Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah

Hazrat Ma'qil bin Yasar narrates that Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) consulted Hormuzan regarding Persia, Isfahan, and Azerbaijan. He said that Isfahan is like the head, and Persia and Azerbaijan are like the arms. If you cut off one arm, the head will remain with the support of the other arm, but if you cut off the head, the arms will fall by themselves. Then Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) went to the mosque and saw that Hazrat Nu'man bin Muqarrin was praying. He sat near him, and when he finished his prayer, Hazrat Umar said to him, "I want to appoint you as a leader." He replied, "If it is to appoint me over a region, I am not willing, but if it is to send me for jihad, I accept." Hazrat Umar said, "You will go as a leader for jihad." He sent him off and told the people of Kufa to help him. Along with him were Zubair bin Al-Awwam, Amr bin Ma'dikarib, Hazrat Hudhaifah (may Allah be pleased with him), Mughirah bin Shu'bah, Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them), and Ash'ath bin Qais. (2) Hazrat Nu'man bin Muqarrin sent Hazrat Mughirah bin Shu'bah to their king, whose name was "Dhul-Hajibain." He was informed that an envoy from the Arabs was coming. He consulted his companions whether he should sit in the manner of kings or in the manner of warriors. They advised him to sit in the manner of kings. So he sat on his throne and placed a crown on his head. His princes also sat around him, with earrings in their ears, gold bracelets on their hands, and silk garments on their bodies. Hazrat Mughirah was granted permission to meet; he was brought in under the guard of two men, with his sword and spear in his hands. Hazrat Mughirah made holes in their carpet with his spear so that they would consider it a bad omen. He stood before the king. There was an interpreter between them. The king said, "O people of Arabia, hunger and hardship have afflicted you, and you have come to us. If you wish, we can give you wealth and send you back." (3) Hazrat Mughirah bin Shu'bah began to speak, praised Allah Almighty, and then said, "We Arabs were a humiliated people. People used to oppress us, but we did not oppress anyone. We used to eat dogs and carrion. Then Allah Almighty sent among us a Prophet, through whose advent we were honored. He was the best in lineage and the most truthful in speech. Allah Almighty granted His Prophet the religion, and whatever he said proved true. He also promised us that we would become the owners of such-and-such regions and would prevail over people. I see much adornment and decoration in your region, and those who are behind me will never give up these things." Then I said in my heart, "If I jump and sit on his throne, they will consider it a bad omen." So I jumped and sat on the throne with the king. They began to hit me with their legs and pull me with their hands. I said, "We do not do this with your envoys. If I have acted foolishly, do not punish me, for such is not done with envoys." (4) The king said, "If you wish, we can attack you, and if you wish, you can attack us." I said, "We will attack you." So the people were divided into groups of five, seven, six, and ten so that they could not flee. We advanced towards them and stood in ranks before them. They rushed towards us quickly. Hazrat Mughirah said to Hazrat Nu'man, "They have come quickly, they have set out; if you attack, it will be better." Hazrat Nu'man said, "You have many virtues and merits. You participated in many battles with the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him). I have seen with the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) that he would not fight at the beginning of the day; when the sun would decline, the wind would blow, and help would descend, then he would fight." (5) Then Hazrat Nu'man (may Allah be pleased with him) said, "I will shake my flag three times. When I move the flag the first time, everyone should fulfill their needs and perform ablution. When I shake the flag the second time, everyone should pick up their weapons, and when I shake the flag the third time, attack. No one should turn towards anyone; even if Nu'man is killed, no one should turn towards him. I am the caller towards Allah. I make everyone swear to protect what has been entrusted to him." Then he said, "O Allah, grant Nu'man today the martyrdom of help and success..."