1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:03,000 In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. 2 00:00:15,539 --> 00:00:17,539 Mawaddah Association is pleased 3 00:00:17,539 --> 00:00:21,539 to present to you snapshots from the lives of the Companions, 4 00:00:21,539 --> 00:00:25,539 by 'Abd al-Rahman Ra'fat al-Basha, 5 00:00:25,539 --> 00:00:30,300 may Allah have mercy on him. 6 00:00:30,300 --> 00:00:32,649 Suhayl ibn 'Amr, 7 00:00:32,649 --> 00:00:35,289 may Allah be pleased with him. 8 00:00:50,450 --> 00:00:52,450 Suhayl ibn 'Amr 9 00:00:52,450 --> 00:00:55,450 was a prominent leader among the chieftains of Quraysh, 10 00:00:55,450 --> 00:00:58,450 an eloquent orator among the Arabs, 11 00:00:58,450 --> 00:01:01,450 and a leading figure of authority and counsel— 12 00:01:01,450 --> 00:01:04,450 one without whom no decision was finalized. 13 00:01:04,450 --> 00:01:08,480 When the Noble Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, openly proclaimed 14 00:01:08,480 --> 00:01:10,480 the call of truth, Suhayl 15 00:01:10,480 --> 00:01:12,480 had reached full maturity and middle age. 16 00:01:12,480 --> 00:01:16,480 It was fitting that his sound intellect and sharp foresight 17 00:01:16,480 --> 00:01:21,480 would make him the first to respond to the call of the Prophet of guidance and mercy. 18 00:01:21,480 --> 00:01:25,480 However, Suhayl did not merely turn away from Islam; 19 00:01:25,480 --> 00:01:29,480 rather, he set out to block people from the path of Allah by every available means, 20 00:01:29,480 --> 00:01:33,480 unleashing the lash of his torment upon the early converts to Islam 21 00:01:33,480 --> 00:01:37,480 to tempt them away from their religion and drive them back into polytheism. 22 00:01:37,480 --> 00:01:39,510 Yet Suhayl ibn 'Amr 23 00:01:39,510 --> 00:01:44,510 was soon struck by news that fell upon him like a thunderbolt, 24 00:01:44,510 --> 00:01:46,510 when word reached him 25 00:01:46,510 --> 00:01:48,510 that his son 'Abdullah 26 00:01:48,510 --> 00:01:50,510 and his daughter Umm Kulthum 27 00:01:50,510 --> 00:01:52,510 had followed Muhammad 28 00:01:52,510 --> 00:01:55,510 and fled with their religion to the land of Abyssinia 29 00:01:55,510 --> 00:01:58,510 to escape his persecution and that of Quraysh. 30 00:01:58,510 --> 00:02:03,579 Then Allah willed that false rumors reached the emigrants in Abyssinia 31 00:02:03,579 --> 00:02:06,579 that Quraysh had embraced Islam 32 00:02:06,579 --> 00:02:10,580 and that Muslims were now living in peace among their families. 33 00:02:10,580 --> 00:02:13,580 Consequently, a group of them returned to Mecca, 34 00:02:13,580 --> 00:02:18,580 and among those who returned was 'Abdullah ibn Suhayl. 35 00:02:18,580 --> 00:02:22,669 No sooner had 'Abdullah's feet touched the soil of Mecca 36 00:02:22,669 --> 00:02:24,669 than his father seized him, 37 00:02:24,669 --> 00:02:26,669 bound him in chains, 38 00:02:26,669 --> 00:02:30,669 threw him into a dark room in his house, 39 00:02:30,669 --> 00:02:33,669 and proceeded to torture him relentlessly, 40 00:02:33,669 --> 00:02:35,669 persisting in abusing him 41 00:02:35,669 --> 00:02:39,669 until the youth feigned apostasy from the religion of Muhammad 42 00:02:39,669 --> 00:02:43,669 and announced his return to the faith of his forefathers. 43 00:02:43,669 --> 00:02:45,669 This brought relief to Suhayl ibn 'Amr, 44 00:02:45,669 --> 00:02:47,669 comforted his eyes, 45 00:02:47,669 --> 00:02:50,669 and filled him with the euphoria of victory over Muhammad. 46 00:02:50,669 --> 00:02:52,669 Soon after, the polytheists 47 00:02:52,669 --> 00:02:57,669 resolved to confront the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, at Badr. 48 00:02:57,669 --> 00:03:00,669 Suhayl ibn 'Amr marched out with them, 49 00:03:00,669 --> 00:03:02,669 accompanied by his son 'Abdullah, 50 00:03:02,669 --> 00:03:07,669 eager to see his boy unsheathe his sword against Muhammad 51 00:03:07,669 --> 00:03:11,669 after having been, until recently, one of his followers. 52 00:03:11,669 --> 00:03:14,669 But destiny was concealing for Suhayl 53 00:03:14,669 --> 00:03:17,669 what he had never factored into his calculations. 54 00:03:17,669 --> 00:03:21,669 For no sooner did the two armies meet on the battlefield of Badr 55 00:03:21,669 --> 00:03:25,669 than the faithful young Muslim fled to the ranks of the Muslims, 56 00:03:25,669 --> 00:03:30,669 placed himself beneath the banner of the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, 57 00:03:30,669 --> 00:03:34,669 and drew his sword to fight his father 58 00:03:34,669 --> 00:03:36,669 and the rest of Allah's enemies alongside him. 59 00:03:36,669 --> 00:03:40,770 When Badr concluded with that decisive victory 60 00:03:40,770 --> 00:03:43,770 which Allah bestowed upon His Prophet, 61 00:03:43,770 --> 00:03:47,770 the Noble Messenger, peace be upon him, 62 00:03:47,770 --> 00:03:50,770 and his noble Companions stood reviewing the captives of the polytheists, 63 00:03:50,770 --> 00:03:54,770 only to find Suhayl ibn 'Amr bound as a prisoner in their hands. 64 00:03:54,770 --> 00:03:59,830 When Suhayl was brought before the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, 65 00:03:59,830 --> 00:04:03,830 seeking ransom, 'Umar ibn al-Khattab looked at him 66 00:04:03,830 --> 00:04:07,830 and said, "O Messenger of Allah, let me knock out his two front teeth, 67 00:04:07,830 --> 00:04:11,830 so he will never again stand as an orator in the gatherings of Mecca 68 00:04:11,830 --> 00:04:14,830 reviling Islam and its Prophet." 69 00:04:14,830 --> 00:04:17,829 But the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, replied, 70 00:04:17,829 --> 00:04:19,829 "Leave them, O 'Umar. 71 00:04:19,829 --> 00:04:23,829 Perhaps he will take a stance that will bring you joy, Allah willing." 72 00:04:23,829 --> 00:04:26,899 Days turned into years, 73 00:04:26,899 --> 00:04:28,899 and the Treaty of al-Hudaybiyyah took place. 74 00:04:28,899 --> 00:04:31,899 Quraysh dispatched Suhayl ibn 'Amr 75 00:04:31,899 --> 00:04:34,899 to represent them in finalizing the treaty. 76 00:04:34,899 --> 00:04:37,899 The Messenger, peace be upon him, received him 77 00:04:37,899 --> 00:04:39,899 alongside a group of his Companions, 78 00:04:39,899 --> 00:04:42,899 among whom was Suhayl's son, 'Abdullah ibn Suhayl. 79 00:04:42,899 --> 00:04:46,089 Then the Prophet, peace be upon him, 80 00:04:46,089 --> 00:04:49,089 summoned 'Ali ibn Abi Talib to write the contract 81 00:04:49,089 --> 00:04:52,089 and began dictating to him, saying, 82 00:04:52,089 --> 00:04:55,089 "Write: In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful." 83 00:04:55,089 --> 00:04:59,089 Suhayl objected, "We do not recognize this; 84 00:04:59,089 --> 00:05:02,089 rather, write: In Your name, O Allah." 85 00:05:02,089 --> 00:05:06,149 So the Prophet, peace be upon him, said to 'Ali, 86 00:05:06,149 --> 00:05:09,149 "Write: In Your name, O Allah." 87 00:05:09,149 --> 00:05:15,149 Then he said, "Write: This is what Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah, has agreed upon." 88 00:05:15,149 --> 00:05:17,149 Suhayl said, 89 00:05:17,149 --> 00:05:21,149 "If we bore witness that you were the Messenger of Allah, we would not have fought you. 90 00:05:21,149 --> 00:05:24,180 Instead, write your name and your father's name." 91 00:05:24,180 --> 00:05:27,180 The Prophet, peace be upon him, said, 92 00:05:27,180 --> 00:05:31,180 "By Allah, I am indeed the Messenger of Allah, even if you deny me. 93 00:05:31,180 --> 00:05:34,180 Write: Muhammad ibn 'Abdullah." 94 00:05:34,180 --> 00:05:36,180 Then he completed the treaty, 95 00:05:36,180 --> 00:05:39,180 and Suhayl ibn 'Amr returned boasting 96 00:05:39,180 --> 00:05:44,180 of what he believed was a victory he had achieved for his people over Muhammad. 97 00:05:44,180 --> 00:05:48,180 Then days turned into years once more, 98 00:05:48,180 --> 00:05:53,180 and suddenly Quraysh suffered a crushing defeat without a war. 99 00:05:53,180 --> 00:05:58,180 The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, entered Mecca as a conqueror, 100 00:05:58,180 --> 00:06:02,180 and a caller announced, "O people of Mecca! 101 00:06:02,180 --> 00:06:05,180 Whoever enters his house is safe, 102 00:06:05,180 --> 00:06:08,180 whoever enters the Sacred Mosque is safe, 103 00:06:08,180 --> 00:06:12,180 and whoever enters the house of Abu Sufyan is safe." 104 00:06:12,180 --> 00:06:15,250 As soon as Suhayl heard the call, 105 00:06:15,250 --> 00:06:18,250 panic struck his heart. 106 00:06:18,250 --> 00:06:22,250 He locked the door of his house upon himself, completely helpless. 107 00:06:22,250 --> 00:06:25,250 Let us leave the narrative to Suhayl ibn 'Amr 108 00:06:25,250 --> 00:06:29,250 to tell us about these decisive moments in his life. 109 00:06:29,250 --> 00:06:31,250 Suhayl said, 110 00:06:31,250 --> 00:06:35,250 "When the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, entered Mecca, 111 00:06:35,250 --> 00:06:39,250 I rushed into my house and locked my door upon myself. 112 00:06:39,250 --> 00:06:42,250 Then I sent for my son 'Abdullah, 113 00:06:42,250 --> 00:06:45,250 feeling ashamed to look him in the eye 114 00:06:45,250 --> 00:06:49,250 because of how excessively I had tortured him for embracing Islam. 115 00:06:49,250 --> 00:06:51,279 When he entered upon me, 116 00:06:51,279 --> 00:06:55,279 I said to him, 'Seek protection for me from Muhammad, 117 00:06:55,279 --> 00:06:58,279 for I am not safe from being killed.' 118 00:06:58,279 --> 00:07:02,279 So 'Abdullah went to the Prophet, peace be upon him, 119 00:07:02,279 --> 00:07:07,279 and said, 'O Messenger of Allah, may I be ransomed for you, will you grant my father protection?' 120 00:07:07,279 --> 00:07:09,279 He replied, 'Yes, 121 00:07:09,279 --> 00:07:11,279 he is safe under the protection of Allah, 122 00:07:11,279 --> 00:07:13,279 so let him come out.' 123 00:07:13,279 --> 00:07:16,279 Then he turned to his Companions and said, 124 00:07:16,279 --> 00:07:18,279 'Whoever among you meets Suhayl, 125 00:07:18,279 --> 00:07:20,279 let him not treat him poorly. 126 00:07:20,279 --> 00:07:23,279 For by my life, Suhayl possesses intellect and nobility, 127 00:07:23,279 --> 00:07:26,279 and someone like Suhayl cannot remain ignorant of Islam; 128 00:07:26,279 --> 00:07:29,279 rather, it was simply decreed.' 129 00:07:29,279 --> 00:07:33,470 Suhayl ibn 'Amr embraced Islam after that, a devotion 130 00:07:33,470 --> 00:07:35,470 that took full possession of his heart and mind. 131 00:07:36,470 --> 00:07:39,470 He grew to love the Noble Messenger, peace be upon him, 132 00:07:39,470 --> 00:07:43,470 with a love that lodged in the very core of his heart. 133 00:07:43,470 --> 00:07:46,470 Abu Bakr al-Siddiq, may Allah be pleased with him, said, 134 00:07:46,470 --> 00:07:50,470 'I looked at Suhayl ibn 'Amr during the Farewell Pilgrimage 135 00:07:50,470 --> 00:07:54,470 standing before the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, 136 00:07:54,470 --> 00:07:57,470 presenting the sacrificial camels to him, 137 00:07:57,470 --> 00:08:00,470 while the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, 138 00:08:00,470 --> 00:08:02,470 slaughtered them with his noble hand. 139 00:08:02,470 --> 00:08:06,470 Then the Prophet, peace be upon him, called for the barber, 140 00:08:06,470 --> 00:08:08,470 who shaved his head. 141 00:08:08,470 --> 00:08:10,470 I looked at Suhayl 142 00:08:10,470 --> 00:08:14,470 as he collected strands of the Prophet's hair, peace be upon him, 143 00:08:14,470 --> 00:08:17,470 and placed them over his eyes. 144 00:08:17,470 --> 00:08:19,470 I recalled the day of al-Hudaybiyyah 145 00:08:19,470 --> 00:08:23,470 and how he had refused to let "Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah" be written, 146 00:08:23,470 --> 00:08:26,470 so I praised Allah for guiding him.' 147 00:08:26,470 --> 00:08:30,660 From the moment he embraced Islam, Suhayl devoted himself to whatever would bring him closer to Allah 148 00:08:30,660 --> 00:08:32,659 and benefit him in his Hereafter. 149 00:08:32,659 --> 00:08:35,730 Among those who accepted Islam after the Conquest, 150 00:08:35,730 --> 00:08:39,730 none performed more prayer, fasting, or charity than he, 151 00:08:39,730 --> 00:08:44,730 nor was anyone more tender-hearted or wept more out of the fear of Allah. 152 00:08:44,730 --> 00:08:48,860 Furthermore, he began going every day to Mu'adh ibn Jabal 153 00:08:48,860 --> 00:08:51,860 so that he might teach him some of the Qur'an. 154 00:08:51,860 --> 00:08:54,860 Dirar ibn al-Khattab said to him, 155 00:08:54,860 --> 00:08:56,860 'O Abu Zayd, 156 00:08:56,860 --> 00:09:00,860 do you go to this Khazraji man to teach you the Qur'an? 157 00:09:00,860 --> 00:09:04,860 Why do you not go to a man from your own tribe of Quraysh?' 158 00:09:04,860 --> 00:09:07,860 Suhayl replied, 'O Dirar, 159 00:09:07,860 --> 00:09:11,860 this that you say is a remnant of the pre-Islamic ignorance (Jahiliyyah) 160 00:09:11,860 --> 00:09:14,860 that brought upon us all that it did, 161 00:09:14,860 --> 00:09:17,860 allowing others to surpass us in every good deed! 162 00:09:17,860 --> 00:09:21,860 Islam has removed from us the tribal fanaticism of Jahiliyyah 163 00:09:21,860 --> 00:09:24,860 and elevated peoples who had no renown. 164 00:09:24,860 --> 00:09:28,860 Would that we had been with them so that we might have advanced as they advanced!' 165 00:09:28,860 --> 00:09:33,139 Suhayl ibn 'Amr continued to acknowledge the virtue of the early converts 166 00:09:33,139 --> 00:09:36,139 to Islam over himself and those like him, 167 00:09:36,139 --> 00:09:39,139 fully aware of the distinction between them and himself. 168 00:09:39,139 --> 00:09:43,139 One day, he arrived at the door of 'Umar ibn al-Khattab 169 00:09:43,139 --> 00:09:46,139 alongside al-Harith ibn Hisham 170 00:09:46,139 --> 00:09:49,139 and Abu Sufyan ibn Harb, 171 00:09:49,139 --> 00:09:52,139 while 'Ammar ibn Yasir arrived with them, 172 00:09:52,139 --> 00:09:55,139 along with men from the freed slaves who were among the early predecessors in Islam. 173 00:09:55,139 --> 00:09:58,139 'Umar's doorkeeper came out and said, 174 00:09:58,139 --> 00:10:01,139 'Let 'Ammar enter! Let Suhayb enter!' 175 00:10:01,139 --> 00:10:04,179 The men of Quraysh began looking at one another 176 00:10:04,179 --> 00:10:07,179 in anger. 177 00:10:07,179 --> 00:10:11,179 Then one of them said, 'We have never seen a day like this! 178 00:10:11,179 --> 00:10:14,179 'Umar permits these men to enter 179 00:10:14,179 --> 00:10:17,179 while we remain at his door without him paying any attention to us!' 180 00:10:17,179 --> 00:10:20,179 Suhayl said, 'If you are angry, 181 00:10:20,179 --> 00:10:23,179 then be angry with yourselves! 182 00:10:23,179 --> 00:10:26,179 Those people were called to Islam, and we were called; 183 00:10:26,179 --> 00:10:29,179 they hastened, while we lagged behind. 184 00:10:29,179 --> 00:10:32,179 How will it be for us when they are called to Paradise on the Day of Resurrection while we are left behind? 185 00:10:32,179 --> 00:10:35,179 By Allah, 186 00:10:35,179 --> 00:10:38,179 the virtue they surpassed you in—which you do not see— 187 00:10:38,179 --> 00:10:41,179 is far greater than this door over which you compete!' 188 00:10:41,179 --> 00:10:44,179 He then added, 'Indeed, these men 189 00:10:44,179 --> 00:10:47,179 have surpassed you in what they achieved, 190 00:10:47,179 --> 00:10:50,179 and by Allah, you have no way to catch up with what you missed 191 00:10:50,179 --> 00:10:53,179 except through jihad and seeking martyrdom.' 192 00:10:53,179 --> 00:10:56,179 He then brushed off his garment and stood up. 193 00:10:56,179 --> 00:10:59,500 The millstone of war was turning at that time 194 00:10:59,500 --> 00:11:02,500 on the borders of the Levant between the Muslims and the Romans. 195 00:11:02,500 --> 00:11:05,500 So Suhayl ibn 'Amr gathered his sons, 196 00:11:05,500 --> 00:11:08,500 his wives, and his grandchildren, 197 00:11:08,500 --> 00:11:11,500 and set off with them to the Levant to station himself with them 198 00:11:11,500 --> 00:11:14,500 in the cause of Allah. He said to those with him, 199 00:11:15,500 --> 00:11:18,500 "By Allah, I will not leave a single position I took alongside the polytheists 200 00:11:18,500 --> 00:11:21,500 except that I take a position like it alongside the Muslims; 201 00:11:21,500 --> 00:11:24,500 nor an expense I incurred with the polytheists 202 00:11:24,500 --> 00:11:27,529 except that I spend the like of it in the cause of Allah. 203 00:11:27,529 --> 00:11:30,529 By Allah, I shall remain stationed as a defender in the path of Allah 204 00:11:30,529 --> 00:11:33,529 until I am slain as a martyr 205 00:11:33,529 --> 00:11:36,690 or die far from Mecca." 206 00:11:36,690 --> 00:11:39,909 Suhail Ibn 'Amr fulfilled his oath; 207 00:11:39,909 --> 00:11:42,909 he fought alongside the Muslims at the Battle of Yarmouk 208 00:11:42,909 --> 00:11:45,909 and displayed the true valor of sincere believers. 209 00:11:45,909 --> 00:11:48,909 Thereafter, he continued moving from one battleground 210 00:11:48,909 --> 00:11:51,909 to another, until the Plague of 'Amwas 211 00:11:51,909 --> 00:11:54,909 struck the lands of the Levant. 212 00:11:54,909 --> 00:11:57,909 Suhail died in that plague, 213 00:11:57,909 --> 00:12:00,909 along with all his children and kin who were with him. 214 00:12:00,909 --> 00:12:03,909 May Allah be pleased with Suhail Ibn 'Amr 215 00:12:03,909 --> 00:12:06,909 and rank him among the prophets and the martyrs— 216 00:12:06,909 --> 00:12:12,309 and excellent are those as companions! 217 00:12:16,440 --> 00:12:19,440 For by my life, Suhail indeed possessed 218 00:12:19,440 --> 00:12:22,440 intellect and nobility, 219 00:12:22,440 --> 00:12:25,700 and one like Suhail could not remain ignorant of Islam. 220 00:12:25,700 --> 00:12:28,700 Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.