The announcement of migration to Madinah had been made. Devoted blessed companions رَضِیَ اللّٰەُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهُم were setting out for Madinah. In the meantime, a companion of Rasool came out of Makkah for migration. When he رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ came out for migration, a group of Quraysh started chasing after him. The blessed companion رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ got off his conveyance and said after taking out an arrow from his quiver: O the group of Quraysh! You know that I am more expert bowman than all of you. By Allah Almighty! You cannot get me until even a single arrow remains in my quiver. I will then fight by a sword until I have strength in my hands. Now it is up to you whether I should tell you about my wealth in Makkah and you take it and leave the way for me or you fight me. The unbelievers agreed to get his wealth. When the blessed companion رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ came to the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللّٰەُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم he صَلَّى اللّٰەُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said: Abu Yahya has done a profitable business; Abu Yahya has done a profitable business. (Musnad Haaris, pp. 693, Hadees 679)
O the devotees of Rasool! This companion of Rasool who was the best bowman, courageous and the one who did profitable business was Sayyiduna Abu Yahya Suhayb Bin Sinaan Rumi رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ.
Why is he called Rumi?
The king of Iran made either his father or uncle the ruler of Ubullah [اُبُلّہ] (a city near Basra in Iraq) and his house was in a town on the bank of Euphrates River near Mosul. One day, Romans attacked and started massacring people; they made him a prisoner along with many people and took them to Rome. At that time, he رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ was very young. In this way, he was brought up in Rome.
How did he reach sacred Arab?
A person from Tribe Banu Kalb bought him from Romans and took him to Makkah. Then ‘Abdullah Bin Jud’aan bought him and later on he gained freedom. According to some narrations, when he رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ grew up he fled to Makkah from Syria. (Tabqat Ibn Sa’d, vol. 3, pp. 170) In the beginning, he رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ resided in Makkah and started doing business by which he earned lots of money. (A’laam liz-Zarkali, vol. 3, pp. 210)
Embraced Islam
Both he and Sayyiduna ‘Ammar Bin Yasir رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُمَا together appeared in the blessed court of the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللّٰەُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم and embraced Islam. At that time, more than thirty fortunate people had embraced Islam. (Tabqat Ibn Sa’d, vol. 3, pp. 170) He رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ is amongst the seven people who were first in disclosing their Islam. (Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah, vol. 7, pp. 537)
Blessed sayings of Mustafa ﷺ
The one who will be given water first at the pond of Kawsar is Suhayb. (Musnad-ul-Firdaus, vol. 1, pp. 36, Hadees 57)
You love Suhayb as a mother loves her child. (Al-Mustadrak, vol. 3, pp. 494, Hadees 5762, 5763)
He رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ was bestowed with 2 Houses and one room. (Bukhari, vol. 2, pp. 183, Hadees 2624)
Blessed appearance & Character
He رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ was dark-red complexioned, with thick hair and a height little bit less than medium. (Tareekh Ibn ‘Asakir, vol. 24, pp. 215) He رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ was generous and soft-hearted. (Siyar A’laam-un-Nubala, vol. 3, pp. 361) He رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ would spend his money in the path of Allah Almighty, perform Jihad, give plenty of food to people, oppose Nafs, had great knowledge and status and obey the commandments of Allah Almighty and the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللّٰەُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم without delay. (Hilya-tul-Awliya, vol. 1, pp. 204) He رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ was not only pious and abstinent but also good-tempered and a man of good character.
I am eating by the molar of the other side
Once the eye of Sayyiduna Suhayb رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ was aching and he was eating dates. The Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللّٰەُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said: Your eye is aching and you are eating dates! He رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ humbly replied: I am eating from the other side. Having heard this, the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللّٰەُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم smiled. (Ibn Majah, vol. 4, pp. 91, Hadees 3443)
Sufferings and sacrifices
He رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ is one of the weak Muslims who endured the tortures and sufferings inflicted by the unbelievers of Makkah. The unbelievers of Makkah would inflict so much torture on him and beat him so much that he رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ would remain unconscious for hours. (Seerat-e-Mustafa, pp. 119)
Did not use to feel sleepy
He رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ would remain awake and worship much in the night. Once his respected wife talked to him about it, he رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ said: Undoubtedly, Allah Almighty has made the night for rest, but not for me. He رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ further said: Undoubtedly! When Suhayb talks about Paradise, his yearning rises and when he recalls about Hell, he loses his sleep. (Tafseer Ibn Kaseer, vol. 3, pp. 273, Al-An’aam, Taht-al-Ayah: 97)
Closeness to Rasool
He رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ would continue to attain the blessings of the blessed company of the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللّٰەُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم in all Ghazwat [battles in which the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللّٰەُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم participated himself]. He رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ said: Wherever the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللّٰەُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم used to go I would definitely be present there. Whenever anyone would take the oath of allegiance, I would surely attend it.
Passion for sacrificing himself
He رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ further said: Whatever army the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللّٰەُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم sent for a battle, I remained with it and I would be with the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللّٰەُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم in the battle in which he صَلَّى اللّٰەُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم would personally participate. If there would be a fear of attack from the front side on the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللّٰەُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, I would come in the front. If there would be a danger of attack from the behind, I would come behind him. I never left the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللّٰەُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم alone between me and the enemies. (Hilya-tul-Awliya, vol. 1, pp. 204)
Other services
On the occasion of the conquest of Syria, he رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ went to Syria with Ameer-ul-Mu`mineen Sayyiduna ‘Umar رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ. (Tareekh Ibn ‘Asakir, vol. 24, pp. 210)
Privilege of Imamat at Masjid-un-Nabawi
When Sayyiduna ‘Umar رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ was severely injured in an attempted murder, he رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ ordered Sayyiduna Suhayb رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ to lead Salahs. He رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ continued to lead Salahs [for three days] in place of Sayyiduna ‘Umar رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ until Muslims handed over the important responsibility of caliphate to Sayyiduna ‘Usman-e-Ghani رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ. (Ibid, vol. 24, pp. 243)
He رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ was also one of the four blessed companions who had the privilege to lower Sayyiduna ‘Umar رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ in his blessed grave. (Tabqat Ibn Sa’d, vol. 3, pp. 281) He رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ stayed himself aloof from the matters of differences of opinion amongst Muslims after the martyrdom of Sayyiduna ‘Usman رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ. (Siyar A’laam-un-Nubala, vol. 3, pp. 361)
Blessed demise
He رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ passed away in 38th Hijri in the month of Shawwal. His funeral Salah was led by Sayyiduna Sa’d Bin Abi Waqas رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ and he رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ was laid to rest in Jannat-ul-Baqi’. According to different narrations, he رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ was 70, 73 or 84 at the time of his blessed demise. (Tareekh Ibn ‘Asakir, vol. 26, pp. 244-246)
Caution in narrating Hadees
Once someone asked him: Why do you not mention Ahadees of Rasool as other blessed companions mention them? He رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ replied: The way others heard I have also heard but it is stated in a blessed Hadees: The one who deliberately attributes a lie to me should make his abode in Hell. I, therefore, tell you the Hadees which my heart has memorized and my ears have saved. (Ibid, vol. 24, pp. 237)
Number of narrations
The Ahadees he رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ has narrated are almost thirty. Three of them have been narrated by Imam Muslim. (Siyar A’laam-un-Nubala, vol. 3, pp. 366) The narrators who have narrated from him also include great companions like Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah Bin ‘Umar and Sayyiduna Jabir رَضِیَ اللّٰەُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهُم. (Ma’rifat-us-Sahabah li Abi Nu’aym, vol. 3, pp. 32)
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