The Scholar That Spent 10 Years Underground

The Scholar That Spent 10 Years Underground

A tyrant threatened him with death. His reply echoed through the centuries. Al-Hajjaj was a governor notorious for his brutality.

When he entered a village, death followed. Enter Sa'id ibn Jubair, barely 35, a scholar of fiqh, hadith, tafsir, inheritance law. Al-Hajjaj needed religious legitimacy for his policies.

He wanted a scholarly sign-off, but Sa'id held firmly to the book of Allah, and he refused. Amidst this brutal regime, a rebellion ignited, and Sa'id joined based on the Islamic obligation to oppose injustice. After the rebellion was stamped out, he fled underground.

Over a decade later, he was eventually captured and brought before Al-Hajjaj. Al-Hajjaj reveled in bloodshed and humiliation. He asked Sa'id to choose his method of execution.

Sa'id responded that earthly choices belonged to Al-Hajjaj, because ultimate judgment belonged to Allah. When guards prevented him from facing the Qibla for a final Salah, Sa'id recited:

"Wherever you turn, there is the face of Allah." Teaching Quran until his last breath.