Pause and identify the Companion, the scholar, and the prominent figure.
A new challenge: Who am I?
I am a Companion from the people of Makkah.
I was a nobleman among the nobles of Quraysh.
And a leader among its leaders.
I held the position of the Rifadah (providing for pilgrims) among them.
I was also a man of influence, counsel, and authority in Makkah.
I was born inside the Ka'bah thirteen years before the Year of the Elephant.
My aunt is the Mother of the Believers, Khadijah bint Khuwaylid, may Allah be pleased with her.
I was a friend of the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, in Makkah before his mission.
I embraced Islam on the day of the conquest of Makkah.
I witnessed the Battle of Hunayn with the Prophet, peace be upon him.
The first battle I witnessed after my conversion to Islam was the Battle of Hunayn.
After the battle concluded,
I asked the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, to give me some of the spoils.
So he gave me some.
At that time, I was a new convert to Islam.
Then I asked him again, and he gave me more.
Then I asked him again, and he gave me more.
Then he said to me:
"Indeed, this wealth is sweet and green.
Whoever takes it with a generous soul, it will be blessed for him.
But whoever takes it with a greedy soul, it will not be blessed for him.
He is like one who eats but is never satisfied.
And the upper hand is better than the lower hand."
When I heard that from the Prophet, peace be upon him,
I said, "O Messenger of Allah,
By the One who sent you with the truth,
I will not ask anyone for anything after you,
Nor will I take anything from anyone after you,
Until I depart from this world."
And I remained true to my oath.
During the caliphate of Abu Bakr al-Siddiq, may Allah be pleased with him,
He invited me more than once
To take my stipend from the public treasury of the Muslims.
But I refused to take it.
When the caliphate passed to al-Faruq, may Allah be pleased with him,
He also invited me to take the stipend,
But I refused to take it.
So Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, stood before the people and said,
"I call you to witness, O assembly of Muslims,
That I am inviting this man to take his stipend,
But he refuses."
And I remained like that,
Not taking anything from anyone until I passed away.
I performed many good deeds during the pre-Islamic period.
When I embraced Islam,
I said one day to the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him,
"What do you think about the things I used to do for the sake of Allah in the pre-Islamic period,
Such as charity, freeing slaves, and maintaining family ties?
Is there any reward for me in them?"
The Prophet, peace be upon him, said,
"You have embraced Islam along with the good deeds you performed in the past."
So I said, "O Messenger of Allah,
By Allah, I will not leave any deed I performed in the pre-Islamic period
Without performing its equivalent in Islam."
I had freed one hundred slaves in the pre-Islamic period,
And provided mounts for one hundred camels.
So I freed one hundred slaves in Islam,
And provided mounts for one hundred camels.
So, who am I?