07-31-2004, 07:48 AM
<b>The World Bravest People</b>
<b>By Muhammad Alshareef</b>
The history books speak to us of another land that carried upon it believers in Allah, the army of Alb Arsalaan. Coming home from one of their battles, As they made their way home to Khuraasan, a messenger rode up to Alb Arsalaan and whispered to him: The emperor of Constantiniyya heard of your army and is bringing an army of 600 thousand to crush you - led by the war general Romanis!
By Allah they did not gather than many fighters for no other reason that to quell the fear they had of Islam, the cowardice they tasted in their hearts.
As Arsalaan swallowed the news he glanced into the eyes of every one of his 15 thousand Mujahids, knowing that there was little hope of victory. This faction nursing their wounds, another weeping over the brothers that fell, a third weeping for losing the chance of Jannah. His head drooped at the sentence the messenger had brought and then he picked his heart up like a lion.
Look brothers and sisters at the numbers. 600 thousand prepared to fight 15 thousand! Is this any physical strength that people speak of? No, by Allah, it is the strength of Iman, the strength of Aqeedah, the strength of hearts filled with certainty in Allah and His Messenger and the Final Day. Isn't that enough?
What was Arsalaan to do? Should he continue back to his home and let the forces of evil destroy his nation with their vice, Shahaawaat? Or should he stand like a rock in their face even if it meant his and his armies death?
A few moments, and the rays of Iman shone from his heart.
Arsalaan slipped into his tent and dressed himself in the towels he would be buried in, fragrancing himself with hanoot. He then addressed the entire army, saying: "Today Islam is in danger! Today Muslims are in danger! And I fear that Laa ilaaha illaa Allaah will be wiped away from our land!" He then shouted, "Waa Islaamaah! (O Islaam!!) Waa Islaamaah!! (O Islaam!!). Look at me, I have worn the towels of my coffin and have fragranced myself with hanoot. Whoever wants Jannah, let them dress as I have dressed! We are going to fight under the shade of Laa ilaaha illa Allah until we are destroyed or the flag of Laa ilaaha illaa Allah is raised!"
In moments the entire army stepped into the quarters and all 15 thousand Mujahids came out in the garments of their coffin. The fragrance of Hanoot was on all their bodies, the wind of Jannat Al firdows blew in their faces. The sky erupted with the armies shouts of `Allahu Akbar!! Allaahu Akbar!! Yaa Khayl Allah uthbuti!! Yaa Khayl Allah irkabee!!'
Allahu Akbar! Have you ever seen an army stepping onto a plain that they know - with little doubt - they will be resurrected from on the Day of Judgement? Have you ever seen an army wrapped in the thobes of their coffin before beginning the battle? Have you ever smelt the fragrance of death - Hanoot - hovering 15 thousand believers in Allah?
That day, the Kuffar did.
The armies clashed - one believing in Allah and desiring the appointment with Allah, the other disbelieving in Allah and hating to meet him. The fighting was severe, Allahu Akbar cut through the sky. Every Mujahid stepped forward, on their tongues were the words, "I am coming to you, O Allah, in haste so that you may be pleased with me."
Heads flew and skulls fell to the ground and blood flowed. As the dust clouds softened, the flag of Islam rose high, the crusaders fled in all directions. Someone shouted, "The Romans are defeated and their general - Romanis - has been captured."
Innumerable Muslims were martyred - in sha' Allah - that day, and many were left crying. They were not crying for war spoils that they lost. No, by the He who raised the heavens without any poles. They were crying because that had to take off their coffin wrap after they had sold themselves to Allah. Alb Arsalaan, stood crying, thanking Allah.