In Islam, no one has superiority over another except by piety and good deeds. There is no poor person whom people disdain, nor a stranger who is shunned by others, nor a foreigner who is pushed away from positions of responsibility simply because he is not an Arab. Everyone in this nascent society is equal; everyone here is one; everyone here is brothers, connected by a bond that is much stronger than the bond of brotherhood by blood.

The Islamic community consists of individuals who are not strangers to one another. Here is Abu Bakr al-Siddiq, the free merchant, and Umar ibn al-Khattab, the strong and mighty, and Bilal ibn Rabah, the Ethiopian slave, and Salman the Persian, who struggles with the letters of the Arabic language, and Suhayb the Roman, who has a Western accent in his speech. They are all loving brothers, complementing each other, so none of the younger ones feel inadequate, nor do the strangers feel alienated, and none of the wealthy feel pride except for the honor of being blessed with Islam. This is how Suhayb was, who came from afar, leaving behind his father's dignity, seeking the honor and brotherhood of Islam far away in the lands of the Arabs.

He is Suhayb ibn Sinan (Abu Yahya al-Namri), from the Namir tribe of Qasit. He is known as al-Rumi because he lived in Rome for a while. He is originally from the island region and was captured from the village of Nineveh, which is in the vicinity of Mosul. His father or uncle was a governor for Khosrow. He was taken captive by the Romans when they raided his town, and then he was brought to Mecca, where he was bought by Abdullah ibn Judan at-Taymi.⁽¹⁾  Born in the lap of luxury and opulence, he was then taken as a slave to the lands of the Romans, where he spent his youth among them to learn from them and acquire their language. Eventually, he was captured by slave traders, and he ended up in Mecca, where he was purchased by Abdullah ibn Judan, who admired him for his enthusiasm. Abdullah freed him and allowed him to work in trade and earn a livelihood through it.

Islam Suhayb:

God Almighty permits man to receive goodness, and there is no one to reject what God desires. The light descends to illuminate the heart’s path, so that the limbs obey and gently follow the heart. The value of companionship that a person chooses in this world becomes apparent, driven by pure intent, without any mention of mutual interests or anticipated goals.

And Allah allowed Suhayb to let understanding invade his heart and mind, leading him toward Dar al-Arqam after he heard about the new religion. His sound nature, enlightened heart, and aware mind guided him. And because he chose Ammar bin Yasir as a friend and companion, their steps were aligned toward the same goal, at the same time, carrying the same desire towards Allah, the Almighty.

And here is Ammar recounting their story of embracing Islam together: I met Suhayb at the door of the house of Al-Arqam, where the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) was. We entered, and he presented Islam to us; so, we embraced Islam. Then we stayed like that for a day until evening came, and we went out while being discreet.⁽²⁾  

Suhayb begins another life with his companion, and indeed with his brothers, leaving behind the world in pursuit of God's pleasure, so that it chases them and lays its glory before them. The sacrifices they made were not in vain; they are the poor, the slaves, the followers, and the weak. They are the ones facing disbelief without a tribe to support them, without family to shelter them, and without a refuge to hide them from the eyes of the polytheists who subjected them to torture day and night.

The Migration of Suhayb and His Struggle.

Many times, a person finds themselves at important stations in their life, questioning the secret behind all that is happening around them in the universe, life, and fate. What lies behind all this beauty, wisdom, and precision in the management of the universe? What does age mean? What is the value of money and status? What is the worth of power and governance?

When you find answers to those questions, all sacrifices become trivial, and a single lifetime is no longer enough for a person to devote to what they believe in regarding the God of the one and only universe, the Unique and Eternal, the Just Judge. What is the value of having the world granted to you by God if you are not on His path?

The believers immigrated, and then the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) migrated to Medina, and Islam became a complete state. In Mecca, Suhayb remained managing his business and wealth, but his spirit longed for good companionship and for establishing the religion of God among the believers. Suhayb had no protection to shield him when he left, so the price of his departure for his faith was everything he owned, including his wealth and home. He had to negotiate with Quraysh, not out of a desire for money, but out of a desire to escape with his faith, no matter the cost. For one who has purchased Paradise, selling the world and all that is in it becomes easy. Without hesitation, Suhayb relinquished all that he had earned in his previous years to join the Prophet (peace be upon him) and his companions.

When Quraysh detained him while he was migrating, he said to them after dismounting from the camel, and scattering what was in his quiver and taking his bow: "O gathering of Quraysh, you know well that I am one of the best archers among you. I swear by Allah that you will not reach me until I have thrown what is in my quiver, then I will strike with my sword whatever remains in my hand of it, then do what you will. If you wish, I will guide you to my wealth and leave you, my way?" They said: "We will do it." Then he said to them: "I bear witness before Allah that I have left all my wealth for you, and my wealth is in such and such place.⁽³⁾  

The news of Suhayb reached the Prophet, peace be upon him, after he had joined him in Medina. The Prophet, peace be upon him, said to him: Your transaction has been fruitful, O Abu Yahya. Your transaction has been fruitful. And recited the word of Allah, the Exalted.( And there are those who would dedicate their lives to Allah’s pleasure. And Allah is Ever Gracious to ˹His˺ servants.) (Al-Baqarah:207)

Suhayb witnessed all the events with the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) in every battle and every expedition, but his greatest struggle was in his migration and his resistance to the instinct of love for wealth. He willingly gave up everything he owned as a redemption for his migration and in pursuit of his beloved ones. As for his presence in the events, Al-Tabarani reported that he said: 'The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) did not attend a single event except that I was present; he did not give an oath of allegiance except that I was there; and he did not send out an expedition except that I was present; nor did he engage in a battle except that I was on his right or his left. Whenever they feared an enemy in front of them, I was in front of them, and whenever they feared behind them, I was behind them. I never placed the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) between me and the enemy until the Prophet (peace be upon him) passed away.

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• Sir A'lam al-Nubala, Vol. 2, p. 18, by Imam Shams al-Din al-Dhahabi.
  (2) The previous reference, Vol. 2, p. 17.
  (3) Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani, Al-Isabah fi Tamyiz al-Sahabah: (3/365), and Ibn Abd al-Barr, Al-Isti'ab fi Ma'rifat al-Ashab: (2/729), and al-Dhahabi, Sir A'lam al-Nubala: (3/353)

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