The Impact of the Noble Qur'an on the Early Muslims

The Shaykh : Likewise, the effects of the Qur'an, my brothers, the effects of the Qur'an. We may not be able to imagine them now because we have not realized them. The Muslims conquered the east and west of the earth with it. They conquered the east and west of the earth with it because they strive in the cause of the Qur'an and for the Qur'an. The people were in fear and in hunger, and what became of them? They became in the greatest security and in the greatest fullness. Yes. The crown of Kisra was brought from Ctesiphon, from beyond the river, to Madinah. Pay attention, my brother, so that you may measure the state of the Muslims today by their state in the past. The crown of Kisra, adorned with gold, pearls, and gems, was brought; one camel could not carry it, but two camels were tied together and the crown was placed on them, and it was brought from Ctesiphon to... to what? To Madinah, to 'Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him), because they strive in the cause of Allah, they strive for Allah, and they strive in Allah, three things.
They strive in the cause of Allah, meaning they seek help from Allah (Mighty and Majestic); they are not proud of themselves.
The second: they strive for Allah, with sincerity. Their aim was not tribal loyalty; they are not fighting for Arabness or for nationalism. They fight for the religion of Allah (Mighty and Majestic). They fight for Allah. The third: they fight in what? In Allah, meaning in the Shari'ah of Allah. So they do not proceed to fight except where they have prepared for the fight. And if they proceed to fight without preparation, it is defeat, because Allah said: And the pre-Islamic poet says:
"Your brother, your brother, for he who has no brother *** is like one who rushes to the battle without a weapon".
How can a person say, "I will fight, and I have no weapon"? That is not correct. This is negligence and excess in rushing forward.
I say: The effects of the Qur'an reached this extent; with it, the east and west of the earth were conquered. What was I talking about? About the crown of Kisra, my brothers. It was brought from Ctesiphon, after the Muslims had conquered it, to 'Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) in Madinah. So 'Umar was amazed. 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) was amazed how this crown was brought from the far east to Madinah without a single bead being lost from it. I do not know, by Allah, if we had taken it, what would have happened? Each person would take a bead. Yes, it would be gone, but they delivered it to 'Umar. He said, "A people who delivered this." 'Umar said: They are trustworthy. They said, "O Commander of the Faithful, they are trustworthy because you are trustworthy. And if you had been greedy, they would have been greedy." But he was not greedy, to the extent that (may Allah be pleased with him) — my brothers — he had a patched garment. The Caliph had a patched garment. When he wanted to sleep, where did he go? He slept in the mosque; they would make a pile for him to use as a pillow.
And for this reason, as history records, a Jewish man in Sham needed Mu'awiyah (may Allah be pleased with him) to make the Jewish man's house part of the Bayt al-Mal (public treasury) to expand the public treasury. So the Jew refused and said, "This is not possible; this is my house, and I will not sell it for all of Sham." He said, "Sell it." He said, "No, I will not sell it." So Mu'awiyah (may Allah be pleased with him) saw that if the Muslims needed this house, he would give its value, much more than its worth. He said, "By Allah, we must take the house, and this is its value, multiplied many times over; take it whenever you wish." The Jew was not satisfied with this. So he consulted some of his companions, and they said to him, "Go to 'Umar in Madinah. Go to 'Umar in Madinah." So he went to Madinah. From where? From where did he go? From Sham. He entered Madinah asking, "Where is the Commander of the Faithful? Where is 'Umar?" They directed him to him. And there was a man wearing a patched garment who had slept in the mosque, and they had made a pile of pebbles for him to use as a pillow. So the Jew was amazed, because Mu'awiyah (may Allah be pleased with him) in Sham was the governor for the Commander of the Faithful, 'Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with them both). But in that place, meaning the governor needs to have a type of grandeur and a luxurious palace so that people would fear him. Well, where is 'Umar? He said, "In the mosque." He went to the mosque and found this man. And he spoke to him about the matter. 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) wrote. It was said that he wrote with a bone, and it was said he wrote with a pebble, to Mu'awiyah: . May Allah reward you with good. Glory be to You, O our Lord, and praise be to You; we testify that there is no deity but You; I seek Your forgiveness and I repent to You.