Pause.
Get to know the Companions and the scholars, and the most exalted among them.
A new challenge: Who am I?
I am one of the Companions of the Prophet, peace be upon him.
I was among the nobles of the Quraysh in both the pre-Islamic era and in Islam.
I was born inside the Kaaba.
I lived sixty years in the pre-Islamic era.
And sixty years in Islam.
I embraced Islam on the day of the conquest of Makkah.
I witnessed the battles of Hunayn and Ta'if with the Prophet, peace be upon him.
Whenever I would swear an oath, I would say:
"No, by the One who saved me from being killed on the day of Badr."
I was a close friend to the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, before his mission began.
The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, reciprocated my affection with his own.
Then came the bond of kinship.
It strengthened the relationship between us.
That was when the Prophet, peace be upon him, married my aunt, Khadijah bint Khuwaylid, may Allah be pleased with her.
Thus, Muhammad, peace be upon him, became the most beloved of people to me during the pre-Islamic era.
I was a merchant who traveled to Yemen and came to Syria.
I would earn great profits.
Until I became very wealthy.
Furthermore, I was intelligent, noble, and virtuous.
The Quraysh entrusted me with the office of al-Rifadah.
This was the duty of assisting the needy and the stranded among the pilgrims.
I would spend from my own wealth.
To help the stranded pilgrims of the Sacred House of Allah during the pre-Islamic era.
I bought a young man named Zayd ibn Harithah.
As a gift for my aunt, Khadijah, may Allah be pleased with her.
When the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, married her,
She gifted Zayd to him.
The Prophet, peace be upon him, freed him and adopted him.
This was before Islam abolished adoption.
When the Prophet, peace be upon him, was sent with his mission,
I held back and did not embrace Islam.
The Prophet, peace be upon him, migrated to Madinah.
I attended the 'Ukaz festival while I was still in a state of disbelief.
I found a garment being sold that belonged to one of the kings.
I bought it to present as a gift to the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him.
I brought it to him in Madinah.
I presented it to him as a gift.
He refused to accept it.
And he said, "We do not accept anything from the polytheists."
"But if you wish, you may sell it for a price."
So I gave it to him for a price.
He wore it.
Then I saw him wearing it while he was on the pulpit.
I never saw anything more beautiful than him.
So, who am I?
What is our status?
Their memory is exalted.
They departed and left a question in the conscience.
Is there any star like them that has risen and shone?
They filled life with glorious deeds.
And the world of traditions flourished because of them.