The document summarizes key details about six early converts to Islam: Uthman bin Affan, Az-Zubayr bin Al-Awwam, Abdur-Rahman bin Awf, Sa'ad bin Abi Waqqas, Umar ibn Al-Khattab, and Abdullah ibn Mas'ud. It provides details about when and how each converted, their roles and accomplishments during their lives, and in some cases details about their deaths. The converts came from prominent tribes and families in Mecca and Medina and played important military, political and religious leadership roles after Muhammad and during the Rashidun caliphates.
2. The first Muslims (Covered in Part I)
Khadija
Ali bin Abi Talib
Zaid bin Haritha
Talha ibn Ubaidullah
Abu ubaidah ibn al Jarrah
Abu Bakr (Abdullah “Atiq” bin Abu Quhafah)
Bilal ibn rabah
3. The first Muslims (To be Covered in Part II)
Uthman bin Affan
Az-Zubayr bin Al-Awwam
Abdur-Rahman bin Awf
Sa’ad bin Abi Waqqas
Umar ibn Al-Khattab
Abdullah ibn Mas’ud
4. The first Muslims (To be Covered in Part II)
Uthman bin Affan
Az-Zubayr bin Al-Awwam
Abdur-Rahman bin Awf
Sa’ad bin Abi Waqqas
Umar ibn Al-Khattab
Abdullah bin Mas’ud
5. Uthman bin Affan
Born in Taif, approximately six years after the Year of the Elephant. Belonged
to the wealthy Umayyad Clan (Banu Ummaya) of the Quraish tribe
Well known for being modest, honest, mild, generous, very kind and also
noted for his piety
Before conversion, Uthman was a renowned and successful trader who reaped
profits by giving to the needy
Accepted Islam after preaching from Abu Bakr ra approximately at the age of
34 years; suffered due to persecution by uncle (Al Hakam bin Abi Al-Aas)
Upon conversion, Uthman ra had to separate from his wives, who refused to
accept Islam. The Prophet SAW was so impressed by his sacrifice, that he
married his second daughter, Ruqayya, to Uthman.
Dhun-Noorayn (the one with the two lights)
Migrated to Abyssinia and then Medina
6. Uthman bin Affan
THE CALIPHATE RULE OF UTHMAN BIN AFFAN RA (644AD – 656 AD)
After the stern rule of Umar ra, people welcomed the mild rule of Uthman ra
Collection of the Noble Qur’an
Reports had surfaced that some Muslims were disputing the Qur’anic text
Uthman ra was keen to maintain the language of the Qur’an as it had been revealed
from Allah SWT to the Prophet SAWS
In 25th year of Hijrah, Uthman chose to compile the Qur’an in a standard format in the
dialect of the Quraish
Ordered four true copies to be made. Each one was sent to each major region of the
empire
Uthman ra ruled for twelve years. Last six years of his Khilafat passed in chaos and
conflicts due to the conspiracies of certain groups
When rebels broke into Uthman’s house by burning down the door when none of
the Companions were with him. The first assassin’s sword struck Uthman while the
Qur’an was still in his hand, and in more than one report, the first drop of his
blood fell upon the words “Verily, Allah sufficient for thee; Не is the All-Hearing,
the All-Knowing.” [Qur’an 2:137]. Uthman ra died at the age of 82.
Prophet SAWS said “Every prophet has a companion in paradise. My companion
there is Uthman.”
7. The first Muslims (To be Covered in Part II)
Uthman bin Affan
Az-Zubayr bin Al-Awwam
Abdur-Rahman bin Awf
Sa’ad bin Abi Waqqas
Umar ibn Al-Khattab
Abdullah bin Mas’ud
8. Az-Zubayr bin Al-Awwam
One of the youngest converts to Islam approximately at the age of 12 years
Az Zubair’s lineage was linked to Prophet i.e. his mother Safiah was Prophet
SAWS paternal aunt
Well known for his bravery
Named his children after martyrs.
He himself and two of his children were murdered during Salah.
9. The first Muslims (To be Covered in Part II)
Uthman bin Affan
Az-Zubayr bin Al-Awwam
Abdur-Rahman bin Awf
Sa’ad bin Abi Waqqas
Umar ibn Al-Khattab
Abdullah bin Mas’ud
10. Abdur-Rahman bin Awf
Born approximately 20 years after the year of Elephant, belonged to Banu
Zuhra clan of the Quraish tribe
He accepted Islam upon preaching by Abu Bakr RA and the name Abdur
rahman was given by Prophet SAWS in Daar Al Arqam during secret preaching
phase
Upon migration to Madinah, was one of the most successful traders and was
well known for Generosity
Narrated by Aishah RA about an incident relating Abdur rahman ibn Awf’s
charity of 700 loaded camels to the people of Madinah in the name of Allah
SWT
Died in Madinah in approximately 32 H
11. The first Muslims (To be Covered in Part II)
Uthman bin Affan
Az-Zubayr bin Al-Awwam
Abdur-Rahman bin Awf
Sa’ad bin Abi Waqqas
Umar ibn Al-Khattab
Abdullah bin Mas’ud
12. Sa’ad bin Abi Waqqas
Related to Prophet SAWS from the maternal side
Accepted Islam when he was 17 years old. He embraced Islam very early even
before Prophet SAWS started secret preaching in Daar Al Arqam
He was the first to throw a spear in the cause of Allah and the first to be
struck by one. Was very strong with his lance and was nicknamed as Lion’s
Claws by Abdur rahman Al Awf
Participated in the battles of Badr, Uhud, Trench, Hudaibiyah, Conquest of
Makkah and all other military expeditions
Was made governor of Iraq during the Caliphate of Umar ra
When death approached him, he used to reside in Aqiq valley outside
Madinah. Ordered his son to shroud him in the gown wore by him during the
battle of Badr. Finally found a shelter in the ground of Al Baqi beside a group
of great companions
13. The first Muslims (To be Covered in Part II)
Uthman bin Affan
Az-Zubayr bin Al-Awwam
Abdur-Rahman bin Awf
Sa’ad bin Abi Waqqas
Umar ibn Al-Khattab
Abdullah bin Mas’ud
14. Umar ibn Al-Khattab (Symbol of justice)
Born into a respected Quraish family, thirteen years after the Messenger SAW
was born
A merchant by trade, a large man, a skilled horseman and was notorious for
his fearsome temper
Prior to becoming Muslim, he was a sworn enemy of Islam, openly hostile, and
even physically violent, to those who embraced Islam
Renowned for his strong sense of justice, and time proved that he judged
himself harsher than he did anyone else
Umar ra was the first person to publicly proclaim Islam, lead the first group of
Muslims and worshipped before the Kabah in broad daylight, and this was the
incident that gave him the title “Al Farooq” (he who distinguishes truth from
falsehood) worship before the Kabah.
Umar’s daughter, Hafsa, was widowed at a very young age when her husband
was martyred during the Battle of Uhud. He approached Abu Bakr RA and
Uthman RA who politely declined. Umar complained to the Prophet SAW,
whereupon Prophet SAW said: “Rest assured, Hafsa will marry a man better
than Uthman, and Uthman will marry a lady better than Hafsa.”
15. Umar ibn Al-Khattab (Symbol of justice)
CALIPHATE RULE (634AD – 644AD)
Second of the Rightly Guided Caliphs
Vast areas of Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Egypt came under the Muslim rule.
The city of Jerusalem in Palestine was conquered by Muslims in 17 Hijri
Establishment of Majlis-e-Shoura (a body of advisors to the Khalifah), finance
department and building of schools and mosques in different parts of the
state
Division of the whole Islamic state into provinces and appointment of
governor for each province
Introduction of Islamic calendar of Hijrah.
Knowing that his death was imminent, he asked his son Abdullah RA to beg
Aisha’s permission for his burial by the side of Muhammad SAW and Abu Bakr.
Aisha RA wept and said “I had reserved this place for my own burial, but I give
Umar precedence over myself. Let him be buried there.”
16. The first Muslims (To be Covered in Part II)
Uthman bin Affan
Az-Zubayr bin Al-Awwam
Abdur-Rahman bin Awf
Sa’ad bin Abi Waqqas
Umar ibn Al-Khattab
Abdullah ibn Mas’ud
17. Abdullah ibn Mas’ud
One of early converts who accepted Islam even before secret preaching phase
in Daar Al Arqam
Young shepherd boy responsible for the sheep of Uqbah lbn Abu Mu’ait. Once
Prophet SAWS came with Abu Bakr RA and asked “Do you have milk for us to
drink?”. He replied “I can’t let you drink their milk”. Prophet SAWS then
requested for a virgin sheep, prayed to Allah and milked it. Abdullah ibn
Masud was shocked to see this and very soon he understood Prophet SAWS
mission and accepted Islam.
Was the first one to recite Qur’an publicly in Mecca after the Prophet SAW.
Allah SWT endowed him with a wonderful talent for reciting and
understanding Qur’an to the extent that made the Prophet SAW direct his
Companions to follow his example
He was so near to the Prophet SAW that Prophet SAW told him, ‘My permission
to you is that you may raise the curtains.’ This indicates his being allowed to
knock at the Prophet’s door at any time during the day or night.
Hinweis der Redaktion
The Third Rightly Guided Caliph – Al Ghani, The Generous; Dhun-Noorayn, Possessor of Two Lights
(Caliphate: 644AD – 656 AD)
Muslims in Medina were poor as they had left their worldly possessions in Mecca and depended on the Ansar (dwellers of Medina). A Jewish trader had taken advantage and sold water at a very high price. Uthman took the initiative and offered to buy the well at Rawmah from the Jew but was only allowed to purchase half of it. Uthman then told the Muslims to purchase enough water for two days each time it was his turn to sell water, thereby avoiding purchase of water when it was the Jew’s turn. The Jew was then unable to get any buyers and eventually had to sell his share to Uthman. The well then overflowed with its sweet water and provided the people of Medina with water at no price or account.
UMAR IBN AL-KHATTAB RA
(Caliphate: 634AD – 644AD)
In the 6th year of revelation, Umar was appointed by a group of Quraish men to kill Prophet SAW. He set out towards the Prophet SAW, sword in hand, ready to kill him. Enroute he met a friend who said “Why don’t you take care of your own family first and set them right?” It turned out that Umar’s own sister, Fatimah, and her husband Sa’id ibn Zaid, had secretly embraced Islam. He was so furious at this news, and went straight to Fatimah’s house where he heard the voice of his brother in law, reciting from the Qur’an. Umar swiftly started assaulting Sa’id, whereupon Fatimah threw herself between Umar and her husband in order to defend the latter. Umar struck her violently, until she was bleeding. Injured as she was, Fatimah defiantly told Umar “O Umar, you can do what you like, but you cannot turn our hearts away from Islam”. He asked Fatimah to show him what she was reading, She refused to give it to him by saying “No, for none but the purified persons. Go and take a bath and get yourself purified”. He did so, returned and Fatimah gave him the Qu’ran (verses of Surah Ta’ha written on the leaves of a tree). He was astounded. It was as if the Qur’an was addressing him directly! He continued reading, and verse after verse, the light of the Qur’an penetrated his heart. He then went straight to the house of the Prophet SAW and conveyed his admittance to Islam. The Prophet SAW and the Companions shouted with elation “Allahu Akbar”.
Prophet SAW had also made a dua for this occasion – reported by Ibn Umar RA, the Messenger of Allah SAW said “O Allah, help Islam with one of the two men that is more beloved to You: Abu Jahl or ‘Umar ibn Al-Khattab. And the more beloved of the two to him was Umar.”
It was his fear of the question of “what will you say to your Lord” that motivated all his actions