Ushering in the Hamd Culture

Roman and Sassanid empires, the pillars of religious persecution at the time. This was a challenging task. The Companions’ military strength was almost zero compared to the Roman and Sassanid empires. But God sent exceptional help on this occasion: the two empires engaged in internecine warfare and thus entered upon a collision course lasting ten years, considerably weakening them. This point is made in the initial verses of Chapter thirty of the Quran. (30:2-5) Many predictions in the Bible relate to the Companions of the Prophet. One of these concerns was the overthrowing of the Roman and Sassanid empires. The Bible explains these events in symbolic language: “He looked and startled the nations. And the everlasting mountains were scattered.” (Habakkuk, 3:6) During the rule of the second Caliph, Umar ibn alKhattab (634-44 AD), the Companions entered Iran. Rustam, the general of Iran’s army, was overawed by their conquest. Therefore, he invited a delegation to his court for negotiation. During their conversation, Rustam asked one of the Companions, Rib’i ibn Amir, why they had entered their country. Rib’i ibn Amir boldly replied: “God has sent us to bring people back from the worship of men to the worship of God.” (Al-Tabari: Taarikhul Umam wal Muluk, Vol. 3, p. 520) USHERING IN THE HAMD CULTURE