WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.000 In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. 00:00:15.259 --> 00:00:18.260 The Mawaddah Association is pleased 00:00:18.260 --> 00:00:22.260 to present to you "Portraits from the Lives of the Companions" 00:00:22.260 --> 00:00:25.260 by 'Abd al-Rahman Ra'fat al-Basha, 00:00:25.260 --> 00:00:27.289 may Allah have mercy on him. 00:00:27.289 --> 00:00:33.890 Suhayb al-Rumi, may Allah be pleased with him. 00:00:45.899 --> 00:00:47.899 Suhayb al-Rumi. 00:00:47.899 --> 00:00:51.899 Who among us, O assembly of Muslims, does not know Suhayb al-Rumi, 00:00:51.899 --> 00:00:55.899 or is not acquainted with some of his accounts and fragments of his biography? 00:00:55.899 --> 00:00:58.899 Yet what many of us do not know 00:00:58.899 --> 00:01:01.899 is that Suhayb was not originally a Roman (Byzantine); 00:01:01.899 --> 00:01:04.900 rather, he was of pure Arab descent, 00:01:04.900 --> 00:01:07.900 with a Numayri father and a Tamimi mother. 00:01:07.900 --> 00:01:10.900 The attribution of Suhayb to the Romans (Byzantines) 00:01:10.900 --> 00:01:13.900 is a story that the memory of history still preserves 00:01:13.900 --> 00:01:15.900 and its chronicles recount. 00:01:15.900 --> 00:01:19.900 About two decades before the advent of the Prophetic mission, 00:01:19.900 --> 00:01:21.900 the governor of al-Uballah— 00:01:21.900 --> 00:01:24.900 an ancient city that was later incorporated into Basra— 00:01:24.900 --> 00:01:27.900 was Sinan ibn Malik al-Numayri, 00:01:27.900 --> 00:01:30.900 appointed by Khosrow, King of Persia. 00:01:30.900 --> 00:01:32.900 His most beloved child to him 00:01:32.900 --> 00:01:35.900 was a little boy not yet past five years of age, 00:01:35.900 --> 00:01:37.900 whom he had named Suhayb. 00:01:37.900 --> 00:01:39.900 Suhayb was fair-faced, 00:01:39.900 --> 00:01:42.900 red-haired, and bursting with energy, 00:01:42.900 --> 00:01:46.900 with two eyes radiating wit and brilliance. 00:01:46.900 --> 00:01:50.900 Moreover, he was cheerful and of delightful spirit, 00:01:50.900 --> 00:01:53.900 bringing immense joy to his father's heart 00:01:53.900 --> 00:01:56.900 and dispelling from him all the heavy burdens of governance. 00:01:56.900 --> 00:01:59.969 Suhayb’s mother set out with her young son 00:01:59.969 --> 00:02:02.969 and a retinue of her attendants and servants 00:02:02.969 --> 00:02:04.969 to the village of al-Thani in the land of Iraq, 00:02:04.969 --> 00:02:07.969 seeking rest and recreation. 00:02:07.969 --> 00:02:11.969 There, a raiding party from the Roman (Byzantine) army raided the village, 00:02:11.969 --> 00:02:15.969 killed its guards, looted its wealth, 00:02:15.969 --> 00:02:17.969 and captured its women and children. 00:02:17.969 --> 00:02:20.969 Among those taken captive was young Suhayb. 00:02:20.969 --> 00:02:24.969 Suhayb was sold in the slave markets of the Roman Empire, 00:02:24.969 --> 00:02:27.969 passing from hand to hand, 00:02:27.969 --> 00:02:30.969 moving from the service of one master to that of another, 00:02:30.969 --> 00:02:34.969 just like the thousands upon thousands of enslaved people 00:02:34.969 --> 00:02:38.969 who filled the palaces of the Roman lands. 00:02:38.969 --> 00:02:40.969 This circumstance afforded Suhayb the opportunity 00:02:40.969 --> 00:02:43.969 to penetrate deep into the Roman society 00:02:43.969 --> 00:02:46.969 and examine it from within. 00:02:46.969 --> 00:02:49.969 With his own eyes, he saw the vices that nested in its palaces, 00:02:49.969 --> 00:02:51.969 full of depravities and ruinous sins, 00:02:51.969 --> 00:02:56.969 and he heard with his own ears the injustices and transgressions committed therein. 00:02:56.969 --> 00:02:59.969 Consequently, he despised and disdained that society, 00:02:59.969 --> 00:03:01.969 often saying to himself, 00:03:01.969 --> 00:03:06.969 "Nothing can purify such a society except a deluge!" 00:03:06.969 --> 00:03:11.099 Even though Suhayb grew up in the Roman lands, 00:03:11.099 --> 00:03:14.099 spending his youth on their soil and among their people, 00:03:14.099 --> 00:03:18.099 and despite having nearly or entirely forgotten his Arabic, 00:03:18.099 --> 00:03:21.099 it never slipped from his mind 00:03:21.099 --> 00:03:24.099 that he was an Arab, a son of the desert. 00:03:24.099 --> 00:03:27.099 His yearning never waned for a single moment 00:03:27.099 --> 00:03:30.099 for the day he would be emancipated from his bondage 00:03:30.099 --> 00:03:32.099 and rejoin his own people. 00:03:32.099 --> 00:03:37.099 His longing for the land of the Arabs grew even stronger 00:03:37.099 --> 00:03:40.099 when he heard a Christian priest 00:03:40.099 --> 00:03:43.099 saying to one of his masters: 00:03:43.099 --> 00:03:45.099 "The time has drawn near 00:03:45.099 --> 00:03:48.099 for a prophet to emerge from Mecca in the Arabian Peninsula, 00:03:49.099 --> 00:03:52.099 confirming the message of Jesus, son of Mary, 00:03:52.099 --> 00:03:55.099 and leading people out of darkness and into light." 00:03:55.099 --> 00:03:57.099 Later, an opportunity presented itself to Suhayb, 00:03:57.099 --> 00:04:00.099 so he fled from the bondage of his masters 00:04:00.099 --> 00:04:03.099 and set his face toward Mecca, the Mother of Cities, 00:04:03.099 --> 00:04:07.099 the sanctuary of the Arabs and the birthplace of the awaited Prophet. 00:04:07.099 --> 00:04:10.099 When he settled there, 00:04:10.099 --> 00:04:13.099 the people called him "Suhayb al-Rumi" (Suhayb the Roman) 00:04:13.099 --> 00:04:16.100 because of his foreign accent and his reddish hair. 00:04:16.100 --> 00:04:19.100 Suhayb allied himself with one of the chieftains of Mecca, 00:04:19.100 --> 00:04:22.100 'Abdullah ibn Jud'an, 00:04:22.100 --> 00:04:24.100 and engaged in trade, 00:04:24.100 --> 00:04:28.100 which brought him abundant fortune and vast wealth. 00:04:28.100 --> 00:04:32.100 Yet Suhayb’s business and profits did not make him forget 00:04:32.100 --> 00:04:35.100 the Christian priest’s prediction. 00:04:35.100 --> 00:04:38.100 Whenever those words crossed his mind, 00:04:38.100 --> 00:04:40.100 he would eagerly ask himself, 00:04:40.100 --> 00:04:42.100 "When will that be?" 00:04:42.100 --> 00:04:44.100 It was not long 00:04:44.100 --> 00:04:47.129 before the answer arrived. 00:04:47.129 --> 00:04:50.129 One day, Suhayb returned to Mecca 00:04:50.129 --> 00:04:52.129 from one of his journeys, 00:04:52.129 --> 00:04:55.129 and was told that Muhammad ibn 'Abdillah had been commissioned as a prophet, 00:04:55.129 --> 00:04:59.129 and had arisen calling people to faith in Allah alone, 00:04:59.129 --> 00:05:02.129 urging them to justice and benevolence, 00:05:02.129 --> 00:05:05.129 and forbidding them from indecency and wickedness. 00:05:05.129 --> 00:05:09.129 He asked, "Is he not the one they call al-Amin (the Trustworthy)?" 00:05:09.129 --> 00:05:11.129 They replied, "Yes, indeed." 00:05:11.129 --> 00:05:13.129 He asked, "And where can he be found?" 00:05:13.129 --> 00:05:16.129 They told him, "In the house of al-Arqam ibn Abi al-Arqam, 00:05:16.129 --> 00:05:18.129 near al-Safa. 00:05:18.129 --> 00:05:21.129 But beware lest anyone from Quraysh see you! 00:05:21.129 --> 00:05:24.129 For if they see you, they will inflict terrible harm upon you, 00:05:24.129 --> 00:05:26.129 since you are a foreigner 00:05:26.129 --> 00:05:28.129 with no tribal allegiance to shield you, 00:05:28.129 --> 00:05:31.129 nor any clan to come to your defense." 00:05:31.129 --> 00:05:34.290 Suhayb set off toward the house of al-Arqam, 00:05:34.290 --> 00:05:35.290 cautious and looking around warily. 00:05:35.290 --> 00:05:37.290 When he reached it, 00:05:37.290 --> 00:05:40.290 he found 'Ammar ibn Yasir at the door, 00:05:40.290 --> 00:05:42.290 whom he had known previously. 00:05:42.290 --> 00:05:44.290 He hesitated for a moment, 00:05:44.290 --> 00:05:46.290 then approached him and asked, 00:05:46.290 --> 00:05:48.290 "What do you want, 'Ammar?" 00:05:48.290 --> 00:05:49.290 'Ammar replied, 00:05:49.290 --> 00:05:51.290 "Rather, what do you want?" 00:05:51.290 --> 00:05:53.290 Suhayb said, 00:05:53.290 --> 00:05:55.290 "I wish to go in to this man 00:05:55.290 --> 00:05:57.290 and hear what he has to say." 00:05:57.290 --> 00:05:59.290 'Ammar said, 00:05:59.290 --> 00:06:01.290 "That is precisely what I want as well." 00:06:01.290 --> 00:06:03.290 Suhayb said, 00:06:03.290 --> 00:06:06.290 "Then let us enter together, with the blessing of Allah." 00:06:06.290 --> 00:06:09.290 Suhayb ibn Sinan al-Rumi 00:06:09.290 --> 00:06:11.290 and 'Ammar ibn Yasir entered 00:06:11.290 --> 00:06:14.290 upon the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, 00:06:14.290 --> 00:06:17.290 and listened to his words. 00:06:17.290 --> 00:06:20.290 The light of faith shone brilliantly in their hearts, 00:06:20.290 --> 00:06:23.290 and they competed to extend their hands in allegiance to him, 00:06:23.290 --> 00:06:26.290 testifying that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah, 00:06:26.290 --> 00:06:29.290 and that Muhammad is His servant and His messenger. 00:06:29.290 --> 00:06:32.290 They spent the remainder of their day in his presence, 00:06:32.290 --> 00:06:35.290 drawing from his guidance and delighting in his companionship. 00:06:35.290 --> 00:06:37.449 When night fell 00:06:37.449 --> 00:06:39.449 and movement subsided, 00:06:39.449 --> 00:06:42.449 they slipped out from his presence under cover of darkness, 00:06:42.449 --> 00:06:45.449 each carrying in his heart such radiant light 00:06:45.449 --> 00:06:49.610 as would suffice to illuminate the entire world. 00:06:49.610 --> 00:06:52.610 Suhayb bore his full share of persecution by Quraysh, 00:06:52.610 --> 00:06:54.610 alongside Bilal, 'Ammar, 00:06:54.610 --> 00:06:56.610 Sumayyah, Khabbab, 00:06:56.610 --> 00:06:58.610 and dozens of other believers. 00:06:58.610 --> 00:07:01.610 He endured such torment at the hands of Quraysh 00:07:01.610 --> 00:07:03.610 that had it been cast upon a mountain, it would have crushed it. 00:07:03.610 --> 00:07:05.610 Yet he met all of it 00:07:05.610 --> 00:07:08.610 with a serene and patient soul, 00:07:08.610 --> 00:07:11.610 knowing full well that the path to Paradise 00:07:11.610 --> 00:07:13.610 is surrounded by hardships. 00:07:13.610 --> 00:07:15.610 When the Prophet permitted his Companions 00:07:15.610 --> 00:07:17.610 to emigrate to Medina, 00:07:17.610 --> 00:07:19.610 Suhayb resolved to go 00:07:19.610 --> 00:07:21.610 in the company of the Prophet and Abu Bakr. 00:07:21.610 --> 00:07:23.610 However, Quraysh 00:07:23.610 --> 00:07:25.610 sensed his determination to emigrate, 00:07:25.610 --> 00:07:27.610 so they thwarted his plans 00:07:27.610 --> 00:07:29.610 and placed surveillance over him 00:07:29.610 --> 00:07:31.610 to prevent him from slipping out of their hands 00:07:31.610 --> 00:07:33.610 and taking with him all the wealth 00:07:33.610 --> 00:07:36.610 of silver and gold that his trading had brought him. 00:07:36.610 --> 00:07:38.610 Following the emigration 00:07:38.610 --> 00:07:40.610 of the Prophet and his companion, Suhayb remained behind, 00:07:40.610 --> 00:07:42.610 watching for an opportunity to join them, 00:07:42.610 --> 00:07:44.610 but to no avail, 00:07:44.610 --> 00:07:46.610 for the eyes of the watchmen 00:07:46.610 --> 00:07:48.610 stayed alert and vigilant over him. 00:07:48.610 --> 00:07:50.610 Finding no way out, 00:07:50.610 --> 00:07:52.610 he saw no alternative but to resort to a ruse. 00:07:52.610 --> 00:07:54.610 One cold night, 00:07:54.610 --> 00:07:56.610 Suhayb went out repeatedly 00:07:56.610 --> 00:07:58.610 to the open ground 00:07:58.610 --> 00:08:00.610 as if he were relieving himself. 00:08:00.610 --> 00:08:02.610 No sooner would he return from answering the call of nature 00:08:02.610 --> 00:08:04.610 than he would head right back out again. 00:08:04.610 --> 00:08:06.610 So some of his watchmen said to one another, 00:08:06.610 --> 00:08:08.610 "Rest easy, 00:08:08.610 --> 00:08:10.610 for al-Lat and al-'Uzza 00:08:10.610 --> 00:08:12.610 have afflicted him with an upset stomach!" 00:08:12.610 --> 00:08:14.610 Then they retired to their beds 00:08:14.610 --> 00:08:16.610 and surrendered their eyes to sleep. 00:08:16.610 --> 00:08:18.610 Thereupon, Suhayb slipped away from among them 00:08:18.610 --> 00:08:20.610 and set his face 00:08:20.610 --> 00:08:22.610 toward Medina. 00:08:22.610 --> 00:08:24.610 Shortly after Suhayb had departed, 00:08:24.610 --> 00:08:26.610 his guards realized 00:08:26.610 --> 00:08:28.610 what had happened. 00:08:28.610 --> 00:08:30.610 They leaped up from their sleep in alarm, 00:08:30.610 --> 00:08:32.610 mounted their swiftest steeds, 00:08:32.610 --> 00:08:34.610 and gave them full rein in hot pursuit of him 00:08:34.610 --> 00:08:36.610 until they overtook him. 00:08:36.610 --> 00:08:38.610 When he sensed their presence, 00:08:38.610 --> 00:08:40.610 he climbed up to an elevated position, 00:08:40.610 --> 00:08:42.610 drew his arrows from his quiver, 00:08:42.610 --> 00:08:44.610 strung his bow, and called out: 00:08:44.610 --> 00:08:46.610 "O people of Quraysh! 00:08:46.610 --> 00:08:48.610 By Allah, you well know 00:08:48.610 --> 00:08:50.610 that I am one of the best archers among men, 00:08:50.610 --> 00:08:52.610 and the most accurate in aim. 00:08:52.610 --> 00:08:54.610 By Allah, you will not reach me 00:08:54.610 --> 00:08:56.610 until I have killed with every arrow I possess 00:08:56.610 --> 00:08:58.610 a man from among you! 00:08:58.610 --> 00:09:00.610 Then I will strike you with my sword as long as 00:09:00.610 --> 00:09:02.610 any part of it remains in my hand." 00:09:02.610 --> 00:09:04.610 One of them replied, 00:09:04.610 --> 00:09:06.610 "By Allah, we will not let you escape 00:09:06.610 --> 00:09:08.610 from us with both yourself and your wealth! 00:09:08.610 --> 00:09:10.610 You came to Mecca as a destitute pauper, 00:09:10.610 --> 00:09:12.610 poor and penniless, but here you grew rich 00:09:12.610 --> 00:09:14.610 and attained the status you have reached." 00:09:14.610 --> 00:09:16.610 So he asked, "What do you say: 00:09:16.610 --> 00:09:18.610 if I leave you all my wealth, 00:09:18.610 --> 00:09:20.610 will you let me go on my way?" 00:09:20.610 --> 00:09:22.610 They replied, "Yes." 00:09:22.610 --> 00:09:24.610 So he directed them to the location of his wealth in his house 00:09:24.610 --> 00:09:26.610 in Mecca, and they went off to it 00:09:26.610 --> 00:09:28.610 and took it from him. 00:09:29.610 --> 00:09:31.610 Suhayb then hastened 00:09:31.610 --> 00:09:33.610 his pace toward Medina, 00:09:33.610 --> 00:09:35.610 fleeing with his religion unto Allah, 00:09:35.610 --> 00:09:37.610 without a single regret over the wealth 00:09:37.610 --> 00:09:39.610 for whose accumulation he had spent the prime 00:09:39.610 --> 00:09:41.610 of his life. And whenever 00:09:41.610 --> 00:09:43.610 exhaustion overcame him 00:09:43.610 --> 00:09:45.610 and fatigue wore him down, 00:09:45.610 --> 00:09:47.610 his longing for the Messenger of Allah 00:09:47.610 --> 00:09:49.610 (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) spurred him on, 00:09:49.610 --> 00:09:51.610 restoring his vigor 00:09:51.610 --> 00:09:53.610 so that he pressed on with his journey. 00:09:53.610 --> 00:09:55.610 And when he reached Quba', 00:09:55.610 --> 00:09:57.610 the Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) saw him, 00:09:58.610 --> 00:10:00.610 beamed with joy, welcomed him warmly, 00:10:00.610 --> 00:10:02.610 and said: 00:10:02.610 --> 00:10:04.610 "The transaction has been profitable, O Abu Yahya! 00:10:04.610 --> 00:10:06.610 The transaction has been profitable!" 00:10:06.610 --> 00:10:08.610 repeating it three times. 00:10:08.610 --> 00:10:10.610 Joy illuminated the face of Suhayb, 00:10:10.610 --> 00:10:12.610 and he said, "By Allah, 00:10:12.610 --> 00:10:14.610 no one could have preceded me to you, 00:10:14.610 --> 00:10:16.610 O Messenger of Allah; 00:10:16.610 --> 00:10:18.610 none could have informed you of this but Gabriel!" 00:10:18.610 --> 00:10:20.610 Indeed, profitable was 00:10:20.610 --> 00:10:22.610 the trade, confirmed 00:10:22.610 --> 00:10:24.610 by revelation from the heavens, 00:10:24.610 --> 00:10:26.610 and testified to by Gabriel, 00:10:27.610 --> 00:10:29.610 as in the words of Allah, the Exalted and Majestic: 00:10:29.610 --> 00:10:31.610 "And among the people 00:10:31.610 --> 00:10:33.610 is he who sells himself, 00:10:33.610 --> 00:10:35.610 seeking 00:10:35.610 --> 00:10:37.610 the pleasure of Allah; 00:10:37.610 --> 00:10:39.610 and Allah 00:10:39.610 --> 00:10:41.610 is full of kindness 00:10:41.610 --> 00:10:43.610 to His servants." 00:10:43.610 --> 00:10:45.610 Blessed indeed 00:10:45.610 --> 00:10:47.610 is Suhayb ibn Sinan ar-Rumi, 00:10:47.610 --> 00:10:49.610 and excellent is his final abode! 00:10:49.610 --> 00:10:53.080 "The transaction has been profitable, 00:10:53.080 --> 00:10:55.080 O Abu Yahya! 00:10:55.080 --> 00:10:57.590 The transaction has been profitable!" 00:10:57.590 --> 00:10:59.590 Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.