People are made up of basic “metals” or qualities. The best of them in Jahiliyyah are the best of them in Islam, according to a  hadith of the Prophet. Here are two pictures of a noble companion–one during his life in Jahiliyyah and the other after he became a Muslim . In Jahiliyyah, this Sahabi [...]

Utbah ibn al-Kattab, the head of the rapidly expanding Muslim State went to bed early just after the Salat al-Isha. He wanted  to have a rest and feel refreshed for his nightly tour of inspection of the capital city which he often did incognito. Before he  could/all asleep however, the post from the outlying regions [...]

After a long and exhausting journey, the Prophet, peace be on him, is at last on the outskirts of Yathrib. The good people of  the city go out to meet him. Many crowd the narrow streets. Some stand on roof-tops chanting La ilaha ilia Allah and Allahu  Akbar in sheer joy at meeting the Prophet [...]

Umm Salaamah! What an eventful life she had! Her real name was Hind. She was the daughter of  one of the notables in the Makhzum clan nicknamed “Zad ar-Rakib” because he was well known  for his generosity particularly to travelers. Umm Salamah’s husband was Abdullah ibn Abdulasad  and they both were among the first persons [...]

Umayr Ibn Wahb al-Jumahi returned safely from the Battle of Badr. His son, Wahb, was left behind,  a prisoner in the hands of the Muslims. Umar feared that the Muslims would punish the youth  severely because of the persecution he himself had meted out to the Prophet and the torture he  had inflicted on his [...]

Umayr Ibn Saad became an orphan at an early age. His father died leaving him and his mother poor and destitute. His mother  eventually married again, to one of the richest men in Madinah. His name was Julas ibn Suwayd who was from the powerful  tribe of al-Aws. Umayr was well looked after by Julas [...]

“O Abu Mundhir! Which verse of the Book of God is the greatest?” asked the Messenger of God, may God bless him and grant  him peace. “Allah and His Messenger know best,” came the reply. The Prophet repeated the question and Abu Mundhir  replied. “Allah, there is no god but He, the Living the Self-Subsisting. [...]

In the Sixth year after the hijrah, the Prophet, may the blessings of God be on him, decided to expand the scope of his  mission. He sent eight letters to rulers in the Arabian peninsula and surrounding areas inviting them to Islam. One of these  rulers was Thumamah ibn Uthal. Thumamah was one of the [...]

Thabit Ibn Qays was a chieftain of the Khazraj and therefore a man of considerable influence in Yathrib. He was known for  the sharpness of his mind and the power of his oratory. It was because of this that he became the khatib or the spokesman  and orator of the Prophet and Islam. He became [...]