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 Ibn
Sinaan.
He was taken by slave traders until
finally his long journey ended in Makkah.
There he was sold to 'Abd Allah Ibn
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.
One day ... let his friend 'Ammaar Ibn
Yaasir tell us what happened on that
day: I met Suhaib Ibn 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.
Suhaib, our hero, was a stranger; "Ammar
Ibn Yaasir, his friend whom he met in
front of the door, was a poor man. Why
did they go voluntarily to face terror
and, moreover, do their best when they
i.ie; with it in combat?
It was the call of faith, which could
not be resisted. It was the good
character of Muhammad (PBUH), the scent
of which filled the hearts of the
reverent with love and guidance. It was
his new, shining magnificence. Dazzling
minds were fed up with the old, its
misguidance and bankruptcy. Above all,
it was Allah's mercy, bestowed upon
whomever He wishes. His guidance and
protection bestowed on whomever turns to
Him.
Suhaib holds a position in the ranks of
the faithful. He held a great and high
position among the persecuted and
tortured. He held a high position among
the generous and self-sacrificing.
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,1 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.
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, fiuhaib 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, "0 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,1 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 excape 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
honour, 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,
"0 Abu Yahia! A profitable sale! A
profitable sale!"
Hereupon, the glorious verse was
revealed: < And of mankind is
he who would 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.
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!"
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 life of Suhaib was filled with an
abandance of merits and great
situations. To be chosen by 'Umar Ibn
Al-Khattaab 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
onearer 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.
Sheikh Abdulfattah Abu-Abdullah Adelabu (Ph. D. Damas),
a West African Islamic Academic founded AWQAF Africa, of
which he's the first al Amir (i.e. President).
Sheikh Dr. Adelabu was studying Postgraduate Degrees in
Damascus early 1990's during when Syria reviewed its
national security after an ‘Oslo Accord'...
Syria like many other countries around the world
witnessed, during this period, the flood of refugees
from war troubled nations like Somalia, arrival of
people from Algeria during the brutal struggling between
the Mujahidun and the government, resettlement of the
Palestinians fleeing from sophisticated guns of the
Israelis as well as adventure of African migrants for
reasons uncountable…
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