Series of Answers by the Eminent Scholar Ata bin Khalil Abu al-Rashtah, Ameer of Hizb ut-Tahrir, to the Questions of Visitors to his Facebook Page "Fiqhi"
To Muhammad al-Muslih
Question:
History has recorded for us a dialogue that took place between the great Sahabi Rib'i bin 'Amir and Rustam, the leader of the Persians, regarding the general ideas of Islam and Jihad. What was said in it?
During the Muslims' conquest of Persia, Rustam, the leader of the Persians, sent a request for the Muslims to send a delegation to speak with him. This was due to his firm desire for reconciliation or any other means by which the Muslim army would return without entering into war with him. So, Rib'i bin 'Amir went to meet Rustam. Rib'i was not one of the commanders of the Islamic armies, but he was a leader among his people.
Here is the dialogue...
Rustam: "Permit him to enter."
Rib'i entered with his horse upon the carpets spread out before him. When he entered with his horse, he found the cushions decorated with gold; he pierced one of them, passed his horse's reins through it, and tied it. Then he took his spear and headed towards Rustam while leaning on it, the spear poking into the carpets and tearing them. The people of Persia stood in silence, as did Rustam. While they were thinking about where he would sit, he sat on the ground and placed his spear in front of him, leaning on it. Rustam began to speak.
Rustam: "What prompted you to do this?" (Meaning: what drove you to sit on the ground?)
Rib'i: "We do not like to sit on your finery."
Rustam: "What brought you here?"
Rib'i: "Allah has sent us to bring forth whom He wills from the worship of slaves to the worship of the Lord of slaves, from the injustice of religions to the justice of Islam, and from the narrowness of this world (Dunya) to the vastness of this world and the Hereafter (Akhirah). So, whoever accepts that from us, we accept it from him. If he does not accept, we accept the Jizyah from him. If he refuses, we fight him until we attain victory."
Rustam: "You might die before that."
Rib'i: "Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, has promised us that Paradise is for those of us who die for this, and victory is for those of us who remain."
Rustam: "I have heard your words (meaning: I understood your purpose). Can you delay us until we consult with our leaders and our people?" He was asking for a period of time to think.
Rib'i: "Yes, I will give you as much as you like: one day or two?"
Rustam: "No, give me more; I need to address my people in al-Mada'in."
Rib'i: "The Messenger of Allah ﷺ has Sunnah for us that we should not give our ears to the enemies (give them time) or delay them at the encounter for more than three (meaning only three days so they cannot gain strength or regroup). I give you three days; after that, choose Islam and we will leave you alone, or the Jizyah and we will accept and refrain from you—and if you need our help, we will help you, and if you are in no need of our help, we will leave you—or the Al-Manabizah (clash) on the fourth day. I am a guarantor for you on behalf of my people that we will not initiate fighting with you except on the fourth day, unless you start first (meaning: I guarantee that the Muslims will not fight you except on the fourth day)."
Rustam: "Are you their master?" (Meaning: Are you the leader and head of the people so that you can guarantee they will not fight me?)
Rib'i: "No, rather I am a man from the army, but the lowest of us can grant protection on behalf of the highest of us." (He means that even if the lowest man among us gives his word or a promise, the highest of us must fulfill it).
Rustam went back to speak to his entourage again...
Rustam: "Have you seen his logic?! Have you seen his strength?! Have you seen his confidence?!" He addressed his people to persuade them to make peace with the Muslims, thereby avoiding entering into a war with them.
But they refused and persisted...
Then the fighting took place...
The Muslims were victorious, and the Persian state ended.
Brother, is this dialogue authentic or is it fabricated?
Wassalamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh
Answer:
Wa Alaikum Assalam wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh,
O brother, this is the pride ('Izzah) of Islam, its invincibility, and the lack of fear of anyone except Allah, the Strong, the Mighty... This story exists in several sources with variations in some words without changing the general meaning. Among the sources that cited it are:
- History of al-Tabari (3/33-40)
- Al-Bidayah wan-Nihayah by Ibn Kathir (7/46-47)
- History of Ibn Khaldun (2/94-95)
And yes, as stated in these sources: (...The interpreter said to him: "What brought you?" He said: "Allah sent us to bring forth His servants from the narrowness of the world to its vastness, and from the injustice of religions to the justice of Islam. He sent us with His religion to His creation; so whoever accepts it, we accept it from him and leave him and his land. And whoever refuses, we fight him until we reach Paradise or victory." Rustam said: "Can you delay this matter until we look into it?" He said: "Yes, how much do you prefer? One day or two?" He said: "No, but until we write to our people of opinion and the leaders of our people." He said: "The Messenger of Allah ﷺ set a Sunnah for us that we do not give the enemies more than three. So look into your matter and their matter and choose either Islam and we leave you and your land, or the Jizyah and we accept and refrain from you—and if you need us, we will help you—or the Al-Manabizah on the fourth if you choose to discard the peace. I am a guarantor of this on behalf of my companions." Rustam said: "Are you their master?" He said: "No, but the Muslims are like a single body; some of them grant protection on behalf of others; the lowest of them can bind the highest of them...")
And yes, this is the honor of Islam, a victory in this world and the Hereafter.
يَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ذُنُوبَكُمْ وَيُدْخِلْكُمْ جَنَّاتٍ تَجْرِي مِنْ تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُ وَمَسَاكِنَ طَيِّبَةً فِي جَنَّاتِ عَدْنٍ ذَلِكَ الْفَوْزُ الْعَظِيمُ * وَأُخْرَى تُحِبُّونَهَا نَصْرٌ مِنَ اللَّهِ وَفَتْحٌ قَرِيبٌ وَبَشِّرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ
"He will forgive you your sins and admit you to gardens under which rivers flow and pleasant dwellings in gardens of perpetual residence. That is the great attainment. And [He will give] another [favor] which you love - victory from Allah and an imminent conquest; and give good tidings to the believers." (Surah As-Saff [61]: 12-13)
Your brother, Ata bin Khalil Abu al-Rashtah
18 Rajab al-Khair 1443 AH Corresponding to 19/02/2022 CE
Link to the answer from the Ameer's page (may Allah protect him) on Facebook