Pause and reflect on the Companions, the scholars, and the prominent figures.
A new challenge: Who am I?
I am a Companion of the Prophet, peace be upon him, and his brother-in-law.
I was one of the scribes of the Revelation and among the most astute of the Arabs.
I am the King of Islam, the Commander of the Faithful, and the maternal uncle of the Muslims.
My conversion to Islam was delayed because of my father.
For my father was the leader of the Quraysh in both the Age of Ignorance and in Islam.
I was born in Makkah five years before the Prophetic mission.
In my youth, I learned reading, writing, and arithmetic.
I was of noble lineage and descent, fair-skinned, tall, and handsome.
A physiognomist among the Arabs saw me when I was a young boy.
He said, "I truly believe this boy will lead his people."
My mother replied, "May he be bereaved of his mother if he is only to lead his own people!"
"My son shall surely lead all the Arabs."
I am the founder of the Umayyad State in the Levant and its first caliph.
When the year of al-Hudaybiyyah came and the Quraysh barred the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, from the Sacred House,
and they wrote a peace treaty between them, Islam took root in my heart.
I mentioned this to my mother, and she said, "Beware of opposing your father."
So I kept it hidden within myself.
By Allah, the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, departed from al-Hudaybiyyah,
and I was a believer in him, though I only openly declared my Islam on the day of the Conquest.
The Prophet, peace be upon him, welcomed me,
appointed me as a scribe of the Revelation, and gave me a share of the spoils of Hunayn.
He prayed for me, saying:
"O Allah, make him a guide who is rightly guided, and guide others through him."
And through him, many were guided.
I was skilled in governance and administration, forbearing, and wise.
I was generous and open-handed with wealth.
I served as the governor of the Levant for twenty years under the authority of 'Umar and 'Uthman, may Allah be pleased with them.
And I held the Caliphate for twenty years after the Commander of the Faithful, 'Ali, may Allah be pleased with him.
I won the hearts of my enemies before those of my own companions.
I would exercise forbearance when forbearance was called for, and firmness when firmness was required.
Yet, forbearance was my dominant trait.
I used to say:
"If there were a hair connecting me to the people, it would never break."
"If they pulled it, I would slacken it,"
"and if they slackened it, I would pull it."
It is upon this that the consensus of the scholars of the Ummah has been reached,
from the Companions, the Tabi'un, and those who followed them,
in praising me, affirming my worthiness for the Caliphate,
and acknowledging the excellence of my governance and my justice,
which established my place in the hearts of the people
and led them to be unanimous in their love for me.
The Prophet, peace be upon him, said:
"The best of your leaders are those whom you love and who love you,"
"and for whom you pray, and who pray for you."
"And the worst of your leaders are those whom you hate and who hate you,"
"and whom you curse, and who curse you."
So, who am I?
Share your answers with us in the comments below the video.
We will pin the correct answer in the comments
when the next episode is released, in sha' Allah.