Acceptance of Islam & Persecution
Hazrat Ammar bin Yasir (ra) states, “I met Suhaib (ra) at the door of Dar-e-Arqam. The Holy Prophet (sa) was also present there. I asked Suhaib (ra), ‘What is your intention?’ Suhaib (ra) asked me, ‘What is your intention?’ I replied, ‘I want to go to Muhammad (sa) and listen to his words.’ Hazrat Suhaib (ra) said, ‘This is also my intention.’” Hazrat ‘Ammar (ra) states, “Both of us then went to the Holy Prophet (sa) and he preached the message of Islam to us. So, we both accepted Islam. We spent the entire day there until the evening. Then, we left in secret.”
Hazrat Ammar (ra) and Hazrat Suhaib (ra) accepted Islam after more than 30 people had accepted Islam.
(al-Tabaqaat-ul-Kubra li ibn Sa‘d, Vol. 3, p. 171, Suhaib bin Sinaan, Dar-ul-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 2017)
Hazrat Anas (ra) narrates that the Holy Prophet (sa) stated:
“Four people have excelled others in accepting Islam. I [i.e. the Holy Prophet (sa)] am first to accept amongst the Arabs. Suhaib (ra) is the first to accept amongst the Roman people. Salman (ra) is the first to accept from amongst the people of Persia. Bilal is the first to accept amongst the people of Abyssinia.”
(Usdul Ghabah, Vol. 3, p. 39, Suhaib bin Sinaan, Dar-ul-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 2016)
Hazrat Abdullah (ra) bin Mas‘ud relates:
“The first seven individuals who professed to be Muslims were: the Holy Prophet (sa) to whom the law was revealed, Abu Bakr (ra), Ammar (ra) and his mother Sumayyah (ra), Suhaib (ra), Bilal (ra) and Miqdad (ra). The Holy Prophet (sa) was protected through his paternal uncle, Abu Talib and Allah the Almighty protected Abu Bakr (ra) through his tribe”…
It is further narrated:
“Hazrat Suhaib (ra) was among those believers, who were considered to be weak and was tortured in Mecca because of his belief. These believers also had to go through many hardships. According to one narration, Hazrat Ammar bin Yasir (ra) would be tortured to such an extent that he would have no recollection of what was happening. The same was the case with Hazrat Suhaib (ra), Hazrat Abu Fa‘id (ra), Hazrat Aamir (ra) bin Fuhaira and other companions. The following verse was revealed in relation to these companions:
ثُمَّ اِنَّ رَبَّکَ لِلَّذِیْنَ ہَاجَرُوْا مِنْ بَعْدِ مَا فُتِنُوْا ثُمَّ جٰہَدُوْا وَصَبَرُوْا اِنَّ رَبَّکَ مِنْ بَعْدِہَا لَغَفُوْرٌ رَّحِیْمٌ
‘Then, surely, thy Lord – to those who fled their homes after they had been persecuted and then struggled hard in the cause of Allah and remained steadfast – aye, surely, after that thy Lord is Most Forgiving, Merciful.’ [Surah al-Nahl, Ch.16: V.111]”
(al-Isabah Fi Tamyeez al-Sahabah, Vol. 3, p. 34, Suhaib bin Sinaan, Dar-ul-Fikr, Beirut, 2001)