Ihyaaud Deen An Effort to Revive Deen in Totality
Hazrat Suhaib (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) and Hazrat Ammaar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) became Muslims at the same time.
Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) was staying at the home of Hazrat Arqam (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) when they both came separately, with the same intention of embracing Islam, and coincidentally met each other at the door of the house. Each of them asked the other the reason for him coming there, and at that point, they both learnt that they both had come for the same purpose – to embrace Islam and benefit from Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam).
They both then embraced Islam. After embracing Islam, they underwent the same torture which was meted out to the other Muslims at that time who were few in number and weak. They were subjected to every type of torture and persecution, until eventually, Hazrat Suhaib (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) decided to perform hijrah and emigrate to Madinah Munawwarah.
However, the Quraish could not tolerate the sight of the Muslims leaving and deciding to move to another place and live in peace. Thus, as soon as they learnt of any Sahaabi setting out to perform hijrah, they would try to capture him so that he would not be able to get away from their torture and persecution.
Accordingly, soon after the departure of Hazrat Suhaib (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), a group went after him to bring him back to Makkah Mukarramah. As the group drew close, he got his quiver ready (to take out arrows and shoot). His quiver was full of arrows. He turned to the group and addressed them saying, “You know that I am a better archer than all of you. So long as I have a single arrow left with me, you will not be able to come close to me. When I finish all my arrows, l shall fight you with my sword, as long as it is in my hand. It is only then (when I lose hold of my sword) that you will be able to capture me and do with me as you wish. Therefore, if you like, allow me to go, and in lieu of this, I will tell you where I have kept my money hidden in Makkah Mukarramah. I also have two slave women. You may take all my wealth and my two slave women in lieu of me.”
The disbelievers agreed, and Hazrat Suhaib (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) told them the whereabouts of his money, after which they allowed him to proceed to Madinah Munawwarah.
It was in regard to this incident that Allah Ta‘ala revealed the following verse of the Quraan Majeed to Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam):
وَ مِنَ النَّاسِ مَنۡ یَّشۡرِیۡ نَفۡسَہُ ابۡتِغَآءَ مَرۡضَاتِ اللّٰہِ ؕ وَ اللّٰہُ 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. (Surah Baqarah v. 207)
At that time, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) was in Quba. When he saw Hazrat Suhaib (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) coming, he remarked, “What a good bargain you have struck, O Suhaib!”
Hazrat Suhaib (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) narrates, “Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) was eating dates at that time. I also joined him in eating. One of my eyes was sore. Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said, ‘Suhaib! You are eating dates when your eye is sore!’ I replied, ‘O Rasul of Allah! But I am taking the dates by the side of the other eye, which is not sore.’ Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) was amused by my reply.”
Hazrat Suhaib (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) was very generous and freely spent his money on others. Hazrat Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) once told him that he was overspending. He replied, “(Yes, I am spending a lot, but) I only spend where it is right.”
When Hazrat Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) was close to breathing his last, he expressed the wish that Hazrat Suhaib (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) should perform his janaazah salaah.
(Fazaa’il-e-A’maal [English] pg. 27-28, [Urdu] pg. 21)
