Abdullah Ibn Sailam_ - Biographies of the Companions (Sahabah)

Al-Husayn ibn Sailam was a Jewish rabbi in Yathrib who was widely
respected and honoured by the people of the city even by those who
were not Jewish. He was known for his piety and goodness, his upright
conduct and his truthfulness.
Al-Husayn lived a peaceful and gentle life but he was serious,
purposeful and organized in the way he spent his time. For a fixed
period each day, he would worship, teach and preach in thetemple. Then
he would spend some time in his orchard, looking after date palms,
pruning and pollinating. Thereafter, to increase his understanding and
knowledge of his religion, he would devote himself to the study of the
Torah.
In this study, it is said he was particularly struck by some verses of
the Torah which dealt with the coming of a Prophet who would complete
the message of previous Prophets. Al-Husayn therefore took an
immediate and keen interest when he heard reports of the appearance of
a Prophet in Makkah. He said:
"When I heard of the appearance of the Messenger of God, peace be on
him, I began tomake enquiries about his name, his genealogy, his
characteristics, his time and place and I began to compare this
information with what is contained m our books. From these enquiries,
I became convinced about the authenticityof his prophethood and I
affirmed the truth of his mission. However, I concealed my conclusions
from the Jews. I held my tongue...
Then came the day when the Prophet, peace be on him, left Makkah and
headed for Yathrib. When he reached Yathrib and stopped at Quba, a man
came rushing into the city, calling out to people and announcing the
arrival of the Prophet. At that moment, I was at the top of a palm
tree doing some work. My aunt, Khalidah bint al-Harith, was sitting
under the tree. On hearing the news, I shouted:
'Allahu Akbar! Allahu Akbar! (Godis Great! God is Great!' When my aunt
heard my takbir, she remonstrated with me: 'May Godfrustrate you...By
God, if you hadheard that Moses was coming you would not have been
more enthusiastic.'
'Auntie, he is really, by God, the 'brother' of Moses and follows his
religion. He was sent with the same mission as Moses.' She was silent
for a while and then said: 'Is he the Prophet about whom you spoke to
us who would be sent to confirm the truth preached by previous
(Prophets) and complete the message of his Lord?' 'Yes,' I replied.
Without any delay or hesitation, I went out to meet the Prophet. I saw
crowds of people at his door. I moved about in the crowds until I
reached close to him. The first words I heard him say were:
'O people! Spread peace...Share food...Pray during the night while
people (normally) sleep... and you will enter Paradise in peace...'
I looked at him closely. I scrutinized him and was convinced that his
face was not that of an imposter. I went closer to him and made the
declaration of faith that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad
is the Messenger of Allah.
The Prophet turned to me and asked: 'What is your name?' 'Al-Husayn
ibn Sailam,' I replied.
'Instead, it is (now) Abdullah ibnSallam,' he said (giving me a new
name). 'Yes,' I agreed. 'Abdullah ibn Sailam (it shall be).By Him who
has sent you with the Truth, I do not wish to have another name after
this day.'
I returned home and introduced Islam to my wife, my children and the
rest of my household. They all accepted Islam includingmy aunt
KhaIidah who was thenan old lady. However, I advised them then to
conceal our acceptance of Islam from the Jews until I gave them
permission. They agreed.
Subsequently, I went back to theProphet, peace be on him, and said: 'O
Messenger of God! The Jews are a people (inclined to) slander and
falsehood. I want you to invite their most prominent men to meet you.
(During the meeting however), you should keep me concealed from them
in one of your rooms.Ask them then about my status among them before
they find out of my acceptance of Islam. Then invite them to Islam. If
they were to know that I have become a Muslim, they would denounce me
and accuse me of everything base and slander me.'
The Prophet kept me in one of his rooms and invited the prominent
Jewish personalities to visit him. He introduced Islamto them and
urged them to havefaith in God...They began to dispute and argue with
him about the Truth. When he realized that they were not inclined to
accept Islam, he put the question to them:
'What is the status of Al-Husayn ibn Sailam among you?'
'He is our sayyid (leader) and the son of our sayyid. He is our
rabbiand our alim (scholar), the son of our rabbi and alim.'
'If you come to know that he has accepted Islam, would you accept
Islam also?' asked the Prophet.
'God forbid! He would not acceptIslam. May God protect him
fromaccepting Islam,' they said (horrified).
At this point I came out in full view of them and announced: 'O
assembly of Jews! Be conscious of God and accept what Muhammad has
brought. By God, you certainly know that he is the Messenger of God
and you can find prophecies about him and mention of his name and
characteristics in your Torah. I for my part declare that he is
theMessenger of God. I have faith in him and believe that he is true.
I know him.'
'You are a liar,' they shouted. 'ByGod, you are evil and ignorant, the
son of an evil and ignorant person.' And they continued to heap every
conceivable abuse on
me..."
Abdullah ibn Sailam approached Islam with a soul thirsty for
knowledge. He was passionately devoted to the Quran and spent much
time reciting and studyingits beautiful and sublime verses. He was
deeply attached to the noble Prophet and was constantly in his
company.
Much of his time he spent in the masjid, engaged in worship, in
learning and in teaching. He wasknown for his sweet, moving and
effective way of teaching study circles of Sahabah who assembled
regularly in the Prophet's mosque.
Abdullah ibn Sallam was known among the Sahabah as a man from
ahl-al-Jannah "- the people of Paradise. This was because of his
determination on the advice of the Prophet to hold steadfastly to the
"most trustworthy handhold" that is belief in and total submission to
God.

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