1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:03,000 In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. 2 00:00:15,259 --> 00:00:18,260 The Mawaddah Association is pleased 3 00:00:18,260 --> 00:00:22,260 to present to you "Portraits from the Lives of the Companions" 4 00:00:22,260 --> 00:00:25,260 by 'Abd al-Rahman Ra'fat al-Basha, 5 00:00:25,260 --> 00:00:27,289 may Allah have mercy on him. 6 00:00:27,289 --> 00:00:33,890 Suhayb al-Rumi, may Allah be pleased with him. 7 00:00:45,899 --> 00:00:47,899 Suhayb al-Rumi. 8 00:00:47,899 --> 00:00:51,899 Who among us, O assembly of Muslims, does not know Suhayb al-Rumi, 9 00:00:51,899 --> 00:00:55,899 or is not acquainted with some of his accounts and fragments of his biography? 10 00:00:55,899 --> 00:00:58,899 Yet what many of us do not know 11 00:00:58,899 --> 00:01:01,899 is that Suhayb was not originally a Roman (Byzantine); 12 00:01:01,899 --> 00:01:04,900 rather, he was of pure Arab descent, 13 00:01:04,900 --> 00:01:07,900 with a Numayri father and a Tamimi mother. 14 00:01:07,900 --> 00:01:10,900 The attribution of Suhayb to the Romans (Byzantines) 15 00:01:10,900 --> 00:01:13,900 is a story that the memory of history still preserves 16 00:01:13,900 --> 00:01:15,900 and its chronicles recount. 17 00:01:15,900 --> 00:01:19,900 About two decades before the advent of the Prophetic mission, 18 00:01:19,900 --> 00:01:21,900 the governor of al-Uballah— 19 00:01:21,900 --> 00:01:24,900 an ancient city that was later incorporated into Basra— 20 00:01:24,900 --> 00:01:27,900 was Sinan ibn Malik al-Numayri, 21 00:01:27,900 --> 00:01:30,900 appointed by Khosrow, King of Persia. 22 00:01:30,900 --> 00:01:32,900 His most beloved child to him 23 00:01:32,900 --> 00:01:35,900 was a little boy not yet past five years of age, 24 00:01:35,900 --> 00:01:37,900 whom he had named Suhayb. 25 00:01:37,900 --> 00:01:39,900 Suhayb was fair-faced, 26 00:01:39,900 --> 00:01:42,900 red-haired, and bursting with energy, 27 00:01:42,900 --> 00:01:46,900 with two eyes radiating wit and brilliance. 28 00:01:46,900 --> 00:01:50,900 Moreover, he was cheerful and of delightful spirit, 29 00:01:50,900 --> 00:01:53,900 bringing immense joy to his father's heart 30 00:01:53,900 --> 00:01:56,900 and dispelling from him all the heavy burdens of governance. 31 00:01:56,900 --> 00:01:59,969 Suhayb’s mother set out with her young son 32 00:01:59,969 --> 00:02:02,969 and a retinue of her attendants and servants 33 00:02:02,969 --> 00:02:04,969 to the village of al-Thani in the land of Iraq, 34 00:02:04,969 --> 00:02:07,969 seeking rest and recreation. 35 00:02:07,969 --> 00:02:11,969 There, a raiding party from the Roman (Byzantine) army raided the village, 36 00:02:11,969 --> 00:02:15,969 killed its guards, looted its wealth, 37 00:02:15,969 --> 00:02:17,969 and captured its women and children. 38 00:02:17,969 --> 00:02:20,969 Among those taken captive was young Suhayb. 39 00:02:20,969 --> 00:02:24,969 Suhayb was sold in the slave markets of the Roman Empire, 40 00:02:24,969 --> 00:02:27,969 passing from hand to hand, 41 00:02:27,969 --> 00:02:30,969 moving from the service of one master to that of another, 42 00:02:30,969 --> 00:02:34,969 just like the thousands upon thousands of enslaved people 43 00:02:34,969 --> 00:02:38,969 who filled the palaces of the Roman lands. 44 00:02:38,969 --> 00:02:40,969 This circumstance afforded Suhayb the opportunity 45 00:02:40,969 --> 00:02:43,969 to penetrate deep into the Roman society 46 00:02:43,969 --> 00:02:46,969 and examine it from within. 47 00:02:46,969 --> 00:02:49,969 With his own eyes, he saw the vices that nested in its palaces, 48 00:02:49,969 --> 00:02:51,969 full of depravities and ruinous sins, 49 00:02:51,969 --> 00:02:56,969 and he heard with his own ears the injustices and transgressions committed therein. 50 00:02:56,969 --> 00:02:59,969 Consequently, he despised and disdained that society, 51 00:02:59,969 --> 00:03:01,969 often saying to himself, 52 00:03:01,969 --> 00:03:06,969 "Nothing can purify such a society except a deluge!" 53 00:03:06,969 --> 00:03:11,099 Even though Suhayb grew up in the Roman lands, 54 00:03:11,099 --> 00:03:14,099 spending his youth on their soil and among their people, 55 00:03:14,099 --> 00:03:18,099 and despite having nearly or entirely forgotten his Arabic, 56 00:03:18,099 --> 00:03:21,099 it never slipped from his mind 57 00:03:21,099 --> 00:03:24,099 that he was an Arab, a son of the desert. 58 00:03:24,099 --> 00:03:27,099 His yearning never waned for a single moment 59 00:03:27,099 --> 00:03:30,099 for the day he would be emancipated from his bondage 60 00:03:30,099 --> 00:03:32,099 and rejoin his own people. 61 00:03:32,099 --> 00:03:37,099 His longing for the land of the Arabs grew even stronger 62 00:03:37,099 --> 00:03:40,099 when he heard a Christian priest 63 00:03:40,099 --> 00:03:43,099 saying to one of his masters: 64 00:03:43,099 --> 00:03:45,099 "The time has drawn near 65 00:03:45,099 --> 00:03:48,099 for a prophet to emerge from Mecca in the Arabian Peninsula, 66 00:03:49,099 --> 00:03:52,099 confirming the message of Jesus, son of Mary, 67 00:03:52,099 --> 00:03:55,099 and leading people out of darkness and into light." 68 00:03:55,099 --> 00:03:57,099 Later, an opportunity presented itself to Suhayb, 69 00:03:57,099 --> 00:04:00,099 so he fled from the bondage of his masters 70 00:04:00,099 --> 00:04:03,099 and set his face toward Mecca, the Mother of Cities, 71 00:04:03,099 --> 00:04:07,099 the sanctuary of the Arabs and the birthplace of the awaited Prophet. 72 00:04:07,099 --> 00:04:10,099 When he settled there, 73 00:04:10,099 --> 00:04:13,099 the people called him "Suhayb al-Rumi" (Suhayb the Roman) 74 00:04:13,099 --> 00:04:16,100 because of his foreign accent and his reddish hair. 75 00:04:16,100 --> 00:04:19,100 Suhayb allied himself with one of the chieftains of Mecca, 76 00:04:19,100 --> 00:04:22,100 'Abdullah ibn Jud'an, 77 00:04:22,100 --> 00:04:24,100 and engaged in trade, 78 00:04:24,100 --> 00:04:28,100 which brought him abundant fortune and vast wealth. 79 00:04:28,100 --> 00:04:32,100 Yet Suhayb’s business and profits did not make him forget 80 00:04:32,100 --> 00:04:35,100 the Christian priest’s prediction. 81 00:04:35,100 --> 00:04:38,100 Whenever those words crossed his mind, 82 00:04:38,100 --> 00:04:40,100 he would eagerly ask himself, 83 00:04:40,100 --> 00:04:42,100 "When will that be?" 84 00:04:42,100 --> 00:04:44,100 It was not long 85 00:04:44,100 --> 00:04:47,129 before the answer arrived. 86 00:04:47,129 --> 00:04:50,129 One day, Suhayb returned to Mecca 87 00:04:50,129 --> 00:04:52,129 from one of his journeys, 88 00:04:52,129 --> 00:04:55,129 and was told that Muhammad ibn 'Abdillah had been commissioned as a prophet, 89 00:04:55,129 --> 00:04:59,129 and had arisen calling people to faith in Allah alone, 90 00:04:59,129 --> 00:05:02,129 urging them to justice and benevolence, 91 00:05:02,129 --> 00:05:05,129 and forbidding them from indecency and wickedness. 92 00:05:05,129 --> 00:05:09,129 He asked, "Is he not the one they call al-Amin (the Trustworthy)?" 93 00:05:09,129 --> 00:05:11,129 They replied, "Yes, indeed." 94 00:05:11,129 --> 00:05:13,129 He asked, "And where can he be found?" 95 00:05:13,129 --> 00:05:16,129 They told him, "In the house of al-Arqam ibn Abi al-Arqam, 96 00:05:16,129 --> 00:05:18,129 near al-Safa. 97 00:05:18,129 --> 00:05:21,129 But beware lest anyone from Quraysh see you! 98 00:05:21,129 --> 00:05:24,129 For if they see you, they will inflict terrible harm upon you, 99 00:05:24,129 --> 00:05:26,129 since you are a foreigner 100 00:05:26,129 --> 00:05:28,129 with no tribal allegiance to shield you, 101 00:05:28,129 --> 00:05:31,129 nor any clan to come to your defense." 102 00:05:31,129 --> 00:05:34,290 Suhayb set off toward the house of al-Arqam, 103 00:05:34,290 --> 00:05:35,290 cautious and looking around warily. 104 00:05:35,290 --> 00:05:37,290 When he reached it, 105 00:05:37,290 --> 00:05:40,290 he found 'Ammar ibn Yasir at the door, 106 00:05:40,290 --> 00:05:42,290 whom he had known previously. 107 00:05:42,290 --> 00:05:44,290 He hesitated for a moment, 108 00:05:44,290 --> 00:05:46,290 then approached him and asked, 109 00:05:46,290 --> 00:05:48,290 "What do you want, 'Ammar?" 110 00:05:48,290 --> 00:05:49,290 'Ammar replied, 111 00:05:49,290 --> 00:05:51,290 "Rather, what do you want?" 112 00:05:51,290 --> 00:05:53,290 Suhayb said, 113 00:05:53,290 --> 00:05:55,290 "I wish to go in to this man 114 00:05:55,290 --> 00:05:57,290 and hear what he has to say." 115 00:05:57,290 --> 00:05:59,290 'Ammar said, 116 00:05:59,290 --> 00:06:01,290 "That is precisely what I want as well." 117 00:06:01,290 --> 00:06:03,290 Suhayb said, 118 00:06:03,290 --> 00:06:06,290 "Then let us enter together, with the blessing of Allah." 119 00:06:06,290 --> 00:06:09,290 Suhayb ibn Sinan al-Rumi 120 00:06:09,290 --> 00:06:11,290 and 'Ammar ibn Yasir entered 121 00:06:11,290 --> 00:06:14,290 upon the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, 122 00:06:14,290 --> 00:06:17,290 and listened to his words. 123 00:06:17,290 --> 00:06:20,290 The light of faith shone brilliantly in their hearts, 124 00:06:20,290 --> 00:06:23,290 and they competed to extend their hands in allegiance to him, 125 00:06:23,290 --> 00:06:26,290 testifying that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah, 126 00:06:26,290 --> 00:06:29,290 and that Muhammad is His servant and His messenger. 127 00:06:29,290 --> 00:06:32,290 They spent the remainder of their day in his presence, 128 00:06:32,290 --> 00:06:35,290 drawing from his guidance and delighting in his companionship. 129 00:06:35,290 --> 00:06:37,449 When night fell 130 00:06:37,449 --> 00:06:39,449 and movement subsided, 131 00:06:39,449 --> 00:06:42,449 they slipped out from his presence under cover of darkness, 132 00:06:42,449 --> 00:06:45,449 each carrying in his heart such radiant light 133 00:06:45,449 --> 00:06:49,610 as would suffice to illuminate the entire world. 134 00:06:49,610 --> 00:06:52,610 Suhayb bore his full share of persecution by Quraysh, 135 00:06:52,610 --> 00:06:54,610 alongside Bilal, 'Ammar, 136 00:06:54,610 --> 00:06:56,610 Sumayyah, Khabbab, 137 00:06:56,610 --> 00:06:58,610 and dozens of other believers. 138 00:06:58,610 --> 00:07:01,610 He endured such torment at the hands of Quraysh 139 00:07:01,610 --> 00:07:03,610 that had it been cast upon a mountain, it would have crushed it. 140 00:07:03,610 --> 00:07:05,610 Yet he met all of it 141 00:07:05,610 --> 00:07:08,610 with a serene and patient soul, 142 00:07:08,610 --> 00:07:11,610 knowing full well that the path to Paradise 143 00:07:11,610 --> 00:07:13,610 is surrounded by hardships. 144 00:07:13,610 --> 00:07:15,610 When the Prophet permitted his Companions 145 00:07:15,610 --> 00:07:17,610 to emigrate to Medina, 146 00:07:17,610 --> 00:07:19,610 Suhayb resolved to go 147 00:07:19,610 --> 00:07:21,610 in the company of the Prophet and Abu Bakr. 148 00:07:21,610 --> 00:07:23,610 However, Quraysh 149 00:07:23,610 --> 00:07:25,610 sensed his determination to emigrate, 150 00:07:25,610 --> 00:07:27,610 so they thwarted his plans 151 00:07:27,610 --> 00:07:29,610 and placed surveillance over him 152 00:07:29,610 --> 00:07:31,610 to prevent him from slipping out of their hands 153 00:07:31,610 --> 00:07:33,610 and taking with him all the wealth 154 00:07:33,610 --> 00:07:36,610 of silver and gold that his trading had brought him. 155 00:07:36,610 --> 00:07:38,610 Following the emigration 156 00:07:38,610 --> 00:07:40,610 of the Prophet and his companion, Suhayb remained behind, 157 00:07:40,610 --> 00:07:42,610 watching for an opportunity to join them, 158 00:07:42,610 --> 00:07:44,610 but to no avail, 159 00:07:44,610 --> 00:07:46,610 for the eyes of the watchmen 160 00:07:46,610 --> 00:07:48,610 stayed alert and vigilant over him. 161 00:07:48,610 --> 00:07:50,610 Finding no way out, 162 00:07:50,610 --> 00:07:52,610 he saw no alternative but to resort to a ruse. 163 00:07:52,610 --> 00:07:54,610 One cold night, 164 00:07:54,610 --> 00:07:56,610 Suhayb went out repeatedly 165 00:07:56,610 --> 00:07:58,610 to the open ground 166 00:07:58,610 --> 00:08:00,610 as if he were relieving himself. 167 00:08:00,610 --> 00:08:02,610 No sooner would he return from answering the call of nature 168 00:08:02,610 --> 00:08:04,610 than he would head right back out again. 169 00:08:04,610 --> 00:08:06,610 So some of his watchmen said to one another, 170 00:08:06,610 --> 00:08:08,610 "Rest easy, 171 00:08:08,610 --> 00:08:10,610 for al-Lat and al-'Uzza 172 00:08:10,610 --> 00:08:12,610 have afflicted him with an upset stomach!" 173 00:08:12,610 --> 00:08:14,610 Then they retired to their beds 174 00:08:14,610 --> 00:08:16,610 and surrendered their eyes to sleep. 175 00:08:16,610 --> 00:08:18,610 Thereupon, Suhayb slipped away from among them 176 00:08:18,610 --> 00:08:20,610 and set his face 177 00:08:20,610 --> 00:08:22,610 toward Medina. 178 00:08:22,610 --> 00:08:24,610 Shortly after Suhayb had departed, 179 00:08:24,610 --> 00:08:26,610 his guards realized 180 00:08:26,610 --> 00:08:28,610 what had happened. 181 00:08:28,610 --> 00:08:30,610 They leaped up from their sleep in alarm, 182 00:08:30,610 --> 00:08:32,610 mounted their swiftest steeds, 183 00:08:32,610 --> 00:08:34,610 and gave them full rein in hot pursuit of him 184 00:08:34,610 --> 00:08:36,610 until they overtook him. 185 00:08:36,610 --> 00:08:38,610 When he sensed their presence, 186 00:08:38,610 --> 00:08:40,610 he climbed up to an elevated position, 187 00:08:40,610 --> 00:08:42,610 drew his arrows from his quiver, 188 00:08:42,610 --> 00:08:44,610 strung his bow, and called out: 189 00:08:44,610 --> 00:08:46,610 "O people of Quraysh! 190 00:08:46,610 --> 00:08:48,610 By Allah, you well know 191 00:08:48,610 --> 00:08:50,610 that I am one of the best archers among men, 192 00:08:50,610 --> 00:08:52,610 and the most accurate in aim. 193 00:08:52,610 --> 00:08:54,610 By Allah, you will not reach me 194 00:08:54,610 --> 00:08:56,610 until I have killed with every arrow I possess 195 00:08:56,610 --> 00:08:58,610 a man from among you! 196 00:08:58,610 --> 00:09:00,610 Then I will strike you with my sword as long as 197 00:09:00,610 --> 00:09:02,610 any part of it remains in my hand." 198 00:09:02,610 --> 00:09:04,610 One of them replied, 199 00:09:04,610 --> 00:09:06,610 "By Allah, we will not let you escape 200 00:09:06,610 --> 00:09:08,610 from us with both yourself and your wealth! 201 00:09:08,610 --> 00:09:10,610 You came to Mecca as a destitute pauper, 202 00:09:10,610 --> 00:09:12,610 poor and penniless, but here you grew rich 203 00:09:12,610 --> 00:09:14,610 and attained the status you have reached." 204 00:09:14,610 --> 00:09:16,610 So he asked, "What do you say: 205 00:09:16,610 --> 00:09:18,610 if I leave you all my wealth, 206 00:09:18,610 --> 00:09:20,610 will you let me go on my way?" 207 00:09:20,610 --> 00:09:22,610 They replied, "Yes." 208 00:09:22,610 --> 00:09:24,610 So he directed them to the location of his wealth in his house 209 00:09:24,610 --> 00:09:26,610 in Mecca, and they went off to it 210 00:09:26,610 --> 00:09:28,610 and took it from him. 211 00:09:29,610 --> 00:09:31,610 Suhayb then hastened 212 00:09:31,610 --> 00:09:33,610 his pace toward Medina, 213 00:09:33,610 --> 00:09:35,610 fleeing with his religion unto Allah, 214 00:09:35,610 --> 00:09:37,610 without a single regret over the wealth 215 00:09:37,610 --> 00:09:39,610 for whose accumulation he had spent the prime 216 00:09:39,610 --> 00:09:41,610 of his life. And whenever 217 00:09:41,610 --> 00:09:43,610 exhaustion overcame him 218 00:09:43,610 --> 00:09:45,610 and fatigue wore him down, 219 00:09:45,610 --> 00:09:47,610 his longing for the Messenger of Allah 220 00:09:47,610 --> 00:09:49,610 (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) spurred him on, 221 00:09:49,610 --> 00:09:51,610 restoring his vigor 222 00:09:51,610 --> 00:09:53,610 so that he pressed on with his journey. 223 00:09:53,610 --> 00:09:55,610 And when he reached Quba', 224 00:09:55,610 --> 00:09:57,610 the Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) saw him, 225 00:09:58,610 --> 00:10:00,610 beamed with joy, welcomed him warmly, 226 00:10:00,610 --> 00:10:02,610 and said: 227 00:10:02,610 --> 00:10:04,610 "The transaction has been profitable, O Abu Yahya! 228 00:10:04,610 --> 00:10:06,610 The transaction has been profitable!" 229 00:10:06,610 --> 00:10:08,610 repeating it three times. 230 00:10:08,610 --> 00:10:10,610 Joy illuminated the face of Suhayb, 231 00:10:10,610 --> 00:10:12,610 and he said, "By Allah, 232 00:10:12,610 --> 00:10:14,610 no one could have preceded me to you, 233 00:10:14,610 --> 00:10:16,610 O Messenger of Allah; 234 00:10:16,610 --> 00:10:18,610 none could have informed you of this but Gabriel!" 235 00:10:18,610 --> 00:10:20,610 Indeed, profitable was 236 00:10:20,610 --> 00:10:22,610 the trade, confirmed 237 00:10:22,610 --> 00:10:24,610 by revelation from the heavens, 238 00:10:24,610 --> 00:10:26,610 and testified to by Gabriel, 239 00:10:27,610 --> 00:10:29,610 as in the words of Allah, the Exalted and Majestic: 240 00:10:29,610 --> 00:10:31,610 "And among the people 241 00:10:31,610 --> 00:10:33,610 is he who sells himself, 242 00:10:33,610 --> 00:10:35,610 seeking 243 00:10:35,610 --> 00:10:37,610 the pleasure of Allah; 244 00:10:37,610 --> 00:10:39,610 and Allah 245 00:10:39,610 --> 00:10:41,610 is full of kindness 246 00:10:41,610 --> 00:10:43,610 to His servants." 247 00:10:43,610 --> 00:10:45,610 Blessed indeed 248 00:10:45,610 --> 00:10:47,610 is Suhayb ibn Sinan ar-Rumi, 249 00:10:47,610 --> 00:10:49,610 and excellent is his final abode! 250 00:10:49,610 --> 00:10:53,080 "The transaction has been profitable, 251 00:10:53,080 --> 00:10:55,080 O Abu Yahya! 252 00:10:55,080 --> 00:10:57,590 The transaction has been profitable!" 253 00:10:57,590 --> 00:10:59,590 Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.