Stop
and learn about the Companions, scholars, and prominent figures.
A new challenge: Who am I?
I am one of the noble Companions.
I was the chieftain of the Daws tribe during the pre-Islamic period of ignorance,
a nobleman among the most distinguished Arabs,
and one of the widely recognized figures of chivalry.
My cooking pot was never taken off the fire,
nor was my door ever locked before any nighttime visitor.
I fed the hungry, provided safety for the fearful,
and granted sanctuary to whoever sought refuge.
In addition, I was a cultured, intelligent man,
a poet of delicate sensitivity,
well-versed in both the sweet and bitter nuances of eloquence,
deeply swayed by the magic of words.
I embraced Islam early on in Mecca,
and I requested of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him)
that he migrate to our lands so we might support him.
I said to him, "O Messenger of Allah,
would you accept a fortified stronghold and protection?"
But the Prophet (peace be upon him) declined that,
because of the honor Allah had reserved for the Ansar.
When Allah willed good for me,
I arrived in Mecca and met some leading men of Quraysh.
They said to me, "You are a poet,
and we fear that Muhammad might meet you
and captivate you with some of his speech,
for his words are like magic; so beware."
By Allah, they kept warning me about him
and forbidding me from listening to him,
until I went and stuffed my ears with cotton.
Then I headed early in the morning to the Mosque,
and there I found the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him)
standing in prayer.
I stood close to him,
and Allah willed that I should hear some of his words.
So I said to myself,
"By Allah, this is sheer helplessness!
I am a discerning, intelligent man;
neither the good nor the bad of matters is hidden from me.
By Allah, I shall listen to him;
if what he brings is right guidance, I will accept it,
and if not, I will avoid it."
So I removed the cotton,
and I had never heard speech more beautiful than his.
When the Prophet (peace be upon him) departed,
I followed him and entered his home with him.
I said, "O Muhammad,
your people came to me
and told me such-and-such,
but I decided, O Messenger of Allah,
that I would listen to what you have to say;
and it has settled in my heart that it is the truth.
So present your religion to me."
He presented Islam to me,
and I embraced Islam. Then I said, "O Messenger of Allah,
I am returning to Daws,
and I am an obeyed leader among them;
I will invite them to Islam,
so pray that Allah grant me a sign."
He (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said,
"O Allah, grant him a sign that will aid him."
So I set out until I was overlooking
the mountain pass of my people.
When I ascended the pass, Allah placed
between my eyes a light like a radiant beam,
visible to people in the darkness of the night.
I said, "O Allah, make it elsewhere than my face,
for I fear they might think it a disfigurement
because I abandoned their gods."
So the light shifted
and settled onto the tip of my whip.
I rode my camel toward them,
and the light on the tip of my whip was like
a suspended lamp.
My father came to me, and I said to him,
"Stay away from me, for you and I no longer belong together."
He asked, "Why is that?"
I replied, "I have embraced Islam
and followed the religion of Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him)."
He said, "O my son,
my religion is your religion."
I did the same with my mother and my wife,
and they embraced Islam.
Then I invited Daws to Islam,
but they refused, so I went to
the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him)
and said, "O Messenger of Allah,
fornication and usury have overtaken Daws,
so invoke Allah against them."
But he (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said,
"O Allah, guide Daws!"
Then I returned to them
and stayed among them calling them to Islam,
until a great many of them responded.
Then I arrived in Medina
with ninety households from Daws,
among whom was Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him).
I remained with the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him)
until his passing.
After the conquest of Mecca,
the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) sent
some of his Companions to destroy the idols
that were throughout the Peninsula.
I said, "O Messenger of Allah,
send me to Dhu al-Kaffayn,
the idol worshipped by Daws,
so that I may burn it."
He said, "Yes."
So I set out to it to burn it;
I reached it,
set it on fire, and recited:
"O Dhu al-Kaffayn, I am not of your worshippers;
indeed, I have thrust fire into your very heart."
When I burned it,
the rest of my people all embraced Islam.
After the death of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him),
I set out to fight the apostates,
accompanied by my son 'Amr.
While we were on the road,
I saw a vision:
I saw as though my head were shaved,
a woman took me into her womb,
and my son was searching for me
earnestly, but a barrier was placed between me and him.
I recounted it to my companions,
and they said, "Good news."
But I said, "As for me, I have interpreted it:
as for shaving my head,
it means it will be severed; as for the bird,
it is my soul; and the woman
is the earth in which I will be buried,
for I have seen that I will be martyred.
As for my son searching for me,
I believe he will be delayed
in attaining martyrdom,
and I do not think he will join me on this journey."
And it happened just as I saw:
I was martyred on the Day of al-Yamamah,
and my son was wounded.
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