1 00:00:00,460 --> 00:00:08,460 Pause and learn about the Companions, scholars, and prominent figures. 2 00:00:12,460 --> 00:00:16,460 A real challenge: Who am I? 3 00:00:16,460 --> 00:00:25,660 I am one of the Companions of the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, from the land of Tayy. 4 00:00:25,660 --> 00:00:29,760 I was an illustrious figure in the pre-Islamic era (Jahiliyyah). 5 00:00:29,760 --> 00:00:34,759 I was a formidable knight and an archer of the highest caliber. 6 00:00:34,759 --> 00:00:38,759 I was renowned for chivalry, bravery, and generosity. 7 00:00:38,759 --> 00:00:43,659 Among the accounts about me during the Jahiliyyah before Islam: 8 00:00:43,659 --> 00:00:49,659 A man from the Banu Shayban set out with his daughters during a year of drought. 9 00:00:49,659 --> 00:00:56,659 He brought them down to al-Hirah near its king so they might benefit from his bounty, 10 00:00:56,659 --> 00:01:02,780 and he swore never to return to them until he gained sustenance for them or died trying. 11 00:01:02,780 --> 00:01:10,780 So he took some provisions, then traveled for seven days until he arrived at our great tent. 12 00:01:10,780 --> 00:01:18,879 He said to himself, "I will wait by this tent; perhaps I might obtain something from them." 13 00:01:18,879 --> 00:01:24,939 He sat behind the tent, and as the sun was about to set, 14 00:01:24,939 --> 00:01:30,939 he saw me arriving on horseback, accompanied by a hundred camels along with their stud stallion. 15 00:01:30,939 --> 00:01:34,980 The stallion knelt, and the camels knelt around him. 16 00:01:34,980 --> 00:01:40,010 He gave us time until we had eaten and drank, and then we went to sleep. 17 00:01:40,010 --> 00:01:46,099 The man then stood up, went to the stallion, untied its tether, and mounted it. 18 00:01:46,099 --> 00:01:49,099 It bolted with him, and the camels followed in its pursuit. 19 00:01:49,099 --> 00:01:52,140 He rode throughout the night until morning came. 20 00:01:53,140 --> 00:01:57,230 When the daylight broadened, I caught up with him. 21 00:01:57,230 --> 00:02:03,230 The man dismounted from his camel, hobbled it, and called out to me in a loud voice: 22 00:02:03,230 --> 00:02:09,229 "I have left young daughters behind me, and I swore never to return to them 23 00:02:09,229 --> 00:02:13,229 until I gain sustenance for them or die trying!" 24 00:02:13,229 --> 00:02:16,229 I said to him, "Then you are as good as dead." 25 00:02:16,229 --> 00:02:22,229 Then I shot the camel's hobble with an arrow from afar and struck it. 26 00:02:22,229 --> 00:02:27,360 When the man witnessed such marksmanship from me, he surrendered to me. 27 00:02:27,360 --> 00:02:33,550 I took his sword and bow from him, then seated him behind me on my mount. 28 00:02:33,550 --> 00:02:39,550 Then I said to him, "If these camels had been mine, I would have surrendered them to you, 29 00:02:39,550 --> 00:02:42,550 but they belong to the chieftain's daughter. 30 00:02:42,550 --> 00:02:47,550 So stay with me, for I am about to launch a raid." 31 00:02:47,550 --> 00:02:54,680 He stayed for a few days; then I raided a tribe and captured a hundred camels from them. 32 00:02:54,680 --> 00:02:59,680 I gave all of them to him, and he departed back to his family. 33 00:02:59,680 --> 00:03:05,580 When I heard of Islam, I journeyed to Medina. 34 00:03:05,580 --> 00:03:10,580 I met the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) as he was delivering a sermon from the pulpit. 35 00:03:10,580 --> 00:03:14,580 I entered the mosque and pronounced the two testimonies of faith (Shahadah). 36 00:03:14,580 --> 00:03:19,580 He (peace be upon him) asked, "Who are you?" 37 00:03:19,580 --> 00:03:24,580 I replied, "I am so-and-so, known for goodness." 38 00:03:24,580 --> 00:03:30,580 He (peace be upon him) said, "Rather, you are Ma'ruf (the one known for goodness). 39 00:03:30,580 --> 00:03:35,639 Praise be to Allah who brought you from your plains and mountains, 40 00:03:35,639 --> 00:03:38,639 and softened your heart to Islam." 41 00:03:38,639 --> 00:03:42,860 Then he (peace be upon him) took me to his home 42 00:03:42,860 --> 00:03:45,860 and offered me a cushion to recline on. 43 00:03:45,860 --> 00:03:49,020 I felt too shy to recline in his presence, 44 00:03:49,020 --> 00:03:53,020 so I pushed it back to him, but he offered it back to me. 45 00:03:53,020 --> 00:03:58,020 I returned it to him, and he pushed it back to me three times. 46 00:03:58,020 --> 00:04:04,020 Then he said, "Never has a man been described to me and then I saw him, 47 00:04:04,020 --> 00:04:07,020 without him falling short of how he was described— 48 00:04:07,020 --> 00:04:12,020 except for you, for you surpass everything said about you." 49 00:04:12,020 --> 00:04:15,150 I said, "O Messenger of Allah, 50 00:04:15,150 --> 00:04:18,149 give me three hundred horsemen, 51 00:04:18,149 --> 00:04:23,149 and I guarantee you that I will raid the lands of the Byzantines with them, 52 00:04:23,149 --> 00:04:25,149 and I will overcome them." 53 00:04:25,149 --> 00:04:30,220 The Prophet (peace be upon him) greatly admired this high ambition of mine, 54 00:04:30,220 --> 00:04:35,220 and said, "May Allah bless you! What a magnificent man you are!" 55 00:04:35,220 --> 00:04:40,079 I remained in Medina for seven days after accepting Islam, 56 00:04:40,079 --> 00:04:43,079 and I was stricken with fever. 57 00:04:43,079 --> 00:04:46,139 I wished to meet my people 58 00:04:46,139 --> 00:04:50,139 and that Allah might decree Islam for them through my hands, 59 00:04:50,139 --> 00:04:52,240 so I set out toward them. 60 00:04:52,240 --> 00:04:56,240 But my appointed time of death caught up with me, 61 00:04:56,240 --> 00:05:00,240 and my soul departed while I was still on the road. 62 00:05:00,240 --> 00:05:02,779 So, who am I? 63 00:05:08,319 --> 00:05:12,579 We will pin the correct answer in the comments 64 00:05:12,579 --> 00:05:17,579 when the next episode is released, if Allah wills. 65 00:05:17,579 --> 00:05:22,579 The best of generations in character and example, 66 00:05:22,579 --> 00:05:27,579 Following the Messenger whenever he strove or spoke. 67 00:05:27,579 --> 00:05:32,579 They were once here, showering our lives like rain clouds; 68 00:05:32,579 --> 00:05:37,579 They have not truly died among us, for their memory continues to soar. 69 00:05:37,579 --> 00:05:42,579 They departed, leaving in our conscience a question: 70 00:05:42,579 --> 00:05:47,579 Was there ever a star like them that ascended and shone so bright? 71 00:05:47,579 --> 00:05:52,579 They filled this life with glories through their deeds, 72 00:05:52,579 --> 00:05:57,579 And through them, the mortal world flourished in elegance and grace.