Stop.
Get to know the Companions, the scholars, and the most eminent among them.
A new challenge: Who am I?
I am one of the Companions, a leader of the Ansar, and one of their chieftains on the day of the Pledge of 'Aqabah.
I was skilled in writing during the pre-Islamic era.
I was also proficient in swimming and archery.
For this reason, they used to call me "the Perfect One."
I am the only one among the Ansar
who suffered the same persecution that the Emigrants (Muhajirun) endured in Makkah.
This is because the Quraysh sent their horsemen to pursue the delegation from Madinah after the Hajj season,
during which we pledged allegiance to the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him.
They did not catch anyone but me.
They seized me and tied my hands to my neck.
They took me back to Makkah,
where they gathered around me, striking me,
and inflicting upon me whatever torment they wished.
Then, a man among them took me aside, as if he felt pity for me.
He said, "Woe to you! Do you have no one in Makkah to grant you protection?"
I replied, "No."
"Except that al-'As ibn Wa'il used to visit us in Madinah, and we would honor him."
The man from the group said, "Mention my cousin, for I am his neighbor."
"By Allah, no one among you shall reach him."
So they desisted from me.
In Madinah, I dedicated all my wealth to the service of Islam and the honoring of the Muslims.
For a man from the Ansar would take one of the Emigrants to his home,
or two, or three.
But I would take all the People of the Suffah to my house and honor them.
They were between seventy and eighty men.
I would prepare tharid with meat in a large bowl,
and send it to the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him.
My bowl would circulate with the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, among the houses of all his wives.
Because of this,
I always asked my Lord for more of His bounty and provision.
I would say,
"O Allah, grant me glory,
and there is no glory without deeds,
and there are no deeds without wealth.
O Allah, a little wealth does not suit me,
nor do I suit it."
I was also extremely protective and jealous (ghayrah).
People knew this about me.
I never married a woman
except that she was a virgin.
And I never divorced a woman
such that anyone would dare to marry her after me.
I also placed my horsemanship and military expertise in the service of Islam.
The banner of the Emigrants in battles was with 'Ali, may Allah be pleased with him,
and the banner of the Ansar was with me.
During the Battle of Badr,
when the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, learned that the caravan of Abu Sufyan had escaped,
he said,
"Advise me, O people."
Al-Miqdad and Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with them, spoke.
Yet the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, continued to say,
"Advise me, O people."
So I stood up and said,
"By Allah, it is us you want, O Messenger of Allah!
Proceed, O Messenger of Allah, to whatever you desire,
for we are with you.
By Allah, if you ordered us to drive our horses into the sea, we would drive them into it.
And if you ordered us to strike their flanks until we reached Bark al-Ghimad, we would do it."
The face of the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, beamed with joy.
When the fighting intensified,
I stood at the door of the command tent, guarding the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him,
for fear that the polytheists might reach him.
So, who am I?
Share your answers with us in the comments below the video.
We will pin the correct answer in the comments
when the next episode is released, if Allah wills.
The best of generations in their stances and examples,
following the Messenger whenever he strove or spoke.