"Episode 12"
- Hold on - He must come speak to us now
Hold on, people!
My father won't speak to anyone today
Go back to where you came until he approves
We won't return until he speaks to us
We're running out of time
He must make a decision concerning Muslims, now
Is he inside?
Who's more deserving of the pledge than you, Aba Al-Hasan?
This pledge of allegiance is not without suspicions
For it weighs on the heart and destroys the bond
He who accepts it is like one who willingly lets his sheep in a cave
guarded by wolves, Ammar
So, get out and tell people just that
He must come see us...
Here is Aba Al-Hasan
- Aba Al-Hasan - Praise be to Allah
- Peace be upon you - Aba Al-Hasan
Peace and Allah's mercy be upon you
Aba Al-Hasan, we've come a long way
What's done is done...
after the stubbornness of appropriators and wrath of rebels
So, don't hold back on what the Nation waits from you
What happened in Medina is unfortunate
and its dark shadow will take its toll on us forever
As to the pledge of allegiance I don't accept it, but rather I reject it
Don't do it, Aba Al-Hasan don't abandon us like this
I won't abandon you by Allah's will
and I won't hesitate to advise whoever the people choose
I adjure you by Allah
I adjure you by Allah, Aba Al-Hasan...
that you don't leave us and our Nation to oppression and turmoil
You can't choose to go into seclusion
You owe it to the Nation
I won't accept a pledge of allegiance unless it aims for unity
with the presence of the Advisors at the top of people, and I won't accept it...
unless it's done in Allah's Messenger mosque, peace upon Him
- Peace upon Him - Before everyone to see and hear
Do you accept my advice?
Don't rush it
and avoid this as much as you can
People are agitated
and accusation is easy
The righteous have blended with the wicked
and the killer is not known from rightful claimant
Besides, the Advisors haven't discussed the matter
and haven't decided that he's the most worthy to becoming the Caliph
Talha...
we should pledge allegiance to him as long as people are asking for that
It's out of the hands of the Advisors
and into the hands of Egypt and Iraq's people who reside amongst us
- and carry arms - So, what?
If we refused to pledge allegiance we'll pour oil on the fire
and become vulnerable to the spiteful people
who killed Uthman may Allah be merciful to him
Are we accepting that out of fear?
Rather, to avoid turmoil
Turmoil?
We've seen the consequence of refusing to act for fear of turmoil
Aba Muhammad...
Fearing turmoil isn't a disgrace
People have long waited you inside, Aba Al-Hasan
I won't enter before the arrival of the nobles of Medina, Malik
Do you mean a particular person?
All the nobles of Medina
Here comes Saad Ibn Abi Waqas
Peace and Allah's mercy be upon you
I know that you're the most worthy to have it, Aba Al-Hasan
I don't seek it for myself or for anyone else
But I'm afraid that being one of the first to pledge allegiance to you
would make people suspect that I'm stoking this turmoil
However, I find it hard...
to leave people without a Caliphate or leadership
Here come Talha and Al-Zubayr
Peace be upon you
Peace and Allah's mercy and blessings be upon you
I pledge allegiance to you as the Commander of the Faithful
"From Na'ila Bnt al-Farafisa"
"to Mu'awiya Ibn Abi Sufyan"
"As for what follows..."
"the Commander of the Faithful was oppressed"
"If Uthman hasn't owed you save governance..."
"any Muslim who supports his leadership must support him"
"let alone that you knew his seniority in Islam and good conduct"
"People of the provinces have besieged him at his house"
"They have guarded his doors days and nights with arms"
"deprived him of anything they could
"They even have denied him water"
"That's when people came to him shouting to engage in a fight"
"Yet, he forbade them and ordered to give them back their arrows"
"and that's what they did"
"That added nothing to the people of the provinces but audacity in killing"
"and made things worse"
"They've burned the door to his house"
"and killed the oppressed Commander of the Faithful on his bed"
"I've sent you his bloody gown"
"By Allah, if his killer is guilty..."
"then the one who let him down is not free of blame"
"So, reflect on your position before Allah"
"and I complain to Allah the Exalted everything that has afflicted us"
"and implore his righteous servants"
"May Allah be merciful to Uthman and curse his killers"
"and may He strike them down in this world with disgrace and humiliation"
"and may He heal the hearts by avenging them"
They killed Uthman and cut Na'ila's fingers
What shall we do now?
We should send someone to reach the troops that he sent to Medina
- to return to Damascus immediately - No
The army must stay on the outskirts of Medina just in case
Rather, the army must return to Damascus
If someone wants to backstab us he'll do it now
while we're busy mourning our Commander may Allah be merciful to him
Any danger or treachery would come from there
That's why the army must stay on the outskirts of Medina
Stop arguing, you both
This isn't a suitable time for argument, Utba
After pledging allegiance to Ali
it has become necessary for us to proceed with caution and patience
Send for the army to return to Damascus
What about the retribution for Uthman?
Whoever loves Uthman should invoke Allah for him
As for retribution for him
It's my own concern from this moment on
The only troops we have...
- Dahhak - Sir?
Increase the number of soldiers on the gates and the southern side
No strangers shall pass through this gates
- And caravan routes? - We're watching every route
and all mailmen know their parts
Indeed, this would lead to the turmoil my father was keen on avoiding
All world's turmoil don't equal killing your father and leader of the Umayyads
May Allah be merciful to my uncle, Uthman
We would be worthy of lamentation if we waive retribution for him
- and leave his killers free - And if we didn't do that, Aunt?
We'd be wavering retribution for your father and our Commander
- We would forget and forgive - Forgive and forget?
Aunt!
Have the oppressors forgave your father and forgot to murder him?
Or, they've scrambled to kill him like hyenas swarming around an injured lion?
The only retribution I want is from Allah glorified and exalted be He
I don't want to shed more blood
What do I say to your widowed mothers and your orphaned siblings?
What do I say to every humiliated Umayyad after killing the Umayyads' leader?
Rather, the leader of all Muslims
I'm saying that to avoid the turmoil my father kept away from
We're only demanding retribution Son of the Commander of the Faithful
I don't know
I fear a turmoil that sows discord among Muslims
Allah the Exalted, said...
"And there is for you in legal retribution saving of life..."
"O you people of understanding that you may become righteous"
Arabs used to say "killing is a deterrent to killing"
Failing to enforcing the punishments set by Allah...
would lead to a turmoil on Muslims much dangerous
than the turmoil you're afraid might break by demanding your father's killers
which are a group of rabble and hypocrites
O, Umayyads...
cousins of our wrongfully killed Commander of the Faithful
This is all that's left of your cousin, Uthman
When I saw his blood...
and held the shirt in which he was killed
I felt that I was seeing him being killed before me
As if I were a crippled who can't raise a hand or speak a word
Uthman, leaving this world...
he would win Paradise by Allah's will
we consider him a martyr in the Highest Paradise
Allah will suffice him
The best course of action is to look ahead not behind
and determine to do the right thing
- But I'm Uthman's son - Allah the Exalted said...
"And whoever is killed unjustly We have given his heir authority"
"but let him not exceed limits in the matter of taking a life"
"Indeed, he has been supported by the law"
I'm the Umayyad Marwan Ibn Al-Hakam
on behalf of the Umayyads
We choose you, Mu'awiya to avenge Uthman
You'll bear the responsibility if you don't avenge his murder
and you'd be shameful until the Day of Judgement
Yes, Mu'awiya
You're the seeker of Uthman's justice
You're the seeker of Uthman's justice...
Death to Uthman's murderers!
Allah Akbar
Peace and Allah's mercy be upon you
If I may, Commander of the Faithful
It isn't right to start your reign with this decision
Things will get much worse
Aba Issa, Governors of provinces are the root of this turmoil
If we appoint other than them people will calm down
Uthman's murderers are no longer angry
but some people are agitated
and hearts consumed by fury because of the Caliph's murder
I don't think it would calm down without carrying out retribution
Averting the means of corruption is prioritized over benefits
Let's dismiss Uthman's Governors
Afterwards, we'll consider retribution based on proof, not suspicion
Aba Al-Hasan...
I don't think that the Umayyads who include Governors and army commanders
would be patient regarding Uthman's murder
If it weren't because of his status in the nation
it would be because of their blood ties to him
I've heard that Uthman's sons
entrusted Mu'awiya to seek justice for him
Aba Al-Hasan if postponement is a must
You should at least approve Uthman's appointees
so people who think bad of you would calm down
If you mean that they might revolt we'll push them back by Allah's laws
Ali won't carry out retribution before everyone accepts him as a Caliph
We didn't pledge allegiance to Ali Ibn Abi Talib for this
We thought that he'd start his reign by punishing Uthman's murderers
You have different opinions than Ali but he's the Caliph
You can't give your opinion in the laws of Allah
How could he neglect that?
He's not neglecting that, Talha
He want's to be sure and carry out retribution based on proof
It's only a ploy so he could please Uthman's advocates
Does Ibn Abi Talib thinks we're naive to entice us with promises?
What are you going to do?
What to do now?
He's become the Caliph
To him belongs the command and the prohibition
and there's no way you could refrain from complying
What do you think he'll do to us?
Do you think he'll keep you as Governor of Syria?
What do you think?
He'll dismiss me as Syria Governor without any doubt
and won't keep me even for an hour
Would he dismiss you after all you've done in Syria?
After years of development and protecting Muslims borders
That would be a huge mistake
If Ali dismissed you it would be a war declaration
Ali thinks it's the right decision
For, he thinks that the Governors were the root of turmoil
and with rebels pledging allegiance to him in Medina
they'll advise him to do so
He'll think that getting rid of Uthman's Governors means eliminating turmoil
If he dismissed you...
we'll be without an army or a power to help us seek retribution
Hence, murderers live in a lap of luxury
while we become overwhelmed by misery and sorrow
I would have done the same if I were in his place
How would he keep a strong relative to Uthman to lead Muslims' biggest army?
Ali wouldn't allow it
My Lord, you're in Syria among your supporters and next of kin
and I don't think that anyone would overcome you while you're here
Mu'awiya, don't tell me you're not going to fight in support to your cousin, Uthman
and take revenge from the murderers of the Muslims' Caliph
What are you going to do?
Do you think that your cousin can punish Uthman killers...
with them staying around his house?
Rather, they were audacious enough to pledge allegiance to him
What made Uthman unable to deal with them before
is making Ali unable to deal with them today
The huge problem is that they've become decision-makers in Medina
and being at their side is like attending a dinner for the ignoble
We didn't pledge allegiance to Ali for that
He won't let us act after becoming the Caliph
Are we going to endure this until we lose our rights...
and Uthman's murder is in vain?
We yearn to the Sacred House Aba Al-Hasan
If you granted us permission Talha and I will leave for Mecca
I don't forbid you from visiting the Sacred House, Aba Abdullah
But we're in dire need to have the Advisors at our side in Medina
We're still facing what hit us after Uthman's death
We won't be gone for long Commander of the Faithful
We'll leave for a couple of days to perform Umra and seek Allah's favors
then, we'll return to Medina
So, if you granted us permission may Allah reward you well
May I speak to you privately Commander of the Faithful?
Now?
Don't grant them permission
I think that their travel is only a ploy
Enough with the suspicions, Abdallah
Muslims blood were shed for such suspicions
Being suspicious is well-advised
Besides, leaving in this very time is what made me suspicious
I won't start my reign with suspicions and feuding my friends and next of kin
Go with Allah's blessings
Don't forget to supplicate Allah for me by the Ka'ba
However, don't take too much money and things with you
That is safer at the road
and would exonerate you of any suspicion
May Allah reward you well Commander of the Faithful
- Peace be upon you - Peace be upon you
And be upon you
Do you want anything else, my Lord?
Stay, Mayya I can't sleep
Do you want me to recite you some poetry?
Perhaps it'll help you sleep
No, there's so much on my mind
What's bothering you?
I'll tell you a story to ease your sorrows
One day...
a king has summoned a carpenter from his kingdom
and told him that he wanted him dead
The carpenter was shocked and asked about the reason
perhaps, he made a mistake and was unaware of it
The king said...
"There's no reason"
"but it happens that someone must be killed every now and then"
"so that the people would do their best"
The carpenter wept for a long time
He had children
Who'd take care of them after his death?
He had also a wife and an elderly mother
who would support them after his passing?
The carpenter went to his wife while consumed with sorrow
She asked him why
He said that the king wanted him dead
but allowed him to say goodbye to his family and children
His wife laughed
and he was amazed by her lack of concern
However, she said...
Don't worry
and resign yourself to the will of Allah
I swear that Allah won't let us alone
At dawn, the carpenter heard a knock on the door
and felt that it's the knock of death
He walked with heavy steps
until he reached the door and opened it
He found soldiers standing there
and said...
- "Is it time?" - They said, "no"
"We've came to tell you that the king is dead"
"and you must make a coffin that befits him"
The carpenter let out a loud laugh
but he took notice to the surprise on the soldiers' faces
and said...
"I'll make the best coffin that would befit our king"
Then he went back to tell his wife about his survival
She said...
"Didn't I advise you not to feel sad?"
"Allah knows more about His decree"
As if you know the future
Ali decided to send Sahl Ibn Hunayf with the letter of your dismissal
and appointing him as Governor of Syria
Let's discuss it together
The minute his cavalry reach the outskirts of Syria
he'll be Governor of this province
and that I've accepted Ali Ibn Abi Talib's order
Who would let him reach this land alive?
Denying him entry means that I've chosen war
against Ali Ibn Abi Talib without turning back
Ali didn't leave me any other choice, Utba
He wants me to endure bitterness alone
to endure in silence while I bow in compliance
You hadn't pledge allegiance to accept that
Don't accept whomever he appoints or dismisses on the provinces
I can't accept for Uthman's justice might be lost
along with all my life I've spent in Syria
I'm losing whether I accept or I refuse
Syria will stay at war with Ali and his supporters
until Allah judges between us
- Who are you? - Governor of Syria
- Governor of Syria? - Sahl Ibn Hunayf
I'm carrying the letter of dismissal of Mu'awiya Ibn Abi Sufyan
and appointing me as Governor of Syria
So, make way by orders of the Commanders of the Faithful
If Uthman who sent you then, you're welcome
but if it was someone else, go back
- Haven't you heard what happened? - Yes
O soldiers, Muslims aren't used to such speech
This is our Commander's letter to appoint me as Syria's Governor
and dismissing your friend so make way
Our Commander was killed in his house, Ibn Hunayf
and we haven't pledged allegiance to another Caliph after him
If you've pledged allegiance...
that's your business
However, in Syria we don't another Caliph than Uthman Ibn Affan
and we won't pledge allegiance to anyone else before punishing his killers
This a letter you'll take it back to Ibn Abi Talib
It's from my Lord Mu'awiya Ibn Abi Sufyan
Governor of Syria
Let him read it very well
I advise you to leave at once
because the wolves in Syria...
prey on whoever comes near to their land
Come on!
"From Mu'awiya Ibn Abi Sufyan Governor of Syria"
"to Ali Ibn Abi Talib"
"As for what follows..."
"We've sent back your appointee to you"
"the pledge of allegiance to you is void"
"and people of Syria don't accept it"
"until retribution is carried out on the killers
of the Commander of the Faithful, Uthman may Allah have mercy on him"
"Was it not for your devotion to yourself and love of authority"
"you wouldn't accept that the sinful hand that betrayed the Commander of the Faithful"
"is the same hand that extends to give you unjust and invalid pledge of allegiance"
"Be certain that the Umayyads have chosen me to seek Uthman's justice"
"and we won't pledge allegiance to you until the murderers are brought to justice"
"or don't stand in our way..."
"to take revenge on them"
Now what, Father?
I've sent Sahl Ibn Hunayf
to know what path Mu'awiya would choose
and now I know