We are now in a small town in a narrow valley. There is no vegetation, no livestock, no gardens, no rivers. Desert after desert separates the town from the rest of the world. During the day the heat of the sun is unbearable and the nights are still and lonely. Tribes flock to it like animals in the open country ...
Read More »Muadh Bin Jabal (ra)
Muadh Bin Jabal was a young man growing up in Yathrib as the light of guidance and truth began to spread over the Arabian peninsula. He was a handsome and imposing character with black eyes and curly hair and immediately impressed whoever he met. He was already distinguished for the sharpness of his intelligence among young men of his own ...
Read More »Hudhaifah Ibn Al-Yemen (ra)
If you wish you may consider yourself among the Muhajirin or, if you wish, you may consider yourself one of the Ansar. Choose whichever is dearer to you.” With these words, the Prophet, peace be upon him, addressed Hudhayfah ibn al-Yaman when he met him for the first time in Makkah. How did Hudhayfah come to have this choice’? His ...
Read More »Amr Ibn Al-Jumuh (ra)
Amr Ibn al-Jamuh was one of the leading men in Yathrib in the days of Jahiliyyah. He was the chief of the Banu Salamah and was known to be one of the most generous and valiant persons in the city. One of the privileges of the city’s leaders was having an idol to himself in his house. It was hoped ...
Read More »Abul Aas Ibn Ar-Rabiah (ra)
Abul Aas belonged to the Abd ash-Shams clan of the Quraysh. He was in the prime of his youth, handsome and very impressive looking. He was the epitome of Arab chivalry and was endowed with all the characteristics of pride, manliness and generosity. He took great pride in the traditions of his ancestors. Abu-l Aas inherited the Quraysh love for ...
Read More »Abdullah Ibn Masood (ra)
When he was still a youth, not yet past the age of puberty, he used to roam the mountain trails of Makkah far away from people, tending the flocks of a Quraysh chieftain, Uqbah ibn Muayt. People called him “Ibn Umm Abd”–the son of the mother of a slave. His real name was Abdullah and his father’s name was Masud. ...
Read More »Abdullah Ibn Umm Makhtum (ra)
Abdullah ibn Umm Maktum was a cousin of Khadijah bint Khuwaylid, Mother of the Believers, may God be pleased with her. His father was Qays ibn Said and his mother was Aatikah bint Abdullah. She was called Umm Maktum (Mother of the Concealed One) because she gave birth to a blind child. Abdullah witnessed the rise of Islam in Makkah. ...
Read More »Abdullah Ibn Hudhaifa As-Sahmi (ra)
History would have by-passed this man as it had bypassed thousands of Arabs before him. He, like them, would have had no claim to attention or fame. The greatness of Islam, however, gave to Abdullah ibn Hudhafah the opportunity to meet two world potentates of his time–Khusraw Parvez the King of Persia and Heraclius, the Byzantine emperor. The story of ...
Read More »“Aisha” Bint Abu Bakr (ra)
The life of Aishah is proof that a woman can be far more learned than men and that she can be the teacher of scholars and experts. Her life is also proof that a woman can exert influence over men and women and provide them with inspiration and leadership. Her life is also proof that the same woman can be ...
Read More »Caliph “Ali” ibn Abi Talib (ra)
“You [Ali] are my brother in this world and the next.” (Ahaadeeth) Ali (RA)’s Election After Uthman(RA) ‘s martyrdom, the office of the caliphate remained unfilled for two or three days. Many people insisted that Ali(RA) should take up the office, but he was embarrassed by the fact that the people who pressed him hardest were the rebels, and he ...
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