A Devotion Reserved Solely for Allah

When the mighty Abbasid Caliph Harun al-Rashid, may Allah have mercy on him, besieged the fortified Byzantine city of Heraclea, a fearsome warrior stepped out from behind its walls. This knight, among their most skilled and terrifying, challenged anyone to single combat. Not one soldier from the Muslim army came forward. The Byzantine raised his voice again, this time asking for three men together, and still no answer. He kept increasing the number until he reached twenty horsemen, with the duel set for the next day. Meanwhile, the Caliph was asleep. When he woke and learned what happened-that even the bravest Muslim champions held back-his anger flared and distress filled his heart. Some volunteers came to him and said, "O Commander of the Faithful, send out a common soldier, not a high-ranking commander. If he kills the Byzantine, it will crush their spirit and weaken their defenses. If the Byzantine kills him, it won't burden the army deeply since they won't know who went out." Al-Rashid agreed and asked them to pick a volunteer. They all said no one was up to it except the daring champion Ibn al-Jazari. When the time came, Ibn al-Jazari rode out. The Byzantine recognized him at once-Ibn al-Jazari was a famous Muslim warrior, always guarding the frontiers, known by friend and foe. The Byzantine shouted in disbelief, "Are you not Ibn al-Jazari, guardian of the frontiers?" He replied calmly, "I am." Both were top warriors, unmatched in glory. They dueled for a long while, neither gaining the upper hand. Then Ibn al-Jazari suddenly pretended to flee, galloping toward the Muslim lines. Sadness struck the believers, while the Byzantines on the walls cheered in triumph. The Byzantine charged after him, certain of victory-but Ibn al-Jazari swiftly turned his horse, a masterful trick, and threw a dagger into the Byzantine's neck. He then rushed at him like lightning and finished him before he fell from his horse. The whole Muslim army shouted "Allahu Akbar." That very night, the mighty city crumbled from the blow's shock, and its people fled in chaos. After the army entered the city, Harun al-Rashid ordered Ibn al-Jazari brought to him and commanded riches to be poured upon him. But the champion refused even a single coin, saying, "O Commander of the Faithful, may Allah bless you and your wealth, but I am a man who fights for Allah's sake alone. Whoever fights for Allah seeks only His reward and takes nothing for himself." These are the champions who entered battlefields to raise Allah's words-men who never bargained in honorable arenas, for they had sold their souls to Allah long before, at a price no earthly treasury could match. So victory stayed with them, and Allah was their Guardian. "And you will remember what I say to you, and I entrust my affair to Allah. Indeed, Allah is Seeing of His servants." (Surah Ghafir: 44)