WEBVTT 00:00:00.460 --> 00:00:08.460 Pause and learn about the Companions, scholars, and prominent figures. 00:00:12.460 --> 00:00:16.460 A real challenge: Who am I? 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. 00:00:25.660 --> 00:00:29.760 I was an illustrious figure in the pre-Islamic era (Jahiliyyah). 00:00:29.760 --> 00:00:34.759 I was a formidable knight and an archer of the highest caliber. 00:00:34.759 --> 00:00:38.759 I was renowned for chivalry, bravery, and generosity. 00:00:38.759 --> 00:00:43.659 Among the accounts about me during the Jahiliyyah before Islam: 00:00:43.659 --> 00:00:49.659 A man from the Banu Shayban set out with his daughters during a year of drought. 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, 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. 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. 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." 00:01:18.879 --> 00:01:24.939 He sat behind the tent, and as the sun was about to set, 00:01:24.939 --> 00:01:30.939 he saw me arriving on horseback, accompanied by a hundred camels along with their stud stallion. 00:01:30.939 --> 00:01:34.980 The stallion knelt, and the camels knelt around him. 00:01:34.980 --> 00:01:40.010 He gave us time until we had eaten and drank, and then we went to sleep. 00:01:40.010 --> 00:01:46.099 The man then stood up, went to the stallion, untied its tether, and mounted it. 00:01:46.099 --> 00:01:49.099 It bolted with him, and the camels followed in its pursuit. 00:01:49.099 --> 00:01:52.140 He rode throughout the night until morning came. 00:01:53.140 --> 00:01:57.230 When the daylight broadened, I caught up with him. 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: 00:02:03.230 --> 00:02:09.229 "I have left young daughters behind me, and I swore never to return to them 00:02:09.229 --> 00:02:13.229 until I gain sustenance for them or die trying!" 00:02:13.229 --> 00:02:16.229 I said to him, "Then you are as good as dead." 00:02:16.229 --> 00:02:22.229 Then I shot the camel's hobble with an arrow from afar and struck it. 00:02:22.229 --> 00:02:27.360 When the man witnessed such marksmanship from me, he surrendered to me. 00:02:27.360 --> 00:02:33.550 I took his sword and bow from him, then seated him behind me on my mount. 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, 00:02:39.550 --> 00:02:42.550 but they belong to the chieftain's daughter. 00:02:42.550 --> 00:02:47.550 So stay with me, for I am about to launch a raid." 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. 00:02:54.680 --> 00:02:59.680 I gave all of them to him, and he departed back to his family. 00:02:59.680 --> 00:03:05.580 When I heard of Islam, I journeyed to Medina. 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. 00:03:10.580 --> 00:03:14.580 I entered the mosque and pronounced the two testimonies of faith (Shahadah). 00:03:14.580 --> 00:03:19.580 He (peace be upon him) asked, "Who are you?" 00:03:19.580 --> 00:03:24.580 I replied, "I am so-and-so, known for goodness." 00:03:24.580 --> 00:03:30.580 He (peace be upon him) said, "Rather, you are Ma'ruf (the one known for goodness). 00:03:30.580 --> 00:03:35.639 Praise be to Allah who brought you from your plains and mountains, 00:03:35.639 --> 00:03:38.639 and softened your heart to Islam." 00:03:38.639 --> 00:03:42.860 Then he (peace be upon him) took me to his home 00:03:42.860 --> 00:03:45.860 and offered me a cushion to recline on. 00:03:45.860 --> 00:03:49.020 I felt too shy to recline in his presence, 00:03:49.020 --> 00:03:53.020 so I pushed it back to him, but he offered it back to me. 00:03:53.020 --> 00:03:58.020 I returned it to him, and he pushed it back to me three times. 00:03:58.020 --> 00:04:04.020 Then he said, "Never has a man been described to me and then I saw him, 00:04:04.020 --> 00:04:07.020 without him falling short of how he was described— 00:04:07.020 --> 00:04:12.020 except for you, for you surpass everything said about you." 00:04:12.020 --> 00:04:15.150 I said, "O Messenger of Allah, 00:04:15.150 --> 00:04:18.149 give me three hundred horsemen, 00:04:18.149 --> 00:04:23.149 and I guarantee you that I will raid the lands of the Byzantines with them, 00:04:23.149 --> 00:04:25.149 and I will overcome them." 00:04:25.149 --> 00:04:30.220 The Prophet (peace be upon him) greatly admired this high ambition of mine, 00:04:30.220 --> 00:04:35.220 and said, "May Allah bless you! What a magnificent man you are!" 00:04:35.220 --> 00:04:40.079 I remained in Medina for seven days after accepting Islam, 00:04:40.079 --> 00:04:43.079 and I was stricken with fever. 00:04:43.079 --> 00:04:46.139 I wished to meet my people 00:04:46.139 --> 00:04:50.139 and that Allah might decree Islam for them through my hands, 00:04:50.139 --> 00:04:52.240 so I set out toward them. 00:04:52.240 --> 00:04:56.240 But my appointed time of death caught up with me, 00:04:56.240 --> 00:05:00.240 and my soul departed while I was still on the road. 00:05:00.240 --> 00:05:02.779 So, who am I? 00:05:08.319 --> 00:05:12.579 We will pin the correct answer in the comments 00:05:12.579 --> 00:05:17.579 when the next episode is released, if Allah wills. 00:05:17.579 --> 00:05:22.579 The best of generations in character and example, 00:05:22.579 --> 00:05:27.579 Following the Messenger whenever he strove or spoke. 00:05:27.579 --> 00:05:32.579 They were once here, showering our lives like rain clouds; 00:05:32.579 --> 00:05:37.579 They have not truly died among us, for their memory continues to soar. 00:05:37.579 --> 00:05:42.579 They departed, leaving in our conscience a question: 00:05:42.579 --> 00:05:47.579 Was there ever a star like them that ascended and shone so bright? 00:05:47.579 --> 00:05:52.579 They filled this life with glories through their deeds, 00:05:52.579 --> 00:05:57.579 And through them, the mortal world flourished in elegance and grace.