سارية بن زنيم

Sariya ibn Zunaym was a commander of the Muslims in the caliphate of Umar ibn al-Khattab (may God be pleased with him). In the year 23 AH he set out for Fasa and Darabjird, where a large force of Persians and Kurds gathered against him. ¹

Ibn Kathir, citing Sayf on the authority of his teachers, reports that Umar saw the battle and its numbers in a dream, called the people to prayer, climbed the pulpit, and told Sariya from it to hold the mountain. ¹

The reports say the Muslims took refuge on a mountain, where the enemy could reach them from one side only; God gave them the victory, they took the town and gained much booty. ¹

One report says Sariya asked the Muslims for a casket of jewels and sent it with the fifth to Umar. Umar refused to accept it and ordered it returned to the army. ¹

Ibn Kathir also reports that Sariya's messenger reached Medina with the news, and that when Umar was asked about his shout from the pulpit, he said he had only spoken what was placed on his tongue. ²

Ibn Kathir sets these reports side by side, saying that some strengthen others, and judges the chain of Ibn Umar to be good. ¹

Omar Abdelkafy says that when the soul is refined by obedience and uprightness it sees what is not ordinarily seen, and counts among this Umar's call to Sariya: 'O Sariya, the mountain, the mountain!' ^{3 4 5}