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Life of the Companions of Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessing be upon him
Suhaib Ibn Sinaan
may Allah be pleased with him
Who he is
He was born surrounded by comfort and luxury. His father was the governor of Al Uballah and its ruler on behalf of the Persian king, and was one of the Arabs who emigrated to Iraq long before Islam. In his palace on the bank of Euphrates, next to Mosul, the child lived happily and comfortably.
One day the country was attacked by the Romans (Byzantines) who captured a large number and enslaved the boy Suhaib lbn Sinaan.
He was taken by slave traders until finally his long journey ended in Makkah. There he was sold to `Abd Allah lbn Jud'aan, after having spent his childhood and most of his youth in Roman lands, where he adopted their language and dialect.
His master was so amazed by his intelligence, energy, and sincerity that he emancipated him and set him free, giving him the privilege to trade with him.
Embracing Islam
One day.. . let his friend `Ammaar Ibn Yaasir tell us what happened on that day: I met Suhaib lbn Sinaan in front of the door of Daar Al-Arqam when the Prophet (PBUH) was there.
I asked, "What do you want?"
He answered, "And what do you want?"
I said, "I want to meet Muhammad (PBUH) to hear what he is saying."
He said, "I want the same."
We both entered and met the Prophet (PBUH), who invited us to embrace Islam, and we converted. We stayed as we were till evening. Secretly he went out.
Thereupon, Suhaib got to know his path to Daar Al- Arqam. He got to know his path to guidance and light, but also to difficult sacrifice and great redemption. Entering through that wooden door, which separated Daar Al-Arqam and what was inside from the outer world, was not just crossing a threshold, but crossing of a whole world of limitations. An old world, with all that represented it - religion, manners, customs and life - crossing it towards a new world with all that represented it - religion, manners, customs, and life.
Crossing the threshold of Daar Al-Arqam, a threshold not wider than one foot, meant, in reality, to cross an ocean of terror, wide and expanding. Stepping over such an obstacle, such a threshold, meant the beginning of an era full of great responsibilities.
As for the poor, the stranger, the enslaved, stepping over Daar Al-Arqam's threshold meant exceptional, extraordinary sacrifices.
Loyalty to Islam
He frankly described his great loyalty to his responsibilities as a Muslim who had pledged allegiance to the Prophet (PBUH) and walked under Islam's standard:
I was present in every situation witnessed by the Prophet (PBUH).
I was present at every pledge called by him.
I was present in every detachment organized by him.
The Prophet (PBUH) never took part in a raid, at the beginning of the period or the end, without my being on his right or left.
Whenever the Muslims feared a danger facing them, I was there in the front, and whenever they feared it in the rear, I was there at the back.
I never let the Prophet (PBUH) stay in a position between me and the foe until he (PBUH) met Allah.
It was a dazzling image of extraordinary faith and great loyalty. Ever since the first day he received Allah's light and put his hand into the Prophet's, Suhaib (May Allah be pleased with him and with all his Companions) was imbued with such outstanding faith.
From that day, his relationship towards people and the world, let alone himself, acquired a new dimension.
From that day, his character turned into a firm, humble and devoted one, subduing events and braving various types of horror.
He went on - as already mentioned - bravely and courageously shouldering all his responsibilities, never lagging behind, whenever there was danger or a situation to be encountered. His passionate love and ardent desire were not directed towards gains and spoils but rather towards sacrifice and ransom; not towards the greed of life but rather towards the passion of danger and self- sacrifice.
His Emigration to Medina
He began the days of his noble redemption and great loyalty with the day of his Hijrah. On that day he abandoned all his wealth, all his gold which he had gained by successful trade during the long years he lived in Makkah. He abandoned all his fortune, all that he owned in a split second, the glory of which was never stained by doubt or retreat.
When the Prophet (PBUH) intended to emigrate, Suhaib knew that and he was supposed to be the third one of the three the Prophet, Abu Bakr, and Suhaib.
However, the Quraish decided to prevent the Prophet's emigration. Suhaib fell into one of their traps and was thereby hindered for some time from emigrating, while the Prophet (PBUH) and his companion set out accompanied by Allah's blessing.
Suhaib disputed, talked, and argued until he got rid of his persecutors. He mounted his camel and sped across the desert. However, the Quraish sent its hunters to follow him. When they reached him, Suhaib had hardly seen them before facing them and shouting from a near distance, "O people of Quraish, you know that I am the best marksman. By Allah, you cannot reach me before I shoot each of my arrows with my bow, then I will strike you with my sword until it falls down. Come on, if you like to try. Or if you like, I will tell you where my money is, and so leave me alone."
They agreed to take his money saying, "You came to us as a poor wretch. Your money increased in our land and among us you claimed high rank and now you want to escape together with your money?"
He guided them to the place where he had hidden his fortune, then they left him alone and returned to Makkah.
Strangely enough, they believed his words without doubt, without precaution. They did not ask him to prove his honesty, nor did they ask him to swear. This situation granted him a great honor, which he deserves as an honest and truthful man.
Alone but happy, Suhaib continued his journey until he reached the Prophet (PBUH) at Qubaa'.
When Suhaib came into view, the Prophet (PBUH) was sitting surrounded by his Companions. As soon as the Prophet (PBUH) saw him, he called to him cheerfully, "O Abu Yahia! A profitable sale! A profitable sale!"
Thereupon, the glorious verse was revealed: "And of mankind is he who sell himself, seeking the pleasure of Allah And Allah is full of kindness to (His) slaves "(2:201).
Indeed, Suhaib had paid all his fortune - the fortune he spent all his youth to gather - in return for his faithful soul. He never felt it was an unjust bargain. Money, gold, the whole world, nothing of that sort was worthwhile as long as he kept his faith, the sovereignty of his conscience, and the determination of his fate.
His Vivacity
The Prophet loved him very much. Besides being pious and God-fearing, he was a cheerful and jovial person. The Prophet (PBUH) saw him once eating dates when there was an inflammation in one of his eyes. The Prophet (PBUH) asked him cheerfully, "Do you eat dates when there is inflammation in one of your eyes?"
He answered, "What's wrong with that? I eat them with the other eye!"
His generosity
He was a generous donor, spending all his stipend from the treasury (Bait Al-Maal) in the cause of Allah, helping the needy, aiding the sorrowful, feeding the needy, the orphans, and the captives with the best food.
His extreme generosity attracted the attention of `Umar, who said to him, "I can see you feeding people too much, to the extent that you are spending lavishly." Suhaib answered him, "I've heard the Prophet (PBUH) say, "The best of you is the one who feeds (others)."
The Prophet’s love to him
It was narrated by Aeth Ibn Amr, may Allah be pleased with him, that Au Suffian spoke with a bit of arrogance with Salman, Suhaib, Belal and others and when they answered back Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him, forbid them from answering saying that it was not proper to speak to one of Quraish’s leaders.
When Prophet Muhammad PBUH knew the story he blamed Abu Bakr for making them angry and said : “O Aba Bakr If you made them angry you made Allah angry"
Abu Bakr harried to ask them if they were angry by his words to them, they answered: “No…may Allah forgive you brother"
Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, choosing him to lead prayers
The life of Suhaib was filled with an abandance of merits and great situations. To be chosen by `Umar lbn Al-khattab to lead the prayer was another merit to be added.
When the Commander of the Faithful was attacked while leading the Muslims in Fajr Prayer and felt his end was coming nearer and nearer, he began to advise his companions. His last words were, "Let Suhaib lead people in prayer".
On that day Umar chose six of the Companions and entrusted them with the choice of the new caliph. The Caliph of the Muslims was the one who led the prayers. In those days following the death of the Commander of the Faithful until the new caliph was chosen, who was to lead the Muslims in prayer?
`Umar would slow down a thousand times before choosing someone especially in these moments, while his pure soul was passing away to meet Allah. If he chose, then there was no one more eligible than the chosen. He chose Suhaib.
He chose him to lead the Muslims in prayer until the next caliph came to carry out his duties.
He chose him, despite the Roman accent obvious in his language. This choice was a divine blessing upon the pious worshipper Suhaib Ibn Sinaan.
His death, may Allah be pleased with him
Suhaib, may Allah be pleased with him died and was burried in Medina during the month of Shawal in 38 or may be 39 A.H. He was 73 years old at that time.
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