Aren't those Al-Hakam Ibn Abi al-As and his son, Marwan Ibn al-Hakam?
Yes, you're right
Welcome, advisors
Welcome, governors
Praise be to Allah and peace be upon his chosen servants
Brothers...
Allah willed for the absence...
of the just Caliph Omar Ibn al-Khattab, Al-Farouq
If Allah granted us permission to choose ourselves...
we would have chosen to leave before him
before he antecedes us to seek the countenance of Allah
Our nation was at peace with him as a leader
May Allah be merciful to him
and reward him on our behalf
- Amen - Amen
O, brothers...
We are on the brink of a new Jihad
When Allah's Messenger peace be upon him, led us into Jihad
- Peace be upon him - Peace be upon him
We were well-aware of our enemies
But today...
some of us who have familiar names
and recite our Quran
- Even though they don't fully understand it - True
They are lurking for us
and try to ambush us everywhere even in our homes and mosques
Our enemy is not only in Byzantine and Persian routes
but also, within
lurking for us
and could even reach our praying spots
Well said, Commander of the Faithful
"Episode 6"
- Farewell - Peace upon you
Peace and Allah's mercy be upon you
I hope you grant me permission my lord, Commander of the Faithful
I'm surprised by the holdings you've granted Ibn al-Hakam
and appointing his son as Postmaster
Don't you know what people think of him?
Al-Hakam is a successful merchant
So, he asked me to permit him to revise it
As for Marwan...
I won't hold him responsible for his father's mistakes
Peace be upon you
Peace and Allah's mercy be upon you
My lord, Commander of the Faithful
I've discussed with Omar building a fleet before
The Byzantines surpass us at naval warfare
Having a fleet is essential to repel their attacks on our cities
I think that he... may Allah be merciful to him
feared sea warfare for the Muslims unfamiliar with its dangers
Yes, but we must take the initiative Commander of the Faithful
We'll reach our dreams with that fleet
and we'll use it to build a power that matches the power of other nations
I don't know how I'll accept what Al-Farouk had rejected
However, I promise you that I'll consult Allah's Messenger companions
Yes, my lord Commander of the Faithful
My lord
I hope you approve increasing our troops and arms in our coastal cities
For I had asked Al-Farouq for that and he accepted
and today, I feel that we must increase them even more
We'll do, if Allah wills
Allah willing, peace be upon you
Peace and Allah's mercy be upon you
Would you order the guards and servants to leave?
Ridwan...
What do you want?
Do you think that Madinah's citizens and our governors...
are content to my relation to the Commander of the Faithful?
Some of Medina's citizens were shocked to see me
and I felt uneasy by their silence when he appointed me
I fear for him, Mu'awiya
Do you fear for the Commander of the Faithful...
or, for yourself, Marwan?
I fear for all of the Umayyads
Forget about the Umayyads and mind your own business
Behave yourself to avoid hurting the Commander of the Faithful
and be grateful to him for he brought you and your father from exile
Let people know you by your good deeds and the Umayyads will be alright
Ridwan!
Have a sincere intention for the sake of Allah, boy
What are you waiting for? Speak up!
They are sending troops and arms to Second Armenia
along with a huge amounts of money
- How many? - More than 10,000 soldiers
but I don't know how much money there is
but it's more than the load of 30 camels
Why all these reinforcements?
I don't know, it's all I got
Anything else?
I have some information but I have yet to make sure of it
Half a truth is often a great lie
Well said
Return at once and stay vigilant
You've promised to let me see my son
Father
I've missed you
How are you, Son?
I'm utterly speechless, Father
Be reassured, Ayham I'll get you out of here
- How's Mother? - She's alright, Son
- Take him away - Will I see you soon?
- She's alright, Son - Father
- She's alright - Will I see you soon?
Father!
"Bani Kalb Tribe year 24 After the Hijra"
O bird, who bewails his flock
and laments for his agony and bewilderment
If you were like me...
you wouldn't wear an embellished attire to be graceful
and wouldn't enjoy the swinging branches
Lend me your wing and borrow my fateful tears
that never stop flowing
So, I could fly away to look for Abla
If someone like me could fly
We are ready to head out to hunting, my lord
Do you know who's that girl?
She's Maysun Bint Bahdal
Let's go, Governor the preys are weary of waiting
Their wait won't last
I got weary of hunting for the day
- Do we have to share your boredom? - No, continue the hunt
Ridwan, bring me my horse
- Yes, sir - Come along
It shouldn't tread like that or else, its injury will worsen
It has a serious injury so, it should stop moving
Ride my horse to the encampments and I'll bring your horse over
Why do you care?
Do you roam the desert to help every girl?
We are your father's guests and I feel sorry for this horse
It's hard to me to see it suffer
Are you with the Governor's entourage?
Yes, I'm the stableman
Go ahead, please
Whose horse is this?
It's the Governor's horse I'm taking care of it
Go ahead, please
Thanks, stableman
What's your name?
Ridwan
I'm honored you've taken my name, my lord
Stay with it until its pain eases
When will that be?
Welcome, Maysun
- Isn't this the Governor's horse? - Yes, Father
My horse was injured so Ridwan the stableman lent me his
I hope you thank him on my behalf
or to let the Governor reward him
Don't worry, I'll do it
Welcome, Governor of Damascus
Welcome, my lord Mu'awiya Ibn Abi Sufyan
My lord
this is my eldest daughter, Maysun
- I'm glad to see her - It's my honor, my lord
Pardon me, Father
- How was the hunt, today? - Better than yesterday
Those are our elite knights, my lord
As you can see, they are very skillful
Each one of them is training a great number of knights
Well done, knights!
Bani Kalb's knights are mighty artful warriors
But I think that their great strength is uselessly spent in this desert
Just like untamed horses that don't benefit anyone
Well said, an aimless strength
just like an arrow that misses its mark
or a horse galloping in the wilderness without a knight
or a horse with an injured leg that requires treatment
The horse's owner seems mature although she's still young
Yes, she's mature
However, some horses require more time to be tamed
Do you mean her injured horse?
I don't want to ruin your lightheartedness but I think that Bani Kalb...
proved to be a loyal ally to defeat the Byzantines
and if we wanted to preserve what Allah has granted us in theses territories
They must fight on our side not with our foes
Yes, I get you
We accept you take that beautiful cavalier poet as a wife, right?
I'm fed up with you
- Let's leave before sunset - Let's go
Something's fishy in Bahdal's visits and feasts in the palace
Just like the hunting trips in their encampments
Are they just hunting trips?
What is he hunting in these trips?
Didn't you speak about anything upon his return?
What about you? Didn't Ridwan tell you anything?
No, my lady
Ridwan doesn't discuss anything he does with the Governor
How wonderful you are
Your husbands are deceiving you and you are completely in the dark
Endear yourself to your husband and hopefully he'll tell you something
All I know is that Mu'awiya wants to make a pact with them
Don't you know how pacts are carried out between allies?
You're the expert
Through marriage
- Ridwan! - What's your problem?
You haven't talked to me since your returned
Why don't you tell me what happened during your visit to Bani Kalb?
- What were you doing there? - What do you think?
I was serving my lord
- What about Maysun? - What about her?
Haven't you seen the Governor speak to her?
Did your Lady, Fakhita ordered you to ask me about the trip to Bani Kalb?
I swear, Safiyya your stupidity will get us both killed
Tell her that I don't know anything
Don't poke your nose in others affairs again
You're just a maid at the palace
Just a maid
and I'm the Governor's servant nothing more, understand?
Abdullah, Abdullah!
- Abdullah - Abdullah
Leave it
Abdullah, Abdullah!
Leave it be, Abdullah
Abdullah
Calm down...
Calm down
Take 2000 soldiers with you, Habib
Leave at day so that everyone could see you
and order your soldiers to spread the news
Why?
We spread news that we're sending your army to Second Armenia
It's essential to the Byzantine Emperor
So that their troops could leave their coastal cities
to rescue the their troops there
Then, our army in Baalbek will be able to conquer Tripoli easily
What's on your mind?
I hoped the Commander of the Faithful would approve building the fleet, Fakhita
Without it, we won't be safe from the Byzantine attacks
Don't you have anything else to talk about?
What do you want me to say while we're fighting enemies on all fronts?
I expected you to invoke the blessing of Allah on me
I invoke the blessing of Allah on you day and night
Tell me the truth
What did you do at Bani Kalb's?
Do you want to get married?
Yes, I'll marry Bint Bahdal
I won't stand in your way
But don't forget that I stood by you through thick and thin
and I've endured so much until you reached this success
Have it your way
But remember that I'll stay the lady of this palace
My marriage to another is non of your business
Don't you speak to me like that again Do you understand?
Yes, my lord
Come
Sit beside me
I'm not marrying her for her youth and beauty
I'm only doing that to win her tribe over
For our sake and the sake of this province
You'll stay my favorite, Fakhita
and the lady of this palace
Welcome home
- Welcome, Malik, enter please - Thanks
- Peace be upon you - Please enter, welcome
- Congratulations - May Allah bless you
- Congratulations - Welcome
Welcome, enter please
- Peace be upon you - Peace and Allah's mercy be upon you
- Thank you! - Peace and Allah's mercy be upon you
- Congratulations - May Allah bless you, thanks
Please, take a seat
- Peace be upon you - Peace and Allah's mercy be upon you
- Congrats, Mu'awiya - May Allah bless you
- Peace be upon you - Welcome
How nice, how nice!
- You've become a knight, Amr - Congrats, Governor of Damascus
May Allah bless you
- Thank Allah for your safety - Welcome
I would have loved to have the Commander of the Faithful
He's preoccupied with governance issues
- but he sends his greetings - May Allah bless you
This is a gift from the Commander of the Faithful
That's so generous of him
- Utba - Welcome, please have a seat
Congrats on marrying Quraysh's Knight Bint Bahdal
I'm Juwairiyah, Mu'awiya's sister
May Allah bless you
Desert girls have always tempted the Umayyads' men
My father married a girl from your tribe before
but I don't know why his marriage didn't last
If you needed anything, just ask
because the palace's servants only go through me
I don't need your servants
I have my own maids
Who permitted you to bring some maids who don't know anything about palaces?
My husband did who's the master of this palace
and I don't think that you can overrule his orders
Congratulations
What were you doing in her chamber?
I was congratulating Bint Bahdal and wanted to see her up close
Congratulations
May Allah bless you
Thank Allah for your safety
May Allah bless you
- Do you need anything? - No, Governor
I've met Juwairiyah at the door Did she say anything?
No, she wanted to congratulate me
Here, you'll find your friends and family
I'll get back to you after the wedding
Fakhita!
If things stayed the same...
soon enough, there will be no place left for us
While Bint Bahdal becomes the lady of the palace
Fear no such thing
Mu'awiya told me that marrying her was a means of cementing his alliance
Do you believe that nonsense?
You might think it's only for the sake of politics
but I think that she's robbing you of his affections
If you don't stand up for your husband
don't give in to her for the sake of your dignity in front of the servants
That girl thinks she's our lady from day one
Congratulations
- May Allah bless you all - Congratulations
- May Allah bless you - Congratulations
- Congratulations, Mu'awiya - May Allah bless you
Before you leave... Sarjon, bring me the letter
Give this letter to the Commander of the Faithful, it's regarding the fleet
I think you're well-aware of his opinion, Mu'awiya
Yes, but things have changed
Especially with Amr Ibn al-As facing the Byzantine's invasion of Alexandria
The fleet is essential
Without it, the provinces of the Caliphate will fall one after the other
This way, we'll have spies at sea to alert us of any imminent threat
The Commander of the Faithful heeds your advice, Marwan
Try to convince him
- Alright - Here you go, my lord
I know what you're thinking
But I feel that death is close
and I hope to see my son once before I die
- Peace be upon you - Peace and Allah's mercy be upon you
Didn't Mu'awiya comprehend my answer?
I won't send the Muslim troops to their demise
They aren't familiar with naval warfare
What should we do, my lord Commander of the Faithful
our territories extend over vast seas
and our enemies are lurking all the time
You're speaking but I'm hearing Mu'awiya's voice
He's fought the Byzantines before and knows their tricks
I swear, building an Islamic fleet is a noble precedent not like any other
And no one is more worthy to approve it but you, my lord
Did you sleep well?
I tossed and turned and couldn't sleep
I thought I'll get used to sleeping in a confined space
but nothing has changed since a month
Probably, you need more time
I'm lonely, Mu'awiya
I don't visit my family, and you...
You're busy all the time
Do you want me to ask your family to come to visit?
I miss the desert!
I have to go to the prayer quickly then, I'll deal with some issues
We'll talk about it later
I testify that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah
Come to prayer
What is it, my lord?
In the name of Allah The Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Has the Commander of the Faithful approved building the fleet at last?
Congratulations, Aba Abd al-Rahman
I've never seen you happy like this since a long time
Where's your starting point?
Acre
It will be the fleet's headquarter
It's a short way from Damascus to send reinforcements whenever we want
I'll travel to Acre to watch everything closely
Seeing is believing
Farewell, Brother
Allah bless you, Sister
Are you going to stay for long in Acre?
I have a long way and lots of work ahead
I don't want for the palace to become a battleground
So, she complained to you about me!
Sister, Fakhita and you are cousins from Quraysh
from one land and one faith
However, Maysun is a stranger
Treat her with compassion and turn a blind eye to her mistakes
and treat her as your guest
You're the mistress of this palace
- Yes, brother - May Allah bless you
- Farewell - Allah bless you, Fakhita
I'll miss you so much, dear
And you, my little man
Take good care of your sisters and mother
- In Allah's protection - I bid you farewell
In Allah's protection
How many vessels do we have here in Acre?
We have 40 seaworthy vessels for transporting troops
and 3 damaged that need repair
We also have 10 supply vessels
Some are old and others are destroyed
We can only overhaul 2 of them, my lord
Is this a vessel for transporting supply?
No, my lord it's for transporting troops
We have also 9 fast assault boats with oars in good condition
How long it takes to build the vessels we need?
- A year, my lord - A year?
How many vessels do you think the Byzantine fleet has?
It's hard to say, Sir
They might increase by one as we speak
Well done!
That's what we'd do in case of storms, my lord
so that the sails won't rupture or the vessel drifts away
This robe is made out of hemp
We cover it with leather to protect it against moisture
I'll provide you with the necessary materials, workers and money
but you'll finish the job in half the time
Will do, by Allah's will
But where'd we get shipmasters for all those vessels?
Take care of the vessels and leave the shipmasters to us
Yes, my lord!