanad:

عن معمر, عن أيوب, عن ابن سيرين, قال: "كان أبو محجن لا يزال يجلد في الخمر ... إلخ

From Ma'mar, from Ayyubub, from Ibn Siiriin, he said, "Abu Mihjan used to be subjected to punishment for the abusive practice of drinking khamr ... and so on"

Al-Haafizh in Al-Ishaabah 7/300 said:

وأخرج عبد الرزاق بسند صحيح عن بن سيرين

"Issued by 'Abdirrazzaaq with the true sanad of Ibn Siiriin."

The appearance of the word Al-Haafizh is the sanadnya shahih to Ibn Siiriin rahimahullah and it is munqathi 'because Ibn Siiriin did not find the battle of Qaadisiyyah, nor found Sa'd bin Abi Waqqaash.

Narrated by Al-Imam Abu Bakr Ad-Diinawariy in Al-Mujaalasah no. 1014:

حدثنا عبد الله بن مسلم بن قتيبة, نا إسماعيل بن محمد, عن الأصمعي, عن ابن عون, عن عمير بن إسحاق; قال: كان سعد بن أبي وقاص رحمه الله "يوم القادسية على ظهر بيت وهو شاك من خراج ... إلخ

Al-Ashma'iy, from Ibn 'Aun, from' Umair bin Ishaaq, said: "In the days of Qaadisiyyah war, Sa 'd bin Abi Waqqaash rahimahullah was behind his tent, he was ill abscess ... and so on. "

'Umair bin Ishaaq, Abu Muhammad Al-Qurasyiy. Maulaa the Haasim, Abu Haatim and An-Nasaa'iy mentions that nothing is narrated except Ibn'Aun. Ibn Ma'iin in a narrative says "his hadith does not equal the traditions of the narrators, but he is written", in another narration he said "tsiqah", An-Nasaa'iy said "there is nothing wrong with him", Ibn Hibbaan mentions it in Ats-Tsiqaat. See his biography in Tahdziibul Kamaal no. 4512 and Miizaanul I'tidaal 5/355.

And there is disconnection in this sanad because 'Umair is unknown to have narration from Sa'd bin Abi Waqqaash or from the witnesses of the war of Qaadisiyyah.

Narrated by Al-Imam Ibnu Qudaamah rahimahullah in At-Tawwaabiin أبو طاهر محمد بن عبد الرحمن المخلص أنا أبو بكر أحمد بن عبد الله بن سيف أنا أبو عبيدة السري بن يحيى أنا شعيب بن إبراهيم قال: أنبأ سيف بن عمر التميمي عن محمد وطلحة وابن مخراق وزياد قالوا: لما اشتد القتال بالسواد - يعني في القادسية - وكان أبو محجن قد حبس وقيد فهو في القصر فأتى سلمى بنت حفصة امرأة سعد فقال: يا بنت آل حفصة! هل لك إلى خير? ... إلخ

:
It has been narrated to us an expert of knowledge and literary writers, Abul 'Izz Muhammad bin Muhammad bin Mawaahib bin Al-Khurasaaniy, he said, has told us Abu Ghaalib Muhammad bin' Abdil Waahid Al-Qazzaaz, has told us Abul Hasan ' Aliy bin 'Umar Al-Barmakiy and Abul Husain bin An-Naqquur, both of whom have reported to us Abu Thaahir Muhammad bin' Abdirrahman Al-Mukhlash, has reported to us Abu Bakr Ahmad bin 'Abdillaah bin Saif, 'Ubaidah As-Sariy bin Yahyaa, has reported to us Syu'aib bin Ibraahiim, he said, has told Saif bin' Umar At-Tamiimiy, from Muhammad, Thalhah, Ibn Mikhraaq and Ziyaad, they say:

"When warfare involving a large number of Muslims was fierce - in the battle of Al-Qaadisiyyah- Abu Mihjan was being held and tied up in a fortress. Salmaa bint Hafshah -istri Sa'd bin Abi Waqqaash- and Abu Mihjan said to him, "O daughter of Hafsah's family! Is there any kindness to you? ... (and so on). "

It is very weak because of Saif bin 'Umar At-Tamiimiy, he agreed on his weakness and many ulama wa ta'dil who claim that he is a liar. See his biography in Tahdziibul Kamaal no. 2676.

Al-Khulaashah

What appeared to us, the chain of narrative about the story of Abu Mihjan is a sanad-sanad that ends only on tabi'in or people after them, and the most powerful sanad is the true sanad of Abdurrazzaaq to Muhammad bin Siiriin, as the word Al-Haafizh has passed.

Shaykh Masyhuur bin Hasan aalu Salmaan hafizhahullah in his tahqiq against the book Al-Mujaalasah 3/382, mentions that there are some nakarah (things that are denied) seen in this story, some of which we will briefly mention:

1. The Sa'd Decision which excludes the abolition of Abu Mihjan although at other times he returns to the habit of drinking khamr. Such a decision is not the decision of the Shari'ah-justified ruler even though Abu Mihjan has been rewarded in the war of Qaadisiyyah, it still can not be free from the binding laws of binding 'if it returns to its old habits.

2. Punishment for khamr drinkers is not confined or detained in prison, but is whipped or abused as it has been such an ordinance in the hadiths of the Prophet of Allah Shallallaahu 'alaihi wasallam, as narrated by Al-Imam At-Tirmidziy rahimahullah following, from Anas bin Maalik radhiyallaahu 'anhu:
عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم: "أنه أتي برجل قد شرب الخمر, فضربه بجريدتين نحو الأربعين

"From the Rasulullah that he was approached by a man who had been drinking khamr, then he chased him with two palm fronds of 40 times." [Jaami' At-Tirmidziy no. 1443]

The idea of this story is the reason for the abandonment of Abu Mihjan RA. One narrations suggest that Abu Mihjan RA disobeyed Saad Ibn Waqqas RA when he was separated from Khaalid bin 'Urfuthah RA, another narrations mention that Abu Jahraa' influenced Khalifah Umar Ibn Al Khatab RA to confine Abu Mihjan RA when he escaped from Saidina Umar Ibn Al Khatab RA (because SaidinaUmar Ibn Al Khatab RA would punish him) 'Saidina Umar Ibn Al Khatab RA wrote to Saad Ibn Abi Waqqas RA to retain Abu Mihjan RA, another narrating mention that' Saidina Umar Ibn Al Khatab RA confiscated Abu Mihjan RA because he compiled the poems of the poem about khamr, another narrations mention that Abu Mihjan RA put a heart to a woman-a wife of a the Anshar men, the woman's name is Syu'aib - then she compiled a poem for the woman so her husband did not like her and she reported it to Saidina Umar Ibn Al Khatab RA to get rid of Abu Mihjan; allegedly because it is because Abu Jahraa 'influenced' Saidina Umar Ibn Al Khatab RA to confine Abu Mihjan, the last mentioning that Saad Ibn Abi Waqqas did not confine Abu Mihjan but ordered him to leave.



These are some of the narrations of the story of Abu Mihjan, though it is a famous story and has been quoted in the books of adab and dates such as Taariikh Ath-Thabariy 3/575; Al-Bidaayah wa An-Nihaayah 7/45; Futuuh Al-Buldaan 2/316; Thabaqaat Asy-Syu'araa 'p. 268, and others. We also do not want this story but only the story of Abu Mihjan's courage to be an example and he always favors the defense of Allah's religion under any circumstances what is right for us today, especially when religious dignitaries are boldly blatant against Allah and His Messenger.

Wallaahu a'lam.

 
Credits to: Ash-Shaykh Abu 'Ubaidah Masyhuur bin Hasan aalu Salmaan on his ta'liiq in the book Al-Mujaalasatu wa Jawaahir Al-'Ilm by Al-Imam Abu Bakr Ad-Diinawariy Al-Maalikiy, Daar Ibn Hazm.