Chapter 25: The mentioning of those who were the foremost in

accepting Islaam Ibn Is-haaq reported on the authority of Iyyaas Ibn `Afeef, from his father (`Afeef), and `Afeef was the half-brother of al-Ash`ath, from the same mother. `Afeef said: ❝I used to be a trader and came to Mina during the Hajj season. Al-`Abbaas Ibn `AbdulMuttalib was also a trader, so I came to him for trading purposes.❞ `Afeef further said: ❝While we were together, a man came out of the tent and stood offering the Salaah (prayer) while facing in the direction of the Ka`bah; then a woman came out and stood offering the Salaah (with him), then a young boy came out and stood offering the Salaah with him.❞ I said: ❝O al-`Abbaas! What is this religion? I don’t know what religion this is!❞ He (al-`Abbaas رضي اهلل عنه) said: ❝This is Muhammad Ibn `Abdullaah (ﷺ), he claims that Allaah has sent him (as a Messenger) and that the treasures of Kisraa (Persia) and Caesar will be conquered by him, and this woman is his wife, Khadeejah Bint Khuwailid, who believed in him, and this young boy is his cousin, `Alee Ibn Abu Taalib, who also believed in him.❞ `Afeef said: ❝Oh, I much I wish I had accepted Islaam on that day, for I would have been the fourth.❞ 165 In another narration, `Afeef said: ❝A man came out of a nearby tent and looked at the sun. When he saw that the sun had declined, he offered the Salaah.❞…then he mentioned about Khadeejah (like the previous narration). Ibn Jareer reported from his chain, on the authority of Yahya Ibn `Afeef, that `Afeef said: “During the Jaahiliyyah (pre-Islaamic days of ignorance) I came to Makkah and visited al-`Abbaas Ibn `Adul-Muttalib. When the sun had risen and was hanging in the sky – and I was looking at the Ka`bah at that time – a young man approached (the Ka`bah) and glanced at the sky, then he faced the Ka`bah and stood facing in that direction. 165 (Shaikh al-Albaanee said): This narration is not in the book: “Seerah al-Nabawiyyah” of Ibn Hishaam. Rather, this is from his (Ibn Hishaam’s) narration on the authority of Ziyaad Ibn `Abdullaah al-Bakkaa’ee, from Ibn Is-haaq which was mentioned in his introduction. As for this narration, then it is from the narrations of Yunus Ibn Bukair, from Ibn Is-haaq, as Ibn Katheer had mentioned in his original book. And from this route, Ibn Jareer had reported it in his “Tareekh” (2/311), but this Chain is “Dha`eef” (Weak). Iyyaas Ibn `Afeef is “Majhool” (unknown). AlDhahabee pointed this out when he said: “No one reported from him except for his son, Ismaa`eel.” And this Ismaa`eel is (like his father, i.e. “Majhool”). But even after this, Ibn Hibbaan mentioned both of them (as reliable narrators) in his book “al-Thiqaat” (as Ibn Hibaan was known for his leniency). Anyhow, this narration has a followup (i.e. there is another narration to support its meaning) which has also been reported by Ibn Jareer. See the next narration. [TN: This was also reported in Musnad Ahmad (1787)]

Not a moment had passed except that a young boy came and stood to his right, and not a moment had passed except that a woman came and stood behind them. When the young man when into Rukoo` (bowed), the boy and the woman also bowed; when the young man rose from Rukoo`, the boy and woman also rose; when the young man went into Sujood (prostration), they both also did the same with him.” I said: “O al- `Abbaas! This is a great (and strange) event!” He (al-`Abbaas) replied: “A great event? Do you know who he is?” I said: “No.” He said: “He is Muhammad Ibn `Abdullaah (ﷺ) Ibn `Abdul-Muttalib, my nephew. Do you know who that young boy is?” I said: “No.” He said: “He is `Alee Ibn Abee Taalib Ibn `Abdul-Muttalib, my nephew. Do you know who that woman behind them is?” I said: “No.” He said: “She is Khadeejah Bint Khuwailid, the wife of my nephew. And he (my nephew, Muhammad) informed me that your Lord is the Lord of the heavens and the earth, and He (Allaah) has Commanded him with what you see them upon (i.e. to offer the Salaah). By Allaah! I do not know anyone on the surface of the earth who is upon this religion except for these three.” 166 166 I (al-Albaanee) say: This was reported by Ibn Jareer in his “al-Taareekh” (2/311), from the route of Asad Ibn `Abdah al-Bajalee, from Yahya Ibn `Afeef, from `Afeef. This chain is “Dha`eef” (Weak) like the previous one because of the unknown narrators. No one considered Yahya Ibn `Afeef to be reliable except for Ibn Hibbaan. Al-Haafidh Ibn Hajar said: “He is acceptable” (i.e. when there is another supporting chain to back it up.) As for Asad ibn `Abdah, and this is how he is mentioned here, is, in fact, Ibn `Abdullaah, as has been mentioned in “al-Meezaan” and “al-Tahdheeb”. It is mentioned that a group (of scholars) reported from him and that he was appointed as Ameer of Khuraasaan, and was generous, and was praised. (Imaam) al-Bukhaaree said: “There is no one to follow-up on his narrations” (i.e. he is alone in narrating it). Ibn Hibbaan mentioned him also amongst the reliable narrators in “al-Thiqaat”, and he (Ibn Hibbaan) said in “al-Taqreeb”: “In his hadith, there is some weakness.” I (al-Albaanee) say: This chain is acceptable due to supporting chains and follow-up narrations. As if this is why alHaakim relied on it, and he pointed towards it after narrating this hadith, he said: “This chain of this hadith is “sahih”, and it has a reliable supporting chain from the children of `Afeef.” And alDhahabee agreed with him. [See “al-Mustadrak” (4842)] Ibn `Abdul-Barr also reported it in his book “al-Istee`aab” from two routes and said: “This hadith is “Hasan Jiddan””. Al-Haafidh (Ibn Hajar) concurred to that in “al-Isaabah” and he attributed it to Al-Baghawee and Abu Ya`laa. It was also reported by al-Nasaa’ee in “al-Khasaais”. But there it is mentioned as “Asad Ibn Waddaa`ah” (instead of Asad Ibn `Abdah) and this is a mistake in printing (or copying). (al-Haithemee said) in “al-Majma`” (9/103/14605): “It was reported by Ahmad, Abu Ya`laa, al-Tabaraanee from (different) chains; and the narrators of Ahmad are reliable.” I (al-Haithemee) say: “A similar hadith of Ibn

Ibn Jareer also reported from Ibn `Abbaas رضي اهلل عنهما said: ❝The first one to perform the Salaah (with the Prophet ﷺ) was `Alee.❞ 167 Jaaber رضي اهلل عنه said: ❝The Prophet ﷺ was commissioned with Prophethood on Monday, and `Alee performed the Salaah (with him) on Tuesday.❞ 168 Zaid bin al-Arqam said: ❝The first to accept Islaam with the Messenger of Allaah ﷺ was `Alee Ibn Abu Taalib.❞ `Amr bin Murrah said: “I mentioned that to Ibraaheem alNakha`ee, so he rejected that and said: ❝The first to accept Islaam was Abu Bakr alSiddeeq.❞” 169 Mas`ood will be mentioned in the chapter regarding the virtues of Khadeejah.” So this narration (of Ibn Mas`ood) is another supporting chain, from the narrations of al-Tabaraanee. [See al-Majm` (9/222/15267)] 167 (Shaikh al-Albaanee said): Reported by Ibn Jareer in “al-Taareekh” (2/310), and its chain is “Dha`eef” (Weak), but it has a supporting chain from the narrations of `Alee himself: ❝I am the first one to pray with the Messenger of Allaah ﷺ.❞ Reported by Imaam Ahmad (1191, 1192) with a “Hasan” chain. Al-Haithamee said (Majma` 9/103): “Its narrators are of “al-sahih” except for Habbatul-`Uraniyy; some have considered him as reliable.” And from the narration of Zaid Ibn Arqam who said: ❝The first one to pray with the Messenger of Allaah ﷺ was `Alee رضي اهلل عنه.❞ `Amr Ibn Murrah said: I mentioned that to Ibraaheem, but he rejected it, saying: ❝Abu Bakr رضي اهلل عنه (was the first one to pray with the Prophet ﷺ).❞ This was reported by Ibn Jareer, Ahmad (19284, 19303), and its chain is “sahih”. Ibn Jareer also reported the same and which will be mentioned next. [TN: It is also reported from a different chain from Ibn `Abbaas رضي اهلل عنهما: ❝The first one to perform the Salaah (with the Prophet ﷺ) was `Alee.❞ [Sunan al-Tirmidhee (3734) and graded as “sahih” by Shaikh al-Albaanee] Imaam al-Tirmidhee said after the hadith: ❝Some of the people of knowledge said that the first to accept Islaam among men was Abu Bakr al-Siddeeq, and that `Alee accepted Islaam while he was a boy of eight years, and the first to accept Islaam among women was Khadeejah.❞] 168 (Shaikh al-Albaanee said): This was also reported by Ibn Jareer but with a “Dha`eef” chain. But this is strengthened due to supporting chain, from the narration of Buraidah رضي اهلل عنه. Al-Haakim reported it in his “alMustadrak” (4586) and said: “Its chain is “sahih” and al-Dhahabee agreed with him. Then he (al-Haakim) reported a supporting chain, from the narration of Muslim al-Mulaa’ee from Anas, similar to it. See “al-Mustadrak (4587). Muslim al-Mulaa’ee, and he is Ibn Kaisaan, is “Dha`eef”. And from this route, Abu Ya`laa reported it, but he narrated it from `Alee رضي اهلل عنه, as has been mentioned in “al-Majma` al-Zawaaid” (9/102/14602). 169 I (al-Albaanee) say: Ibn Jareer reported that it in his “al-Taareekh” (2/310), and al-Tirmidhee in his Sunan (3735) and he graded it as “sahih”, and Ahmad in his “Musnad” (19281, 19306), and Ibn Sa`d in “al-Tabaqaat al-Kubraa”, al-Tabaraanee in “al-Awaail” (55), and its chain is “sahih”. It is reported with a different wording which will be mentioned shortly. It is also supported by the narration of Ibn `Abbaas رضي اهلل عنهما, who said: ❝The first one to accept Islaam is `Alee رضي اهلل عنه.❞ Al-Tabaraanee reported it in “al-Awaail” (52). [TN: Al-Tabaraanee also reported

Others have said: The first one to accept Islaam from this Ummah was Abu Bakr alSiddeeq. The collective meaning of all these statements is: Khadeejah was the first woman to accept Islaam – and this is what is apparent from the context of all these narrations – that she accepted Islaam even before any man. The first freed slave to accept Islaam was Zaid Ibn Haarithah. in “al-Kabeer” (12151)] and in this chain is `Uthmaan al-Jazaree. Al-Haithamee said in al-Majma` (9/102): “This was reported by al-Tabaraanee, and in its chain is `Uthmaan al-Jazaree, and I do not know about him.” I (al-Albaanee) say: Ibn Abee Haatim has mentioned about him in “al-Jarh wal-Ta`deel” (6/176), saying: It is reported from Imaam Ahmad that he said: “he (`Uthmaan) reported “Munkar” narrations, and it is claimed that he had lost his book.” I (al-Albaanee) think that he is `Uthmaan al-Taweel, for he is from that era, and he is Jazaree. It is mentioned in “alLisaan”: “`Uthmaan al-Taweel, from the people of al-Jazeerah, he is counted among the people of al-Busrah. He narrated from Anas Ibn Maalik رضي اهلل عنه, and perhaps he may have made mistakes. Shu`bah and Zuhair have narrated from him (i.e. they were his students). This is what Ibn Hibbaan had mentioned in his book “al-Thiqaat”.” It has another route from the narration of Ibn `Abbaas with the addition: ❝after Khadeejah.❞ This was reported by Ibn Sa`d in “al-Tabaqaat al-Kubraa” (3/21), and its chain is “Hasan” [TN: It was also reported by Imaam Ahmad in his “Musnad” (3061, 3542) and al-Haakim in “al-Mustadrak” (4652)]. Al-Tirmidhee in his Sunan (3734) and Ibn Jareer (2/310) reported the shorter narration. Al-Tabaraanee also reported in “al-Awaail” (53), from `Ulaim* al-Kindee, from Salmaan al-Faarisee رضي اهلل عنه, that he said: ❝The first person from this Ummah to reach the Prophet (ﷺ) (on the Day of Judgment) will be the first one who had accept Islaam, i.e. `Alee Ibn Abee Taalib.❞ Al-Haithamee said: “It was reported by al-Tabaraanee and its narrators are reliable.” I (al-Albaanee) say: This `Ulaim* is Ibn Is-haaq. Ibn Abee Haatim (3/200) mentioned about him but did not praise him nor disparage him. So what is apparent is that Ibn Hibbaan mentioned him among the reliable narrators in his book “al-Thiqaat”. Al-Haakim in “al-Mustadrak” (4662) also reported from a different route from Salaam al-Faarisee and he attributed it to the Prophet ﷺ, with the wording: ❝The first one to reach the Haudh (Tank) (on the Day of Judgment) will be the one who was the first to accept Islaam: `Alee Ibn Abee Taalib❞, but in its chain is Saif Ibn Muhammad who was accused (by Ibn Hajar, al-Dhahabee, and others) of lying. [Shaikh al-Albaanee graded it as “Baatil” (Baseless) in al-Dha`eefah (6336)] [*TN: Originally, the name mentioned was Hakeem al-Kindee instead of `Ulaim al-Kindee. The correction is from “al-Kubraa” and “al-Awaail” of al-Tabaraanee, “al-Jard wal-Ta`deel” of Ibn Abee Haatim, as well as from “alThiqaat” of Ibn Hibbaan. Shaikh al-Albaanee himself mentioned this name in al-Dha`eefah (13/750). This must have happened due to printing error, and Allaah knows best]

The first young boy to accept Islaam is `Alee Ibn Abu Taalib. What is well-known is that he was little (and as al-Tirmidhee mentioned: around eight years of age) and had not reached maturity. These were the people from the Prophet’s household. The first one to accept Islaam from the (matured) free men was Abu Bakr al-Siddeeq. His Islaam was the most beneficial of all those who were mentioned earlier. He was one of the honored leaders of Quraish and had quite some wealth, a caller to Islaam, and he loved to spend his wealth in the cause of Allaah, and out of obedience to Allaah and His Messenger. And it is reported in sahih al-Bukhaaree 170, from the hadith of Abee al-Dardaa’, regarding the quarrel that took place between Abu Bakr and `Umar رضي اهلل عنهما. In this narration, the Prophet ﷺ said: ❝Allaah sent me (as a Prophet) to you (people) but you said (to me): “You are telling a lie”, while Abu Bakr (believed in me and) said (to the people): “He has said the truth”, and consoled me with himself and his money.❞ He ﷺ then said twice: ❝Won't you then give up harming my companion?❞ After that nobody harmed Abu Bakr. 171 This is like confirming that Abu Bakr رضي اهلل عنه was the first one to accept Islaam. Narrated Abu Sa`eed Al-Khudree رضي اهلل عنه that Abu Bakr رضي اهلل عنه said: ❝Am I not the most deserving of it among the people, am I not the first to become Muslim, am I not the person of such and such, am I not the person of such and such.❞ 172 We have already mentioned the narration reported by Ibn Jareer from Zaid bin alArqam: ❝The first to accept Islaam (with the Messenger of Allaah ﷺ) was `Alee Ibn Abu Taalib.❞ `Amr bin Murrah said: “I mentioned that to Ibraaheem al-Nakha`ee, so he 170 sahih al-Bukhaaree (3661, 4640) 171 (Shaikh al-Albaanee said): Meaning: after the Prophet ﷺ had informed them about Abu Bakr’s greatness. Al-Haafidh Ibn Hajar said in “al-Fath” (7/26): “I do not find this addition: ‘After that nobody harmed Abu Bakr’, except from the narration of Hishaam Ibn `Ammaar.” With this Ibn Hajar is pointing out that this addition is “Shaadh” (irregular: where a reliable narrator opposes the one who is more trustworthy than him), especially when Hishaam has been spoken about in regards to his memory. Imaam al-Bukhaaree also repeated this hadith from another chain, from other than Hishaam – the reference already mentioned above – but without this addition. 172 Sunan al-Tirmidhee (3667) and graded “sahih” by Shaikh al-Albaanee.

rejected that and said: ❝The first to accept Islaam was Abu Bakr al-Siddeeq رضي اهلل عنه. ❞” This is what is well-known among the majority of Ahl al-Sunnah. In sahih al-Bukhaaree 173 it is reported that `Ammaar رضي اهلل عنه said: ❝I saw Allaah’s Messenger ﷺ and there was none with him but five slaves, 174 two women and Abu Bakr (i.e. those were the only converts to Islaam then).❞ It was narrated that `Abdullaah bin Mas`ood رضي اهلل عنه said: ❝The first people to declare their Islaam publicly were seven: The Messenger of Allaah, Abu Bakr, `Ammaar and his mother Sumayyah, Suhaib, Bilaal and Miqdaad. With regard to the Messenger of Allaah, Allaah protected him through his paternal uncle Abu Taalib. With regard to Abu Bakr, Allaah protected him through his people. As for the rest, the idolaters seized them and made them wear coats of chain-mail and exposed them to the intense heat of the sun. There was none of them except he (under coercion) did what they wanted them to do, except for Bilaal. He did not care what happened to him for the sake of Allaah, and his people did not care what happened to him. Then they gave him to the children who took him around in the streets of Makkah while he was saying: ‘Ahad, Ahad (One, One).’❞ 175 173 sahih al-Bukhaaree (3660, 3857) 174 I (al-Albaanee) say: One the slave was Bilaal رضي اهلل عنه, as will be mentioned in the next hadith. Al-Haafidh (Ibn Hajar) said: “In this hadith, it is: Abu Bakr was the first one from the freemen to accept Islaam without a doubt. But what `Ammaar here meant was those people who publicly declared their Islaam, otherwise, there was already a group who had accepted Islaam, but they hid their Islaam from their relatives. For Sa`d (Ibn Abee Waqqaas) رضي اهلل عنه had said: ❝No doubt, (for some time) I stood for one-third of the Muslims.❞ [sahih al-Bukhaaree (3726)] He (Sa`d) said this because - from the people who had already accepted Islaam - this is what was known to him at that time.” I (al-Albaanee) say: There were others like Abu Dharr and `Amr Ibn `Absah who said that they were one-fourth of Islaam, which the author (Ibn Katheer) mentioned next. 175 Musnad Ahmad (3832) and Sunan Ibn Maajah (150) and graded as “Hasan” by Shaikh al-Albaanee. Al-Haakim also reported it in “al-Mustadrak” (5238) and said it is “sahih”, and al-Dhahabee agreed with him, but Shaikh alAlbaanee said: It only reaches to the level of “Hasan” because of `Aasim Ibn Abee al-Nujood, as they differed about him.

And it is reported in sahih Muslim, 176 from the hadith of Abee Umaamah alBaahileeرضي اهلل عنه that `Amr Ibn `Abasahرضي اهلل عنه said: “I came to the Messenger of Allaah ﷺ in Makkah when he was first commissioned with Prophethood. The Messenger of Allaah ﷺ was at that time hiding (as his people had made life difficult for him).” I said: “Who are you?” He ﷺ said: ❝I am a Prophet.❞ I again said: “And what is a Prophet?” He ﷺ said: ❝(I am a Prophet in the sense that I have been sent by Allaah) as His Messenger.❞ I said: “Did Allaah sent you?” He ﷺ said: ❝Yes!❞ I again asked: “What is that which you have been sent with?” He ﷺ said: ❝That Allaah be worshiped alone, without associating any partners with him in worship, and to break the idols, and to join ties of relationship (with kindness and affection).❞ I said: “What a pleasant thing you have been sent with. Who follows you in this (belief and practice)?” He said: ❝A free man and a slave.❞ He (the narrator) added: Abu Bakr and Bilaal were there with him among those who had embraced Islaam by that time. And `Amr used to say: “I used to consider myself as one of the four persons who were Muslims (i.e. one-fourth of Islaam).” `Amr then said: I embraced Islaam and said: “Shall I (openly) follow you?” He said: ❝No! You should return to your people, and when you are informed that I have emerged then you should come to me.❞ (Ibn Katheer said): It is said that the meaning of the Prophet’s ﷺ statement: ❝A free man and a slave.❞, means the categories (of people who had embraced Islaam). The explanation that it was only referring to Abu Bakr and Bilaal needs to be reanalyzed because there was a group of people who had already embraced Islaam before `Amr Ibn `Abasah, and also Zaid Ibn Haarithah embraced Islaam before Bilaal. So `Amr’s statement that he was one-fourth of Islaam was due to whatever information he had. The Believers at that time used to hide their Islaam and many did not inform about it even to their families, leave alone the strangers, and leave alone the people of the desert (and other towns) from the Arabs. And Allaah knows best. 176 (Shaikh al-Albaanee said): Imaam Muslim reported in his sahih (832-294) in the Chapter: The prayer of the travelers, but with different wording, and that narration is longer than this. The narration with this wording was reported by al-Haakim in his “al-Mustadrak” (6584) and said: The chain of this narration is “sahih”, and alDhahabee agreed with him. Ibn `Abdul-Barr mentioned it in “al-Istee`aab”: It has been reported from Abee Umaamah from different routes. This is also reported in Musnad Ahmad (17018, 17019), and Ibn Jareer (2/315), from different routes from Abu Umaamah, both the shorter and the longer narrations.

And in sahih al-Bukhaaree, 177 it is reported that Sa`d (Ibn Abee Waqqaas) رضي اهلل عنه said: ❝None embraced Islaam before the day on which I embraced it. And for seven days I was one of the three persons who were Muslims (one-third of Islaam).❞ If he (Sa`d) means that no one embraced Islaam on the same day as he did, then this is easy to understand, but if he means that no one preceded him in embracing Islaam, then this is doubtful, as we know that Abu Bakr al-Siddeeq, `Alee, Khadeejah, and Zaid Ibn Haarithah embraced Islaam before him; Ibn al-Atheer and others have mentioned Ijmaa` (consensus) that these (four) were the foremost in embracing Islaam. As for his statement: ❝And for seven days I was one of the three persons who were Muslims (one-third of Islaam).❞, then this is doubtful and difficult to explain. I do not know on what basis he had said that, except that he might have spoken based on the information that he had. 178 And Allaah knows best. Ibn Mas`ood narrated that: “I used to be a shepherd, looking after the sheep of `Uqbah bin Abi Mu`eet. One day the Prophet ﷺ and Abu Bakr passed by me (in another narration, they were fleeing from the persecution of the Quraish in Makkah) and said: ❝O boy! Do you have any milk?❞ I said: ‘Yes, but I am only a custodian (and as such cannot give you any of it).’ He ﷺ said: ❝Does the herd have any young sheep which does not yield milk?❞ So I brought them one such sheep, and he ﷺ passed his hand over its udder and it became full with milk and Abu Bakr milked it in a container. He ﷺ drank from it, and then Abu Bakr. He ﷺ then said to the udder: ❝reduce❞ and it reduced back to the way it was. (Later on) I approached him and said: ‘Teach me from these words (i.e. the Qur’aan).’ So he wiped his hand over my head and said: ❝Allaah have mercy on you, you are a little boy and you will learn (later).❞ So, (over the time) I learned from him seventy Surahs directly from his lips, and no one else was with me when I learned them.” 179 177 [sahih al-Bukhaaree (3726, 3727, 3858)] 178 I (al-Albaanee) say: This is what al-Haafidh Ibn Hajar concurred. He said the same in the explanation of the hadith of `Ammaar: ❝…there was none with him but five slaves...❞ 179 Musnad of Imaam Ahmad (3598, 3599, 4330, 4412) and the chain of this narration is “Hasan”. [TN: Shaikh al-Albaanee in sahih al-Mawaarid (1804) also graded it as “Hasan”. Shaikh Muqbil also graded it as “Hasan” in his checking of sahih Dalaail al-Nubuwah (130)]