PARTICIPATION OF YAZID IN THE WAR OF QUSTUNTUNIA (CAESAR'S CITY) IN THE LIGHT OF ISLAMIC HISTORY

PARTICIPATION OF YAZID IN THE WAR OF QUSTUNTUNIA (CAESAR'S CITY)

IN THE LIGHT OF ISLAMIC HISTORY

By Dr.Faizan Ahmed Azizi

Narrated Khalid bin Madan:

That 'Umair bin Al-Aswad Al-Anasi told him that he went to 'Ubada bin As-Samit while he was staying in his house at the seashore of Hims with (his wife) Um Haram. 'Umair said. Um Haram informed us that she heard the Prophet saying, "Paradise is granted to the first batch of my followers who will undertake a naval expedition." Um Haram added, I said, 'O Allah's Apostle! Will I be amongst them?' He replied, 'You are amongst them.' The Prophet then said, 'the first army amongst' my followers who will invade Caesar's City will be forgiven their sins.' I asked, 'Will I be one of them, O Allah's Apostle?' He replied in the negative."( Sahih al Bukhari, Book of Jihad Volume 4, Book 52, and Number 175)

From the above hadith some people from Muslim trying to misguide the muslims. They says Yazid was participated in the war of Caesar’s and due to his participation he was Jannati because Holy prophet (Sallallahu alaihe wasallam) said my followers who will invade Caesar's City will be forgiven their sins. This claim is fabricated and totally wrong. Because in the Hadith two thing are clearly mentioned.

1.)        First batch of my followers who will undertake a naval expedition.

2.)        The first army amongst' my followers who will invade Caesar's City.

The prediction of Holy prophet (Sallallahu alaihe wasallam ) said in both attached first batch will get Paradise and forgiven their sin. If we look into the history we will find that yazid was not o participated in both attach he was participated in 8th batch second group. Let see what history said.

First Naval War and Yazid participation:

The first naval expedition is done by Hazrat Ameer Mu'awiyah (May Allah be well pleased with him). In the chilapath of Hazrat Usman ibn Ameer Mu'awiyah (May Allah be well pleased with him) seek permission to attack on Rome he got permission and in Hijri 32 he attached and fought battles after battles till he reached the city of Constantinople. Yazid was not participated in that battle he  was a kid and  6 years old that time. (Tarikh Kamil, Vol 3, Pg No. 25 &Bidayah wan Nihayah, Vol 7, Pg No. 179)

Attack on Caesar's City and Yazid participation:

Let’s see the history is Yazid participated in first army or not who attack on Caesar’s city.

First Attack

First Muslim Army which attacked Caesar's city was sent by Holy prophet (Sallallahu alaihe wasallam) himself, According to later Muslim historians, Holy prophet (Sallallahu alaihe wasallam) dispatched 3,000 of his troops to the area in Jumada al-awwal of the year 8 A.H., i.e., A.D. 629, for a quick expedition to attack and punish the tribes. The army was led by Zayd ibn Haritha; the second-in-command was Jafar ibn Abi Talib and the third-in-command was Abdullah ibn Rawahah.( Saif-ur-Rahman Mubarakpuri, ar-Raheeq al-Makhtoom, "The Sealed Nectar", Islamic University of Medina, Dar-us-Salam publishers ISBN 1-59144-071-8) Holy prophet (Sallallahu alaihe wasallam)had already given the prediction of Shahadat (martyrdom) of Jaffar Taiyyar, Zaid bin Harith and Abdullah before that news came to Madina. This battle called “The Battle of Mu'tah”In that time yazid was not only participated even he was not born at battle.

Here is the Link to Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Mu%27tah)about this first Islamic War of Mautta upon Caesar's City.

Second Attack

If we take the meaning of Capital of Caesar's City, then it was the city of “Hims  " (also spelled Homs) which was also conquered during the times of Umar Ibn al-Khattab in 16th Hijri (Islamic year).The commander of this Army was Abu 'Ubaidah, and the Companion Yazid bin Abu Sufyan was included in it. Even that time yazid was not born. He was born in 26 Hijri, (Bidayah wan Nihayah, Vol 9, Pg No. 76)

Third Attack

Hazrat Ameer Mu'awiyah (May Allah be well pleased with him) attacked Rome in Hijri 32 and fought battles after battles till he reached the city of Constantinople.Yazid   was a kid of 6 years. (Tarikh Kamil, Vol 3, Pg No. 25 &Bidayah wan Nihayah, Vol 7, Pg No. 179) (This was first naval Attack on Rome)

Fourth Attack

In 42 A.H the Muslims attacked Rome their way to Constantinople.  ( Bidayah wan Nihayah Vol 8, Pg No 24)

Fifth Attack

In 43 A.H the Muslims attacked Rome under the leadership of Hadhrat Basar bin Artaah (May Allah be well pleased with him) and fought their way to Constantinople.  (Tarikh Ibn Khaldun, Vol 3, Pg No.9 & Bidayah wan Nihayah Vol 8, Pg No 24)

Sixth Attack

In 44 Hijri Muslims, with Hadhrat Abdur Rahman bin Khalid bin Walid (May Allah be well pleased with them) entered Rome and spent winter there only and Hadhrat Basar bin Artaah (May Allah be well pleased with him) fought through the sea. Tarikh Kamil, Vol 3, Pg no. 298

Seventh Attack

Incidents of 46 Hijri Hadhrat Malik bin Abdullah (May Allah be well pleased with him) remained in the kingdom of Rome and it has been said that Hadhrat Abdur Rahman bin Khalid bin Walid (May Allah be well pleased with them) and returned to Hims the same year and passed away into the presence of Allah."he commander of this army to attack to Constantinople was Hadhrat Abdur Rahman bin Khalid bin Walid (May Allah be well pleased with them).  This attack has been mentioned not only in the books of history, but also in Sunan Abu Dawood, which is a reliable book from the Sihah Sittah (the 6 most authentic and reliable books of Hadith).  It is given in Sunan Abu Dawood, Vol 1, Kitabul Jihad, Pg No. 340 (Hadith No: 2151), "Muslims attacked Constantinople and in this battle, Hadhrat Abdur Rahman bin Khalid bin Walid (May Allah be well pleased with him) was the commander.

Translation: It has been narrated on the authority of Hadhrat Abu Imran (May Allah be well pleased with him): We left Madina with the intention of attacking Constantinople.  The commander of the army was Hadhrat Abdur Rahman bin Khalid bin Walid (May Allah be well pleased with him).  The Romans had their backs to the ramparts.  A person readied himself for attack.  The people said: La ilaha illallah, he is taking himself to death. Hadhrat Abu Ayyub Ansari (May Allah be well pleased with him) said: This verse has been revealed about us, when Allah  helped the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) and made Islam dominant, then we said, 'Come let us remain with our property and wealth and set them right,' then Allah  sent this command: And spend in the way of Allah  and do not put yourself in mortal danger.” Surah Baqra- 195 and so to take oneself to death is to remain with our property, busy oneself in setting them right and abandon Jihad.  Hadhrat Abu Imran says that Hadhrat Abu Ayyub Ansari (May Allah be well pleased with him) used to perform Jihad for the sake of Allah , to the extent that he was buried in Constantinople."

According to the above mentioned details, the army, which attacked Constantinople under Ameer Mu'awiyah (May Allah be well pleased with him) in 32 Hijri is the first army and this is the army, which according to Sahih Bukhari, is forgiven. It is made clear by the Hadith of Sunan Abu Dawood, that the commander of the army, which attacked Constantinople was Hadhrat Abdur Rahman bin Khalid bin Walid (May Allah be well pleased with them), who passed away in either 46 or 47 A.H, as given in Tarikh Kamil in the incidents of 46 Hijri

Sunan Abu Dawood is from among the Sihah Sittah (the six most authentic books of Hadith).  It is by all standards more preferable than the books of history.  This proves beyond doubt that under the leadership of Hadhrat Abdur Rahman bin Khalid bin Walid (May Allah be well pleased with them) Constantinople was attacked before 46 or 47 Hijri, as the canons of history and Rijal establish that Hadhrat Abdur Rahman bin Khalid bin Walid (May Allah be well pleased with them) passed away in 46 or 47 Hijri.

Eight Attack

A group of Muslim Attacked on room with a person name Hazrat Yazid bin Shazra shami not Yazid ibn Ameer Mu'awiyah (May Allah be well pleased with him).

Ninth Attack

In 49 Hijri or 50 H, Ameer Mu'awiyah (May Allah be well pleased with him) made preparations to take the towns and cities of Rome under Sufyan bin Auf. That time in first group yazid was not participated he send as a punishment in the war by force fully later with second group. In Tareekh Kamil this incidence mentioned as

“In this year (49 Hijri) and some says 50 H, Mu’awiyah made preparations to take the towns and cities of Rome under Sufyan bin Auf. He sent out the army and ordered his son Yazeed to join him but Yazeed was lax in this regard, Mu’awiya therefore became silent on the matter. The army during the conquered suffered from sickness and hunger and upon receipt of this news, Yazeed recited a couplet: Why shall I care about what the army facing in Farqadona from fever and smallpox While I lay comfort in deluxe clothes at the house of Marwan with Um Kulthom”.

Um Kulthoom bint Abdullah Ibn Aamir was Yazeed’s wife. When Muawiyah heard the couplets of Yazeed, he vowed to send him to Rome to Sufiyan bin Auf so that he also confronts hardship”

We read in Muruj al Dhahab:“Mu’awiya received information on the progress of the army and conveyed this news to Yazeed who said, “In this case I shall convene a function in home, joined by my fellow drunkards”.

By citing these references, it has become clear that:

1. The prediction of Holy prophet (Sallallahu alaihe wasallam ) said in both attached first batch    

     will get  paradise and forgiven their sin . Yazid was participated in Ninth Bath.

2. Unlike the propaganda of misleaded people, it was Hazrat Sufyan bin Auf who was the

   commander of the army that went to Caesar’s City and not Yazeed.

3. Yazeed had no interest in participating in the Jihad and thus didn’t go with the army which

   clearly excludes him from the first army promised forgiveness in the alleged hadith.

4. On hearing the hardships the army confronted there, Yazeed became pleased at his decision

   of not going which is not a sign of a person worthy enough to have a glance at Paradise let

   alone enter it.

5. On hearing Yazeed’s satisfaction, Ameer Mu'awiyah (May Allah be well pleased with him)

    decided to send him as a punishment.