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The Firsts

Yaqeen Institute

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. 

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  • 25 episodes
  • Avg 41 min
  • English
Counted on this page — what you have heard stays on this device, so it is not something the list can be paged by.
  • July 13 · 19 min

    Abu Mihjan (ra): The Sahabi With A Substance Use Disorder

    He was fierce on the battlefield, yet fighting a quieter battle within himself. Abu Mihjan (ra) had a weakness, but it never stopped his courage. He owned his struggle and still showed up for his community, time and again. What finally became his turning point?

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  • July 6 · 40 min

    Nu’ayman ibn Amr (ra): The Funniest Man in Medina

    One of the Prophet's ﷺ Companions was the kind of man who could walk into a room and have everyone laughing. Nu'ayman ibn Amr (ra) was a gem, beloved for the joy he carried wherever he went. He pulled pranks on the Prophet ﷺ himself, talked his way into mischief no one else would dare, and once sold a fellow Sahabi as a joke that people laughed about for a whole year. But behind the laughter, he was carrying something heavier. He struggled with alcohol addiction, and he kept falling back into it. What the Prophet ﷺ said when a Companion cursed him for it is not what you'd expect. Discover the story of the funniest Sahabi who ever lived, the struggle behind the jokes, and three lessons on how the Prophet ﷺ dealt with someone who kept falling.

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  • June 29 · 23 min

    Abu Lubabah (ra): A Rope Only the Prophet ﷺ Could Untie

    Abu Lubabah (ra) was a top chief and one of the very first to pledge allegiance to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. But when he made a devastating mistake, he didn't run, deny, or cover it up. He went straight to the Prophet ﷺ's masjid and did something extraordinary. Learn what his powerful story teaches us about true self-accountability, honesty, and the mercy of Allah. The verse that was revealed about him: “Some others have confessed their wrongdoing: they have mixed goodness with evil. It is right to hope that Allah will turn to them in mercy. Surely Allah is All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” (Qur’an, 9:102)

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  • June 22 · 46 min

    Hatib (ra): Leaking the Prophet’s ﷺ Plans to the Enemy

    One of the Prophet's ﷺ closest companions did something that looked like a complete betrayal. Hatib ibn Abi Balta’ah (ra) had been loyal for twenty years, through every hardship. Then he got caught doing the one thing no one expected. When he was brought in to answer for it, everyone assumed that was the end of him. But the Prophet's ﷺ response is not what you'd expect for what he did. Discover the story behind Hatib's alleged betrayal, how the Prophet ﷺ handled it, and three lessons we can learn from it.

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  • June 1 · 1 hr 6 min

    Mariya al-Qibtiyya (ra): Mother of the Prophet’s ﷺ Last Child

    Mariya al-Qibtiyya (ra), “the gift of Egypt,” embraced Islam and her life with the Prophet ﷺ wholeheartedly, even as slander and jealousy tested her. She delivered a baby boy, Ibrahim (ra), who wouldn’t live past being a toddler. Find out how the Prophet ﷺ reacted and remained steadfast in his belief in Allah even during this personal tragedy.

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  • May 4 · 11 min

    Salma (ra) and Ubaydullah (ra): A Legacy of Serving the Ahlul Bayt

    She was the midwife in the births of the Prophet ﷺ’s children and grandchildren. This was just one of the unique ways that Salma (ra), a freed-slave and the wife of Abu Rafi al-Qibti (ra), served the Prophet ﷺ’s family. And she raised her own son Ubaydullah ibn Abu Rafi (ra) to shine in Islamic history as a teacher of the Prophet ﷺ’s descendants.

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  • April 27 · 29 min

    Abu Rafi al-Qibti (ra): The Man Inside the Prophet’s ﷺ Home

    Meet Abu Rafi al-Qibti (ra), a little-known Coptic Christian from Egypt who embraced Islam and became part of the Prophet ﷺ’s family. How did this unfold? What was his role in the death of Abu Lahab and the birth of al-Hasan ibn Ali (ra)? What does his story teach us about how the Prophet ﷺ took and repaid loans? Learn about a companion who was so close to the Prophet ﷺ, part of the Ahl al-Bayt, and highly praised by the Companions.

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  • April 20 · 13 min

    Abu Muwayhiba (ra): What Happened on the Prophet’s ﷺ Final Night

    Little is recorded about Abu Muwayhiba (ra), a freed slave of the Prophet ﷺ. Yet in the final days of the Prophet's ﷺ life, it was Abu Muwayhiba who walked beside him through the darkness of night to a cemetery, and witnessed a moment no one else was given. What did the Prophet ﷺ confide in him? And what choice did he make that would change everything? Watch to discover the story of one of the most overlooked companions.

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  • April 13 · 35 min

    Thawban (ra): The One Called “An-Nabawi”

    He was anxious to see the Prophet ﷺ every day, and even more anxious to be with him in Jannah. And by serving the Prophet ﷺ and keenly learning from him, Thawban (ra) went from being a prisoner-of-war to a freed-slave and then to becoming one of the greatest teachers of hadith — including many hadith about the signs of the Day of Judgment — to the ummah.

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  • April 6 · 25 min

    Safina (ra): He Spoke To A Lion

    If you asked him his name, he would use the nickname the Prophet ﷺ had given him: a ship. He served the Prophet ﷺ in his expeditions, spoke to a lion, and narrated a hadith about the Khulafa al-Rashidin (Rightly-Guided Caliphs) at a critical moment in the ummah’s history. Dr. Omar Suleiman also reflects on the importance of Muslims using good names and nicknames.

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  • January 6 · 24 min

    Julaybib (ra): The Most Beautiful Story

    While others mocked Julaybib (ra) for his small stature, the Prophet ﷺ exalted him among society, even facilitating his marriage to a beautiful, wealthy woman. He was among those at Badr. Find out what the Prophet ﷺ said when he discovered his body after battle.

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  • Dec 29, 2025 · 17 min

    Zahir ibn Haram (ra): Low Self-Esteem Until He Met the Prophet ﷺ

    Zahir (ra) was a man who struggled with his appearance and low self-esteem — until the Prophet ﷺ uplifted his heart in a beautiful and unforgettable way. Through gifts, genuine respect, and a lighthearted joke, the Prophet ﷺ made Zahir ibn Haram al-Ashja’i (ra) feel valued when others overlooked him.

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  • Dec 22, 2025 · 25 min

    Umm Mahjan (ra): The Woman Who Cleaned the Masjid

    To some, she was just the masjid’s janitor. But to the Prophet ﷺ, she was more noble than many. Not much is known about the life of Umm Mahjan (ra). But what we do know is enough to emulate. When she died, the Prophet ﷺ immediately noticed her absence and gave her a special funeral. Learn what he ﷺ said at her gravesite.

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  • Dec 15, 2025 · 24 min

    Bishr ibn al-Baraa (ra): The Story of the Poisoning of the Prophet ﷺ

    Like his father, Al-Baraa ibn Ma'roor (ra), Bishr (ra) was an early Muslim and fierce defender of the faith. His story is forever marked by an incredible act of sacrifice. When poisoned food was served to the Prophet ﷺ, Bishr (ra) began eating alongside him. He died as a result, becoming a martyr who showed ultimate devotion. Discover even more about Bishr (ra), including some of the verses of the Qur’an that are connected to him.

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  • Dec 8, 2025 · 26 min

    Al-Baraa ibn Ma'roor (ra): He Made Two Good Mistakes

    Long before the qiblah was officially changed, Al-Baraa ibn Ma'roor (ra) chose to pray facing the Ka’bah. What motivated this decision? Known for his unwavering piety and eagerness to do good without being asked, Al-Baraa ibn Ma'roor (ra) was a devoted companion and an early supporter of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and his call to Islam. His sincerity, foresight, and deep self-reflection made him stand out. He passed away before the Prophet ﷺ’s hijrah to Medina — learn what the Prophet ﷺ did upon visiting his grave.

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  • Dec 2, 2025 · 1 hr 7 min

    Al-Baraa ibn Aazib (ra): He Described the Grave in Detail

    He was only ten when the Prophet ﷺ entered Madinah, a day Al-Baraa ibn Aazib (ra) would never forget. He described the Prophet ﷺ’s face as being “like the light of the full moon”, his character as the example for all, and his life as a model of devotion. From learning the Prophet ﷺ’s sunnahs of compassion to standing beside him in the battles of Khandaq and Hunayn, Al-Baraa (ra) witnessed beauty, bravery, and miracles, including the overflowing well of Hudaybiyyah. Years later, he narrated the hadith of the grave, preserving the Prophet ﷺ’s words about the soul’s journey after death.

  • Nov 27, 2025 · 31 min

    Umayr ibn Sa’d (ra): First in Salah and Battle

    He was just a boy — yet Allah revealed a verse of the Qur’an verse to defend him. This is the story of Umayr ibn Sa‘d (ra), who chose truth over family when his guardian uttered words of disbelief. Surah al-Tawbah (9:74) confirmed his honesty: “They swear by Allah they did not say it… but they did say a word of disbelief.” Praised by Umar (ra) as “one of a kind”, Umayr (ra) grew into a man of justice, humility, and integrity, reminding the Muslims that the wall of Islam is justice and its gate is truth.

  • Nov 25, 2025 · 57 min

    Zayd ibn Al-Arqam (ra): Exposer of Hypocrites

    Zayd ibn al-Arqam (ra) — the companion whose truth was confirmed by revelation. Raised by the poet-warrior Abdullah ibn Rawaha (ra), he grew up among the earliest Ansar, too young to fight at Badr and Uhud but chosen to guard Madinah. His courage exposed the hypocrisy of Abdullah ibn Ubayy ibn Salul — a moment so powerful that Surah al-Munafiqun was revealed to confirm his words. From patience through blindness to the miracle of his sight restored, Zayd’s life embodies sincerity, steadfastness, and divine honor. He went on to narrate many core hadiths about prayer, du‘a, and purity — teachings we practice every day.

  • Nov 25, 2025 · 16 min

    Fatima bint Qays (ra): She Preserved Hadiths About Dajjal and Divorce

    A woman of elite status, beauty, and intellect. The home of Fatima bint Qays (ra) became the setting for one of the most pivotal moments in Islamic history. It was in her house that six companions of the Prophet ﷺ gathered to decide who would become the third khalifah after Umar (ra) was assassinated. Discover the story of Fatima bint Qays (ra), her narrations about Dajjal, her marriage to Usama ibn Zayd (ra), and a life that is a testament to what it means to be well-respected by the most respected in the ummah.

  • Oct 27, 2025 · 1 hr 22 min

    Usama ibn Zayd (ra): The Prophet ﷺ’s Chosen Grandson

    At birth, his name was Usama ibn Zayd ibn Muhammad – but he wasn’t the Prophet ﷺ’s biological grandson. He (ra) was born into the house of the Prophet ﷺ, who showered him with love from the day of his birth. This deep love helped shape Usama (ra) into a man of outstanding character. He would go on to lead several important military expeditions before his death in Madinah.

Showing 1–20 of 25 episodes