Outline
- Introduction
- The Beginning
- Who Was Sayyidunā Suhayb ibn Sinan
- Sayyidunā Suhayb Before Islam
- Sayyidunā Suhayb ibn Sinan Finds Islam
- Sayyidunā Becomes Subject of the Persecution of Quraysh
- Sayyidunā Suhayb Migrates to Allah
- Sayyidunā Suhayb After the Prophet’s Passing
- Sayyidunā Suhayb During the Fitnah
- Sayyidunā Suhayb’s Family
- Sayyidunā Suhayb’s Narration of Ḥadīth
- Sayyidunā Suhayb’s Passing
- 7 Facts About Sayyidunā Suhayb ibn Sinan
- The Takeaway…
Introduction
When Islam arrived he was quick to be among the first who embraced the new religion. And when he decided to embark on the journey of hijrah, he traded-in his entire wealth to be able to migrate in the peace of mind.
He was the best person Sayyidunā ‘Umar could think of and assigned to lead Muslims in prayers when he was stabbed.
I’m talking about Sayyidunā Suhayb ibn Sinān. Sayyidunā Suhayb ibn Sinān al-Rūmī is our Shining Star in this episode of The Shining Stars Series, brought to you by GSalam.Net and Al-Bushra by GSalam.
The Beginning
Once upon a time, approximately 20 years before the arrival of Islam, an Arab man of Yemeni origin by the name Sinān ibn Mālik used to be the governor of a place in modern-day Iraq called Ubullah on behalf of Persian King, Kisrā (Khosrow).
One day, the Romans invaded their land of Ubullah, and captured many souls and carried along with the many spoils. Among those souls captured was one of the children on the governor of Ubullah. The child was called Suhayb. Little Suhayb then spent the remainder of his childhood among the Romans.
He was later bought by an Arab trader (like Zayd ibn Ḥārithah. Remember?), who brought him to Makkah and sold him into slavery. In Makkah a man by the name ‘Abdullāh ibn Jad‘ān bought Suhayb ibn Sinān. While with him, Suhayb learnt shooting with arrows (for war) and trading (for livelihood).
With that, we can argue that Suhayb who had grown up into his youth age was an Arab by race, Persian by birth (as he was born in Ubullah, Iraq), and Roman by upbringing.
But then again, who was Suhayb ibn Sinān?
Who Was Sayyidunā Suhayb ibn Sinan
He was called Suhayb al-Rūmī (the Roman). But he was originally an Arab, with Yemeni roots… Just like Sayyidunā ‘Ammār ibn Yāsir.. Do you still remember?
His long name was:
صُهَيْب بْنُ سِنَان بْنُ مالكٍ بن عبد عَمْرو بْن عَقِيل بْنُ عَامِر
Suhayb ibn Sinan ibn Malik ibn ‘Abd ‘Amr ibn ‘Aqīl ibn ‘Āmir.
His mother was
سَلْمَى بِنْتُ قَعِيد
Salmā bint Qa‘īd
The Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ’alayhi wa sallam nicknamed him “Abū Yaḥyā.” A nickname that Sayyidunā Suhayb remained forever proud of.
At the time of Islam, Sayyidunā Suhayb was estimated to be 19 years old.
This means, he was:
- 21 years younger than The Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ’alayhi wa sallam.
- 4 years younger than Khabbāb ibn al-Aratt
- Same age as al-Zubayr ibn al-‘Awwām
- 3 years older than al-Arqam ibn Abī al-Arqam
- 7 years older than Sa’īd ibn Zayd
Sayyidunā Suhayb Before Islam
While under slavery, Sayyidunā Suhayb ibn Sinan showcased an extraordinary level of intelligence. In addition to his intelligence, Suhayb was also a person of integrity and perfection. This intelligence of his, coupled with his integrity and perfectionism captured the admiration of his master, ‘Abdullāh ibn Jad’ān.
So, his master decided to free him. That was not the end. The master then make him his business partner. This was a milestone in the life of Suhayb in Sinān. With that, it didn’t take him long to climb above the middle-class in Makkah.
Suhayb had a personal relationship with the Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ’alayhi wa sallam before he was chosen to the Messenger. So it was easy for him to reach out to the Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ’alayhi wa sallam, to listen to him and decide.
Sayyidunā Suhayb ibn Sinan Finds Islam
When Islam arrived, he heard about it, and decided to hear about from the Prophet himself. At this point, the Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ’alayhi wa sallam had started gathering with his followers, guiding and teaching them at Dar al-Arqam. So Suhayb decided to go to Dar al-Arqam to hear from the Prophet. At the door, he bumped into Sayyidunā ‘Ammār ibn Yāsir who was also going to listen to the Prophet and make up him mind about Islam.
The duo entered, listened to the Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ’alayhi wa sallam and declared their Islam at the same time. This makes Sayyidunā Suhayb and Sayyidunā ‘Ammar at number 20 of the first Muslims in the Shining Stars Series.
We can also affirm that his Islam came after Sayyidunā Al-Arqam ibn Abī al-Arqam, ‘Uthmān ibn Maẓ’ūn and Abū Salamah raḍiya Allāhu ’anhum.
Sayyidunā Becomes Subject of the Persecution of Quraysh
As you’ve rightly guessed, Sayyidunā Suhayb also became a subject to the hostility of the tyrants of Quraysh. These were the people who were afraid to lose their social recognition as well as their leadership roles if Islam was allowed to spread in Makkah.
So, Sayyidunā Suhayb was among those who were chained up, placed under the couching heat of the sun in the Arabian desert.
This continued until Muslims were given permission to migrate to Madinah, after Abyssinia.
Sayyidunā Suhayb Migrates to Allah
Sayyidunā Suhayb migrated to Madinah. But not before the Prophet had migrated. He actually hoped and planned to be in the company of the Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ’alayhi wa sallam, together with Sayyidunā Abū Bakr raḍiya Allāhu ’anhu. But, it was unfortunate, that when he left Makkah for migration, a bunch of people (of Makkah) came his way and tried to stop him from hijrah. Although Suhayb was an excellent arrow shooter, he gave them the choice of either fight him, or they left him alone to continue his journey of hijrah. He promised them, if they left him alone, to show them where he had hidden his wealth for them to go take it. They agreed to the latter. So he showed them where his entire wealth was in Makkah, and then continued his journey.
That incident had pulled Suhayb to the middle-class from the lowest of the lower income-class. But this is expected for anyone who chooses to live for his faith. It’s obvious that while Suhayb was persevering for his Akhirah, the bunch of people who stopped him were after worldly benefits and interesting.
Upon reaching Qubā’, Madinah, the Prophet had already received a revelation pertaining to hiss encounter. He thus welcomed Suhayb with the best good news anyone would want to receive from the Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ’alayhi wa sallam. The Prophet excitedly welcomed him with:
رَبِحَ البَيعُ أبا يَحيى!ـ
“The deal has profited, O Abū Yaḥyā!”
It’s reported that the following verse was revealed to acknowledge the decision of Sayyidunā Suhayb ibn Sinān. It reads:
وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَن يَشْرِي نَفْسَهُ ابْتِغَاءَ مَرْضَاتِ اللَّـهِ ۗ وَاللَّـهُ رَءُوفٌ بِالْعِبَادِ ﴿٢٠٧﴾ـ
“But there are others who would dedicate themselves to seeking the pleasure of Allah. Allah is compassionate to His servants.” (Sūrah al-Baqarah, 2:207).
During the brotherhood exercise in Madīnah, the Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ’alayhi wa sallam partnered between Suhayb ibn Sinan and al-Ḥārith ibn al-Ṣammah in Madīnah.
Sayyidunā Suhayb ibn Sinān would be by the side of the Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ’alayhi wa sallam in all the battles he participated in. This means he witnessed and participated in the Battles of Badr, Uḥud, al-Aḥzāb, al-Khandaq, and Tabūk.
Sayyidunā Suhayb After the Prophet’s Passing
After the passing of the Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ’alayhi wa sallam, Sayyidunā Suhayb ibn Sinan spent the rest of life in Madīnah.
He was known to be a man of great devotion. In addition to that, he was a man of extreme generosity. His generosity was extreme that he would give everything he received from Bayt al-Māl in charity. So much so that Sayyidunā ‘Umar said to him, “I can see that you are overly in your generosity.” And Sayyidunā Suhayb replied, that he heard the Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ’alayhi wa sallam saying:
خِيَارُكُم مَنْ أَطْعَمَ الطَّعَامَ، وَرَدَّ السَّلامَ
“The best among you is the one who feed others and responded to salām (when it’s given.”
When Sayyidunā ‘Umar was attacked and stabbed, he couldn’t lead the congregational prayers. So he assigned Sayyidunā Suhayb ibn Sinān to be the [interim] Imām. Sayyidunā Suhayb continued to lead the Muslims in prayers until Sayyidunā ‘Uthmān was chosen as the successor to Sayyidunā ‘Umar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb raḍiya Allāhu ’anhum.
Sayyidunā Suhayb During the Fitnah
Unlike Sayyidunā ‘Ammār ibn Yāsir who took side with Sayyidunā ‘Ali ibn Abī Ṭālib, Sayyidunā Suhayb ibn Sinan is among the numerous companions of the Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ’alayhi wa sallam who chose to stay away from The Fitnah that occurred among the companions of the Prophet after his passing.
He remained isolated from political involvements until his passing, raḍiya Allāhu ’anhu.
Sayyidunā Suhayb’s Family
Sayyidunā Suhayb ibn Sinān was among the companions who married once. His wife was Rayṭah bint Abī Umayyah raḍiya Allāhu ’anhā. Rayṭah was a sister to Sayyidatunā Ummu Salamah raḍiya Allāhu ’anhā. And that makes him a brother in-law to Sayyidatunā Umm Salamah raḍiya Allāhu ’anhā.
Imām al-Dhahabī reported three children for Sayyidunā Suhayb ibn Sinān. They’re:
- Ḥabīb
- Ziyād
- Ḥamzah
Sayyidunā Suhayb’s Narration of Ḥadīth
The following are some aḥādīth of the Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ’alayhi wa sallam narration of Sayyidunā Suhayb ibn Sinān.
Ḥadīth #1
Imām Muslim reports from the narration of Sayyidunā Suhayb ibn Sinan that the Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ’alayhi wa sallam says:
عَجَبًا لأَمْرِ الْمُؤْمِنِ إِنَّ أَمْرَهُ كُلَّهُ خَيْرٌ وَلَيْسَ ذَاكَ لأَحَدٍ إِلاَّ لِلْمُؤْمِنِ، إِنْ أَصَابَتْهُ سَرَّاءُ شَكَرَ فَكَانَ خَيْرًا لَهُ، وَإِنْ أَصَابَتْهُ ضَرَّاءُ صَبَرَ فَكَانَ خَيْرًا لَهُ
“How wonderful is the case of a believer; there is good for him in everything and this applies only to a believer. If prosperity attends him, he expresses gratitude to Allah and that is good for him; and if adversity befalls him, he endures it patiently and that is better for him.”
Ḥadīth #2
Ibn Mājah reports from the narration of Suhayb ibn Sinan raḍiya Allāhu ’anhu, that the Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ’alayhi wa sallam said:
ثَلَاثٌ فِيهِنَّ الْبَرَكَةُ: الْبَيْعُ إِلَى أَجَلٍ والمقارضة واخلاط الْبُرِّ بِالشَّعِيرِ لِلْبَيْتِ لَا لِلْبَيْعِ
“There are three things which contain barakah: A business transaction with a time specified, muqāraḍah and mixing wheat and barley for one’s household but not for sale.” (Muqāraḍah is giving someone some property to trade with, the profit being shared between the two, but any loss falling on the property.)
Ḥadīth #3
Imām Muslim reports from Sayyidunā Suhayb ibn Sinān that the Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ’alayhi wa sallam said:
إِذَا دَخَلَ أَهْلُ الْجَنَّةِ الْجَنَّةَ، قَالَ : يَقُولُ اللَّهُ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى: تُرِيدُونَ شَيْئًا أَزِيدُكُمْ؟ فَيَقُولُونَ: أَلَمْ تُبَيِّضْ وُجُوهَنَا، أَلَمْ تُدْخِلْنَا الْجَنَّةَ، وَتُنَجِّنَا مِنَ النَّارِ؟ قَالَ: فَيَكْشِفُ الْحِجَابَ، فَمَا أُعْطُوا شيئًا أحب إليهم إِلَيْهِمْ مِنَ النَّظَرِ إِلَى رَبِّهِمْ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ
“When the inhabitants of Jannah enter Jannah, Allah, the Glorious and Exalted, will say to them: ‘Do you wish me to give you anything more?’ They will reply: ‘Have You not made our faces bright? Have You not brought us into Jannah and delivered us from the Hell?’ And Allah will remove the Veil. Then they (the dwellers of Jannah) will feel that they have not been awarded anything dearer to them than looking at their Lord.”
Sayyidunā Suhayb’s Passing
Sayyidunā Suhayb ibn Sinān raḍiya Allāhu ’anhu passed on in Madinah, 38 after the hijrah of the Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ’alayhi wa sallam. He was said to be 70 years old. The funeral prayer on his body was led by Sayyidunā Sa’d ibn Abī Waqqāṣ, and he was then buried in al-Baqī’.
7 Facts About Sayyidunā Suhayb ibn Sinan
Here are six things you may want to remember about Sayyidunā Suhayb ibn Sinān, raḍiya Allāhu ’anhu.
- Sayyidunā Suhayb ibn Sinān was an Arab by race, Persian by birth, and Roman by accent.
- He among the first batches of Muslims to accept Islam.
- He accepted Islam before the Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ’alayhi wa sallam together with Sayyidunā ‘Ammār ibn Yāsir.
- Sayyidunā Suhayb ibn Sinan gave up his entire wealth, so he could migrate to Allah and His Messenger.
- Allah acknowledged the sacrificed many by Sayyidunā Suhayb ibn Sinān al-Rūmī.
- The Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ’alayhi wa sallam nicknamed him Abū Yaḥyā.
- He was among those who avoided involvement in anything related to the dispute between Sayyidunā ‘Ali and Mu’āwiyah raḍiya Allāhu ’anhumā.
The Takeaway…
Sayyidunā Suhayb ibn Sinān raḍiya Allāhu ’anhu experienced a life of luxury, as a child, until the day he was captured and sold into slavery. But even in slavery, he learnt to do his best, and that earned him freedom, even before Islam came. And when Islam came, he was among the early rich and wealthy who cared about their hereafter more than they cared about the worldly possessions. And for that he accepted Islam.
Sayyidunā Suhayb teaches us that, money is necessary in life. But the safety of your faith is more important. The Muslim should have halal money while preserving the purity of his faith. But if you find yourself in a situation where you have to choose one, then Muslim should be like Sayyidunā Suhayb ibn Sinān al-Rūmī.
Also, you don’t leave anything worldly for the sake of Allah, unless He replaces you with the best. The replacement may not be in this life but in the Hereafter.
رَبِحَ البَيعُ أبا يَحيى!ـ
“The deal has profited, O Abū Yaḥyā!”
That was Sayyidunā Suhayb ibn Sinān, widely known as Suhayb al-Rūmī. He was our Shining Star in this episode of The Shining Stars Series brought to you by GSalam.Net and Al-Bushra by GSalam.
Until we meet in our next episode to look up at another Shining star for inspiration and role modeling, I leave you in Allah’s protection.
Wassalamu ‘alaykum warahmatullah…
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