Consul during the Battle of Jisr

Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud (ra), in another place, states:

“One of the biggest and harrowing defeats faced by the Muslims was during the Battle of Jisr. A very strong army of Muslims had been sent to fight against the Persian forces. The Persian forces had set up their trenches on the opposite side of the river and were sat in wait.

“When the Muslim army approached, they attacked the Persian forces with great intensity and went right through them. However, this was the ploy of the commander of the Persian army. He then sent another contingent from the side, who took control of the bridge and then launched an attack against the Muslim army.

“The Muslims planned to move back, but noticed that the bridge had been seized by the enemy, they anxiously moved to another side, but came under a fierce attack from the enemy and many of the Muslims were left with no choice but to jump into the river and died. This was such a dangerous loss suffered by the Muslim army that its news left Medina in shock.

“Hazrat Umar (ra) gathered the people of Medina and stated, ‘Now there is nothing that remains between Persia and Medina. Medina has become completely exposed and it is possible that the enemy may reach here in just a matter of days. Therefore, I wish to go myself as the commander of the army.’

“Everyone agreed to this suggestion; however, Hazrat Ali (ra) stated, ‘If, God-forbid, you were to be martyred, the unity of the Muslims will end and they will be dispersed. Therefore, you should not go but send someone else instead.’ Upon this, Hazrat Umar (ra) wrote to Hazrat Saad (ra), who at the time was engaged in battle against the Byzantines in Syria, and stated that he should send however many people he could because Medina was left completely exposed. If the enemy was not stopped immediately, they would eventually take control of Medina.”

(Majlis Khuddam-ul-Ahmadiyyah ke Salana Ijtima … Mein Aham Hidayat, Anwar al-Ulum, Vol. 22,pp. 56-57)