The Scholar of The Jews, `Abdullah bin Salaam, Embraces Islam – Authentic Seerah

The Scholar of The Jews, `Abdullah bin Salaam, Embraces Islam

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‘Abdullah bin Salaam (رضي الله عنه) said:

“When the Prophet (ﷺ) came to Al-Madinah, the people rushed to meet him, and it was said: ‘The Messenger of Allah has come! The Messenger of Allah has come! The Messenger of Allah has come!’ Three times.

I came with the people to see him, and when I saw his face clearly, I knew that his face was not the face of a liar. The first thing I heard him say was when he said: ‘O people! Spread (the greeting of) Salam, feed others, uphold the ties of kinship, and pray during the night when people are sleeping, and you will enter Paradise with Salam (Peace and security).’” [128]

Narrated Anas (رضي الله عنه):

Abdullah bin Salaam heard the news of the arrival of Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) (at Madinah) while he was on a farm collecting its fruits. So he came to the Prophet (ﷺ) and said, “I will ask you about three things which nobody knows unless he be a Prophet.

Firstly, what is the first portent of the Hour? What is the first meal of the people of Paradise? And what makes a baby look like its father or mother?.

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “Just now Jibreel has informed me about that.” Abdullah said, “Jibreel?” The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “Yes.” Abdullah said, “He, among the angels is the enemy of the Jews.” On that the Prophet (ﷺ) recited this Verse: “Whoever is an enemy to Jibreel (let him die in his fury!) for he has brought it (i.e. Qur’an) down to your heart by Allah’s permission.” [Quran 2:97]

Then he added, “As for the first portent of the Hour, it will be a fire that will collect the people from the East to West. And as for the first meal of the people of Paradise, it will be the caudate (i.e. extra) lobe of the fish liver. And if a man’s discharge preceded that of the woman, then the child resembles the father, and if the woman’s discharge preceded that of the man, then the child resembles the mother.”

On hearing that, Abdullah said, “I testify that None has the right to be worshipped but Allah, and that you are the Messenger of Allah, O, Allah’s Messenger; the Jews are liars, and if they should come to know that I have embraced Islam, they would accuse me of being a liar.” In the meantime some Jews came (to the Prophet) and he asked them, “What is ‘Abdullah’s status amongst you?” They replied, “He is the best amongst us, and he is our chief and the son of our chief.”

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “What would you think if Abdullah bin Salaam embraced Islam?” They replied, “May Allah protect him from this!” Then Abdullah came out and said, “I testify that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.” The Jews then said, “Abdullah is the worst of us and the son of the worst of us,” and disparaged him. On that Abdullah said, “O Allah’s Messenger! This is what I was afraid of!”. [129]

Footnotes:

[128] Sunan Ibn Majah Vol. 4, Book 29, Hadith 3251. Shaikh Al-Albani said: (This narration is) Sahih according to the condition of the two Shaikhs (Imam Al-Bukhari and Imam Muslim) in Silsilatul Ahadith As-Sahihah (2/113). Also in- Jaami’ At-Tirmidhi- Vol. 4, Book 11, Hadith 2485.

[129] Sahih Al-Bukhari 4480.

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Excerpt taken from the Book ‘The Biography of Prophet Mohammad (ﷺ)’ Vol 2 by Mohammad Thajammul Hussain Manna