MUSJIDUL HAQ

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It is mentioned that when Hadrat Sayyiduna Suhaib Rumi – may Allah be pleased with him – came to Mecca Shareef, he was cared for by Abdullah Jad’an and this is where he also a small business. Due to his great business acumen, very quickly, he began a very successful businessman. In spite of all of this success, Hadrat Sayyiduna Suhaib Rumi – may Allah be pleased with him – still did not forget the reason that he left Rome.

Once, while Hadrat Sayyiduna Suhaib Rumi – may Allah be pleased with him –  was returning from a long business trip people around him began to mention that there was a person in Mecca Shareef by the name of Muhammad bin Abdullah who was claiming to be a Prophet. He was also teaching how to act and behave, about good habits and restricting people from doing evil. He was also calling people towards the worship of One Creator and was also stopping people from worshipping idols.

Hadrat Sayyiduna Suhaib – may Allah be pleased with him – asked those around him whether this was the person that was called “Al Ameen” and the people replied that this was indeed the person. He then asked whether was the same person that people called “as-Sadiq” and they replied that this was indeed that person.

Hadrat Sayyiduna Suhaib Rumi – may Allah be pleased with him –  then asked the people where this new Prophet could be seen and they mentioned that one could meet him in the house of Arqam bin Abi Arqam, which is known as “Daar Arqam”. It is in this house that he is privately teaching the people about Islam. Some people also warned him against visiting the Holy Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – because maybe the Quraish could come to know about this and also start to persecute him.

However, in spite of this, one day Hadrat Sayyiduna Suhaib Rumi – may Allah be pleased with him –  entered his home and saw another great companion, namely Hadrat Sayyiduna Ammaar bin Yaasir – may Allah be pleased with him. The both asked each other where they were going to without thinking that they were going to the same house where the Holy Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – was sitting.

When they entered Daar Arqam, the Holy Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – stood up and warmly embraced both of them. In fact, both of them recited the Kalimah together. Both of these eminent Ashaab accepted at the same moment and on the same day.

There is no need to repeat the immense oppression that the early Muslims had to go through. The early Muslims were also among the poor and weak in Mecca Shareef and the Quraish felt no danger persecuting the Muslims. In fact, Hadrat Sayyiduna Suhaib Rumi – may Allah be pleased with him – also went through some of the same experiences.

We also know that the Holy Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – had given open permission to the Muslims to emigrate to Abyssinia and then Madina Shareef. Slowly, as and when people saw the opportunity, they began to migrate. It was also the sincere wish of Hadrat Sayyiduna Suhaib Rumi – may Allah be pleased with him – to migrate in the blessed company of the Holy Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – but it was written in his destiny that he had to also face a few tests and trial.

When the Holy Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – had left for Madina Shareef, obviously, the life of those Muslims who were still in Mecca Shareef became even more dangerous. Among these people, Hadrat Sayyiduna Suhaib Rumi – may Allah be pleased with him – topped the list. Although he was considered a wealthy person, but he had no tribe or clan to back him. The disbelievers had also surrounded his house so that he does not migrate to Madina Shareef.

At the same time, whatever wealth he had, he had changed this for gold and silver and kept it hidden in one corner of his room. However, while the guards were absent-minded one day, he managed to leave his house undetected. He also took his sword and bow and arrow with him. When these people realised that he had escaped, they also followed him and very soon, he was surrounded by the Meccans. Realising that he was now surrounded, shouted to them, “I swear by Allah! All of you know that I am one of the best archers around. Very rarely does my arrow miss its target. If you people make the mistake of coming towards me, I will make sure that every arrow I have finds it target in each one of you people. If my arrows are finished, I will fight each one of you with my sword until I am killed.”

When they heard this, the Quraish replied, “Look, it is not possible that you leave Mecca with your life and your wealth. You are fully aware of your past and that when you came here, you were poor and needy and it is in this city that you became rich.”

When he heard this statement, he realised what they wanted. He then shouted, “If I am able to give you all my wealth, will you leave the road open for me to go?” They agree to this.

Hadrat Sayyiduna Suhaib Rumi – may Allah be pleased with him – then showed them where he had a hidden his money in his house and they allowed him to emigrate to Madina Shareef. In other words, he had given all his wealth to achieve the Divine Pleasure of Allah Almighty and the pleasure of his beloved Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him.

As Hadrat Sayyiduna Suhaib Rumi – may Allah be pleased with him – travelled alone, he felt the tiredness of this journey, but his immense love and respect for the Holy Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – kept his spirits to continue further. It is mentioned that he met the Holy Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – while he was still stationed in Quba. When the Holy Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – saw him, he again warmly embraced him and said to him, “Your business transaction was indeed very successful, O Aba Yahya.”

Obviously, Hadrat Sayyiduna Suhaib Rumi – may Allah be pleased with him –  was extremely happy and joyous and he also mentioned that no one knew outside Mecca Shareef of what he had done but the moment the Holy Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – saw him, he revealed to Hadrat Sayyiduna Suhaib Rumi – may Allah be pleased with him –  what had happened. He also mentioned to the Holy Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – that indeed this had been revealed to him by Jibra’eel Ameen.

Allah Almighty was so pleased by this self-sacrifice of this blessed companion, that the 207th verse of Surah Baqarah was revealed which is:

وَ مِنَ النَّاسِ مَنۡ یَّشْرِیۡ نَفْسَہُ ابْتِغَآءَ مَرْضَاتِ اللہِؕ وَاللہُ رَءُوۡفٌۢ بِالْعِبَادِ﴿۲۰۷﴾

“And among men is one who sells himself to seek the pleasure of Allah;

and Allah is Most Compassionate towards the bondsmen.”

Hadrat Sayyiduna Suhaib Rumi – may Allah be pleased with him – was certainly among the eminent companions and was much liked by the Holy Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him. At times, the Holy Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – was also a little light-hearted with him.

It is mentioned that one day, Hadrat Sayyiduna Suhaib Rumi’s – may Allah be pleased with him –   one eye was sore but in spite of this, he was eating some ripe dates which were in front of him. When the Holy Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – saw this, he said to him, “Suhaib! Your eyes are sore and yet you are eating these dates?” He replied, “I am not eating this from the side of the sore eye but from the side of the eye which is not sore.” (Ibn Maja Shareef)

Hadrat Sayyiduna Suhaib Rumi – may Allah be pleased with him –  was also considered as one of the most bravest of the blessed companions and admits that in every war he took part in, he always endeavoured to be next to the Holy Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him.

Hadrat Sayyiduna Suhaib Rumi – may Allah be pleased with him – also admits that whenever there was any danger to the Muslims, he was also the first to be there to defend the Muslims.

He was also so generous that whatever wealth or money he had, he always gave this to those who were poor and needy. He was a symbol of the other Ashaab when it came to obeying the command of the Holy Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – which was, “O people! Spread the Salaam among each other and feed as many as you can.” (Sahih Tirmidhi Shareef)

Such was his standing among the Muslims that when Hadrat Sayyiduna ‘Umar – may Allah be pleased with him –  was severely injured during his assassination attempt, he ordered that the person who should lead the Salaah be Hadrat Sayyiduna Suhaib Rumi – may Allah be pleased with him. He passed away in Madina Shareef in 38 A.H.