WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.000 In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. 00:00:15.539 --> 00:00:17.539 Mawaddah Association is pleased 00:00:17.539 --> 00:00:21.539 to present to you snapshots from the lives of the Companions, 00:00:21.539 --> 00:00:25.539 by 'Abd al-Rahman Ra'fat al-Basha, 00:00:25.539 --> 00:00:30.300 may Allah have mercy on him. 00:00:30.300 --> 00:00:32.649 Suhayl ibn 'Amr, 00:00:32.649 --> 00:00:35.289 may Allah be pleased with him. 00:00:50.450 --> 00:00:52.450 Suhayl ibn 'Amr 00:00:52.450 --> 00:00:55.450 was a prominent leader among the chieftains of Quraysh, 00:00:55.450 --> 00:00:58.450 an eloquent orator among the Arabs, 00:00:58.450 --> 00:01:01.450 and a leading figure of authority and counsel— 00:01:01.450 --> 00:01:04.450 one without whom no decision was finalized. 00:01:04.450 --> 00:01:08.480 When the Noble Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, openly proclaimed 00:01:08.480 --> 00:01:10.480 the call of truth, Suhayl 00:01:10.480 --> 00:01:12.480 had reached full maturity and middle age. 00:01:12.480 --> 00:01:16.480 It was fitting that his sound intellect and sharp foresight 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. 00:01:21.480 --> 00:01:25.480 However, Suhayl did not merely turn away from Islam; 00:01:25.480 --> 00:01:29.480 rather, he set out to block people from the path of Allah by every available means, 00:01:29.480 --> 00:01:33.480 unleashing the lash of his torment upon the early converts to Islam 00:01:33.480 --> 00:01:37.480 to tempt them away from their religion and drive them back into polytheism. 00:01:37.480 --> 00:01:39.510 Yet Suhayl ibn 'Amr 00:01:39.510 --> 00:01:44.510 was soon struck by news that fell upon him like a thunderbolt, 00:01:44.510 --> 00:01:46.510 when word reached him 00:01:46.510 --> 00:01:48.510 that his son 'Abdullah 00:01:48.510 --> 00:01:50.510 and his daughter Umm Kulthum 00:01:50.510 --> 00:01:52.510 had followed Muhammad 00:01:52.510 --> 00:01:55.510 and fled with their religion to the land of Abyssinia 00:01:55.510 --> 00:01:58.510 to escape his persecution and that of Quraysh. 00:01:58.510 --> 00:02:03.579 Then Allah willed that false rumors reached the emigrants in Abyssinia 00:02:03.579 --> 00:02:06.579 that Quraysh had embraced Islam 00:02:06.579 --> 00:02:10.580 and that Muslims were now living in peace among their families. 00:02:10.580 --> 00:02:13.580 Consequently, a group of them returned to Mecca, 00:02:13.580 --> 00:02:18.580 and among those who returned was 'Abdullah ibn Suhayl. 00:02:18.580 --> 00:02:22.669 No sooner had 'Abdullah's feet touched the soil of Mecca 00:02:22.669 --> 00:02:24.669 than his father seized him, 00:02:24.669 --> 00:02:26.669 bound him in chains, 00:02:26.669 --> 00:02:30.669 threw him into a dark room in his house, 00:02:30.669 --> 00:02:33.669 and proceeded to torture him relentlessly, 00:02:33.669 --> 00:02:35.669 persisting in abusing him 00:02:35.669 --> 00:02:39.669 until the youth feigned apostasy from the religion of Muhammad 00:02:39.669 --> 00:02:43.669 and announced his return to the faith of his forefathers. 00:02:43.669 --> 00:02:45.669 This brought relief to Suhayl ibn 'Amr, 00:02:45.669 --> 00:02:47.669 comforted his eyes, 00:02:47.669 --> 00:02:50.669 and filled him with the euphoria of victory over Muhammad. 00:02:50.669 --> 00:02:52.669 Soon after, the polytheists 00:02:52.669 --> 00:02:57.669 resolved to confront the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, at Badr. 00:02:57.669 --> 00:03:00.669 Suhayl ibn 'Amr marched out with them, 00:03:00.669 --> 00:03:02.669 accompanied by his son 'Abdullah, 00:03:02.669 --> 00:03:07.669 eager to see his boy unsheathe his sword against Muhammad 00:03:07.669 --> 00:03:11.669 after having been, until recently, one of his followers. 00:03:11.669 --> 00:03:14.669 But destiny was concealing for Suhayl 00:03:14.669 --> 00:03:17.669 what he had never factored into his calculations. 00:03:17.669 --> 00:03:21.669 For no sooner did the two armies meet on the battlefield of Badr 00:03:21.669 --> 00:03:25.669 than the faithful young Muslim fled to the ranks of the Muslims, 00:03:25.669 --> 00:03:30.669 placed himself beneath the banner of the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, 00:03:30.669 --> 00:03:34.669 and drew his sword to fight his father 00:03:34.669 --> 00:03:36.669 and the rest of Allah's enemies alongside him. 00:03:36.669 --> 00:03:40.770 When Badr concluded with that decisive victory 00:03:40.770 --> 00:03:43.770 which Allah bestowed upon His Prophet, 00:03:43.770 --> 00:03:47.770 the Noble Messenger, peace be upon him, 00:03:47.770 --> 00:03:50.770 and his noble Companions stood reviewing the captives of the polytheists, 00:03:50.770 --> 00:03:54.770 only to find Suhayl ibn 'Amr bound as a prisoner in their hands. 00:03:54.770 --> 00:03:59.830 When Suhayl was brought before the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, 00:03:59.830 --> 00:04:03.830 seeking ransom, 'Umar ibn al-Khattab looked at him 00:04:03.830 --> 00:04:07.830 and said, "O Messenger of Allah, let me knock out his two front teeth, 00:04:07.830 --> 00:04:11.830 so he will never again stand as an orator in the gatherings of Mecca 00:04:11.830 --> 00:04:14.830 reviling Islam and its Prophet." 00:04:14.830 --> 00:04:17.829 But the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, replied, 00:04:17.829 --> 00:04:19.829 "Leave them, O 'Umar. 00:04:19.829 --> 00:04:23.829 Perhaps he will take a stance that will bring you joy, Allah willing." 00:04:23.829 --> 00:04:26.899 Days turned into years, 00:04:26.899 --> 00:04:28.899 and the Treaty of al-Hudaybiyyah took place. 00:04:28.899 --> 00:04:31.899 Quraysh dispatched Suhayl ibn 'Amr 00:04:31.899 --> 00:04:34.899 to represent them in finalizing the treaty. 00:04:34.899 --> 00:04:37.899 The Messenger, peace be upon him, received him 00:04:37.899 --> 00:04:39.899 alongside a group of his Companions, 00:04:39.899 --> 00:04:42.899 among whom was Suhayl's son, 'Abdullah ibn Suhayl. 00:04:42.899 --> 00:04:46.089 Then the Prophet, peace be upon him, 00:04:46.089 --> 00:04:49.089 summoned 'Ali ibn Abi Talib to write the contract 00:04:49.089 --> 00:04:52.089 and began dictating to him, saying, 00:04:52.089 --> 00:04:55.089 "Write: In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful." 00:04:55.089 --> 00:04:59.089 Suhayl objected, "We do not recognize this; 00:04:59.089 --> 00:05:02.089 rather, write: In Your name, O Allah." 00:05:02.089 --> 00:05:06.149 So the Prophet, peace be upon him, said to 'Ali, 00:05:06.149 --> 00:05:09.149 "Write: In Your name, O Allah." 00:05:09.149 --> 00:05:15.149 Then he said, "Write: This is what Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah, has agreed upon." 00:05:15.149 --> 00:05:17.149 Suhayl said, 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. 00:05:21.149 --> 00:05:24.180 Instead, write your name and your father's name." 00:05:24.180 --> 00:05:27.180 The Prophet, peace be upon him, said, 00:05:27.180 --> 00:05:31.180 "By Allah, I am indeed the Messenger of Allah, even if you deny me. 00:05:31.180 --> 00:05:34.180 Write: Muhammad ibn 'Abdullah." 00:05:34.180 --> 00:05:36.180 Then he completed the treaty, 00:05:36.180 --> 00:05:39.180 and Suhayl ibn 'Amr returned boasting 00:05:39.180 --> 00:05:44.180 of what he believed was a victory he had achieved for his people over Muhammad. 00:05:44.180 --> 00:05:48.180 Then days turned into years once more, 00:05:48.180 --> 00:05:53.180 and suddenly Quraysh suffered a crushing defeat without a war. 00:05:53.180 --> 00:05:58.180 The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, entered Mecca as a conqueror, 00:05:58.180 --> 00:06:02.180 and a caller announced, "O people of Mecca! 00:06:02.180 --> 00:06:05.180 Whoever enters his house is safe, 00:06:05.180 --> 00:06:08.180 whoever enters the Sacred Mosque is safe, 00:06:08.180 --> 00:06:12.180 and whoever enters the house of Abu Sufyan is safe." 00:06:12.180 --> 00:06:15.250 As soon as Suhayl heard the call, 00:06:15.250 --> 00:06:18.250 panic struck his heart. 00:06:18.250 --> 00:06:22.250 He locked the door of his house upon himself, completely helpless. 00:06:22.250 --> 00:06:25.250 Let us leave the narrative to Suhayl ibn 'Amr 00:06:25.250 --> 00:06:29.250 to tell us about these decisive moments in his life. 00:06:29.250 --> 00:06:31.250 Suhayl said, 00:06:31.250 --> 00:06:35.250 "When the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, entered Mecca, 00:06:35.250 --> 00:06:39.250 I rushed into my house and locked my door upon myself. 00:06:39.250 --> 00:06:42.250 Then I sent for my son 'Abdullah, 00:06:42.250 --> 00:06:45.250 feeling ashamed to look him in the eye 00:06:45.250 --> 00:06:49.250 because of how excessively I had tortured him for embracing Islam. 00:06:49.250 --> 00:06:51.279 When he entered upon me, 00:06:51.279 --> 00:06:55.279 I said to him, 'Seek protection for me from Muhammad, 00:06:55.279 --> 00:06:58.279 for I am not safe from being killed.' 00:06:58.279 --> 00:07:02.279 So 'Abdullah went to the Prophet, peace be upon him, 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?' 00:07:07.279 --> 00:07:09.279 He replied, 'Yes, 00:07:09.279 --> 00:07:11.279 he is safe under the protection of Allah, 00:07:11.279 --> 00:07:13.279 so let him come out.' 00:07:13.279 --> 00:07:16.279 Then he turned to his Companions and said, 00:07:16.279 --> 00:07:18.279 'Whoever among you meets Suhayl, 00:07:18.279 --> 00:07:20.279 let him not treat him poorly. 00:07:20.279 --> 00:07:23.279 For by my life, Suhayl possesses intellect and nobility, 00:07:23.279 --> 00:07:26.279 and someone like Suhayl cannot remain ignorant of Islam; 00:07:26.279 --> 00:07:29.279 rather, it was simply decreed.' 00:07:29.279 --> 00:07:33.470 Suhayl ibn 'Amr embraced Islam after that, a devotion 00:07:33.470 --> 00:07:35.470 that took full possession of his heart and mind. 00:07:36.470 --> 00:07:39.470 He grew to love the Noble Messenger, peace be upon him, 00:07:39.470 --> 00:07:43.470 with a love that lodged in the very core of his heart. 00:07:43.470 --> 00:07:46.470 Abu Bakr al-Siddiq, may Allah be pleased with him, said, 00:07:46.470 --> 00:07:50.470 'I looked at Suhayl ibn 'Amr during the Farewell Pilgrimage 00:07:50.470 --> 00:07:54.470 standing before the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, 00:07:54.470 --> 00:07:57.470 presenting the sacrificial camels to him, 00:07:57.470 --> 00:08:00.470 while the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, 00:08:00.470 --> 00:08:02.470 slaughtered them with his noble hand. 00:08:02.470 --> 00:08:06.470 Then the Prophet, peace be upon him, called for the barber, 00:08:06.470 --> 00:08:08.470 who shaved his head. 00:08:08.470 --> 00:08:10.470 I looked at Suhayl 00:08:10.470 --> 00:08:14.470 as he collected strands of the Prophet's hair, peace be upon him, 00:08:14.470 --> 00:08:17.470 and placed them over his eyes. 00:08:17.470 --> 00:08:19.470 I recalled the day of al-Hudaybiyyah 00:08:19.470 --> 00:08:23.470 and how he had refused to let "Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah" be written, 00:08:23.470 --> 00:08:26.470 so I praised Allah for guiding him.' 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 00:08:30.660 --> 00:08:32.659 and benefit him in his Hereafter. 00:08:32.659 --> 00:08:35.730 Among those who accepted Islam after the Conquest, 00:08:35.730 --> 00:08:39.730 none performed more prayer, fasting, or charity than he, 00:08:39.730 --> 00:08:44.730 nor was anyone more tender-hearted or wept more out of the fear of Allah. 00:08:44.730 --> 00:08:48.860 Furthermore, he began going every day to Mu'adh ibn Jabal 00:08:48.860 --> 00:08:51.860 so that he might teach him some of the Qur'an. 00:08:51.860 --> 00:08:54.860 Dirar ibn al-Khattab said to him, 00:08:54.860 --> 00:08:56.860 'O Abu Zayd, 00:08:56.860 --> 00:09:00.860 do you go to this Khazraji man to teach you the Qur'an? 00:09:00.860 --> 00:09:04.860 Why do you not go to a man from your own tribe of Quraysh?' 00:09:04.860 --> 00:09:07.860 Suhayl replied, 'O Dirar, 00:09:07.860 --> 00:09:11.860 this that you say is a remnant of the pre-Islamic ignorance (Jahiliyyah) 00:09:11.860 --> 00:09:14.860 that brought upon us all that it did, 00:09:14.860 --> 00:09:17.860 allowing others to surpass us in every good deed! 00:09:17.860 --> 00:09:21.860 Islam has removed from us the tribal fanaticism of Jahiliyyah 00:09:21.860 --> 00:09:24.860 and elevated peoples who had no renown. 00:09:24.860 --> 00:09:28.860 Would that we had been with them so that we might have advanced as they advanced!' 00:09:28.860 --> 00:09:33.139 Suhayl ibn 'Amr continued to acknowledge the virtue of the early converts 00:09:33.139 --> 00:09:36.139 to Islam over himself and those like him, 00:09:36.139 --> 00:09:39.139 fully aware of the distinction between them and himself. 00:09:39.139 --> 00:09:43.139 One day, he arrived at the door of 'Umar ibn al-Khattab 00:09:43.139 --> 00:09:46.139 alongside al-Harith ibn Hisham 00:09:46.139 --> 00:09:49.139 and Abu Sufyan ibn Harb, 00:09:49.139 --> 00:09:52.139 while 'Ammar ibn Yasir arrived with them, 00:09:52.139 --> 00:09:55.139 along with men from the freed slaves who were among the early predecessors in Islam. 00:09:55.139 --> 00:09:58.139 'Umar's doorkeeper came out and said, 00:09:58.139 --> 00:10:01.139 'Let 'Ammar enter! Let Suhayb enter!' 00:10:01.139 --> 00:10:04.179 The men of Quraysh began looking at one another 00:10:04.179 --> 00:10:07.179 in anger. 00:10:07.179 --> 00:10:11.179 Then one of them said, 'We have never seen a day like this! 00:10:11.179 --> 00:10:14.179 'Umar permits these men to enter 00:10:14.179 --> 00:10:17.179 while we remain at his door without him paying any attention to us!' 00:10:17.179 --> 00:10:20.179 Suhayl said, 'If you are angry, 00:10:20.179 --> 00:10:23.179 then be angry with yourselves! 00:10:23.179 --> 00:10:26.179 Those people were called to Islam, and we were called; 00:10:26.179 --> 00:10:29.179 they hastened, while we lagged behind. 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? 00:10:32.179 --> 00:10:35.179 By Allah, 00:10:35.179 --> 00:10:38.179 the virtue they surpassed you in—which you do not see— 00:10:38.179 --> 00:10:41.179 is far greater than this door over which you compete!' 00:10:41.179 --> 00:10:44.179 He then added, 'Indeed, these men 00:10:44.179 --> 00:10:47.179 have surpassed you in what they achieved, 00:10:47.179 --> 00:10:50.179 and by Allah, you have no way to catch up with what you missed 00:10:50.179 --> 00:10:53.179 except through jihad and seeking martyrdom.' 00:10:53.179 --> 00:10:56.179 He then brushed off his garment and stood up. 00:10:56.179 --> 00:10:59.500 The millstone of war was turning at that time 00:10:59.500 --> 00:11:02.500 on the borders of the Levant between the Muslims and the Romans. 00:11:02.500 --> 00:11:05.500 So Suhayl ibn 'Amr gathered his sons, 00:11:05.500 --> 00:11:08.500 his wives, and his grandchildren, 00:11:08.500 --> 00:11:11.500 and set off with them to the Levant to station himself with them 00:11:11.500 --> 00:11:14.500 in the cause of Allah. He said to those with him, 00:11:15.500 --> 00:11:18.500 "By Allah, I will not leave a single position I took alongside the polytheists 00:11:18.500 --> 00:11:21.500 except that I take a position like it alongside the Muslims; 00:11:21.500 --> 00:11:24.500 nor an expense I incurred with the polytheists 00:11:24.500 --> 00:11:27.529 except that I spend the like of it in the cause of Allah. 00:11:27.529 --> 00:11:30.529 By Allah, I shall remain stationed as a defender in the path of Allah 00:11:30.529 --> 00:11:33.529 until I am slain as a martyr 00:11:33.529 --> 00:11:36.690 or die far from Mecca." 00:11:36.690 --> 00:11:39.909 Suhail Ibn 'Amr fulfilled his oath; 00:11:39.909 --> 00:11:42.909 he fought alongside the Muslims at the Battle of Yarmouk 00:11:42.909 --> 00:11:45.909 and displayed the true valor of sincere believers. 00:11:45.909 --> 00:11:48.909 Thereafter, he continued moving from one battleground 00:11:48.909 --> 00:11:51.909 to another, until the Plague of 'Amwas 00:11:51.909 --> 00:11:54.909 struck the lands of the Levant. 00:11:54.909 --> 00:11:57.909 Suhail died in that plague, 00:11:57.909 --> 00:12:00.909 along with all his children and kin who were with him. 00:12:00.909 --> 00:12:03.909 May Allah be pleased with Suhail Ibn 'Amr 00:12:03.909 --> 00:12:06.909 and rank him among the prophets and the martyrs— 00:12:06.909 --> 00:12:12.309 and excellent are those as companions! 00:12:16.440 --> 00:12:19.440 For by my life, Suhail indeed possessed 00:12:19.440 --> 00:12:22.440 intellect and nobility, 00:12:22.440 --> 00:12:25.700 and one like Suhail could not remain ignorant of Islam. 00:12:25.700 --> 00:12:28.700 Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.