Learn about the companions, scholars, and notables | Who am I?

0:01 Pause and identify this Companion, scholar, and prominent figure.

0:12 A new challenge: who am I?

0:16 I am one of the Companions of the Prophet, peace be upon him, from the people of Makkah.

0:24 I was a nobleman, known for my forbearance, honorable, and obeyed among the Quraysh, one of their leaders.

0:31 I was a scholar of Arab genealogy.

0:33 I had acquired the knowledge of genealogy from Abu Bakr al-Siddiq, may Allah be pleased with him, before Islam.

0:39 The Prophet, peace be upon him, counted me among four men from Makkah.

0:45 He sought to keep them away from polytheism and desired Islam for them.

0:49 They are myself, 'Attab ibn Asid, Hakim ibn Hizam, and Suhayl ibn 'Amr.

0:57 And we all embraced Islam.

1:00 The Prophet, peace be upon him, gave me one hundred camels to reconcile my heart.

1:06 The Commander of the Faithful, 'Umar ibn al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him, armed me.

1:11 With the sword of al-Nu'man ibn al-Mundhir.

1:14 My father was one of the great and most noble men of Quraysh.

1:19 He was among those who participated in annulling the unjust pact.

1:23 During the boycott of Banu Hashim in the mountain pass.

1:26 He used to show them compassion and support them in secret.

1:30 The Prophet, peace be upon him, sought his protection when entering Makkah.

1:35 When he returned from al-Ta'if.

1:38 So my father granted him protection.

1:40 My father took up his weapons, called his sons and his people, and said:

1:45 "Put on your weapons and stand at the corners of the House."

1:49 "For I have granted protection to Muhammad."

1:53 Then he sent word to the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, to enter.

1:58 The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, entered.

2:02 With him was Zayd ibn Harithah, may Allah be pleased with him.

2:05 Until he reached the Sacred Mosque.

2:08 My father stood upon his mount and called out:

2:11 "O assembly of Quraysh!"

2:13 "I have granted protection to Muhammad."

2:16 "Let no one among you harm him."

2:19 So the Prophet, peace be upon him, circumambulated the House in safety.

2:25 The Prophet, peace be upon him, never forgot these actions of my father.

2:31 When I came to Madinah to ransom our captives from Badr.

2:35 I encountered the Prophet, peace be upon him, reciting Surah al-Tur during the Maghrib prayer.

2:42 When he reached this verse:

2:45 “Or were they created out of naught? Or are they the creators?” (52:35)

2:51 “Or did they create the heavens and the earth? Nay, but they are sure of nothing!” (52:36)

2:55 "Nay, they have no certainty."

2:58 My heart nearly took flight.

3:01 His recitation filled me with such distress.

3:05 I began to contemplate Islam.

3:08 However, my conversion to Islam was delayed until just before the conquest of Makkah.

3:13 When I spoke to the Prophet, peace be upon him, about the release of the captives of Badr.

3:19 He said to me:

3:20 "If your father were alive and spoke to me regarding these stinking ones,"

3:25 "I would have granted them to him."

3:27 I married a woman and specified her dowry.

3:32 Then I divorced her before consummating the marriage.

3:36 Then this verse occurred to me:

3:39 “If ye divorce them before ye have touched them and ye have appointed unto them a portion, then (pay the) half of that which ye appointed, unless they (the women) agree to forgo it, or he agreeth to forgo it in whose hand is the marriage tie. To forgo is nearer to piety. And forget not kindness among yourselves. Allah is Seer of what ye do.” (2:237)

3:45 I said:

3:46 "I am more entitled to forgo it than she is."

3:49 So I gave her the full dowry.

3:52 So, who am I?

Learn about the companions, scholars, and notables | Who am I? | Episode No. (228)

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