The Firsts with Dr. Omar Suleiman

What pushed Suhaib the Roman to travel the world, and what was he willing to sacrifice once he realized there was more to this life than trade and adventure? Suhaib al Rumi was the last of the first seven to publicize his Islam and one of the first to be promised Paradise.

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Whether he was under a stone in the hot desert, or on top of the Kaaba, no man called out more truthfully “One God” and ascended in rank like Bilal.

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The first to be tortured for the sake of Allah, and the first to make his Islam public according to some accounts. An inspiring story often lost in the midst of his peers.

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A woman who believed in the promise of Allah, persevered through the worst of torture for Allah, and received the ultimate reward of Paradise from Allah. 

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Zayd Ibn Haritha’s nickname was “the beloved of the beloved ﷺ”. The character of the Prophet ﷺ is exhibited in relationships he had with people before Islam was revealed, and his relationship with Zayd is one of them. 

Zayd was the first freed slave to become a Muslim. His life and the choices he made exemplify what it means to love the Prophet ﷺ.

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This episode was first recorded on Mar. 11, 2020 and is being re-released in audio format.

Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was keen to remember and honor “the firsts” for their support, suffering, and sincerity. Abu Bakr’s (ra) honor surpassed everyone’s, including that of Umar ibn al Khattab (ra). 

He surpassed everyone by a distance that no one could ever catch up to. His status is sanctified as the first after the prophets. Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said the sun has never risen or set on anyone, after the prophets, that is better than Abu Bakr, and that he will be the first to enter Paradise in his nation.

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This episode was first recorded on Feb. 28, 2020 and is being re-released in audio format.

Abu Bakr’s (ra) character is best described by the words of Ali (ra), “he is the first to every good”. Abu Bakr (ra) was the ultimate trendsetter, the fastest to do the good deed. 

In Episode 10 of The Firsts, Sh. Omar Suleiman continues to talk about Abu Bakr (ra) and his elevation in the pursuit of good. The standards that he set and the inspiration that he had to achieve the good deed can motivate us to set our own goals and place higher standards on ourselves and our actions.

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This episode was first recorded on Feb. 12, 2020 and is being re-released in audio format.

Abu Bakr al-Siddiq (ra) was the ultimate “first”: quick to believe, quick to do good, never hesitant to follow the Prophet ﷺ, and had a natural instinct toward good. 

In Episode 9 of The Firsts, Sh. Omar Suleiman describes the noble character of Abu Bakr (ra), his friendship with the Prophet ﷺ, and his unmatched legacy.

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This episode was first recorded on Feb. 13, 2020 and is being re-released in audio format.

“Many came to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, asking whom he loved the most, including Ali (ra) and Fatima (ra). He had the most eloquent answer, while maintaining his character of honesty. Even though Fatima was very dear to him and his heart was very attached to her, he didn’t want to answer in a way that would hurt Ali, whom he loved as his own son. He looked at Ali and said, ‘She is more beloved to me than you, but you are more precious to me than her’, making them both very happy. ” 

In episode 8 of The Firsts, Sh. Omar Suleiman continues to talk about the love between Ali and Fatima and the love they had with Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to the pain that was felt after the passing of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and the passing of Fatima (ra).

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This episode was first recorded on Jan. 30, 2020 and is being re-released in audio format.

Both Ali and Fatima were raised by the beloved Prophet ﷺ and had a special place in his heart. They were married by the Prophet ﷺ then counseled by him. Through their blessed marriage, a community came together and a community remains inspired. They faced obstacles that we all face in our marriage but by the guidance of Allah, the advice of the Prophet ﷺ, and the faith in their hearts, they were able to pull through and leave behind one of the greatest examples of a marriage ever to exist. And in studying this blessed family, we get to see our Prophet ﷺ in a new light: as a loving father, grandfather, and father in law.

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This episode was first recorded on Jan. 23, 2020 and is being re-released in audio format.