An-Numan ibn Maqarrin was one of the noble Prophet Mohamed's companions. He was the leader of the tribe of Muzaynah who lived close to Yathrib. He was well known for his wisdom and generosity, and his words had a wondrous effect on the ears of his people. He was also a great and courageous warrior.
While An-Numan ibn Maqarrin was sitting one night among the elders and other member of his tribe, he told them:
"O my people, by God, we have learnt only good about Mohamed, 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?"
He continued saying: "As for myself, 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."
The words of An-Numan persuaded the whole of his tribe to follow him in what he was intending to do. The next day An-Numan's ten brothers and four hundred horsemen of the Muzaynah were all prepared to leave to Yathrib to meet Prophet Mohamed (PBUH), and enter the religion of Islam.
An-Numan was very embarrassed to go to Prophet Mohamed (PBUH) empty handed without carrying any gift for him and the Muslims. But there was not anything he could offer him because the Muzaynah were facing drought this year.
However An-Numan gathered what was left of sheep and goats and he drove them before him and made his way to Madinah. Over there in the presence of Prophet Mohamed (PBUH), he and his fellow tribesmen announced their acceptance of Islam.
The coming of an-Numan and his companions astonished the whole of Madinah. Never before had there been a single family with all eleven brothers embracing Islam at the same time together with four hundred horsemen.
The noble Prophet was very happy and satisfied with what happened. The sincerity of their effort was accepted and commended by God Almighty when He revealed the following words of the Quran to Prophet Mohamed (PBUH):
"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 Prophet Mohamed (PBUH) and participated in every campaign he waged with valor and dedication.
During the time of Abu Bakr, An-Numan and his people played a major role in putting an end to the fitnah of apostasy. At the caliphate of Umar al-Faruq, an-Numan distinguished himself, in particular, in the encounters with the Sasananian Empire.
An-Numan ibn Muqarrin was the head of delegation send to Sasanian Emperor, Yazdagird to invite him to Islam by the commander of the Muslim forces, Sad ibn Abi Waqqas.
When he reached Ctesiphon, the Sasanian capital, the people of the city looked upon him and his followers with curiosity and some disdain and they commented on their simple appearance.
Yazdagird, the King of Sasanian, granted them permission to say what they had to say and 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 answered on behalf of his people and 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."
On hearing that Yazdagird became very angry 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 was defeated in the battle Qadisiyyah. But despite all the 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 the control of Muslim control.
Umar had counseled 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. But Prominent Muslims in Madinah suggested that instead of doing so he should appoint a military commander to confront the grave situation on behalf of him.
Umar then decided that An-Numan ibn Muqarrin al-Muzani is the best one for this mission, so he sent him a letter saying:
"From the servant of God, Umar al-Farouk, 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 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."
On receiving this letter An-Numan responded to the orders of the Amir al-Muminin and gathered the Muslim forces. He dispatched 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 horsemen 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.
When An-Numan was informed of this, he ordered the horsemen to stay at their places and to light fires at nightfall 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 trick worked. When the Persians saw the defeat and dejection of the Muslim army, they sent workers to clear the area of the spikes. The Muslim cavalry gained control of the approaches to the city by capturing these workers.
An-Numan camped on the borders of the city and took the decision of striking the city.
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 followed him. They were outnumbered six to one but inflicted terrible losses on the Persians.
An-Numan was badly hurt during the battle and died. His brother took the standard from his hand, and covered him with a burdah and announced his death to the others and said: "This is your Amir. God has shown him victory and blessed him with martyrdom."
The Persians never recovered themselves after this battle which Muslim historians have called "the Victory of Victories".
When Umar received the news of the death an-Numan ibn Muqarrin, he was so sad to the extent that he placed his head in his hands and began to cry.
Source: beautifuIslam.netWhile An-Numan ibn Maqarrin was sitting one night among the elders and other member of his tribe, he told them:
"O my people, by God, we have learnt only good about Mohamed, 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?"
He continued saying: "As for myself, 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."
The words of An-Numan persuaded the whole of his tribe to follow him in what he was intending to do. The next day An-Numan's ten brothers and four hundred horsemen of the Muzaynah were all prepared to leave to Yathrib to meet Prophet Mohamed (PBUH), and enter the religion of Islam.
An-Numan was very embarrassed to go to Prophet Mohamed (PBUH) empty handed without carrying any gift for him and the Muslims. But there was not anything he could offer him because the Muzaynah were facing drought this year.
However An-Numan gathered what was left of sheep and goats and he drove them before him and made his way to Madinah. Over there in the presence of Prophet Mohamed (PBUH), he and his fellow tribesmen announced their acceptance of Islam.
The coming of an-Numan and his companions astonished the whole of Madinah. Never before had there been a single family with all eleven brothers embracing Islam at the same time together with four hundred horsemen.
The noble Prophet was very happy and satisfied with what happened. The sincerity of their effort was accepted and commended by God Almighty when He revealed the following words of the Quran to Prophet Mohamed (PBUH):
"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 Prophet Mohamed (PBUH) and participated in every campaign he waged with valor and dedication.
During the time of Abu Bakr, An-Numan and his people played a major role in putting an end to the fitnah of apostasy. At the caliphate of Umar al-Faruq, an-Numan distinguished himself, in particular, in the encounters with the Sasananian Empire.
An-Numan ibn Muqarrin was the head of delegation send to Sasanian Emperor, Yazdagird to invite him to Islam by the commander of the Muslim forces, Sad ibn Abi Waqqas.
When he reached Ctesiphon, the Sasanian capital, the people of the city looked upon him and his followers with curiosity and some disdain and they commented on their simple appearance.
Yazdagird, the King of Sasanian, granted them permission to say what they had to say and 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 answered on behalf of his people and 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."
On hearing that Yazdagird became very angry 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 was defeated in the battle Qadisiyyah. But despite all the 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 the control of Muslim control.
Umar had counseled 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. But Prominent Muslims in Madinah suggested that instead of doing so he should appoint a military commander to confront the grave situation on behalf of him.
Umar then decided that An-Numan ibn Muqarrin al-Muzani is the best one for this mission, so he sent him a letter saying:
"From the servant of God, Umar al-Farouk, 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 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."
On receiving this letter An-Numan responded to the orders of the Amir al-Muminin and gathered the Muslim forces. He dispatched 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 horsemen 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.
When An-Numan was informed of this, he ordered the horsemen to stay at their places and to light fires at nightfall 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 trick worked. When the Persians saw the defeat and dejection of the Muslim army, they sent workers to clear the area of the spikes. The Muslim cavalry gained control of the approaches to the city by capturing these workers.
An-Numan camped on the borders of the city and took the decision of striking the city.
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 followed him. They were outnumbered six to one but inflicted terrible losses on the Persians.
An-Numan was badly hurt during the battle and died. His brother took the standard from his hand, and covered him with a burdah and announced his death to the others and said: "This is your Amir. God has shown him victory and blessed him with martyrdom."
The Persians never recovered themselves after this battle which Muslim historians have called "the Victory of Victories".
When Umar received the news of the death an-Numan ibn Muqarrin, he was so sad to the extent that he placed his head in his hands and began to cry.
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