Pause,
and get to know the Companions, the scholars, and the great figures.
A serious challenge: who am I?
I am one of the Companions,
among the early Emigrants (Muhajirun) who embraced Islam.
I am of Arab descent,
but the Byzantines raided us
and took me as a captive.
So I grew up among them,
until a foreign accent lingered in my speech.
Then a man from the tribe of Kalb bought me,
and sold me in Mecca.
'Abdullah ibn Jud'an purchased me,
was impressed by my intelligence,
and set me free.
We then became partners in trade,
until I acquired great wealth.
I embraced Islam at the very dawn of the call,
and decided to emigrate with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him)
and Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him),
to be the third among them.
But the disbelievers prevented me
when they sensed my intention.
So the Prophet (peace be upon him) and his companion went ahead of me,
while I was held back.
Later, when I managed to slip away from the polytheists,
I emigrated to Medina.
They pursued me,
and when they caught up with me,
I dismounted from my camel
and said to them:
"You well know that I am one of the best archers among you,
and by Allah,
you shall not reach me
until I shoot a man among you with every single arrow in my quiver,
then I will strike you with my sword
until nothing remains of it in my hand.
So advance if you wish!"
They replied:
"You came to us as a destitute pauper,
your wealth grew abundant among us,
and you attained whatever stature you attained here,
and now you depart with both yourself and your wealth?!"
So I said to them:
"If I tell you where my wealth is,
will you leave me be?"
They said, "Yes."
So I told them where to find it.
When I arrived before the Prophet (peace be upon him),
I found that divine revelation had already preceded me to him.
He said:
"A profitable transaction, O Abu Yahya!"
repeating it three times.
So I said:
"O Messenger of Allah, who informed you?
No one has preceded me to you;
none could have told you except Gabriel!"
And concerning me, Allah's saying was revealed:
“And of mankind is he who would sell himself, seeking the pleasure of Allah; and Allah hath compassion on (His) bondmen.” (2:207)
seeking the pleasure of Allah,
and Allah is Ever Gracious to His servants.
I was light-hearted,
quick-witted and jovial.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) once saw me
eating fresh dates one day,
while I was suffering from an inflamed eye.
So he said to me, smiling:
"Do you eat fresh dates while your eye is inflamed?"
I replied:
"What harm is there?
I am only chewing on the side of my healthy eye!"
The Commander of the Faithful, 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him),
instructed me to lead the people in prayer
until the members of the consultative council chose the Caliph after him.
So I led them in prayer.
So, who am I?
The best of generations in stances and exemplary deeds,
following the Messenger in whatever he strove for or uttered.
They were here, quenching our lives like rain-bearing clouds;
their memory stands tall among us, ever exalted.
They departed, leaving in the conscience a lingering question:
Has any star ever risen and shone as brightly as they did?
They filled life with glorious feats through their deeds,
and the world of mankind flourished through them.