Tarikh (al-Tabari) 1873
The caliphate of ʿUmar b. al-Khaṭṭāb
وَكَانَ خُرُوجُ رُسْتُمَ مِنَ الْمَدَائِنِ فِي سِتِّينَ أَلْفَ مَتْبُوعٍ، وَمَسِيرُهُ عَنْ سَابَاطَ فِي مِائَةِ أَلْفٍ وَعِشْرِينَ أَلْفَ مَتْبُوعٍ، وَقِيلَ غَيْرُ ذَلِكَ. وَلَمَّا فَصَلَ رُسْتُمُ عَنْ سَابَاطَ كَتَبَ إِلَى أَخِيهِ الْبِنْذَوَانِ: أَمَّا بَعْدُ فَرُمُّوا حُصُونَكُمْ وَأَعِدُّوا وَاسْتَعِدُّوا، فَكَأَنَّكُمْ بِالْعَرَبِ قَدْ قَارَعُوكُمْ عَنْ أَرْضِكُمْ وَأَبْنَائِكُمْ، وَقَدْ كَانَ مِنْ رَأْيِي مُدَافَعَتُهُمْ وَمُطَاوَلَتُهُمْ حَتَّى تَعُودَ سُعُودُهُمْ نُحُوسًا، فَإِنَّ السَّمَكَةَ قَدْ كَدَّرَتِ الْمَاءَ، وَإِنَّ النَّعَائِمَ قَدْ حَسُنَتْ، وَالزُّهْرَةُ قَدْ حَسُنَتْ، وَاعْتَدَلَ الْمِيزَانُ، وَذَهَبَ بَهْرَامُ، وَلَا أَرَى هَؤُلَاءِ الْقَوْمَ إِلَّا سَيَظْهَرُونَ عَلَيْنَا، وَيَسْتَوْلُونَ عَلَى مَا يَلِينَا، وَإِنَّ أَشَدَّ مَا رَأَيْتُ أَنَّ الْمَلِكَ قَالَ: لَتَسِيرُنَّ أَوْ لَأَسِيرَنَّ بِنَفْسِي. وَلَقِيَ جَابَانُ رُسْتُمَ عَلَى قَنْطَرَةِ سَابَاطَ، وَكَانَا مُنَجِّمَيْنِ، فَشَكَا إِلَيْهِ وَقَالَ لَهُ: أَلَا تَرَى مَا أَرَى ؟ فَقَالَ لَهُ رُسْتُمُ: أَمَّا أَنَا فَأُقَادُ بِخِشَاشٍ وَزِمَامٍ، وَلَا أَجِدُ بُدًّا مِنَ الِانْقِيَادِ. ثُمَّ سَارَ فَنَزَلَ بِكُوثَى، فَأُتِيَ بِرَجُلٍ مِنَ الْعَرَبِ، فَقَالَ لَهُ: مَا جَاءَ بِكُمْ وَمَاذَا تَطْلُبُونَ ؟ فَقَالَ: جِئْنَا نَطْلُبُ مَوْعُودَ اللَّهِ بِمِلْكِ أَرْضِكُمْ وَأَبْنَائِكُمْ إِنْ أَبَيْتُمْ أَنْ تُسْلِمُوا. قَالَ رُسْتُمُ: فَإِنْ قُتِلْتُمْ قَبْلَ ذَلِكَ ! قَالَ: مَنْ قُتِلَ مِنَّا دَخَلَ الْجَنَّةَ، وَمَنْ بَقِيَ مِنَّا أَنْجَزَهُ اللَّهُ مَا وَعَدَهُ، فَنَحْنُ عَلَى يَقِينٍ. فَقَالَ رُسْتُمُ: قَدْ وَضَعَنَا إِذَنْ فِي أَيْدِيكُمْ ! فَقَالَ: أَعْمَالُكُمْ وَضَعَتْكُمْ فَأَسْلَمَكُمُ اللَّهُ بِهَا، فَلَا يَغُرَنَّكَ مَنْ تَرَى حَوْلَكَ، فَإِنَّكَ لَسْتَ تُجَاوِلُ الْإِنْسَ إِنَّمَا تُجَاوِلُ الْقَدَرَ. فَضَرَبَ عُنُقَهُ، ثُمَّ سَارَ فَنَزَلَ الْبُرْسَ، فَغَصَبَ أَصْحَابُهُ النَّاسَ أَبْنَاءَهُمْ وَأَمْوَالَهُمْ وَوَقَعُوا عَلَى النِّسَاءِ وَشَرِبُوا الْخُمُورَ، فَضَجَّ أَهْلُهَا إِلَى رُسْتُمَ فَقَالَ: يَا مَعْشَرَ فَارِسَ، وَاللَّهِ لَقَدْ صَدَقَ الْعَرَبِيُّ، وَاللَّهِ مَا أَسْلَمَنَا إِلَّا أَعْمَالُنَا، وَاللَّهِ إِنَّ الْعَرَبَ مَعَ هَؤُلَاءِ وَهُمْ لَهُمْ حَرْبٌ أَحْسَنُ سِيرَةً مِنْكُمْ، إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ يَنْصُرُكُمْ عَلَى الْعَدُوِّ وَيُمَكِّنُ لَكْمُ فِي الْبِلَادِ بِحُسْنِ السِّيرَةِ، وَكَفِّ الظُّلْمِ وَالْوَفَاءِ وَالْإِحْسَانِ، فَإِذَا تَغَيَّرْتُمْ فَلَا يُرَى اللَّهُ إِلَّا مُغَيِّرًا مَا بِكُمْ، وَمَا أَنَا بِآمِنٍ مِنْ أَنْ يَنْزِعَ اللَّهُ سُلْطَانَهُ مِنْكُمْ. وَأُتِيَ بِبَعْضِ مَنْ يُشْكَى مِنْهُ فَضَرَبَ عُنُقَهُ. وصول رستم إلى الحيرة ثُمَّ سَارَ حَتَّى نَزَلَ الْحِيرَةَ، وَدَعَا أَهْلَهَا وَتَهَدَّدَهُمْ وَهَمَّ بِهِمْ، فَقَالَ لَهُ ابْنُ بُقَيْلَةَ: لَا تَجْمَعْ عَلَيْنَا أَنْ تَعْجِزَ عَنْ نُصْرَتِنَا، وَتَلُومَنَا عَلَى الدَّفْعِ عَنْ أَنْفُسِنَا. وَلَمَّا نَزَلَ رُسْتُمُ بِالنَّجَفِ رَأَى كَأَنَّ مَلَكًا نَزَلَ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ وَمَعَهُ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ وَعُمَرُ، فَأَخَذَ الْمَلِكُ سِلَاحَ أَهْلِ فَارِسَ فَخَتَمَهُ، ثُمَّ دَفَعَهُ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ ﷺ فَدَفَعَهُ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ إِلَى عُمَرَ، فَأَصْبَحَ رُسْتُمُ حَزِينًا. وَأَرْسَلَ سَعْدٌ السَّرَايَا وَرُسْتُمُ بِالنَّجَفِ، وَالْجَالِينُوسُ بَيْنَ النَّجَفِ وَالسَّيْلَحِينِ، فَطَافَتْ فِي السَّوَادِ، فَبَعَثَ سَوَادًا وَحُمَيْضَةَ فِي مِائَةِ مِائَةٍ، فَأَغَارُوا عَلَى النَّهْرَيْنِ، وَبَلَغَ رُسْتُمَ الْخَبَرُ فَأَرْسَلَ إِلَيْهِمْ خَيْلًا، وَسَمِعَ سَعْدٌ أَنَّ خَيْلَهُ قَدْ وَغَلَتْ فَأَرْسَلَ عَاصِمَ بْنَ عَمْرٍو وَجَابِرًا الْأَسَدِيَّ فِي آثَارِهِمْ، فَلَقِيَهُمْ عَاصِمٌ وَخَيْلُ فَارِسَ تَحُوشُهُمْ لِيُخَلِّصُوا مَا بِأَيْدِيهِمْ، فَلَمَّا رَأَتْهُ الْفُرْسُ هَرَبُوا وَرَجَعَ الْمُسْلِمُونَ بِالْغَنَائِمِ. وَأَرْسَلَ سَعْدٌ عَمْرَو بْنَ مَعْدِي كَرِبَ وَطُلَيْحَةَ الْأَسَدِيَّ طَلِيعَةً، فَسَارَا فِي عَشَرَةٍ، فَلَمْ يَسِيرُوا إِلَّا فَرْسَخًا وَبَعْضَ آخَرَ حَتَّى رَأَوْا مَسَالِحَهُمْ وَسَرْحَهُمْ عَلَى الطُّفُوفِ قَدْ مَلَئُوهَا، فَرَجَعَ عَمْرٌو وَمَنْ مَعَهُ، وَأَبَى طُلَيْحَةُ إِلَّا التَّقَدُّمَ، فَقَالُوا لَهُ: أَنْتَ رَجُلٌ فِي نَفْسِكَ غَدْرٌ، وَلَنْ تُفْلِحَ بَعْدَ قَتْلِ عُكَّاشَةَ بْنِ مِحْصَنٍ، فَارْجِعْ مَعَنَا. فَأَبَى، فَرَجَعُوا إِلَى سَعْدٍ فَأَخْبَرُوهُ بِقُرْبِ الْقَوْمِ. وَمَضَى طُلَيْحَةُ حَتَّى دَخَلَ عَسْكَرَ رُسْتُمَ، وَبَاتَ فِيهِ يَجُوسُهُ وَيَتَوَسَّمُ، فَهَتَكَ أَطْنَابَ بَيْتِ رَجُلٍ عَلَيْهِ وَاقْتَادَ فَرَسَهُ، ثُمَّ هَتَكَ عَلَى آخَرَ بَيْتَهُ وَحَلَّ فَرَسَهُ، ثُمَّ فَعَلَ بِآخَرَ كَذَلِكَ، ثُمَّ خَرَجَ يَعْدُو بِهِ فَرَسُهُ، وَنَذَرَ بِهِ النَّاسُ فَرَكِبُوا فِي طَلَبِهِ، فَأَصْبَحَ وَقَدْ لَحِقَهُ فَارِسٌ مِنَ الْجُنْدِ فَقَتَلَهُ طُلَيْحَةُ، ثُمَّ آخَرُ فَقَتَلَهُ، ثُمَّ لَحِقَ بِهِ ثَالِثٌ فَرَأَى مَصْرَعَ صَاحِبَيْهِ، وَهُمَا ابْنَا عَمِّهِ، فَازْدَادَ حَنَقًا، فَلَحِقَ طُلَيْحَةَ، فَكَرَّ عَلَيْهِ طُلَيْحَةُ وَأَسَرَهُ، وَلَحِقَهُ النَّاسُ، فَرَأَوْا فَارِسَيِ الْجُنْدِ قَدْ قُتِلَا وَأُسِرَ الثَّالِثُ وَقَدْ شَارَفَ طُلَيْحَةُ عَسْكَرَهُ، فَأَحْجَمُوا عَنْهُ، وَدَخَلَ طُلَيْحَةُ عَلَى سَعْدٍ وَمَعَهُ الْفَارِسِيُّ وَأَخْبَرَهُ الْخَبَرَ، فَسَأَلَ التُّرْجُمَانُ الْفَارِسِيَّ، فَطَلَبَ الْأَمَانَ، فَآمَنَهُ سَعْدٌ، قَالَ: أُخْبِرُكُمْ عَنْ صَاحِبِكُمْ هَذَا قَبْلَ أَنْ أُخْبِرَكُمْ عَمَّنْ قِبَلِي، بَاشَرْتُ الْحُرُوبَ مُنْذُ أَنَا غُلَامٌ إِلَى الْآنِ، وَسَمِعْتُ بِالْأَبْطَالِ، وَلَمْ أَسْمَعْ بِمِثْلِ هَذَا، أَنَّ رَجُلًا قَطَعَ فَرْسَخَيْنِ إِلَى عَسْكَرٍ فِيهِ سَبْعُونَ أَلْفًا، يَخْدِمُ الرَّجُلَ مِنْهُمُ الْخَمْسَةُ وَالْعَشَرَةُ، فَلَمْ يَرْضَ أَنْ يَخْرُجَ كَمَا دَخَلَ حَتَّى سَلَبَ فُرْسَانَ الْجُنْدِ، وَهَتَكَ عَلَيْهِمُ الْبُيُوتَ، فَلَمَّا أَدْرَكْنَاهُ قَتَلَ الْأَوَّلَ وَهُوَ يُعَدُّ بِأَلْفِ فَارِسٍ، ثُمَّ الثَّانِي وَهُوَ نَظِيرُهُ، ثُمَّ أَدْرَكْتُهُ أَنَا وَلَا أَظُنُّ أَنَّنِي خَلَّفْتُ مِنْ بَعْدِي مَنْ يَعْدِلُنِي وَأَنَا الثَّائِرُ بِالْقَتِيلَيْنِ، فَرَأَيْتُ الْمَوْتَ وَاسْتُؤْسِرْتُ. ثُمَّ أَخْبَرَهُ عَنِ الْفُرْسِ، وَأَسْلَمَ وَلَزِمَ طُلَيْحَةَ، وَكَانَ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْبَلَاءِ بِالْقَادِسِيَّةِ، وَسَمَّاهُ سَعْدٌ مُسْلِمًا. وصول رستم القادسية ثُمَّ سَارَ رُسْتُمُ وَقَدِمَ الْجَالِينُوسُ وَذَا الْحَاجِبِ، فَنَزَلَ الْجَالِينُوسُ بِحِيَالِ زُهْرَةَ مِنْ دُونِ الْقَنْطَرَةِ، وَنَزَلَ ذُو الْحَاجِبِ بِطِيزَنَابَاذَ، وَنَزَلَ رُسْتُمُ بِالْخَرَّارَةِ، ثُمَّ سَارَ رُسْتُمُ فَنَزَلَ بِالْقَادِسِيَّةِ، وَكَانَ بَيْنَ مَسِيرِهِ مِنَ الْمَدَائِنِ وَوُصُولِهِ الْقَادِسِيَّةَ أَرْبَعَةُ أَشْهُرٍ، لَا يَقْدَمُ رَجَاءَ أَنْ يَضْجَرُوا بِمَكَانِهِمْ فَيَنْصَرِفُوا، وَخَافَ أَنْ يَلْقَى مَا لَقِيَ مَنْ قَبْلَهُ، وَطَاوَلَهُمْ لَوْلَا مَا جَعَلَ الْمَلِكُ يَسْتَعْجِلُهُ وَيُنْهِضُهُ وَيُقَدِّمُهُ، حَتَّى أَقْحَمَهُ. وَكَانَ عُمَرُ قَدْ كَتَبَ إِلَى سَعْدٍ يَأْمُرُهُ بِالصَّبْرِ وَالْمُطَاوَلَةِ أَيْضًا، فَأَعَدَّ لِلْمُطَاوَلَةِ. فَلَمَّا وَصَلَ رُسْتُمُ الْقَادِسِيَّةَ وَقَفَ عَلَى الْعَتِيقِ بِحِيَالِ عَسْكَرِ سَعْدٍ وَنَزَلَ النَّاسُ، فَمَا زَالُوا يَتَلَاحَقُونَ حَتَّى أَعْتَمُوا مِنْ كَثْرَتِهِمْ، وَالْمُسْلِمُونَ مُمْسِكُونَ عَنْهُمْ. وَكَانَ مَعَ رُسْتُمَ ثَلَاثَةٌ وَثَلَاثُونَ فِيلًا، مِنْهَا فِيلُ سَابُورَ الْأَبْيَضُ، وَكَانَتِ الْفِيَلَةُ تَأْلَفُهُ، فَجَعَلَ فِي الْقَلْبِ ثَمَانِيَةَ عَشَرَ فِيلًا، وَفِي الْمُجَنِّبَتَيْنِ خَمْسَةَ عَشَرَ فِيلًا. فَلَمَّا أَصْبَحَ رُسْتُمُ مِنْ تِلْكَ اللَّيْلَةِ رَكِبَ وَسَايَرَ الْعَتِيقَ نَحْوَ خُفَّانَ، حَتَّى أَتَى عَلَى مُنْقَطَعِ عَسْكَرِ الْمُسْلِمِينَ، ثُمَّ صَعِدَ حَتَّى انْتَهَى إِلَى الْقَنْطَرَةِ، فَتَأَمَّلَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ وَوَقَفَ عَلَى مَوْضِعٍ يُشْرِفُ مِنْهُ عَلَيْهِمْ، وَوَقَفَ عَلَى الْقَنْطَرَةِ، وَأَرْسَلَ إِلَى زُهْرَةَ فَوَاقَفَهُ، فَأَرَادَهُ عَلَى أَنْ يُصَالِحَهُ وَيَجْعَلَ لَهُ جُعْلًا عَلَى أَنْ يَنْصَرِفُوا عَنْهُ مِنْ غَيْرِ أَنْ يُصَرِّحَ لَهُ بِذَلِكَ، بَلْ يَقُولُ لَهُ: كُنْتُمْ جِيرَانَنَا، وَكُنَّا نُحْسِنُ إِلَيْكُمْ وَنَحْفَظُكُمْ. وَيُخْبِرُهُ عَنْ صَنِيعِهِمْ مَعَ الْعَرَبِ. فَقَالَ لَهُ زُهْرَةُ: لَيْسَ أَمْرُنَا أَمْرَ أُولَئِكَ، إِنَّنَا لَمْ نَأْتِكُمْ لِطَلَبِ الدُّنْيَا، إِنَّمَا طَلِبَتُنَا وَهِمَّتُنَا الْآخِرَةُ، وَقَدْ كُنَّا كَمَا ذَكَرْتَ إِلَى أَنْ بَعَثَ اللَّهُ فِينَا رَسُولًا، فَدَعَانَا إِلَى رَبِّهِ، فَأَجَبْنَاهُ، فَقَالَ لِرَسُولِهِ: إِنِّي سَلَّطْتُ هَذِهِ الطَّائِفَةَ عَلَى مَنْ لَمْ يَدِنْ بِدِينِي، فَأَنَا مُنْتَقِمٌ بِهِ مِنْهُمْ، وَأَجْعَلُ لَهُمُ الْغَلَبَةَ مَا دَامُوا مُقِرِّينَ بِهِ، وَهُوَ دِينُ الْحَقِّ لَا يَرْغَبُ عَنْهُ أَحَدٌ إِلَّا ذَلَّ، وَلَا يَعْتَصِمُ بِهِ أَحَدٌ إِلَّا عَزَّ. فَقَالَ لَهُ رُسْتُمُ: مَا هُوَ ؟ قَالَ: أَمَّا عَمُودُهُ الَّذِي لَا يَصْلُحُ إِلَّا بِهِ فَشَهَادَةُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَأَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ. قَالَ: وَأَيُّ شَيْءٍ أَيْضًا ؟ قَالَ: وَإِخْرَاجُ الْعِبَادِ مِنْ عِبَادَةِ الْعِبَادِ إِلَى عِبَادَةِ اللَّهِ، وَالنَّاسُ بَنُو آدَمَ وَحَوَّاءَ إِخْوَةٌ لِأَبٍ وَأُمٍّ. قَالَ: مَا أَحْسَنَ هَذَا ! ثُمَّ قَالَ رُسْتُمُ: أَرَأَيْتَ إِنْ أَجَبْتُ إِلَى هَذَا وَمَعِي قَوْمِي، كَيْفَ يَكُونُ أَمْرُكُمْ، أَتَرْجِعُونَ ؟ قَالَ: إِي وَاللَّهِ. قَالَ: صَدَقْتَنِي، أَمَّا إِنَّ أَهْلَ فَارِسَ مُنْذُ وَلِيَ أَرْدَشِيرُ لَمْ يَدَعُوا أَحَدًا يَخْرُجُ مِنْ عَمَلِهِ مِنَ السِّفْلَةِ، كَانُوا يَقُولُونَ: إِذَا خَرَجُوا مِنْ أَعْمَالِهِمْ تَعَدُّوا طَوْرَهُمْ وَعَادُوا أَشْرَافَهُمْ. فَقَالَ زُهْرَةُ: نَحْنُ خَيْرُ النَّاسِ لِلنَّاسِ، فَلَا نَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ نَكُونَ كَمَا تَقُولُونَ، بَلْ نُطِيعُ اللَّهَ فِي السِّفْلَةِ، وَلَا يَضُرُّنَا مَنْ عَصَى اللَّهَ فِينَا. فَانْصَرَفَ عَنْهُ وَدَعَا رِجَالَ فَارِسَ فَذَاكَرَهُمْ هَذَا فَأَنِفُوا. لقاء ربعي بن عامر ؓ برستم فَأَرْسَلَ إِلَى سَعْدٍ: أَنِ ابْعَثْ إِلَيْنَا رَجُلًا نُكَلِّمُهُ وَيُكَلِّمُنَا. فَدَعَا سَعْدٌ جَمَاعَةً لِيُرْسِلَهُمْ إِلَيْهِمْ. فَقَالَ لَهُ رِبْعِيُّ بْنُ عَامِرٍ: مَتَى نَأْتِهِمْ جَمِيعًا يَرَوْا أَنَا قَدِ احْتَفَلْنَا بِهِمْ، فَلَا تَزِدْهُمْ عَلَى رَجُلٍ. فَأَرْسَلَهُ وَحْدَهُ، فَسَارَ إِلَيْهِمْ، فَحَبَسُوهُ عَلَى الْقَنْطَرَةِ. وَأُعْلِمَ رُسْتُمُ بِمَجِيئِهِ فَأَظْهَرَ زِينَتَهُ، وَجَلَسَ عَلَى سَرِيرٍ مِنْ ذَهَبٍ، وَبَسَطَ الْبُسُطَ وَالنَّمَارِقَ وَالْوَسَائِدَ الْمَنْسُوجَةَ بِالذَّهَبِ، وَأَقْبَلَ رِبْعِيٌّ عَلَى فَرَسِهِ وَسَيْفُهُ فِي خِرْقَةٍ، وَرُمْحُهُ مَشْدُودٌ بِعَصَبٍ وَقَدٍّ، فَلَمَّا انْتَهَى إِلَى الْبُسُطِ قِيلَ لَهُ: انْزِلْ، فَحَمَلَ فَرَسَهُ عَلَيْهَا وَنَزَلَ، وَرَبَطَهَا بِوِسَادَتَيْنِ شَقَّهُمَا، وَأَدْخَلَ الْحَبْلَ فِيهِمَا، فَلَمْ يَنْهَوْهُ وَأَرَوْهُ التَّهَاوُنَ، وَعَلَيْهِ دِرْعٌ، وَأَخَذَ عَبَاءَةَ بِعِيرِهِ فَتَدَرَّعَهَا وَشَدَّهَا عَلَى وَسَطِهِ. فَقَالُوا: ضَعْ سِلَاحَكَ. فَقَالَ: لَمْ آتِكُمْ فَأَضَعَ سِلَاحِي بِأَمْرِكُمْ، أَنْتُمْ دَعَوْتُمُونِي. فَأَخْبَرُوا رُسْتُمَ، فَقَالَ: ائْذَنُوا لَهُ. فَأَقْبَلَ يَتَوَكَّأُ عَلَى رُمْحِهِ وَيُقَارِبُ خَطْوَهُ، فَلَمْ يَدْعُ لَهُمْ نُمْرُقًا وَلَا بِسَاطًا إِلَّا أَفْسَدَهُ وَهَتَكَهُ، فَلَمَّا دَنَا مِنْ رُسْتُمَ جَلَسَ عَلَى الْأَرْضِ، وَرَكَّزَ رُمْحَهُ عَلَى الْبُسُطِ، فَقِيلَ لَهُ: مَا حَمَلَكَ عَلَى هَذَا ؟ قَالَ: إِنَّا لَا نَسْتَحِبُّ الْقُعُودَ عَلَى زِينَتِكُمْ. فَقَالَ لَهُ تُرْجُمَانُ رُسْتُمَ، وَاسْمُهُ عَبُودٌ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْحِيرَةِ: مَا جَاءَ بِكُمْ ؟ قَالَ: اللَّهُ جَاءَ بِنَا، وَهُوَ بَعَثَنَا لِنُخْرِجَ مَنْ يَشَاءُ مِنْ عِبَادِهِ مِنْ ضِيقِ الدُّنْيَا إِلَى سِعَتِهَا، وَمِنْ جَوْرِ الْأَدْيَانِ إِلَى عَدْلِ الْإِسْلَامِ، فَأَرْسَلَنَا بِدِينِهِ إِلَى خَلْقِهِ، فَمَنْ قَبِلَهُ قَبِلْنَا مِنْهُ، وَرَجَعْنَا عَنْهُ وَتَرَكْنَاهُ وَأَرْضَهُ دُونَنَا، وَمَنْ أَبَى قَاتَلْنَاهُ حَتَّى نُفْضِيَ إِلَى مَوْعُودِ اللَّهِ. قَالَ: وَمَا [هُوَ] مَوْعُودُ اللَّهِ؟ قَالَ: الْجَنَّةُ لِمَنْ مَاتَ عَلَى قِتَالِ مَنْ أَبَى، وَالظَّفَرُ لِمَنْ بَقِيَ. فَقَالَ رُسْتُمُ: قَدْ سَمِعْنَا قَوْلَكُمْ، فَهَلْ لَكُمْ أَنْ تُؤَخِّرُوا هَذَا الْأَمْرَ حَتَّى نَنْظُرَ فِيهِ ؟ قَالَ: نَعَمْ، وَإِنَّ مِمَّا سَنَّ لَنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَنْ لَا نُمَكِّنَ الْأَعْدَاءَ أَكْثَرَ مِنْ ثَلَاثٍ، فَنَحْنُ مُتَرَدِّدُونَ عَنْكُمْ ثَلَاثًا، فَانْظُرْ فِي أَمْرِكَ، وَاخْتَرْ وَاحِدَةً مِنْ ثَلَاثٍ بَعْدَ الْأَجَلِ: إِمَّا الْإِسْلَامُ وَنَدَعَكَ وَأَرْضَكَ، أَوِ الْجَزَاءُ فَنَقْبَلُ وَنَكُفُّ عَنْكَ، وَإِنِ احْتَجْتَ إِلَيْنَا نَصَرْنَاكَ، أَوِ الْمُنَابَذَةُ فِي الْيَوْمِ الرَّابِعِ، إِلَّا أَنْ تَبْدَأَ بِنَا، أَنَا كَفِيلٌ بِذَلِكَ عَنْ أَصْحَابِي. قَالَ أَسَيِّدُهُمْ أَنْتَ ؟ قَالَ: لَا، وَلَكِنَّ الْمُسْلِمِينَ كَالْجَسَدِ الْوَاحِدِ، بَعْضُهُمْ مِنْ بَعْضٍ، يُجِيرُ أَدْنَاهُمْ عَلَى أَعْلَاهُمْ. فَخَلَا رَسْتُمُ بِرُؤَسَاءِ قَوْمِهِ فَقَالَ: هَلْ رَأَيْتُمْ كَلَامًا قَطُّ أَعَزَّ وَأَوْضَحَ مِنْ كَلَامِ هَذَا الرَّجُلِ ؟ فَقَالُوا: مَعَاذَ اللَّهِ أَنْ نَمِيلَ إِلَى دِينِ هَذَا الْكَلْبِ ! أَمَا تَرَى إِلَى ثِيَابِهِ ؟ فَقَالَ: وَيْحَكُمْ ! لَا تَنْظُرُوا إِلَى الثِّيَابِ، وَلَكِنِ انْظُرُوا إِلَى الرَّأْيِ وَالْكَلَامِ وَالسِّيرَةِ، إِنَّ الْعَرَبَ تَسْتَخِفُّ بِاللِّبَاسِ وَتَصُونُ الْأَحْسَابَ، لَيْسُوا مِثْلَكُمْ. لقاء حذيفة بن محصن ؓ برستم فَلَمَّا كَانَ مِنَ الْغَدِ أَرْسَلَ رُسْتُمُ إِلَى سَعْدٍ: أَنِ ابْعَثْ إِلَيْنَا ذَلِكَ الرَّجُلَ. فَبَعَثَ إِلَيْهِمْ حَذِيفَةَ بْنَ مِحْصَنٍ، فَأَقْبَلَ فِي نَحْوٍ مِنْ ذَلِكَ الزِّيِّ، وَلَمْ يَنْزِلْ عَنْ فَرَسِهِ، وَوَقَفَ عَلَى رُسْتُمَ رَاكِبًا. قَالَ لَهُ: انْزِلْ. قَالَ: لَا أَفْعَلُ. فَقَالَ لَهُ: مَا جَاءَ بِكَ وَلَمْ يَجِئِ الْأَوَّلُ ؟ قَالَ لَهُ: إِنَّ أَمِيرَنَا يُحِبُّ أَنْ يَعْدِلَ بَيْنَنَا فِي الشِّدَّةِ وَالرَّخَاءِ، وَهَذِهِ نَوْبَتِي. فَقَالَ: مَا جَاءَ بِكُمْ ؟ فَأَجَابَهُ مِثْلَ الْأَوَّلِ. فَقَالَ رُسْتُمُ: أَوِ الْمُوَادَعَةُ إِلَى يَوْمٍ مَا ؟ قَالَ: نَعَمْ، ثَلَاثًا مِنْ أَمْسِ. فَرَدَّهُ وَأَقْبَلَ عَلَى أَصْحَابِهِ وَقَالَ: وَيْحَكُمْ ! أَمَا تَرَوْنَ مَا أَرَى ؟ جَاءَنَا الْأَوَّلُ بِالْأَمْسِ فَغَلَبَنَا عَلَى أَرْضِنَا، وَحَقَّرَ مَا نُعَظِّمُ وَأَقَامَ فَرَسَهُ عَلَى زِبْرِجِنَا، وَجَاءَ هَذَا الْيَوْمَ فَوَقَفَ عَلَيْنَا وَهُوَ فِي يُمْنِ الطَّائِرِ، يَقُومُ عَلَى أَرْضِنَا دُونَنَا. لقاء المغيرة بن شعبة ؓ برستم فَلَمَّا كَانَ الْغَدُ أَرْسَلَ: ابْعَثُوا إِلَيْنَا رَجُلًا. فَبَعَثَ الْمُغِيرَةَ بْنَ شُعْبَةَ، فَأَقْبَلَ إِلَيْهِمْ وَعَلَيْهِمُ التِّيجَانُ وَالثِّيَابُ الْمَنْسُوجَةُ بِالذَّهَبِ، وَبُسُطُهُمْ عَلَى غُلْوَةٍ، لَا يُوصَلُ إِلَى صَاحِبِهِمْ حَتَّى يُمْشَى عَلَيْهَا، فَأَقْبَلَ الْمُغِيرَةُ حَتَّى جَلَسَ مَعَ رُسْتُمَ عَلَى سَرِيرِهِ، فَوَثَبُوا عَلَيْهِ وَأَنْزَلُوهُ وَمَعَكُوهُ، وَقَالَ: قَدْ كَانَتْ تَبْلُغُنَا عَنْكُمُ الْأَحْلَامُ، وَلَا أَرَى قَوْمًا أَسْفَهَ مِنْكُمْ، إِنَّا مَعْشَرَ الْعَرَبِ لَا نَسْتَعْبِدُ بَعْضَنَا بَعْضًا، فَظَنَنْتُ أَنَّكُمْ تُوَاسُونَ قَوْمَكُمْ كَمَا نَتَوَاسَى، فَكَانَ أَحْسَنَ مِنَ الَّذِي صَنَعْتُمْ أَنْ تُخْبِرُونِي أَنَّ بَعْضَكُمْ أَرْبَابُ بَعْضٍ، فَإِنَّ هَذَا الْأَمْرَ لَا يَسْتَقِيمُ فِيكُمْ وَلَا يَصْنَعُهُ أَحَدٌ، وَإِنِّي لَمْ آتِكُمْ وَلَكِنْ دَعَوْتُمُونِي، الْيَوْمَ عَلِمْتُ أَنَّكُمْ مُغَلَّبُونَ، وَأَنَّ مُلْكًا لَا يَقُومُ عَلَى هَذِهِ السِّيرَةِ وَلَا عَلَى هَذِهِ الْعُقُولِ. فَقَالَتِ السِّفْلَةُ: صَدَقَ وَاللَّهِ الْعَرَبِيُّ. وَقَالَتِ الدَّهَاقِينُ: وَاللَّهِ لَقَدْ رَمَى بِكَلَامٍ لَا تَزَالُ عَبِيدُنَا يَنْزِعُونَ إِلَيْهِ، قَاتَلَ اللَّهُ أَوَّلِينَا حِينَ كَانُوا يُصَغِّرُونَ أَمْرَ هَذِهِ الْأُمَّةِ ! ثُمَّ تَكَلَّمَ رُسْتُمُ فَحَمِدَ قَوْمَهُ وَعَظَّمَ أَمْرَهُمْ وَقَالَ: لَمْ نَزَلْ مُتَمَكِّنِينَ فِي الْبِلَادِ، ظَاهِرِينَ عَلَى الْأَعْدَاءِ، أَشْرَافًا فِي الْأُمَمِ، فَلَيْسَ لِأَحَدٍ مِثْلُ عِزِّنَا وَسُلْطَانِنَا، نُنْصَرُ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا يُنْصَرُونَ عَلَيْنَا، إِلَّا الْيَوْمَ وَالْيَوْمَيْنِ وَالشَّهْرَ لِلذُّنُوبِ، فَإِذَا انْتَقَمَ اللَّهُ مِنَّا وَرَضِيَ عَلَيْنَا رَدَّ لَنَا الْكَرَّةَ عَلَى عَدُوِّنَا، وَلَمْ يَكُنْ فِي الْأُمَمِ أُمَّةٌ أَصْغَرَ عِنْدَنَا أَمْرًا مِنْكُمْ، كُنْتُمْ أَهْلَ قَشَفٍ وَمَعِيشَةٍ سَيِّئَةٍ لَا نَرَاكُمْ شَيْئًا، وَكُنْتُمْ تَقْصِدُونَنَا إِذَا قَحَطَتْ بِلَادُكُمْ، فَنَأْمُرُ لَكُمْ بِشَيْءٍ مِنَ التَّمْرِ وَالشَّعِيرِ ثُمَّ نَرُدُّكُمْ، وَقَدْ عَلِمْتُ أَنَّهُ لَمْ يَحْمِلْكُمْ عَلَى مَا صَنَعْتُمْ إِلَّا الْجُهْدُ فِي بِلَادِكُمْ، فَأَنَا آمِرٌ لِأَمِيرِكُمْ بِكُسْوَةٍ وَبَغْلٍ وَأَلْفِ دِرْهَمٍ، وَآمِرٌ لِكُلٍّ مِنْكُمْ بِوِقْرِ تَمْرٍ وَتَنْصَرِفُونَ عَنَّا، فَإِنِّي أَشْتَهِي أَنْ أَقْتُلَكُمْ. فَتَكَلَّمَ الْمُغِيرَةُ فَحَمِدَ اللَّهَ وَأَثْنَى عَلَيْهِ، وَقَالَ: إِنَّ اللَّهَ خَالِقُ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ وَرَازِقُهُ، فَمَنْ صَنَعَ شَيْئًا فَإِنَّمَا هُوَ يَصْنَعُهُ، وَأَمَّا الَّذِي ذَكَرْتَ بِهِ نَفْسَكَ وَأَهْلَ بِلَادِكَ فَنَحْنُ نَعْرِفُهُ، فَاللَّهُ صَنَعَهُ بِكُمْ وَوَضَعَهُ فِيكُمْ، وَهُوَ لَهُ دُونَكُمْ، وَأَمَّا الَّذِي ذَكَرْتَ فِينَا مِنْ سُوءِ الْحَالِ وَالضِّيقِ وَالِاخْتِلَافِ فَنَحْنُ نَعْرِفُهُ وَلَسْنَا نُنْكِرُهُ، وَاللَّهُ ابْتَلَانَا بِهِ وَالدُّنْيَا دُوَلٌ، وَلَمْ يَزَلْ أَهْلُ الشَّدَائِدِ يَتَوَقَّعُونَ الرَّخَاءَ حَتَّى يَصِيرُوا إِلَيْهِ، وَلَمْ يَزَلْ أَهْلُ الرَّخَاءِ يَتَوَقَّعُونَ الشَّدَائِدَ حَتَّى تَنْزِلَ بِهِمْ، وَلَوْ شَكَرْتُمْ مَا آتَاكُمُ اللَّهُ لَكَانَ شُكْرُكُمْ يُقَصِّرُ عَمَّا أُوتِيتُمْ، وَأَسْلَمَكُمْ ضُعْفُ الشُّكْرِ إِلَى تَغَيُّرِ الْحَالِ، وَلَوْ كُنَّا فِيمَا ابْتُلِينَا بِهِ أَهْلَ كُفْرٍ لَكَانَ عَظِيمُ مَا ابْتُلِينَا بِهِ مُسْتَجْلِبًا مِنَ اللَّهِ رَحْمَةً يُرَفِّهُ بِهَا عَنَّا، إِنَّ اللَّهَ - تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى - بَعَثَ فِينَا رَسُولًا. ثُمَّ ذَكَرَ مِثْلَ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِنْ ذِكْرِ الْإِسْلَامِ وَالْجِزْيَةِ وَالْقِتَالِ، وَقَالَ لَهُ: وَإِنَّ عِيَالَنَا قَدْ ذَاقُوا طَعَامَ بِلَادِكُمْ، فَقَالُوا: لَا صَبْرَ لَنَا عَنْهُ. فَقَالَ رُسْتُمُ: إِذًا تَمُوتُونَ دُونَهَا. فَقَالَ الْمُغِيرَةُ: يَدْخُلُ مَنْ قُتِلَ مِنَّا الْجَنَّةَ وَمَنْ قُتِلَ مِنْكُمُ النَّارَ، وَيَظْفَرُ مَنْ بَقِيَ مِنَّا بِمَنْ بَقِيَ مِنْكُمْ. فَاسْتَشَاطَ رُسْتُمُ غَضَبًا ثُمَّ حَلَفَ أَنْ لَا يَرْتَفِعَ الصُّبْحُ غَدًا حَتَّى نَقْتُلَكُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ. وَانْصَرَفَ الْمُغِيرَةُ وَخَلَصَ رُسْتُمُ بِأَهْلِ فَارِسَ وَقَالَ: أَيْنَ هَؤُلَاءِ مِنْكُمْ ! هَؤُلَاءِ وَاللَّهِ الرِّجَالُ، صَادِقِينَ كَانُوا أَمْ كَاذِبِينَ، وَاللَّهِ لَئِنْ كَانَ بَلَغَ مِنْ عَقْلِهِمْ وَصَوْنِهِمْ لِسِرِّهِمْ أَنْ لَا يَخْتَلِفُوا، فَمَا قَوْمٌ أَبْلَغَ لِمَا أَرَادُوا مِنْهُمْ، وَلَئِنْ كَانُوا صَادِقِينَ فَمَا يَقُومُ لِهَؤُلَاءِ شَيْءٌ ! فَلُجُّوا وَتَجَلَّدُوا. فَأَرْسَلَ رُسْتُمُ مَعَ الْمُغِيرَةِ وَقَالَ لَهُ: إِذَا قَطَعَ الْقَنْطَرَةَ فَأَعْلِمْهُ أَنَّ عَيْنَهُ تُفْقَأُ غَدًا، فَأَعْلَمَهُ الرَّسُولُ ذَلِكَ: فَقَالَ الْمُغِيرَةُ: بَشَّرْتَنِي بِخَيْرٍ وَأَجْرٍ، وَلَوْلَا أَنْ أُجَاهِدَ بَعْدَ هَذَا الْيَوْمِ أَشْبَاهَكُمْ مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ لَتَمَنَّيْتُ أَنَّ الْأُخْرَى ذَهَبَتْ. فَرَجَعَ إِلَى رُسْتُمَ فَأَخْبَرَهُ. فَقَالَ: أَطِيعُونِي يَا أَهْلَ فَارِسَ، إِنِّي لَأَرَى لِلَّهِ فِيكُمْ نِقْمَةً لَا تَسْتَطِيعُونَ رَدَّهَا. ثُمَّ أَرْسَلَ إِلَيْهِ سَعْدٌ بَقِيَّةَ ذَوِي الرَّأْيِ فَسَارُوا، وَكَانُوا ثَلَاثَةً، إِلَى رُسْتُمَ فَقَالُوا لَهُ: إِنَّ أَمِيرَنَا يَدْعُوكَ إِلَى مَا هُوَ خَيْرٌ لَنَا وَلَكَ، الْعَافِيَةُ أَنْ تَقْبَلَ مَا دَعَاكَ اللَّهُ إِلَيْهِ، وَنَرْجِعُ إِلَى أَرْضِنَا، وَتَرْجِعُ إِلَى أَرْضِكَ، وَدَارُكُمْ لَكُمْ وَأَمْرُكُمْ فِيكُمْ، وَمَا أَصَبْتُمْ كَانَ زِيَادَةً لَكُمْ دُونَنَا، وَكُنَّا عَوْنًا لَكُمْ عَلَى أَحَدٍ إِنْ أَرَادَكُمْ، فَاتَّقِ اللَّهَ وَلَا يَكُونَنَّ هَلَاكُ قَوْمِكَ عَلَى يَدِكَ، وَلَيْسَ بَيْنَكَ وَبَيْنَ أَنْ تُغْبَطَ بِهَذَا الْأَمْرِ إِلَّا أَنْ تَدْخُلَ فِيهِ، وَتَطْرُدَ بِهِ الشَّيْطَانَ عَنْكَ. فَقَالَ لَهُمْ: إِنَّ الْأَمْثَالَ أَوْضَحُ مِنْ كَثِيرٍ مِنَ الْكَلَامِ، إِنَّكُمْ كُنْتُمْ أَهْلَ جَهْدٍ وَقَشَفٍ لَا تَنْتَصِفُونَ وَلَا تَمْتَنِعُونَ فَلَمْ نُسِئْ جِوَارَكُمْ، وَكُنَّا نَمِيرُكُمْ وَنُحْسِنُ إِلَيْكُمْ، فَلَمَّا طَعِمْتُمْ طَعَامَنَا وَشَرِبْتُمْ شَرَابَنَا وَصَفْتُمْ لِقَوْمِكُمْ ذَلِكَ، وَدَعَوْتُمُوهُمْ ثُمَّ أَتَيْتُمُونَا، وَإِنَّمَا مَثَلُكُمْ وَمَثَلُنَا كَمَثَلِ رَجُلٍ كَانَ لَهُ كَرْمٌ فَرَأَى فِيهِ ثَعْلَبًا، فَقَالَ: وَمَا ثَعْلَبٌ ! فَانْطَلَقَ الثَّعْلَبُ، فَدَعَا الثَّعَالِبَ إِلَى ذَلِكَ الْكَرْمِ، فَلَمَّا اجْتَمَعُوا إِلَيْهِ سَدَّ صَاحِبُ الْكَرْمِ النَّقْبَ الَّذِي كُنَّ يَدْخُلْنَ مِنْهُ فَقَتَلَهُنَّ ; فَقَدْ عَلِمْتُ أَنَّ الَّذِي حَمَلَكُمْ عَلَى هَذَا: الْحِرْصُ وَالْجَهْدُ، فَارْجِعُوا وَنَحْنُ نَمِيرُكُمْ، فَإِنِّي لَا أَشْتَهِي أَنْ أَقْتُلَكُمْ، وَمَثَلُكُمْ أَيْضًا كَالذُّبَابِ يَرَى الْعَسَلَ فَيَقُولُ: مَنْ يُوصِلُنِي إِلَيْهِ وَلَهُ دِرْهَمَانِ ؟ فَإِذَا دَخَلَهُ غَرِقَ وَنَشِبَ، فَيَقُولُ: مَنْ يُخْرِجُنِي وَلَهُ أَرْبَعَةُ دَرَاهِمَ ؟ وَقَالَ أَيْضًا: إِنَّ رَجُلًا وَضَعَ سَلَّةً وَجَعَلَ طَعَامًا فِيهَا، فَأَتَى الْجُرْذَانُ فَخَرَقْنَ السَّلَّةَ، فَدَخَلْنَ فِيهَا، فَأَرَادَ سَدَّهَا فَقِيلَ لَهُ: لَا تَفْعَلْ إِذَنْ يَخْرِقْنَهُ، لَكِنِ انْقُبْ بِحِيَالِهِ، ثُمَّ اجْعَلْ ( فِيهَا ) قَصَبَةً مُجَوَّفَةً، فَإِذَا دَخَلَهَا الْجُرْذَانُ وَخَرَجْنَ مِنْهَا فَاقْتُلْ كُلَّ مَا خَرَجَ مِنْهَا، وَقَدْ سَدَدْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ ( فَإِيَّاكُمْ ) أَنْ تَقْتَحِمُوا الْقَصَبَةَ فَلَا يَخْرُجُ مِنْهَا أَحَدٌ إِلَّا قُتِلَ، فَمَا دَعَاكُمْ إِلَى مَا صَنَعْتُمْ وَلَا أَرَى عَدَدًا وَلَا عُدَّةً !. قَالَ: فَتَكَلَّمَ الْقَوْمُ، وَذَكَرُوا سُوءَ حَالِهِمْ، وَمَا مَنَّ اللَّهُ بِهِ عَلَيْهِمْ مِنْ إِرْسَالِ رَسُولِهِ، وَاخْتِلَافِهِمْ أَوَّلًا، ثُمَّ اجْتِمَاعِهِمْ عَلَى الْإِسْلَامِ، وَمَا أَمَرَهُمْ بِهِ مِنَ الْجِهَادِ، وَقَالُوا: وَأَمَّا مَا ضَرَبْتَ لَنَا مِنَ الْأَمْثَالِ فَلَيْسَ كَذَلِكَ، وَلَكِنْ إِنَّمَا مَثَلُكُمْ كَمَثَلِ رَجُلٍ غَرَسَ أَرْضًا وَاخْتَارَ لَهَا الشَّجَرَ، وَأَجْرَى إِلَيْهَا الْأَنْهَارَ، وَزَيَّنَهَا بِالْقُصُورِ، وَأَقَامَ فِيهَا فَلَّاحِينَ يَسْكُنُونَ قُصُورَهَا وَيَقُومُونَ عَلَى جِنَانِهَا، فَخَلَا الْفَلَّاحُونَ فِي الْقُصُورِ عَلَى مَا لَا يُحِبُّ، فَأَطَالَ إِمْهَالَهُمْ فَلَمْ يَسْتَحْيُوا، فَدَعَا إِلَيْهَا غَيْرَهُمْ وَأَخْرَجَهُمْ مِنْهَا، فَإِنْ ذَهَبُوا عَنْهَا تَخَطَّفَهُمُ النَّاسُ وَإِنْ أَقَامُوا فِيهَا صَارُوا خَوَلًا لِهَؤُلَاءِ فَيَسُومُونَهُمُ الْخَسْفَ أَبَدًا ; وَاللَّهِ لَوْ لَمْ يَكُنْ مَا نَقُولُ حَقًّا، وَلَمْ يَكُنْ إِلَّا الدُّنْيَا، لَمَا صَبَرْنَا عَنِ الَّذِي نَحْنُ فِيهِ مِنْ لَذِيذِ عَيْشِكُمْ، وَرَأَيْنَا مَنْ بُزُرْجُكُمْ، وَلَقَارَعْنَاكُمْ عَلَيْهِ !. فَقَالَ رُسْتُمُ: أَتَعْبُرُونَ إِلَيْنَا أَمْ نَعْبُرُ إِلَيْكُمْ ؟ فَقَالُوا: بَلِ اعْبُرُوا إِلَيْنَا. وَرَجَعُوا مِنْ عِنْدِهِ عَشِيًّا، وَأَرْسَلَ سَعْدٌ إِلَى النَّاسِ أَنْ يَقِفُوا مَوَاقِفَهُمْ، وَأَرْسَلَ إِلَيْهِمْ: شَأْنُكَمْ وَالْعُبُورَ، فَأَرَادُوا الْقَنْطَرَةَ فَقَالَ: لَا وَلَا كَرَامَةَ ! أَمَّا شَيْءٌ غَلَبْنَاكُمْ عَلَيْهِ فَلَنْ نَرُدَّهُ عَلَيْكُمْ. فَبَاتُوا يُسَكِّرُونَ الْعَتِيقَ حَتَّى الصَّبَاحِ بِالتُّرَابِ وَالْقَصَبِ وَالْبَرَاذِعِ حَتَّى جَعَلُوهُ طَرِيقًا، وَاسْتَتَمَّ بَعْدَمَا ارْتَفَعَ النَّهَارُ. وَرَأَى رُسْتُمُ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ كَأَنَّ مَلَكًا نَزَلَ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ، فَأَخَذَ قِسِيَّ أَصْحَابِهِ، فَخَتَمَ عَلَيْهَا، ثُمَّ صَعِدَ بِهَا إِلَى السَّمَاءِ، فَاسْتَيْقَظَ مَهْمُومًا وَاسْتَدْعَى خَاصَّتَهُ، فَقَصَّهَا عَلَيْهِمْ وَقَالَ: إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَيَعِظُنَا لَوِ اتَّعَظْنَا. وَلَمَّا رَكِبَ رُسْتُمُ لِيَعْبُرَ كَانَ عَلَيْهِ دِرْعَانِ وَمِغْفَرٌ، وَأَخَذَ سِلَاحَهُ وَوَثَبَ، فَإِذَا هُوَ عَلَى فَرَسِهِ لَمْ يَضَعْ رِجْلَهُ فِي الرِّكَابِ، وَقَالَ: غَدًا نَدُقُّهُمْ دَقًّا ! فَقَالَ لَهُ رَجُلٌ: إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ. فَقَالَ: وَإِنْ لَمْ يَشَأْ ! ثُمَّ قَالَ: إِنَّمَا ضَغَا الثَّعْلَبُ حِينَ مَاتَ الْأَسَدُ - يَعْنِي كِسْرَى - وَإِنِّي أَخْشَى أَنْ تَكُونَ هَذِهِ سُنَّةَ الْقُرُودِ ! فَإِنَّمَا قَالَ هَذِهِ الْأَشْيَاءَ تَوْهِينًا لِلْمُسْلِمِينَ عِنْدَ الْفُرْسِ، وَإِلَّا فَالْمَشْهُورُ عَنْهُ الْخَوْفُ مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ، وَقَدْ أَظْهَرَ ذَلِكَ إِلَى مَنْ يَثِقُ بِهِ.
Translation
✧ Rustum's departure from al-Madāʾin was with sixty thousand followers, and his march from Sābāṭ was with one hundred and twenty thousand followers. It was also said otherwise. When Rustum set out from Sābāṭ, he wrote to his brother al-Bindhawān: To proceed: repair your fortresses, prepare, and be ready. It is as if you see the Arabs already contending with you for your land and your children. It was my opinion to resist them and prolong matters until their fortunes turn to misfortune, for the fish has muddied the water, the ostriches have become favorable, Venus has become favorable, the Balance is upright, and Bahrām has departed. I do not think these people will do anything but prevail over us and seize what is near us. The strongest thing I have seen is that the king said: You will march, or I will march myself. Jābān met Rustum at the bridge of Sābāṭ, and they were two astrologers. He complained to him and said to him: Do you not see what I see? Rustum said to him: As for me, I am led by a nose-ring and a rein, and I find no alternative to compliance. Then he marched and encamped at Kūthā. An Arab man was brought to him, and he said to him: What has brought you, and what do you seek? He said: We have come seeking God's promise of possession of your land and your children if you refuse to submit. Rustum said: What if you are killed before that? He said: Whoever of us is killed enters Paradise, and whoever of us remains, God will fulfill for him what He promised. So we are certain. Rustum said: Then He has placed us in your hands! He said: Your deeds have placed you, and God has delivered you by them. Do not let those you see around you deceive you, for you are not contending with men; you are contending with destiny. Then he struck off his head. Then he marched and encamped at al-Burs. His companions seized the people's children and wealth, violated the women, and drank wine. Its people complained to Rustum, and he said: O Persians, by God, the Arab spoke the truth. By God, nothing has delivered us except our deeds. By God, the Arabs, with these men and while they are at war with them, are better in conduct than you. God used to grant you victory over the enemy and give you power in the lands because of good conduct, restraining oppression, fidelity, and kindness. When you changed, God only changed what was in you. I am not safe from God stripping His authority from you. Some of those complained about were brought to him, and he struck off his head. Rustum's arrival at al-Ḥīra Then he marched until he encamped at al-Ḥīra. He summoned its people, threatened them, and was about to attack them. Ibn Buqayla said to him: Do not combine against us your inability to protect us and your blaming us for defending ourselves. When Rustum encamped at al-Najaf, he saw as if an angel descended from heaven, and with him the Prophet ﷺ and ʿUmar. The angel took the weapons of the people of Persia, sealed them, then handed them to the Prophet ﷺ, and the Prophet ﷺ handed them to ʿUmar. Rustum awoke sad. Saʿd sent out raiding parties while Rustum was at al-Najaf and al-Jālīnūs was between al-Najaf and al-Saylaḥīn. They roamed the Sawād. He sent Sawād and Ḥumayḍa, each with a hundred, and they raided al-Nahrayn. The news reached Rustum, and he sent cavalry against them. Saʿd heard that his cavalry had gone deep and sent ʿĀṣim b. ʿAmr and Jābir al-Asadī after them. ʿĀṣim met them while the Persian cavalry was surrounding them to recover what was in their hands. When the Persians saw him, they fled, and the Muslims returned with the spoils. Saʿd sent ʿAmr b. Maʿdīkarib and Ṭulayḥa al-Asadī as a scouting party. They set out with ten men. They had traveled only a farsakh and part of another when they saw their outposts and their livestock at al-Ṭufūf, which filled them. ʿAmr and those with him returned, but Ṭulayḥa insisted on advancing. They said to him: You are a man with treachery in yourself, and you will not prosper after killing ʿUkkāsha b. Miḥṣan, so return with us. He refused, and they returned to Saʿd and informed him of the enemy's nearness. Ṭulayḥa went on until he entered Rustum's camp and spent the night moving through it and observing. He tore the tent ropes of one man's tent, led away his horse, then tore another man's tent and untied his horse, then did the same to another. Then he went out, his horse running with him. The people became aware of him and mounted in pursuit. By morning, a cavalryman of the army caught up with him, and Ṭulayḥa killed him. Then another caught up, and he killed him. Then a third caught up and saw the place where his two companions, who were his cousins, had fallen, and his rage increased. He caught up with Ṭulayḥa, and Ṭulayḥa turned on him and captured him. The people caught up and saw the two army cavalrymen killed and the third captured while Ṭulayḥa was nearing his camp, so they held back from him. Ṭulayḥa entered upon Saʿd with the Persian and told him the news. The interpreter questioned the Persian, and he asked for amnesty. Saʿd granted him amnesty. He said: I will tell you about this companion of yours before I tell you about those on my side. I have engaged in wars from the time I was a boy until now, and I have heard of heroes, but I have not heard of the like of this: that a man crossed two farsakhs into a camp containing seventy thousand, where a man among them is served by five or ten, and he was not content to leave as he entered until he had plundered the army's cavalrymen and torn their tents. When we caught up with him, he killed the first, who was reckoned equal to a thousand horsemen, then the second, who was his equal. Then I caught up with him, and I do not think that I left behind anyone equal to me, and I was seeking vengeance for the two slain. I saw death and was captured. Then he told him about the Persians. He embraced Islam, attached himself to Ṭulayḥa, and was among the people of trial at al-Qādisiyya. Saʿd named him Muslim. Rustum's arrival at al-Qādisiyya Then Rustum marched, and al-Jālīnūs and Dhū al-Ḥājib advanced. Al-Jālīnūs encamped opposite Zuhra, short of the bridge. Dhū al-Ḥājib encamped at Ṭīzanābādh. Rustum encamped at al-Kharrāra. Then Rustum marched and encamped at al-Qādisiyya. Between his departure from al-Madāʾin and his arrival at al-Qādisiyya were four months, during which he did not advance, hoping that they would grow weary of their position and leave. He feared meeting what those before him had met, and he prolonged matters with them, had not the king kept urging him, rousing him, and pushing him forward until he forced him into it. ʿUmar had written to Saʿd ordering him also to be patient and to prolong matters, so he prepared for prolongation. When Rustum reached al-Qādisiyya, he stopped at al-ʿAtīq opposite Saʿd's camp, and the people dismounted. They kept arriving until it grew dark from their great number, while the Muslims held back from them. With Rustum were thirty-three elephants, among them the white elephant of Sābūr, and the elephants were fond of it. He placed eighteen elephants in the center and fifteen on the two flanks. When Rustum rose that morning, he mounted and rode along al-ʿAtīq toward Khuffān until he came to the end of the Muslim camp. Then he climbed until he reached the bridge. He studied the Muslims and stopped at a place from which he could overlook them. He stood at the bridge and sent to Zuhra, who came and stood opposite him. He wanted to make peace with him and give him a reward on condition that they would leave, without stating that explicitly, but rather saying to him: You were our neighbors, and we used to treat you well and protect you. He told him about their treatment of the Arabs. Zuhra said to him: Our affair is not the affair of those. We have not come to you seeking this world. Our pursuit and concern is the Hereafter. We were as you mentioned until God sent among us a messenger who called us to his Lord, and we answered him. He said to His messenger: I have given this community power over those who do not profess My religion, and I will take vengeance on them through it. I will give them victory as long as they acknowledge it. It is the religion of truth; no one turns away from it except that he is humbled, and no one holds fast to it except that he is honored. Rustum said to him: What is it? He said: Its pillar, without which it is not sound, is the testimony that there is no god but God and that Muḥammad is the Messenger of God. He said: And what else? He said: And bringing the servants out of servitude to servants into servitude to God. People are the children of Adam and Eve, brothers from one father and mother. He said: How excellent this is! Then Rustum said: What do you think, if I accept this along with my people, how will your affair be? Will you return? He said: Yes, by God. He said: You have spoken the truth to me. Indeed, the people of Persia, since Ardashīr assumed power, have not allowed anyone of the common people to leave his work. They used to say: If they leave their work, they overstep their bounds and turn against their nobles. Zuhra said: We are the best of people to people. We cannot be as you say. Rather, we obey God regarding the common people, and whoever disobeys God among us does not harm us. Then he left him and summoned the men of Persia and discussed this with them, and they disdained it. The meeting of Ribʿī b. ʿĀmir ؓ with Rustum He sent to Saʿd: Send us a man to speak with us and we will speak with him. Saʿd called a group to send to them. Ribʿī b. ʿĀmir said to him: If we all go to them, they will think we have made a fuss over them. Do not send them more than one man. So he sent him alone. He went to them, and they detained him at the bridge. Rustum was informed of his coming, so he displayed his finery and sat on a throne of gold. He spread carpets, cushions, and pillows woven with gold. Ribʿī came on his horse, his sword wrapped in a cloth, and his spear bound with sinew and thongs. When he reached the carpets, they said to him: Dismount. He urged his horse onto them and dismounted, tying it to two cushions which he tore open and passed the rope through. They did not stop him, showing disdain. He wore a coat of mail, and he took the cloak of his camel and put it on, tying it around his waist. They said: Put down your weapon. He said: I did not come to you to put down my weapon at your command. You invited me. They informed Rustum, and he said: Give him permission. He came leaning on his spear and taking short steps. He did not leave a cushion or carpet of theirs without spoiling and tearing it. When he drew near Rustum, he sat on the ground and planted his spear on the carpets. They said to him: What made you do this? He said: We do not like to sit on your finery. Rustum's interpreter, whose name was ʿAbūd from the people of al-Ḥīra, said to him: What has brought you? He said: God has brought us, and He sent us to bring out whom He wills of His servants from the narrowness of this world to its spaciousness, and from the tyranny of religions to the justice of Islam. He sent us with His religion to His creation. Whoever accepts it, we accept from him and leave him and his land. Whoever refuses, we fight him until we reach the promise of God. He said: And what is the promise of God? He said: Paradise for whoever dies fighting those who refuse, and victory for whoever remains. Rustum said: We have heard your words. Would you delay this matter until we consider it? He said: Yes, and among what the Messenger of God ﷺ ordained for us is that we not give the enemies more than three days. We will refrain from you for three days. Consider your affair and choose one of three after the term: either Islam, and we will leave you and your land; or the tribute, and we will accept and refrain from you, and if you need us, we will help you; or combat on the fourth day, unless you begin with us. I am a guarantor of that on behalf of my companions. He said: Are you their chief? He said: No, but the Muslims are like one body, each part of another. The lowest of them may grant protection on behalf of the highest. Rustum withdrew with the chiefs of his people and said: Have you ever seen speech nobler or clearer than the speech of this man? They said: God forbid that we incline to the religion of this dog! Do you not see his clothes? He said: Woe to you! Do not look at the clothes, but look at the judgment, the speech, and the conduct. The Arabs make light of clothing and guard their honor. They are not like you. The meeting of Ḥudhayfa b. Miḥṣan ؓ with Rustum The next day, Rustum sent to Saʿd: Send us that man. He sent them Ḥudhayfa b. Miḥṣan, who came in similar attire. He did not dismount from his horse and stood before Rustum mounted. He said to him: Dismount. He said: I will not. He said to him: What brought you while the first did not come? He said to him: Our commander likes to treat us equally in hardship and ease, and this is my turn. He said: What has brought you? He answered him like the first. Rustum said: Or a truce until some day? He said: Yes, three days from yesterday. He sent him back and turned to his companions and said: Woe to you! Do you not see what I see? The first came to us yesterday and overcame us on our land, despised what we honor, and made his horse stand on our finery. Today this one came and stood over us with the omen of the bird, standing on our land instead of us. The meeting of al-Mughīra b. Shuʿba ؓ with Rustum The next day, he sent: Send us a man. He sent al-Mughīra b. Shuʿba. He came to them while they wore crowns and garments woven with gold, and their carpets extended over a bowshot, so that no one could reach their leader without walking on them. Al-Mughīra came forward until he sat with Rustum on his throne. They jumped on him, pulled him down, and jostled him. He said: We used to hear about your forbearance, but I see no people more foolish than you. We Arabs do not enslave one another. I thought that you treated your people as equals as we do. It would have been better than what you did to tell me that some of you are lords over others. This affair is not sound among you, and no one does this. I did not come to you; you invited me. Today I know that you will be defeated, and that a kingdom cannot stand on this conduct or on these minds. The common people said: By God, the Arab has spoken the truth. The village chiefs said: By God, he has hurled words to which our slaves will incline. May God curse our forefathers when they belittled the affair of this nation! Then Rustum spoke, praised his people, and magnified their affair, saying: We have not ceased to be established in the lands, victorious over enemies, noble among nations. No one has our might and authority. We are victorious over them, and they are not victorious over us, except today and a day or a month for sins. When God takes vengeance on us and is pleased with us, He restores to us the turn against our enemy. There has not been among the nations a nation smaller in our eyes than you. You were people of hardship and evil livelihood. We did not regard you as anything. You used to come to us when your lands were barren, and we would order for you some dates and barley and then send you back. I know that nothing has brought you to what you have done except hardship in your lands. I will order for your commander a garment, a mule, and a thousand dirhams, and I will order for each of you a load of dates, and you will leave us, for I desire to kill you. Then al-Mughīrah spoke, praised Allah, and extolled Him, and said: 'Indeed, Allah is the Creator of everything and its Provider; whoever makes something, He only makes it. As for what you mentioned about yourself and the people of your lands, we recognize it: Allah made it for you and placed it among you, and it belongs to Him rather than to you. As for what you mentioned about us regarding the bad condition, hardship, and dissension, we recognize it and do not deny it. Allah has tested us with it, and this world is a matter of turns. The people of hardship have always looked forward to ease until they reached it, and the people of ease have always looked forward to hardship until it befell them. If you had been grateful for what Allah gave you, your gratitude would have fallen short of what you were given, and your weakness in gratitude has delivered you to a change of condition. If we, in what we have been tested with, were people of disbelief, then the magnitude of our trial would have been a means of seeking Allah's mercy to relieve us. Indeed, Allah—Blessed and Exalted—sent a Messenger among us.' Then he mentioned the same as previously regarding Islam, the jizyah, and fighting, and said to him: 'Indeed, our dependents have tasted the food of your lands, so they said: We cannot bear to be without it.' Rustum said: 'Then you will die before it.' Al-Mughīrah said: 'Those of us who are killed enter Paradise, and those of you who are killed enter the Fire, and those of us who remain will prevail over those of you who remain.' Rustum became inflamed with anger, then swore that dawn would not rise tomorrow before he had killed you all. Al-Mughīrah departed, and Rustum was alone with the Persians and said: 'How far are these from you! These, by Allah, are the men—whether truthful or liars. By Allah, if their intelligence and their guarding of their secret have reached the point that they do not disagree, then no people are more effective at what they want than they. And if they are truthful, then nothing can withstand these people!' So they persisted and steeled themselves. Rustum sent with al-Mughīrah, saying to him: 'When he crosses the bridge, inform him that his eye will be gouged out tomorrow.' The messenger informed him of that. Al-Mughīrah said: 'You have brought me good news and reward. If it were not that I will fight after this day the likes of you among the polytheists, I would have wished that the other eye had gone too.' He returned to Rustum and informed him. Rustum said: 'Obey me, O people of Persia. I see for you from Allah a vengeance that you cannot repel.' Then Saʿd sent to him the remainder of the men of counsel, and they went—they were three—to Rustum and said to him: 'Our commander invites you to what is better for us and for you: well-being, if you accept what Allah has called you to, then we will return to our land and you will return to your land; your homes remain yours and your affairs among you, and whatever you gain will be an increase for you without us, and we will be a support for you against anyone who intends you harm. So fear Allah, and do not let the destruction of your people be at your hands. Between you and being envied for this matter is only that you enter into it and thereby drive Satan away from you.' He said to them: 'Parables are clearer than much speech. You were a people of hardship and coarse living, neither being just nor able to defend yourselves, so we did not mistreat you as neighbors; we supplied you with provisions and treated you kindly. When you tasted our food and drank our drink, you described that to your people and summoned them, then you came to us. Your example and ours is like that of a man who had a vineyard and saw a fox in it, and said: "What is a fox!" The fox left and called the foxes to that vineyard. When they gathered at it, the owner of the vineyard blocked the hole through which they used to enter and killed them. I know that what has driven you to this is greed and hardship, so return and we will supply you with provisions, for I do not desire to kill you. Your example is also like the fly that sees honey and says: "Who will get me to it for two dirhams?" When it enters it, it drowns and gets stuck, and says: "Who will get me out for four dirhams?" He also said: 'A man placed a basket and put food in it; the rats came and gnawed through the basket and entered it. He wanted to block it, but it was said to him: "Do not do that, or they will gnaw through it; rather, bore a hole opposite it, then place in it a hollow reed; when the rats enter it and come out of it, kill every one that comes out." I have blocked [the holes] against you, so beware lest you rush into the reed, for no one will come out of it but will be killed. What called you to do what you have done? I see neither number nor equipment!'. He said: Then the people spoke, mentioning their bad condition, what Allah had bestowed upon them by sending His Messenger, their former dissension, then their coming together upon Islam, and what He commanded them of jihad. They said: 'As for the parables you have struck for us, it is not so; rather your example is like that of a man who planted a land, chose trees for it, brought rivers to it, adorned it with palaces, and settled farmers in it who dwelt in its palaces and tended its gardens. The farmers were alone in the palaces doing what he disliked, so he extended his respite to them, but they were not ashamed; then he called others to it and expelled them from it. If they leave it, people will snatch them away, and if they remain in it, they become servants to these, who will oppress them forever. By Allah, even if what we say were not true, and there were nothing but this world, we would not endure leaving the pleasant life you have, and we have seen the great ones among you, and we would contend with you for it!'. Rustum said: 'Will you cross to us, or shall we cross to you?' They said: 'Rather, cross to us.' They returned from his presence in the evening. Saʿd sent to the people to take their positions, and sent to them: 'Your business is the crossing.' They aimed for the bridge, but he said: 'No, and no honor! As for something we have taken from you, we will never return it to you.' So they spent the night damming the old [canal] until morning with earth, reeds, and saddle pads, until they made it a road; it was completed after the sun had risen high. Rustum saw in the night as if an angel descended from heaven, took the bows of his companions, sealed them, then ascended with them to heaven. He awoke distressed, summoned his close associates, told them the dream, and said: 'Indeed, Allah admonishes us, if only we would take heed.' When Rustum mounted to cross, he had on two coats of mail and a helmet, took his weapons, and leapt—and there he was on his horse without putting his foot in the stirrup. He said: 'Tomorrow we will crush them thoroughly!' A man said to him: 'If Allah wills.' He said: 'Even if He does not will!' Then he said: 'The fox only yelped when the lion died—meaning Chosroes—and I fear that this may be the way of the monkeys!' He said these things only to weaken the Muslims in the eyes of the Persians; otherwise, what is well-known about him is fear of the Muslims, and he showed that to those he trusted.
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No grade is recorded for this wording.