Divine Succour

Seeing the positive aspect of misfortune During the wars in Persia, a band of Muslims visited the Court of the Iranian King, Yazdagird, only to have scorn heaped upon them by the King. “I cannot think of a people who are scantier in number, or more ill fated or disunited than you are. Even our villagers would be a match for you if I handed you over to them.” Mughira ibn Shuabah replied on behalf of the Muslims: “What you say is true. We used to live in a wretched state having no home but the face of the earth. The clothes we wore were fashioned from goat and camel hair. Our religion led us to hate and kill one another. We even used to bury our daughters alive for fear that they might eat away our stocks of food. But then God sent to us one who was well known to us, and who was, indeed, the best of us all. He invited us to follow him, but, at first, only one of us-Abu Bakr-went with him. As for the rest of us we denied him. But, as everything he said came to pass, faith entered our hearts and we followed him. Through His Prophet, God has promised us that whomsoever of our number is slain shall enter heaven, while those who survive shall be granted succour in the face of the enemy.” Incensed, Yazdagird gave orders for a basket full of earth to be perched on the head of the noblest of the Muslims and for them all to be chased away beyond the land of Madain. The Muslim so singled out for humiliation, Asim by name, left the court in this condition and rode on on his camel until he met his Commander, Saad ibn Abi Waqqas. When Saad learned of the degrading treatment to which Asim had been subjected, he said; “Do not be unhappy! Surely God has given us the keys to their land.” * (AL-BIDAYAH WA AL-NIHAYAH) Note: * He meant that the ‘gift’ of earth was a token that the entire land of Iran would yield to the Muslims.