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Men around the Messenger

The Companions of the Prophet (saws)

Abu Dharr al-Ghifari
One of the earliest Muslims, Abu Dharr was the first person to greet the Prophet (saws) with the greeting of Islam: "As-salaamu Alayka Yaa Rasulullah, (Peace be on you, O Messenger of God)".  After that, the greeting spread and came into general use.

Umayr ibn Sad al-Ansari
A destitute boy from Madinah who became a Muslim at the age of ten.  Later when appointed by Caliph Umar as Governor of the town of Hims in Syria, he was renowned for his frugal lifestyle and just rule: Islam will remain strong so long as the Sultan or central authority is strong. The strength of the Sultan neither comes from flogging with the whip, nor killing with the sword but from ruling with justice and holding fast to truth.

Abbad ibn Bishr
A courageous warrior whose devotion to the Qur'an was a sign of his intense devotion to and love for God, His Prophet (saws) and His religion.

Barakah
O Barakah, I shall depart from this world shortly. I commend my son Muhammad to your care. He lost his father while he was in my abdomen. Here he is now, losing his mother under his very eyes. Be a mother to him, Barakah. And don't ever leave him'.The touching story of the cradle to grave devotion of  the Ethiopian slave girl who reared Prophet Mohammed (saws) after the death of his parents and was a selfless and courageous early Muslim.

Khadijah (ra)
Successful businesswoman, wife of  Prophet Mohammed (saws) and the first person to convert to Islam

Abdullah ibn Hudhafah as-Sahmi
A companion who met two great world leaders of the day.  First he was Prophet Mohammed's (saws)emissary to Khusraw Parvez, the King of Persia.  Years later during the caliphate of Umar ibn al-Khattab,  Abdullah ibn Hudhafah as-Sahmi was captured in battle against the Byzantine empire.  Neither inducements nor torture at the hands of the Emperor Heraclius could persuade him to renounce Islam.

Abdur-Rahman Ibn Awl
The eighth person to embrace Islam, he migrated twice to Abyssinia.  Abdur-Rahman distinguished himself in both the battles of Badr and Uhud, suffering more than twenty wounds at the latter.  Starting with nothing, he went on to enjoy tremendous success as a merchant, becoming the richest of the Companions.  From his great wealth,  Abdur-Rahman financed the Muslim armies, contributed to the the upkeep of the family of Mohammed (saws) after the prophet's death and was universally renowned for his fabulous generosity.

Utbah ibn Ghazwan
Great Muslim military commander under Caliph Umar.  Founder of the city of Basra, he continued to live in a tent so as to strengthen his faith and not be seduced by soft living.

Abu-d Dardaa
The last man in his district of Yathrib (Madinah) to embrace Islam, he set about making up for lost time.  He later declined Caliph Umar's offer to become Governor of Damascus, but instead agreed to go there to teach the people the Book of their Lord and the Sunnah of the Prophet (saws) and pray with them.

Fatima bint Muhammad
The moving story of the beloved fifth child of Mohammed (saws) and Khadija (ra).  Fatima endured a childhood of suffering because of the persecution of her father and his followers.  She was so devoted to the Prophet and took such good care of him after Khadija's death that she became known as Umm Abi-ha, the mother of her father. It was only through Fatima's children that the Prophet's lineage has survived. 

Rumaysa bint Milhan (Umm Sulaym)
Umm Sulaym was a model Muslim, a model wife and mother.  Known for her excellent character, the power of her intellect and her independent attitude of mind, she was one of the first women in Madinah to embrace Islam.  After being widowed, the only dowry she demanded of her wealthy second husband was that he accept Islam.  Noted for her great courage and bravery, Umm Sulaym accompanied the Muslim armies, caring for the wounded and attempted to defend Prophet Mohammed (saws) with her dagger at Uhud when the tide of battle turned against the Muslims.

Jafar ibn Abi Talib
Cousin of Mohammed (saws) and brother of Ali, Jafar was renowned for his care for the poor and was one of the first to embrace Islam.  Facing persecution in Makkah, Jafar led the group of Muslims who migrated to Abyssinia (now Ethiopia) and successfully represented them before the king when Quraysh emissaries sought to have them extradited. Jafar fell in battle against Byzantine forces after his return to Arabia.

Abu Hurayrah
All Muslims throughout the ages owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to Abu Hurayah.  Blessed with a formidable memory, he was the single greatest of all the transmitters of the hadith of the Prophet (saws).  Once destitute, in later life Abu Hurayrah rose to become governor of Madinah then Bahrain.

Adiyy ibn Hatim
This Christian Arab king, for twenty years an inveterate enemy of Islam, went unprotected to Madinah to meet Mohammed (saws) after the Prophet (saws) treated his captured sister kindly and released her.

Abdullah ibn Umm Maktum
A blind, young cousin of Khadijah (raa), Abdullah ibn Umm Maktum was one of the earliest Muslims.  He was left in charge of Madinah on more than ten occasions during Prophet Mohammed's (saws) absences and later, despite his disability, went into battle as the standard bearer of the Muslims. "Place me between two rows and give me the standard. I will carry it for you and protect it, for I am blind and cannot run away." 

Ubayy ibn Kab
One of the first citizens of Madinah to embrace Islam, he served as scribe to Prophet Mohammed (saws), was one of the first to commit the Qur'an to writing, and belonged to the group of about two dozen who knew the entire Qur'an by heart when the Prophet (saws) died.  Regarded as a conscience to the Muslims, he later served as advisor to Caliphs Abu Bakr` and Umar and was greatly respected for his honest and frank assessments.

Aisha bint Abi Bakr
Daughter of Abu Bakr and beloved wife of Prophet Mohammed`(saws), in the fifty years following his death, she became a great teacher of Islam and preserved and transmitted over two thousand hadeeth.

Abu Musa al-Ashari
Yemeni missionary, military commander, judge and Governor of Basra, renowned for his integrity, who represented Imam Ali in the dispute with the usurper Muawiyah.

Umayr ibn Wahb
He went to Medina to assassinate Mohammed (saws).He returned to Mecca a Muslim missionary.

Umm Salamah
She gave up her life of wealth and privilege for Islam, became a refugee, endured the kidnap of her son and the fatal wounding of her first husband, turned down marriage proposals from both Abu Bakr and Umar before finally accepting that of Mohammed (saws) and becoming Umm al-Mumineen, mother of the believers.  An eventful life!

Abdullah ibn Abbas
Young cousin of prophet Mohammed who went on to become a famed memorizer of hadeeth and great peacemaker among the Muslim factions.

Habib ibn Zayd al-Ansari
The young son of early converts, he suffered suffered a horrible death rather than renounce his faith.

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