Iranian TV series has mythological Persian heroes vanquishing U.S.

Hey, we're not the only ones who indulge in a bit of fantasizing now and again! The only problem is that our fantasies become public policy, while the Iranians' fantasies are just TV showIn Muhammad's life, the siege of Khaybar followed the disappointment of the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah, which Muhammad concluded with the pagan Quraysh on terms unfavorable to the Muslims -- much to the confusion and anger of some of his companions. A new revelation promised the Muslims disgruntled by the Treaty of Hudaybiyya “much booty” (Qur’an 48:19). Perhaps to fulfill this promise, Muhammad led them against the Khaybar oasis, which was inhabited by Jews -- many of them exiles from Medina. One of the Muslims later remembered: “When the apostle raided a people he waited until the morning. If he heard a call to prayer he held back; if he did not hear it he attacked. We came to Khaybar by night, and the apostle passed the night there; and when morning came he did not hear the call to prayer, so he rode and we rode with him….We met the workers of Khaybar coming out in the morning with their spades and baskets. When they saw the apostle and the army they cried, ‘Muhammad with his force,’ and turned tail and fled. The apostle said, ‘Allah Akbar! Khaybar is destroyed. When we arrive in a people’s square it is a bad morning for those who have been warned.’”

The Muslim advance was inexorable. “The apostle,” according to Muhammad's first biographer, Ibn Ishaq, “seized the property piece by piece and conquered the forts one by one as he came to them.” Another early Muslim chronicler, Ibn Sa‘d, reports that the battle was fierce: the “polytheists…killed a large number of [Muhammad’s] Companions and he also put to death a very large number of them….He killed ninety-three men of the Jews…” Muhammad and his men offered the fajr prayer, the Islamic dawn prayer, before it was light, and then entered Khaybar itself.

The Muslims immediately set out to locate the inhabitants’ wealth. Kinana bin al-Rabi, a Jewish leader of Khaybar who was supposed to have been entrusted with the treasure of the Banu Nadir, was brought before Muhammad. Kinana denied knowing where this treasure was, but Muhammad pressed him: “Do you know that if we find you have it I shall kill you?” Kinana said yes.

Some of the treasure was found. To find the rest, Muhammad gave orders concerning Kinana: “Torture him until you extract what he has.” One of the Muslims built a fire on Kinana’s chest, but Kinana would not give up his secret. When he was at the point of death, Muhammad bin Maslama, killer of the poet Ka’b bin Al-Ashraf, beheaded him.
Muhammad agreed to let the people of Khaybar go into exile, allowing them, as he had the Banu Nadir, to keep as much of their property as they could carry. However, he commanded them to leave behind all their gold and silver. He had intended to expel all of them, but some, who were farmers, begged him to allow them to let them stay if they gave him half their yield annually.

Muhammad agreed: “I will allow you to continue here, so long as we would desire.” He warned them: “If we wish to expel you we will expel you.” They no longer had any rights that did not depend upon the good will and sufferance of Muhammad and the Muslims. And indeed, when the Muslims discovered some treasure that some of the Khaybar Jews had hidden, he ordered the women of the tribe enslaved and seized the perpetrators’ land. A hadith notes that “the Prophet had their warriors killed, their offspring and woman taken as captives.”

"Iranian TV Series: '40 Soldiers', Depicts Mythological Persian Heroes Vanquishing U.S.," from MEMRI (thanks to the Constantinopolitan Irredentist):

During the second half of 2007, Iran's Channel 2 aired a 28-episode series called "40 Soldiers." The series, created by Mohammad Nouri-zad, examines the development of Iranian culture from four historical perspectives: the mythological pre-Islamic period, the life of national poet Hakim Abol-Qasem Ferdowsi Tusi (935-1020 CE), the life of Imam Ali, and the modern era.

In his portrayal of the life of Imam Ali, the director depicts the Muslim siege of the Jewish fortress of Khaybar. The Muslim army, led by Imam Ali, manages to conquer the fortress, following a sword fight between Imam Ali himself and the Jewish military commanders.

The last part of the series, which aired in December 2007, is set on an island in the southern Persian Gulf at some unspecified time in the future. The story is as follows: Dr. Mohsen Tabesh, an Iranian bank manager, weds his daughter Pantea to the son of Farid Memarian, who is a lecturer and also a newspaper editor. At the wedding, Tabesh's security guards betray him to the American soldiers, and rob the wedding guests. The American soldiers take this opportunity to invade the island where the wedding is being held. The Islamic resistance that is subsequently formed against the American soldiers summons the "40 soldiers" - heroes from Persian mythology - who vanquish the soldiers.

To view the part of the "40 Soldiers" series depicting the life of Imam Ali on MEMRI TV, visit:
http://www.memritv.org/clip/en/1680.htm .

To view the part of the "40 Soldiers" series depicting the American invasion of the Iranian island on MEMRI TV, visit:
http://www.memritv.org/clip/en/1681.htm .

Clip No. 1680: Imam Ali and the Muslim Conquest of the Jewish Fortress of Khaybar

"The Jews [Who Lived] in the Suburbs of Al-Madina Harassed the Muslims, Especially the Prophet [Muhammad]; They Repeatedly Violated Agreements"

Narrator: "The Jews [who lived] in the suburbs of Al-Madina harassed the Muslims, especially the Prophet [Muhammad]. They repeatedly violated the agreements. This is Khaybar, an inhabited region far from Al-Madina. Some of the fortresses of the Jews have been liberated by the Muslims, but their most important fortress still stands, and all the Muslims efforts to take control of it have been unsuccessful. Hunger afflicts the Muslim army, making the campaign even more difficult. They are all hungry - even the commanders and the Prophet's companions."

Muslim: "Abu Rafah, tell the Messenger of God to give up this useless siege."

Abu Rafah: "What are you talking about?"

Muslim: "What I'm saying is true. Either the Jews of Khaybar will kill us, or else we will die of hunger."

A herd of sheep wanders into the encampment.

Abu Rafah: "What's going on? What are you doing? Abu Saleh!"

Abu Saleh: "God sent the Israelites sustenance from heaven, and to us, He has sent sustenance by land."

Muslims lead a captured Jew, Abu Aswad.

Muslim: "Where is Muhammad?"

Another Muslim (to Abu Aswad the Jew): "Come with us."

Abu Rafah: "Who is this man? Where are you taking him?"

Abu Saleh: "He is a shepherd from Khaybar."

Muslim: "[We captured him] along with 50 fat sheep..."

Abu Saleh: "Praise God for not forsaking the Muslims."

Muslim: "The people of Khaybar have provided us with food."

Abu Rafah: "Leave him alone, until the Messenger of God rules what to do with him and his sheep."

Muhammad: "I have already made my decision."

Abu Rafah (to Muslims slaughtering sheep): "Get up. Stop."

"Muhammad, Accept Me as One of Your People"; "Allah Akbar, Allah Akbar, This Man has Become a Muslim"

Muhammad and Abu Aswad the Jew walk together, talking.

Abu Aswad: "You are so calm. Do you accept the prophets of the Jews?"

Muhammad: "I accept them all, but the way God conveyed to me, not the way the Jews view them."

Abu Aswad: "I have lived among the Jews for many years. Will God accept me?"

Muhammad: "He is kindhearted."

Abu Aswad: "Will He accept me?"

Muhammad: "Look inside your heart. What do you see?"

Abu Aswad: "I see light."

Muhammad: "This is the grace of God."

Abu Aswad: "Muhammad, accept me as one of your people."

Abu Rafah: "Allah Akbar, Allah Akbar, this man has become a Muslim."

Abu Aswad: "Oh Messenger of Allah, you will decide what to do with these sheep. I will do with them whatever you command."

Muhammad: "Return all the sheep."

Abu Saleh: "Oh Prophet of God, we are hungry. We have no food."

Muhammad: "Do as I say. These sheep belong to the Jews. Tell the Jews to open the gates of the fortress and take them back."

Muslim: "Oh Messenger of Allah, these sheep are our booty."

Muhammad: "Booty is something you take in war."

Abu Aswad: "For years, I have been talking to you in my heart."

Muhammad: "You have been destined to end your days in good fortune."

Abu Aswad: "Do you mean because I have become a Muslim?"

Muhammad: "Rise and behold the end of this good man. He is as close and dear to my heart as you. Embrace him, and take a good look at him, because in one hour, you will see him no more." [...]

"I Have Come Here to Recount the Story Of Khaybar Once Again, in Order to Gain From It the Knowledge Sought by the Universe.... I Have Come From... Future Centuries... From an Era in which People Yearn for the Truth"

Narrator: "I have come here to recount the story of Khaybar once again, in order to gain from it the knowledge sought by the universe. I have come from afar. I have come from tomorrow, from future centuries. I have come from an era in which people yearn for the truth. I have come to pick a flower of truth of what happened at Khaybar, for the people of tomorrow. Here the Jews built seven strong fortresses, and here they organized their rebellions against the Muslims."

Muslim: "Oh people of Khaybar, open the fortress and get your sheep back. Have no fear, we are not going to harm you."

The people of Khaybar open the drawbridge. Jewish fighters leave to bring the sheep back inside.

Jewish guard: "Abu Aswad, get inside. I'm talking to you, old man. Get inside. I'm talking to you, old man."

Abu Aswad: "I, Abu Aswad, am no longer a Jew. I am a Muslim, a Muslim."

Abu Aswad beats the guard to death with his staff.

The Muslims cheer: "Allah Akbar!"

Abu Aswad: "Allah Akbar!

"Allah Akbar!

"Allah Akbar!

"Allah Akbar!"

Another Jewish guard: "Shut up."

Abu Aswad: "I will send you to Hell too."

Jewish guard: "Prepare to die."

The Jewish guard beheads Abu Aswad, and the Jews carry the body of the slain guard into the fortress.

Young boy, son of the narrator: "Mother."

Narrator: "Darling, did you see how short is the distance between the birth and death of the lovers of truth?"

Phew. Read it all, if you have the stomach. The part featuring the defeat of the Americans is particularly rich with ironies.

Thanks Jihad Watch