Pause.
Learn about the Companions, the scholars, and those of high standing.
I challenge you to identify who I am.
I am one of the Companions.
I am from the Ansar.
I was among the leaders (Nuqaba) on the night of al-'Aqabah.
I am one of those who compiled the Qur'an during the lifetime of the Prophet, peace be upon him.
I used to teach it to the people of Suffah.
The Caliph 'Umar ibn al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him, sent me to the Levant.
To teach them the Qur'an and to be among those most learned in the religion.
I was the first to hold the position of judge in Palestine.
Then, I traveled to Medina.
'Umar said to me,
"What brings you here?"
"Return to your post."
"May Allah curse a land,"
"that does not have you and your like in it."
I witnessed all the battles with the Prophet, peace be upon him.
I participated in the Ridda wars.
And in the conquests during the era of 'Umar, may Allah be pleased with him.
When 'Amr ibn al-'As, may Allah be pleased with him, sent to 'Umar asking for reinforcements,
to complete the conquest of Egypt,
'Umar sent him four thousand men.
At the head of every thousand was a wise commander.
And he wrote to him saying,
"I have reinforced you with four thousand men,"
"and for every thousand, I have sent a man who is worth a thousand men."
I was one of those four heroic commanders.
I pledged allegiance to the Prophet, peace be upon him, that I would not fear the blame of any critic for the sake of Allah.
Therefore, when a man stood up to praise the governor in the mosque in his presence,
I stood up to him and filled his mouth with dirt.
The governor became angry, so I said to him,
"You were not with us when we pledged allegiance to the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, at al-'Aqabah,"
"to listen and obey in times of ease and hardship,"
"and that we would not be preferred over others,"
"and that we would not dispute the authority of those in charge,"
"and that we would uphold the truth wherever we were,"
"fearing no blame of any critic for the sake of Allah."
And I heard the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, say,
"If you see those who praise others excessively,"
"cast dirt into their mouths."
So, who am I?
If Allah wills.
They have departed, leaving behind a question in the conscience:
Has any star risen and shone like them?
They filled life with glorious deeds,
and the world of the Ummah flourished because of them.