Part 21

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 selfsacrifice.

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 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 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!"

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 Faithtul 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.

(8) MU-AADH IBN JABAL The Most Learned of Halaal and Haraam

Among the seventy-man delegation of the Ansaar who took the oath of allegiance to the Prophet in the Second Allegiance of ~Aqabah sat a young man with a bright face, graceful eyes, and a radiant smile. When he was silent, he attracted attention with his profound peacefulnes and devoutness. On the other hand, when he talked, he held his people spell-bound. This young man was Mu‘aadh Ibn Jabal (May Allah be pleased with him). He belonged to the Ansaar, and he was among the foremost believers who gave the second oath of allegiance to the Prophet. Naturally, a man of such precedence, faith, and certainty would not miss for the world a battle or an expedition. His uppermost quality was his knowledge of fiqh (jurisprudence) the practical aspect of Muhammad's message. He reached the apex in knowledge and figh, to the extent that made the Prophet (PBUH) say, "The most learned man of my nation in halaal and haraam is Mutaadh Ibn Jabal."

He resembled ‘Umar Ibn Al-Khattaab in his enlightenment, courage, and intelligence. When the Prophet sent him to Yemen, he asked him, "How will you give a judgment or settle a dispute?" Mu‘aadh answered; "I will refer to the Qur'aan." The Prophet then asked, “What will you do if you do not find the decree you are looking for in the Qur'aan?" Mu‘aadh answered, "I will refer to the Prophet's Sunnah." The Prophet asked, "But what will you do if you do not find a decree even in the Sunnah?" Mu‘aadh readily answered, "I will be judge between mankind by resorting to juristic reasoning (ijtihaad) to the best of my power." Now, Mu‘aadh's staunch committment to Allah's Book and the Prophet's Sunnah does not mean that he closed his mind to the countless and endless hidden or equivocal facts that await someone to unravel and adjudicate.

Perhaps both Mu‘aadh’s ability in juristic reasoning and the courageous usage of his intelligence enabled him to master the fiqh,

excelling all other scholars. The Prophet justifiably described Mu‘aadh as “the most learned man of my nation in haaal and

History portrays him as a man of remarkably enlightened, resolute, and decisive mind. For instance, ~Aaez Allah Ibn *Abd Allah narrated that one day he entered the mosque with the Companions of the Prophet (PBUH) at the dawn of *Umar's caliphate. Then he sat among more than thirty men. Let us hear him narrate the story: "I sat with a group of more than thirty men. They were recalling a hadith of the Prophet (PBUH). In this ring sat a dark, swarthy young man who had a sweet voice and a radiant face. Whenever they disputed about a hidden or ambiguous meaning in the hadith, they at once sought his legal instruction or judgment. He seldom, if ever, spoke unless he was asked. When their meeting was over, I approached him and asked him, "Who are you, O Allah's Slave?" He answered, "I am Mu‘aadh Ibn Jabal.” So I instantly felt close to him.

Also, Shahr Ibn Hawshab said, "Whenever Mu‘*aadh Ibn Jabal was present when the Companions of the Prophet (PBUH) were holding a meeting, they looked at him with reverence."

‘Umar Ibn Al-Khattaab, the Commander of the Faithful, often consulted him. It seemed that Mu‘aadh had a highly disciplined mind and a captivating and convincing logic that moved peacefully and knowledgeably. When we look at his historical background, we will always see him at the center of attention. He always sat there surrounded by people. He always maintained a discrete silence that was only broken whenever people were anxious to hear his judgment and whenever they were in dispute. When he spoke he looked, as one of his contemporaries described, “as if light and pearls were emanating from his mouth rather than speech." He reached his high rank in knowledge and reverence when the Prophet (PBUH) was alive and maintained it after his death, notwithstanding his youth, for Mu‘aadh died during ‘Umar's caliphate at the age of thirty-three years.

Mu‘aadh was generous, magnanimous, well-mannered, and good-natured. If anyone asked him for money, he would readily and glady give it to him. His generosity made him spend all his money on charity and aid. When the Prophet (PBUH) died, Mu‘aadh was still in Yemen, where the Prophet (PBUH) had sent him with the task of teaching Muslims their religion and fiqh.

When Mu‘aadh returned from Yemen during Abu Bakr's caliphate, ‘Umar Ibn Al Khattaab was informed that Mu‘aadh become wealthy, and he suggested to Abu Bakr that the community should have half of Mu‘aadh's wealth. “Umar did not waste much time as he rushed to Mu‘aadh's house and told him about what he and Abu Bakr had agreed on. Mu‘aadh was an honest and trustworthy man. The fact that he had made a fortune did not make him vulnerable to suspicion or sin; therefore, he turned down *Umar's suggestion and refuted his viewpoint. Finally, ‘Umar left him. The next day, Mu‘aadh hurried towards ‘Umar's house and no sooner had he laid his eyes on him than he hugged him. His tears flowed as he said, “ Last night, I saw in my dream that I was crossing deep water. I nearly drowned were it not for your help, “Umar.” Afterwards, they both went to Abu Bakr's presence where Muaadh asked him to take half his money, but Abu Bakr said, " No, I will take nothing from you.” ‘Umar glanced at Mu‘aadh and said, "Now it is halaal and blessed."