Pause.
Learn about the Companions, the scholars, and the prominent figures.
A new challenge: Who am I?
I am one of the Emigrant Companions.
And one of the few renowned duelists.
Famous for my sharp intuition and keen eyesight.
I was extremely cunning and shrewd.
A master of malice and stratagem.
To the point that my nickname in Mecca became:
The Devil of Quraysh.
I was one of the fiercest enemies of the Muslims.
Causing them great harm.
Detesting them and their religion.
Waiting for the moment to strike.
With my sword upon their necks.
Therefore, I hastened to set out with Quraysh to Badr.
Accompanied by my son, Wahb.
When we arrived near the battlefield,
Quraysh sent me to scout the number of Muslims and their equipment.
I circled the Muslim army on my horse.
And contemplated them.
Then I returned to the camp of Quraysh, saying:
"They are three hundred."
"Give or take a few."
"But ask me if they have reinforcements behind them."
I said, "I found nothing behind them."
"However, O people of Quraysh,"
"I have seen mounts carrying certain death."
"A people who have no protection or refuge other than their swords."
"By Allah, I do not see one of them being killed,"
"Until he kills one of you."
"And if they take from you a number equal to their own,"
"What good is there in life after that?"
"So consider your decision."
My words nearly sapped their resolve to fight,
Were it not for the insistence of Abu Jahl,
And his determination to confront them.
One of the outcomes of that battle was,
That the polytheists were defeated.
And a large number of them were killed or taken captive.
My son was taken prisoner by the Muslims.
And we returned to Mecca in disappointment.
One day, I sat with Safwan Ibn Umayyah in the Hijr.
We spoke of our captives at Badr.
Safwan said,
"By Allah, there is no good in life after them."
I replied, "You are right."
"And by Allah, were it not for a debt I owe that I cannot repay,"
"And a family I fear would be lost after me,"
"I would have ridden to Muhammad to kill him."
"For I have an excuse to be near him."
"I would say I came for the sake of my son,"
"This captive."
Safwan said,
"As for your debt,"
"I will pay it for you."
"And your family shall be with my family,"
"I will provide for them as long as they live."
I said to him,
"Then keep my affair and yours a secret."
Then I ordered my sword,
They sharpened it and coated it with poison.
Then I set out for Medina.
Umar Ibn al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him, saw me,
As I had tethered my mount at the door of the mosque.
And I was girded with my sword.
He said, "This is the enemy of Allah."
"By Allah, he has come only for evil."
Then he entered upon the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him.
He said, "O Prophet of Allah,"
"This is the enemy of Allah."
"He has come girded with his sword."
The Prophet, peace be upon him, said to him:
"Bring him in to me."
Umar said to the men of the Ansar who were with him:
"Enter upon the Messenger of Allah,"
"And sit with him."
"And be wary of this wicked man,"
"For he is not to be trusted."
Umar brought me in to the Prophet, peace be upon him,
While he was holding the belt of my sword.
When the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, saw him,
He said, "Let him go, O Umar."
And he said to me, "Come close to me."
I drew near him.
He said, "What brought you?"
I said, "I came for this captive who is in your hands."
The Prophet, peace be upon him, said:
"Then what is the matter with the sword that is around your neck?"
I said, "May Allah curse them as swords,"
"Did they avail us of anything?"
The Prophet, peace be upon him, said:
"Tell me the truth."
"What did you come for?"
I said, "I came for nothing but that."
The Prophet, peace be upon him, said:
"Rather, you and Safwan Ibn Umayyah sat in the Hijr,"
"And you spoke of the companions of the pit [the dead] of Quraysh."
"Then you said,"
"'Were it not for a debt I owe and a family I have,'"
"'I would have gone out to kill Muhammad.'"
"So Safwan undertook your debt and your family,"
"On the condition that you kill me."
"But Allah is a barrier between you and that."
At that moment, I cried out and said:
"I bear witness that there is no god but Allah,"
"And I bear witness that you are the Messenger of Allah."
"This is a matter that no one attended except me and Safwan."
"By Allah, no one informed you of it except Allah."
"Praise be to Allah who guided me to Islam."
The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said,
To his Companions:
"Teach your brother his religion,"
"And recite the Qur'an to him,"
"And release his captive for him."
Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, said to me:
"You arrived when you were more hateful to me than a pig,"
"And today you are dearer to me than some of my own children."
Faith has filled my heart.
I said, "O Messenger of Allah,"
"I was one of the fiercest enemies of Allah,"
"Causing great harm to the Muslims."
"And I would love for you to permit me,"
"To go to Mecca,"
"And call them to Allah the Almighty."
"If they respond,"
"Otherwise, I will harm them in their religion,"
"Just as I used to harm your Companions in their religion."
The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, permitted me.
I arrived in Mecca,
And I stayed there calling to Islam.
And many people embraced Islam at my hands.
So, who am I?
I will state the correct answer in the comments,
Upon the release of the next episode, if Allah wills.