Podcasts · Religion & Spirituality · History

The Firsts with Dr. Omar Suleiman

Yaqeen Institute

185 episodes · in order

The Firsts: The Forerunners of Islam is the series that visits trailblazers of the ummah. Those that rise to the occasion, and inspire a generation. Host Sh. Dr. Omar Suleiman dives into the stories of the giants who were the first of their kind in this world, and distinguished in the next. Listen in to revive the personalities buried in history.Let’s meet the Firsts. This series is brought to you by Yaqeen Institute for Islamic Research. We aim to make academic and Islamically-credible scholarship mainstream through accessible resources such as infographics, animations, podcasts, learning materials, and more. Visit www.yaqeeninstitute.org or download the Yaqeen app from the app store to continue dismantling doubts, nurturing conviction, and inspiring contribution, one truth at a time.

Episodes page 1 of 4

  1. Trendsetters, Revivers, and Strangers

    · 42 min · Episode 1

    Who are The Firsts? To kick off the lecture series, Shaykh Dr. Omar Suleiman describes the 5 categories of firsts in the Qur’an and Sunnah. Sign up here to get notes sent straight to your inbox. This episode was first…

  2. Zaid Ibn Amr (ra): A One Man Ummah

    · 42 min · Episode 2

    Zaid Ibn Amr Ibn Nufaid (ra) is an absolutely remarkable figure in the history of Islam and has a story unlike any other from the companions of the Prophet ﷺ. Aside from being a monotheist before the coming of Islam,…

  3. Waraqa Ibn Nawfal (ra): The First to Confirm Prophethood

    · 48 min · Episode 3

    We find Waraqa in the seerah and at the very beginning of Sahih Bukhari, but with little beyond his death – making the rest of his life a mystery. Who was he before that? What is his story? What is his status? Sh. Omar…

  4. Khadijah (ra): His First Love, Our First Mother

    · 1 h 21 min · Episode 4

    In episode 4 of the Firsts, dive into the many “firsts” accomplished by the best woman of her time, Kadijah bint Khuwaylid (ra), the Prophet Muhammad’s ﷺ first love and wife. Sh. Omar Suleiman describes the…

  5. Umm Ayman (ra): The Woman Who Never Stopped Caring

    · 40 min · Episode 5

    In episode 5 of the Firsts, Sh. Omar Suleiman introduces us to Barakah Bint Thalaba, or Umm Ayman, the woman who never stopped caring. Umm Ayman was a second mother to the Prophet ﷺ after his mother passed. Not only is…

  6. Ali ibn Abi Talib (ra): Courageous & Steadfast

    · 52 min · Episode 6

    Prophet Muhammad’s ﷺ love for Ali was immense. It is narrated that the Prophet ﷺ asked Allah to show love to those who love Ali and to show hate to those who hate Ali. Tune in to episode 6 of The Firsts as Sh. Omar…

  7. The Beautiful Marriage of Ali (ra) and Fatima (ra)

    · 58 min · Episode 7

    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…

  8. From Love to the Pain of Death

    · 1 h 01 min · Episode 8

    “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…

  9. Abu Bakr (ra) - Part 1: Second to None in the Pursuit of God

    · 54 min · Episode 9

    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…

  10. Abu Bakr (ra) - Part 2: Setting His Own Standards

    · 1 h 00 min · Episode 10

    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…

  11. Abu Bakr (ra) - Part 3: There Will Never Be Another One

    · 1 h 01 min · Episode 11

    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…

  12. Zayd Ibn Al Haritha (ra): Loved and Liberated

    · 50 min · Episode 12

    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.…

  13. Sumayyah (ra): The First Martyr

    · 39 min · Episode 13

    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. Sign up here to get notes sent straight to your inbox.

  14. Khabbab Ibn Al Aratt (ra) - Under Burning Hot Coals

    · 44 min · Episode 14

    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. Sign up here to get notes sent straight to…

  15. Bilal Ibn Rabah (ra): The Voice of Certainty

    · 59 min · Episode 15

    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. Sign up here to get notes sent straight to your inbox.

  16. Suhaib Al Rumi (ra): From Persia, to Rome, to Paradise

    · 44 min · Episode 16

    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…

  17. Al-Arqam Ibn Abil Arqam: The House of Islam

    · 22 min · Episode 17

    A young man from a powerful tribe who used his influence and home to help build the world’s greatest movement of Al-Islam.

  18. Lubaba Bint Al-Harith: The First Woman After Khadijah (ra)

    · 48 min · Episode 18

    There is possibly no woman or man through whom the Seerah flows like Lubaba. She is a part of everyone’s story, but her own story deserves its own reverence. The first woman after Khadijah, and the great Aunt of the…

  19. Zaynab Bint Muhammad (saw): The First Daughter (ra)

    · 36 min · Episode 19

    The first daughter of the Prophet (saw) and Khadijah (ra), Zaynab (ra) would spend almost 2 decades in a marriage of constant limbo because she chose to believe. Sign up here to get notes sent straight to your inbox.

  20. Uthman Ibn Affan (ra): The Possessor of Two Lights

    · 50 min · Episode 20

    He is the man who was so loved by the people that mothers sang lullabies to their children about him, and so loved by the Prophet (saw) that he would marry two of his daughters. Sign up here to get notes sent straight…

  21. Uthman Ibn Affan (ra) - Part 2: Selfless Even When Slandered

    · 43 min · Episode 21

    Uthman (ra) had many qualities that set him apart, and those qualities shined brightest when he was slandered and under siege. Sign up here to get notes sent straight to your inbox.

  22. Saad Ibn Abi Waqqas (ra): His Prayers Always Answered

    · 43 min · Episode 22

    Saad (ra) was just a teenager when he saw a moon in his dream that brought him to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. He endured a painful oath from his mother, who swore to starve herself in order to deter him from becoming a…

  23. Abdullah Ibn Masood (ra): A Mighty Legacy of Qur’an

    · 55 min · Episode 23

    Although he was the most at risk, Abdullah Ibn Masood (ra) was the first to recite the Qur’an publicly. The Prophet ﷺ told him, "You are a wise young man" upon their first encounter. He was the 6th person to embrace…

  24. Abu Dharr Al Ghifari (ra): Living and Dying Alone

    · 49 min · Episode 24

    Abu Dharr Al Ghifari (ra) was an ascetic that would always live as a stranger. He was the first to use the greeting of asalaamu alaikum and the most truthful of earth’s inhabitants. Sign up here to get notes sent…

  25. Saeed Ibn Zaid (ra): An Answer to His Father's Prayer

    · 40 min · Episode 25

    Saaed (ra) and his wife Fatima (ra) embraced Islam early on and were instrumental in the eventual conversion of Omar Ibn Al-Khattab (ra). Saeed (ra) lived a life of anonymity despite being amongst the 10 most prominent…

  26. Jafar Ibn Abi Talib (ra): Flying In Paradise

    · 58 min · Episode 26

    Before he earned his wings in Paradise, Jafar Ibn Abi Talib (ra) earned a special place in the heart of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. He went down in history as the eloquent young man who brought an Abyssinian king to Islam.…

  27. Najashi - Ashama Ibn Abjar (ra): The Righteous King

    · 53 min · Episode 27

    The Najashi of Abyssinia (Modern Day Ethopia) gave shelter to the Muslims when no one would, and eventually became a Muslim himself. But did you know that his uncle and brothers once sold him into slavery and that his…

  28. Umm Salama (ra): A Separated Family (Part 1)

    · 45 min · Episode 28

    This is the story of the family of Umm Salama (ra). A blessed family that was the first to make 3 Hijrahs, yet was painfully separated more than once. Sign up here to get notes sent straight to your inbox.

  29. Umm Salama (ra): A Legacy of Wisdom (Part 2)

    · 39 min · Episode 29

    She was most elegant and wise, and left behind her legacy through her support of the Prophet ﷺ, her students, her children, and the likes of Imam Hassan Al Basri who were brought up in her home. Sign up here to get…

  30. Umm Habiba (ra) - Part 1: A Dream Come True

    · 43 min · Episode 30

    Umm Habiba (ra) embraced Islam despite her father being a chief antagonist and migrated to Abyssinia where she would be widowed. She would then await some sort of sign of what was to come. That sign came through a…

  31. Umm Habiba (ra) – Part 2: Royalty Redefined

    · 41 min · Episode 31

    Umm Habiba (ra) never defined herself by who her father or tribe were. Instead, she always remained grateful for what Allah had given her through her husband. Sign up here to get notes sent straight to your inbox.

  32. Saffiyah Bint Abdul Mutallib (ra) : A Warrior Aunt

    · 35 min · Episode 32

    Saffiyah Bint Abdul Mutallib (ra) raised a lion in her son Zubayr. She was the closest sibling to another lion: her brother Hamza Ibn Abdul Mutallib (ra). To understand what came out of her home, it is crucial to…

  33. Zubayr Ibn Awwam (ra): The Disciple

    · 1 h 01 min · Episode 33

    While there were many honors bestowed upon the companions of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ that were shared and unique, the son of Saffiyah was the only one named as the Prophet’s disciple. He answered every call of the Prophet…

  34. Asma Bint Abi Bakr (ra) : The Possessor of Two Waist Belts

    · 40 min · Episode 34

    Check out our new show "DoubleTake with Yaqeen Institute" - Listen and Subscribe here! ------------ She was nicknamed the possessor of two waist belts by the Prophet ﷺ himself but was the possessor of many qualities.…

  35. Talha Ibn Ubaydillah (ra): The Living Martyr

    · 46 min · Episode 35

    He was distinguished with many traits, but particularly for standing by the Prophet ﷺ on the day of Uhud. It was to the extent that this day is called the day of Talha.

  36. Abu Hudhaifa Ibn Utbah (ra): Seeking Another Status

    · 34 min · Episode 36

    He could have been the next leader of Quraysh, but he knew he wanted something greater early on in Islam.

  37. Saalim Mawla Abu Hudhaifa (ra) : The Imam of the People of Quran

    · 23 min · Episode 37

    He was a Persian slave of unknown status before Islam, but rose to the highest rank amongst the companions due to his love for the Quran.

  38. Sawda Bint Zama’a (ra): The Prophet’s Joy

    · 44 min · Episode 38

    After the grief of losing Khadijah (ra), Sawada Bint Zama’a (ra) brought joy and comfort to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ with her unique spirit of generosity and selflessness.

  39. Abu Ubaydah Ibn Al Jarrah (ra): The Trustworthy One

    · 53 min · Episode 39

    Greet your Ramadan with Sadaqah! Schedule your donation to automatically process on the first of Ramadan. Listen as Dr. Omar Suleiman explores the life of Abu Ubaydah Ibn Al Jarrah (ra), the one who was always serving…

  40. Abdurrahman Ibn Awf (ra): A Generous Soul

    · 50 min · Episode 40

    Greet your Ramadan with Sadaqah! Schedule your donation to automatically process on the first of Ramadan. Abdurrahman Ibn Awf (ra) was known for his generosity and never missed a moment to earn and spend in pursuit of…

  41. Hamza Ibn Abdulmuttalib (ra): The Lion of Allah

    · 1 h 13 min · Episode 41

    Hamza Ibn Abdulmuttalib (r) was more than an uncle to the Prophet ﷺ. His life and death are forever ingrained in our hearts and history.

  42. Miqdad Ibn Aswad (ra) : Better Than A Thousand Men

    · 52 min · Episode 42

    Miqdad (ra) was one of the earliest Muslims and had a larger than life personality. He was known for his leadership and laughter, and left behind an example like no other.

  43. Khawla Bint Hakim (ra) & Uthman Ibn Madhun (ra) : The Righteous Couple

    · 49 min · Episode 43

    Khawla Bint Hakim (ra) and Uthman Ibn Madhun (ra) were one of the earliest couples in Islam that played massive role in the family and community life of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.

  44. Omar Ibn Al Khattab (ra) - The Convert Who Changed The World

    · 1 h 22 min · Episode 44

    The most consequential conversion in the history of Islam is undoubtedly that of Omar Ibn Al Khattab (ra). His quest for the truth, and willingness to do anything for it, earned him the title of "Al-Farooq" by the…

  45. Omar Ibn Al Khattab (ra): 10 Unique Virtues

    · 1 h 22 min · Episode 45

    He was divinely inspired and guided, and possessed virtues that set him apart in every way. Here are 10 of those virtues we can take guidance from.

  46. Omar Ibn Al Khattab (ra): The Opening of Jerusalem

    · 1 h 11 min · Episode 46

    The momentous occasion of the first conquest of Jerusalem was one in which the ethics of Omar Ibn Al Khattab (ra) shined bright for all that would come after him.

  47. Omar Ibn Al Khattab (ra): His Leadership, His Legacy, His Death

    · 1 h 28 min · Episode 47

    He was the shepherd of the Ummah, and continued to teach even in the way that he died. His life, death, and legacy will forever be a source of inspiration to us on how to lead our lives and our communities in ways that…

  48. Abu Jandal, Abdullah, & Suhayl Ibn Amr (ra) : Switching Sides

    · 1 h 12 min · Episode 48

    The story of Abu Jandal, Abdullah, and Suhayl Ibn Amr is one of the most unique stories in the Seerah with multiple twists in the lives of every member of the family all ending with the pleasure of Allah.

  49. Abdullah Ibn Umm Maktum (ra): After Abasa

    · 49 min · Episode 49

    Abdullah Ibn Umm Maktum is a remarkable companion on whose behalf Allah spoke. His eyes could not see, but his heart was always beating with faith.

  50. Musab Ibn Umair (ra): The Man Who Gave It All

    · 1 h 18 min · Episode 50

    When Musab embraced Islam, he lost everything he had of this world. And long after he lost his life for that same cause, the companions themselves would regularly be brought to tears remembering his sacrifices.

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