An-Numan ibn
Muqarrin
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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