Pause and learn about the Companions, scholars, and prominent figures.
A real challenge: Who am I?
I am one of the Companions of the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, from the land of Tayy.
I was an illustrious figure in the pre-Islamic era (Jahiliyyah).
I was a formidable knight and an archer of the highest caliber.
I was renowned for chivalry, bravery, and generosity.
Among the accounts about me during the Jahiliyyah before Islam:
A man from the Banu Shayban set out with his daughters during a year of drought.
He brought them down to al-Hirah near its king so they might benefit from his bounty,
and he swore never to return to them until he gained sustenance for them or died trying.
So he took some provisions, then traveled for seven days until he arrived at our great tent.
He said to himself, "I will wait by this tent; perhaps I might obtain something from them."
He sat behind the tent, and as the sun was about to set,
he saw me arriving on horseback, accompanied by a hundred camels along with their stud stallion.
The stallion knelt, and the camels knelt around him.
He gave us time until we had eaten and drank, and then we went to sleep.
The man then stood up, went to the stallion, untied its tether, and mounted it.
It bolted with him, and the camels followed in its pursuit.
He rode throughout the night until morning came.
When the daylight broadened, I caught up with him.
The man dismounted from his camel, hobbled it, and called out to me in a loud voice:
"I have left young daughters behind me, and I swore never to return to them
until I gain sustenance for them or die trying!"
I said to him, "Then you are as good as dead."
Then I shot the camel's hobble with an arrow from afar and struck it.
When the man witnessed such marksmanship from me, he surrendered to me.
I took his sword and bow from him, then seated him behind me on my mount.
Then I said to him, "If these camels had been mine, I would have surrendered them to you,
but they belong to the chieftain's daughter.
So stay with me, for I am about to launch a raid."
He stayed for a few days; then I raided a tribe and captured a hundred camels from them.
I gave all of them to him, and he departed back to his family.
When I heard of Islam, I journeyed to Medina.
I met the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) as he was delivering a sermon from the pulpit.
I entered the mosque and pronounced the two testimonies of faith (Shahadah).
He (peace be upon him) asked, "Who are you?"
I replied, "I am so-and-so, known for goodness."
He (peace be upon him) said, "Rather, you are Ma'ruf (the one known for goodness).
Praise be to Allah who brought you from your plains and mountains,
and softened your heart to Islam."
Then he (peace be upon him) took me to his home
and offered me a cushion to recline on.
I felt too shy to recline in his presence,
so I pushed it back to him, but he offered it back to me.
I returned it to him, and he pushed it back to me three times.
Then he said, "Never has a man been described to me and then I saw him,
without him falling short of how he was described—
except for you, for you surpass everything said about you."
I said, "O Messenger of Allah,
give me three hundred horsemen,
and I guarantee you that I will raid the lands of the Byzantines with them,
and I will overcome them."
The Prophet (peace be upon him) greatly admired this high ambition of mine,
and said, "May Allah bless you! What a magnificent man you are!"
I remained in Medina for seven days after accepting Islam,
and I was stricken with fever.
I wished to meet my people
and that Allah might decree Islam for them through my hands,
so I set out toward them.
But my appointed time of death caught up with me,
and my soul departed while I was still on the road.
So, who am I?
We will pin the correct answer in the comments
when the next episode is released, if Allah wills.
The best of generations in character and example,
Following the Messenger whenever he strove or spoke.
They were once here, showering our lives like rain clouds;
They have not truly died among us, for their memory continues to soar.
They departed, leaving in our conscience a question:
Was there ever a star like them that ascended and shone so bright?
They filled this life with glories through their deeds,
And through them, the mortal world flourished in elegance and grace.