1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:03,000 In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. 2 00:00:15,289 --> 00:00:18,289 The Mawaddah Association is pleased 3 00:00:18,289 --> 00:00:22,289 to present to you portraits from the lives of the Companions, 4 00:00:22,289 --> 00:00:25,289 by Abd al-Rahman Ra'fat al-Basha, 5 00:00:25,289 --> 00:00:27,350 may Allah have mercy upon him. 6 00:00:27,350 --> 00:00:31,179 Abdullah Ibn Salam, 7 00:00:31,179 --> 00:00:33,179 may Allah be pleased with him. 8 00:00:45,460 --> 00:00:51,100 Husayn Ibn Salam was one of the rabbis of the Jews in Yathrib. 9 00:00:51,100 --> 00:00:57,100 The people of Medina, despite their diverse religions and sects, revered and honored him. 10 00:00:57,100 --> 00:01:01,100 He was known among the people for his piety and righteousness, 11 00:01:01,100 --> 00:01:04,099 and was described as upright and truthful. 12 00:01:04,099 --> 00:01:08,219 Husayn lived a quiet and peaceful life, 13 00:01:08,219 --> 00:01:12,219 yet it was, at the same time, serious and productive. 14 00:01:12,219 --> 00:01:15,219 He divided his time into three parts: 15 00:01:15,219 --> 00:01:18,219 one part in the synagogue for preaching and worship, 16 00:01:18,219 --> 00:01:20,219 one part in the garden of Allah, 17 00:01:20,219 --> 00:01:24,219 tending to his date palms by pruning and pollinating them, 18 00:01:24,219 --> 00:01:28,219 and one part with the Torah to gain deep understanding of the religion. 19 00:01:28,219 --> 00:01:36,260 Whenever he read the Torah, he would pause for a long time at the reports that foretold the appearance of a Prophet in Mecca, 20 00:01:36,260 --> 00:01:40,260 who would complete the messages of the previous prophets and seal them. 21 00:01:40,260 --> 00:01:45,290 He would investigate the descriptions and signs of this awaited Prophet, 22 00:01:45,290 --> 00:01:49,290 and he would tremble with joy because he would leave the land in which he was sent, 23 00:01:49,290 --> 00:01:53,290 and would take Yathrib as his place of migration and residence. 24 00:01:53,290 --> 00:01:58,290 Whenever he read these reports or they crossed his mind, 25 00:01:58,290 --> 00:02:01,290 he would pray to Allah to grant him a long life, 26 00:02:01,290 --> 00:02:04,290 so that he might witness the appearance of this awaited Prophet, 27 00:02:04,290 --> 00:02:09,289 rejoice in meeting him, and be the first to believe in him. 28 00:02:09,289 --> 00:02:13,289 Allah, the Almighty and Exalted, answered the prayer of Husayn Ibn Salam, 29 00:02:13,289 --> 00:02:18,289 and extended his life until the Prophet of guidance and mercy was sent, 30 00:02:18,289 --> 00:02:21,289 and it was decreed for him to be blessed with meeting him and keeping his company, 31 00:02:21,289 --> 00:02:24,289 and to believe in the truth that was revealed to him. 32 00:02:24,289 --> 00:02:29,289 Let us leave the speech to Husayn so he may recount to us the story of his Islam, 33 00:02:29,289 --> 00:02:33,289 for he is the best narrator of it and the most capable of presenting it well. 34 00:02:33,289 --> 00:02:36,289 Husayn Ibn Salam said: 35 00:02:36,289 --> 00:02:40,289 "When I heard of the appearance of the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, 36 00:02:40,289 --> 00:02:43,289 I began to inquire about his name, his lineage, 37 00:02:43,289 --> 00:02:46,289 his characteristics, his time, and his place, 38 00:02:46,289 --> 00:02:50,289 and I compared them with what was written in our books, 39 00:02:50,289 --> 00:02:55,289 until I was certain of his prophethood and confirmed the truth of his call. 40 00:02:55,289 --> 00:03:01,289 Then I kept this hidden from the Jews and restrained my tongue from speaking of it, 41 00:03:01,289 --> 00:03:06,289 until the day the Messenger, peace be upon him, left Mecca, 42 00:03:06,289 --> 00:03:08,289 heading toward Medina. 43 00:03:08,289 --> 00:03:11,379 When he reached Yathrib and stopped at Quba, 44 00:03:12,379 --> 00:03:17,379 a man came to us and began calling out to the people, announcing his arrival. 45 00:03:17,379 --> 00:03:21,379 At that moment, I was at the top of a palm tree of mine, working on it, 46 00:03:21,379 --> 00:03:26,379 and my aunt, Khalidah bint al-Harith, was sitting under the tree. 47 00:03:26,379 --> 00:03:29,379 As soon as I heard the news, I shouted, 48 00:03:29,379 --> 00:03:32,379 'Allah is the Greatest! Allah is the Greatest!' 49 00:03:32,379 --> 00:03:35,379 My aunt said to me when she heard my takbir, 50 00:03:35,379 --> 00:03:37,379 'May Allah disappoint you! 51 00:03:37,379 --> 00:03:40,379 By Allah, if you had heard that Musa Ibn Imran was coming, 52 00:03:40,379 --> 00:03:43,379 you would not have done anything more than that.' 53 00:03:43,379 --> 00:03:45,379 I said to her, 'O aunt, 54 00:03:45,379 --> 00:03:48,379 by Allah, he is the brother of Musa Ibn Imran, 55 00:03:48,379 --> 00:03:50,379 and follows his religion, 56 00:03:50,379 --> 00:03:52,379 and he has been sent with what he was sent with.' 57 00:03:52,379 --> 00:03:54,449 She fell silent and said, 58 00:03:54,449 --> 00:03:57,449 'Is he the Prophet whom you used to tell us 59 00:03:57,449 --> 00:03:59,449 would be sent confirming those before him, 60 00:03:59,449 --> 00:04:02,449 and completing the messages of his Lord?' 61 00:04:02,449 --> 00:04:04,449 I said, 'Yes.' 62 00:04:04,449 --> 00:04:05,449 She said, 63 00:04:05,449 --> 00:04:07,449 'Then that is him.' 64 00:04:07,449 --> 00:04:11,449 Then I went immediately to the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, 65 00:04:11,449 --> 00:04:14,449 and I saw the people crowding at his door. 66 00:04:14,449 --> 00:04:17,449 I pushed through them until I was close to him. 67 00:04:17,449 --> 00:04:20,449 The first thing I heard from him was his saying: 68 00:04:20,449 --> 00:04:22,449 'O people, 69 00:04:22,449 --> 00:04:24,449 spread peace, 70 00:04:24,449 --> 00:04:26,449 feed the hungry, 71 00:04:26,449 --> 00:04:28,449 and pray at night while the people are sleeping, 72 00:04:28,449 --> 00:04:31,449 you will enter Paradise in peace.' 73 00:04:31,449 --> 00:04:33,449 I began to scrutinize him, 74 00:04:33,449 --> 00:04:35,449 and gaze upon him, 75 00:04:35,449 --> 00:04:38,449 and I became certain that his face was not the face of a liar. 76 00:04:38,449 --> 00:04:40,449 Then I drew near to him, 77 00:04:40,449 --> 00:04:43,449 and I testified that there is no god but Allah, 78 00:04:43,449 --> 00:04:45,449 and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. 79 00:04:45,449 --> 00:04:47,449 He turned to me and said, 80 00:04:47,449 --> 00:04:49,449 'What is your name?' 81 00:04:49,449 --> 00:04:50,449 I said, 82 00:04:50,449 --> 00:04:52,449 'Husayn Ibn Salam.' 83 00:04:52,449 --> 00:04:53,449 He said, 84 00:04:53,449 --> 00:04:56,449 'Rather, Abdullah Ibn Salam.' 85 00:04:56,449 --> 00:04:59,449 I said, 'Yes, Abdullah Ibn Salam. 86 00:04:59,449 --> 00:05:01,449 By the One who sent you with the truth, 87 00:05:01,449 --> 00:05:04,449 I would not like to have any other name after today.' 88 00:05:04,449 --> 00:05:09,540 Then I left the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, for my house, 89 00:05:09,540 --> 00:05:13,540 and I invited my wife, my children, and my family to Islam, 90 00:05:13,540 --> 00:05:15,540 and they all accepted Islam, 91 00:05:15,540 --> 00:05:18,540 and my aunt Khalidah accepted Islam with them, 92 00:05:18,540 --> 00:05:20,540 and she was an elderly woman. 93 00:05:20,540 --> 00:05:22,639 Then I said to them, 94 00:05:22,639 --> 00:05:26,639 'Keep my Islam and your Islam hidden from the Jews 95 00:05:26,639 --> 00:05:28,639 until I give you permission.' 96 00:05:28,639 --> 00:05:30,639 They said, 'Yes.' 97 00:05:30,639 --> 00:05:33,639 Then I returned to the Messenger of Allah, 98 00:05:33,639 --> 00:05:35,639 peace be upon him, and said to him, 99 00:05:35,639 --> 00:05:37,639 'O Messenger of Allah, 100 00:05:37,639 --> 00:05:40,639 the Jews are a people of slander and falsehood, 101 00:05:40,639 --> 00:05:43,639 and I would like you to invite their leaders to you, 102 00:05:43,639 --> 00:05:47,639 and hide me from them in one of your rooms, 103 00:05:47,639 --> 00:05:52,639 then ask them about my status among them before they know of my Islam, 104 00:05:52,639 --> 00:05:54,639 then invite them to Islam. 105 00:05:54,639 --> 00:05:58,670 For if they know that I have accepted Islam, they will blame me, 106 00:05:58,670 --> 00:06:01,670 accuse me of every deficiency, and slander me.' 107 00:06:01,670 --> 00:06:06,740 So the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, put me in one of his rooms, 108 00:06:06,740 --> 00:06:08,740 then he invited them to him, 109 00:06:08,740 --> 00:06:10,740 and began urging them toward Islam, 110 00:06:10,740 --> 00:06:12,740 making faith beloved to them, 111 00:06:12,740 --> 00:06:16,740 and reminding them of what they knew in their books about his affair. 112 00:06:16,740 --> 00:06:19,740 They began to argue with him with falsehood, 113 00:06:19,740 --> 00:06:21,740 and dispute the truth, 114 00:06:21,740 --> 00:06:23,740 while I was listening. 115 00:06:23,740 --> 00:06:26,740 When he despaired of their faith, he said to them, 116 00:06:26,740 --> 00:06:29,740 'What is the status of Husayn Ibn Salam among you?' 117 00:06:29,740 --> 00:06:32,740 They said, 'Our master and the son of our master, 118 00:06:32,740 --> 00:06:35,740 our rabbi and our scholar, 119 00:06:35,740 --> 00:06:37,740 and the son of our rabbi and our scholar.' 120 00:06:37,740 --> 00:06:40,740 He said, 'What do you think if he accepts Islam? 121 00:06:40,740 --> 00:06:42,740 Would you accept Islam?' 122 00:06:42,740 --> 00:06:44,740 They said, 'Allah forbid! 123 00:06:44,740 --> 00:06:46,740 He would never accept Islam. 124 00:06:46,740 --> 00:06:49,740 May Allah protect him from accepting Islam.' 125 00:06:49,740 --> 00:06:51,899 So I came out to them and said, 126 00:06:51,899 --> 00:06:53,899 'O assembly of Jews, 127 00:06:53,899 --> 00:06:55,899 fear Allah, 128 00:06:55,899 --> 00:06:57,899 and accept what Muhammad has brought to you. 129 00:06:58,899 --> 00:07:00,899 For by Allah, you know 130 00:07:00,899 --> 00:07:02,899 that he is the Messenger of Allah, 131 00:07:02,899 --> 00:07:04,899 and you find him written with you 132 00:07:04,899 --> 00:07:06,899 in the Torah by his name and his description. 133 00:07:06,899 --> 00:07:09,899 And I bear witness that he is the Messenger of Allah, 134 00:07:09,899 --> 00:07:12,899 and I believe in him, confirm him, and know him.' 135 00:07:12,899 --> 00:07:14,899 They said, 'You lie! 136 00:07:14,899 --> 00:07:17,899 By Allah, you are the worst of us and the son of the worst of us, 137 00:07:17,899 --> 00:07:20,899 and the most ignorant of us and the son of the most ignorant of us.' 138 00:07:20,899 --> 00:07:22,899 And they did not leave any fault 139 00:07:22,899 --> 00:07:24,899 without accusing me of it. 140 00:07:24,899 --> 00:07:26,899 I said to the Messenger of Allah, 141 00:07:27,899 --> 00:07:29,899 'Did I not tell you, 142 00:07:29,899 --> 00:07:32,899 that the Jews are a people of slander and falsehood, 143 00:07:32,899 --> 00:07:36,019 and that they are people of treachery and immorality?' 144 00:07:36,019 --> 00:07:39,019 Abdullah Ibn Salam turned to Islam 145 00:07:39,019 --> 00:07:42,019 with the eagerness of the thirsty who longs for the watering place, 146 00:07:42,019 --> 00:07:44,019 and he was passionate about the Qur'an, 147 00:07:44,019 --> 00:07:49,019 so his tongue never ceased to be moist with its clear verses. 148 00:07:49,019 --> 00:07:53,019 He became attached to the Prophet, may the blessings and peace of Allah be upon him, 149 00:07:53,019 --> 00:07:56,019 until he became closer to him than his own shadow, 150 00:07:56,019 --> 00:07:59,019 and he dedicated himself to working for Paradise, 151 00:07:59,019 --> 00:08:04,019 until the Messenger of Allah, may the blessings and peace of Allah be upon him, gave him the glad tidings of it, 152 00:08:04,019 --> 00:08:08,019 a glad tiding that spread and became known among the noble Companions. 153 00:08:08,019 --> 00:08:11,019 This glad tiding had a story, 154 00:08:11,019 --> 00:08:14,019 narrated by Qays Ibn Ubadah and others. 155 00:08:14,019 --> 00:08:16,019 The narrator said: 156 00:08:16,019 --> 00:08:19,019 "I was sitting in a circle of knowledge 157 00:08:19,019 --> 00:08:23,019 in the Mosque of the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, in Medina. 158 00:08:23,019 --> 00:08:27,019 In the circle was an elder whose presence brought comfort to the soul, 159 00:08:27,019 --> 00:08:29,019 and whose company brought rest to the heart, 160 00:08:29,019 --> 00:08:33,019 and he began to tell the people a sweet and moving hadith. 161 00:08:33,019 --> 00:08:36,059 When he stood up, the people said, 162 00:08:36,059 --> 00:08:40,059 'Whoever is pleased to look at a man from the people of Paradise, 163 00:08:40,059 --> 00:08:42,059 let him look at this man.' 164 00:08:42,059 --> 00:08:44,059 I said, 'Who is this?' 165 00:08:44,059 --> 00:08:47,059 They said, 'Abdullah Ibn Salam.' 166 00:08:47,059 --> 00:08:49,149 I said to myself, 167 00:08:49,149 --> 00:08:51,149 'By Allah, I will follow him.' 168 00:08:51,149 --> 00:08:53,149 So I followed him, 169 00:08:53,149 --> 00:08:56,149 and he walked until he was about to leave Medina, 170 00:08:56,149 --> 00:08:58,149 then he entered his house. 171 00:08:58,149 --> 00:09:00,149 I asked permission to see him, 172 00:09:00,149 --> 00:09:01,149 and he gave me permission. 173 00:09:01,149 --> 00:09:02,149 He said, 174 00:09:02,149 --> 00:09:04,149 'What is your need, O son of my brother?' 175 00:09:04,149 --> 00:09:06,179 I said, 176 00:09:06,179 --> 00:09:10,179 'I heard the people saying about you when you left the mosque: 177 00:09:10,179 --> 00:09:13,179 "Whoever is pleased to look at a man from the people of Paradise, 178 00:09:13,179 --> 00:09:15,179 let him look at this man." 179 00:09:15,179 --> 00:09:17,179 So I followed in your footsteps, 180 00:09:17,179 --> 00:09:19,179 to learn of your story, 181 00:09:19,179 --> 00:09:23,179 and to know how the people knew that you are from the people of Paradise.' 182 00:09:23,179 --> 00:09:25,179 He said, 183 00:09:25,179 --> 00:09:28,179 'Allah knows best about the people of Paradise, my son.' 184 00:09:28,179 --> 00:09:30,179 I said, 'Yes, 185 00:09:30,179 --> 00:09:33,250 but there must be a reason for what they said.' 186 00:09:33,250 --> 00:09:34,250 He said, 187 00:09:34,250 --> 00:09:36,250 'I will tell you the reason for it.' 188 00:09:36,250 --> 00:09:38,309 I said, 'Go ahead, 189 00:09:38,309 --> 00:09:40,340 and may Allah reward you with good.' 190 00:09:40,340 --> 00:09:42,340 He said, 191 00:09:42,340 --> 00:09:48,340 'While I was sleeping one night during the time of the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, 192 00:09:48,340 --> 00:09:50,340 a man saw me and said to me, "Rise." 193 00:09:50,340 --> 00:09:51,340 So I rose, 194 00:09:51,340 --> 00:09:53,340 and he took my hand, 195 00:09:53,340 --> 00:09:56,340 and suddenly I was on a path to my left. 196 00:09:56,340 --> 00:09:58,340 I intended to walk on it, 197 00:09:58,340 --> 00:09:59,340 but he said to me, 198 00:09:59,340 --> 00:10:02,340 "Leave it, for it is not for you." 199 00:10:02,340 --> 00:10:06,340 I looked, and there was a clear path to my right. 200 00:10:06,340 --> 00:10:07,340 He said to me, 201 00:10:07,340 --> 00:10:09,340 "Follow it." 202 00:10:09,340 --> 00:10:12,340 So I followed it until I reached a lush, verdant garden, 203 00:10:12,340 --> 00:10:14,340 vast in its expanse, 204 00:10:14,340 --> 00:10:15,340 abundant in its greenery, 205 00:10:15,340 --> 00:10:17,340 and magnificent to behold. 206 00:10:17,340 --> 00:10:20,340 In its center stood a pillar of iron, 207 00:10:20,340 --> 00:10:21,340 its base rooted in the earth, 208 00:10:21,340 --> 00:10:23,340 and its top reaching into the sky. 209 00:10:23,340 --> 00:10:26,340 At its summit was a ring of gold. 210 00:10:26,340 --> 00:10:27,340 He said to me, 211 00:10:27,340 --> 00:10:29,340 "Climb it." 212 00:10:29,340 --> 00:10:31,340 I replied, "I cannot." 213 00:10:31,340 --> 00:10:34,340 Then an attendant came to me and lifted me up. 214 00:10:34,340 --> 00:10:37,340 I climbed until I reached the top of the pillar, 215 00:10:37,340 --> 00:10:40,340 and I grasped the ring with my hands. 216 00:10:40,340 --> 00:10:44,340 I remained clinging to it until morning came. 217 00:10:44,340 --> 00:10:46,340 When the morning arrived, 218 00:10:46,340 --> 00:10:49,340 I went to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) 219 00:10:49,340 --> 00:10:52,340 and recounted my dream to him. 220 00:10:52,340 --> 00:10:53,340 He said, 221 00:10:53,340 --> 00:10:56,340 "As for the path you saw to your left, 222 00:10:56,340 --> 00:11:00,340 it is the path of the people of the left, the inhabitants of the Fire. 223 00:11:00,340 --> 00:11:03,409 As for the path you saw to your right, 224 00:11:03,409 --> 00:11:07,409 it is the path of the people of the right, the inhabitants of Paradise. 225 00:11:07,409 --> 00:11:11,440 As for the garden that delighted you with its greenery and beauty, 226 00:11:11,440 --> 00:11:13,440 it is Islam. 227 00:11:13,440 --> 00:11:16,440 As for the pillar in its center, 228 00:11:16,440 --> 00:11:18,440 it is the pillar of the religion. 229 00:11:18,440 --> 00:11:22,440 As for the ring, it is the firmest bond. 230 00:11:22,440 --> 00:11:26,440 You shall remain holding fast to it until you die." 231 00:11:26,440 --> 00:11:33,899 Whoever wishes to look at a man from the people of Paradise, 232 00:11:33,899 --> 00:11:37,899 let him look at 'Abdullah Ibn Salam. 233 00:11:48,299 --> 00:11:51,299 Call them; are they listening?