Utbah ibn Ghazwan (RA)
Umar ibn al-Khattab’s Decision To Confront The Persians:
During his time as the Caliph, Umar ibn al-Khattab had been informed that the Persian forces were confronting the Muslims.
Umar then decided to send an army to the city of Al-Ubullah and cut off its line of suppliers to the Persian army.
Umar ibn al-Khattab knew that he did not have many soldiers remaining in his army, so he decided to organise a small army and place them under the leadership of a strong commander.
Appointment of Utbah ibn Ghazwan:
Umar then called Utbah ibn Ghazwan and appointed him as the commander of the army to attack the city of Al-Ubullah.
Utbah ibn Ghazwan had fought previously at Badr, Uhud, Khandaq and participated in other battles.
Umar’s Instructions to Utbah ibn Ghazwan:
As the army was ready to leave, Umar gave instructions to Utbah saying: Utbah, I am sending you to the land of Al-Ubullah. It is one of the major fortresses of the enemy and I pray that Allah helps you to take it. When you reach the city, invite its inhabitants to the worship of Allah. If they respond to you, accept them (as Muslims). If they refuse, then take from them the Jizyah. If they refuse to pay the Jizyah, then fight them. And fear Allah, O Utbah, in the discharge of your duties. Beware of letting yourself become too haughty or arrogant for this will corrupt your hereafter. Know that you were a companion of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. Allah honoured you through him after your being insignificant. He strengthened you through him after you were weak. You have become a commander with authority and a leader who must be obeyed. What a great blessing if this does not make you vain and deceive you and lead you to Jahannam. May Allah protect you and me from it.
March to Al-Ubullah:
Utbah’s army then set off and eventually, they reached a place called Qasba’ which was close to Al-Ubullah.
The army of Utbah then went on to the city of Al-Ubullah on the banks of the River Euphrates.
The Persians used Al-Ubullah as a depot for their weapons and because of this, there were several fortresses in the city.
The fortresses were strategically used as observation posts to monitor any hostile activity outside of the city.
Military Strategy and Conquest:
Utbah ibn Ghazwan had flags prepared which he had hung on spears, and he gave the flags to the women in the army and ordered them to march behind them
Utbah instructed them: When we get near to the city, raise the dust behind us so that the entire atmosphere is filled with it.
As they got closer to Al-Ubullah, the Persian forces saw the Muslims advancing with the flags flying behind them.
They saw the dust which filled the air around and thought that the Muslim army was large in number.
Because of this tactic used by Utbah, the Persian army were deceived and they felt that they did not have an army strong enough to fight the Muslims.
They decided to evacuate the city, picking up whatever valuables they could and abandoning their city.
Victory at Al-Ubullah:
Utbah ibn Ghazwan entered Al-Ubullah without a single casualty in his army.
Consolidation of Muslim Control:
Utbah ibn Ghazwan managed to bring the surrounding towns and villages under Muslim control.
When news spread of Utbah’s success and the large amount of wealth on the land he gained, many people came to the city of Al-Ubullah in search of wealth.
The Founding of Basra:
Utbah ibn Ghazwan realised that the Muslims now were used to an easy life because of the wealth they amassed, which weakened their determination to continue struggling.
Utbah wrote to Umar ibn al-Khattab asking him for permission to build a military unit in Basra and this request was granted by thr Khalifah.
Utbah ibn Ghazwan planned the city by himself and built its first Mosque, where Utbah and his army went out on military campaigns.
The soldiers of Utbah’s army eventually settled on the land and built houses.
Utbah ibn Ghazwan’s Simplicity:
Utbah ibn Ghazwan did not build a house for himself and continued to live in a tent made out of cloth.
He witnessed how the preoccupation with worldly possessions had caused many Muslims to forget about their real purpose in this Dunya.
Utbah’s Concern for the Attachment of this Dunya:
Utbah was afraid that his Deen would be affected by the Dunya.
He was concerned about his Hereafter and gathered the Muslims to the Masjid of Basra and addressed them.
Utbah ibn Ghazwan’s Warning:
Utbah said: O People. The Dunya will come to an end and you will be carried from it to an abode which will not wane or disappear. Go to it with the best of your deeds. I look back and see myself among the early Muslims with the Messenger of Allah. We would have no food apart from the leaves of the trees and our lips would fester. One day, I found a burdah and I tore it in two and shared it with Sa’d ibn Abi Waqqas. I made an Azar with one half and he did the same with the other half. Here we are today. There is not one of us but he is an Amir of one of the garrison (military) towns. I seek Allah’s protection lest I become great in my own estimation and little in the sight of Allah.
Stepping Down From Leadership:
With these words, Utbah appointed someone else to take his place.
He left to perform Hajj and travelled to Madinah to ask Umar ibn al-Khattab to relieve him of the responsibility of the governing city.
Umar ibn al-Khattab refused this and told Utbah: You place your trusts and your responsibilities on my neck and then you abandon me. no, by Allah. I shall never relieve you.
Umar ibn al-Khattab commanded Utbah ibn Ghazwan to return to Basra.
Utbah ibn Ghazwan’s Death:
Utbah knew he had to obey Umar ibn al-Khattab and did so with a heavy heart.
On his way, he prayed: O Lord, do not send me back to Basra. O Lord, do not send me back to Basra!
As he headed to Basra, not far from Madinah, his camel stumbled and Utbah ibn Ghazwan fell.
Allah SWT had answered his Dua, as the injuries he sustained on his journey back to Basra ultimately led to his death.