An-Numan ibn Muqarrin - Biographies of the Companions (Sahabah)

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 followingmorning
an-Numan's ten brothers and four hundred horsemen of the Muzaynah
wereall 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
togetherwith 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. VerilyGod
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 campaignshe 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 theSasanian 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 curiosityand 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 dominionsand 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 followit; to make us
realize what is eviland 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 placeof humiliation and mercy and brotherhood in
place of our former enmity.
"The Messenger has commandedus to summon mankind to whatis 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 toit 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 furiousat what he had heard and said
inridicule: "Certainly I do not knowof a nation on earth who is more
wretched than you and whose numbers are so few, whoare 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 himand 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 ibnAbi 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 fourdays 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 Muslimsand 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. "Youknow 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 themost active. He is
an-Numan ibn Muqarrin al-Muzani." To him, Umar despatched a letter:
"Fromthe 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 thecity of Nihawand.
When this my letter reaches you go forward (to confront
them) with the help of God, withwhoever of the
Muslims are with you. Don't takethe 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 tohalt 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 andin 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 clearthe area of the spikes. These
workers were captured by the Muslim cavalry who gained control of the
approaches to thecity.
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 Akbarthree 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 noone 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 grantmartyrdom 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 rushedon 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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And Allah Knows the Best!

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