The Hijrah of Hazrat Suhaib Roomi (radhiyallahu ‘anhu)

Hazrat Suhaib bin Sinaan Roomi (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) was one of the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) who brought Imaan in the early days of Islam.

In the Arabic language, the word ‘Room’ refers to the land of Rome. Before he came to Makkah Mukarramah, Hazrat Suhaib (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) used to live in the land of Rome, and that is why he was known as Hazrat Suhaib Roomi (radhiyallahu ‘anhu).

Hazrat Suhaib (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) has such a high position in the ummah that from all the people of Rome, he will be the first person to enter Jannah. Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said, “I will be the first of the Arabs to enter Jannah, Suhaib (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) will be the first of the people of Rome to enter Jannah, Bilaal (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) will be the first of the people of Abyssinia to enter Jannah, and Salmaan (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) will be the first of the people of Persia to enter Jannah.”

Hazrat Suhaib (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) was also blessed to carry out the great ibaadah of performing hijrah to Madinah Munawwarah.

When performing hijrah, the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) had to leave the land of Makkah Mukarramah, which was the land which they loved and the land which had the Ka’bah Shareef. They had to leave their home, business and friends, and go far away to Madinah Munawwarah where they had to get a new home and start all over again. Sometimes, they even had to leave all their money and belongings behind! However, the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) happily made this sacrifice and performed hijrah because hijrah was the fardh command of Allah Ta‘ala upon them and they always wanted to please Allah Ta‘ala by obeying Him.

In regard to the hijrah of Hazrat Suhaib (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), it is mentioned that when he set out on his journey to Madinah Munawwarah, a group of the non-Muslims from the Quraish began to chase him to stop him from leaving Makkah Mukarramah.

On seeing the group chasing him, Hazrat Suhaib (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) got down from the animal he was riding, took out his bow and drew out all the arrows from his quiver.

He then said to them, “O group of the Quraish! You know that I am among the best of archers among you! I take an oath by Allah that none of you will be able to reach me until I have fired every arrow in my quiver! Thereafter, I will draw my sword, and so long as I hold it in my hand, I will continue to fight you.”

Hazrat Suhaib (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) then said to them, “If you want, I will show you where I have kept my money and clothing in Makkah. I have also left two slave girls in Makkah. You may take my money and slave girls in exchange of leaving me and allowing me to perform hijrah.”

Hearing this, the Quraish were happy and agreed. Hazrat Suhaib (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) then told them where he had kept his money in Makkah Mukarramah, after which they left him and went away.

Hazrat Suhaib (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) then continued on his journey. Finally, as he came close to Madinah Munawwarah, and came to the place known as Harrah, he found Hazrat Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) and a group of the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) who had come to meet him.

On meeting Hazrat Suhaib (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) said to him, “What a good and profitable deal you made!”

Hazrat Suhaib (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) did not understand what they were referring to and made dua for them saying, “You as well – may Allah Ta‘ala grant you barakah and make you profit in your business deals, and may He save you from a loss in your business.” Hazrat Suhaib (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) then asked them the reason for them saying these words to him.

The Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) then told Hazrat Suhaib (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) that Allah Ta‘ala had informed Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) of the deal which he had made with the disbelievers, giving them all his money in order to allow him to continue on the hijrah and fulfil the command of Allah Ta‘ala.

Allah Ta‘ala was so pleased with the sacrifice of Hazrat Suhaib (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) that He revealed the following verse of the Quraan Majeed in his honour:

وَ مِنَ النَّاسِ مَنۡ یَّشۡرِیۡ نَفۡسَه ابۡتِغَآءَ مَرۡضَاتِ اللّٰه ؕ وَ اللّٰهُ رَءُوۡفٌۢ بِالۡعِبَادِ ﴿۲۰۷﴾

And among the people is one who sells himself in order to earn the pleasure of Allah, and Allah is Most Kind to His servants.

Thereafter, when Hazrat Suhaib (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) entered Madinah Munawwarah and met Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), he found that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) was also very happy with him. Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said to him, “What a good and profitable deal you made, O Suhaib! What a good and profitable deal you made, O Suhaib!”

In other words, though Hazrat Suhaib (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) gave all his money away to the disbelievers, Allah Ta‘ala was so happy with him and gave him so much of reward in the Hereafter that the sacrifice he made was well worth it and was a good deal.

Just as Hazrat Suhaib (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) made a great sacrifice, the other Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) who performed hijrah also made great sacrifices to please Allah Ta‘ala. The Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) who performed hijrah are called the Muhaajireen, and it is the Muhaajireen who are the greatest from all the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum).

Lesson:

The greatest and most important thing in life is to make Allah Ta‘ala happy by listening to Him and fulfilling His commands. The Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) were even prepared to lose all their money – but they were not prepared to break the laws of Allah Ta‘ala. They made sure that they made Allah Ta‘ala happy at all times, and this is why they are the greatest people of this ummah.