The Firsts
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.
- Update frequency
- every 6 days
- Average duration
- 48 minutes
- Episodes
- 163
- Years Active
- 2020 - 2025
Abdullah Ibn Masood (ra): A Mighty Legacy of Qur’an
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 p…
Saad Ibn Abi Waqqas (ra): His Prayers Always Answered
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 hi…
Uthman Ibn Affan (ra) - Part 2: Selfless Even When Slandered
Uthman (ra) had many qualities that set him apart, and those qualities shined brightest when he was slandered and under siege.
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Uthman Ibn Affan (ra): The Possessor of Two Lights
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.
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Zaynab Bint Muhammad (saw): The First Daughter (ra)
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.
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Lubaba Bint Al-Harith: The First Woman After Khadijah (ra)
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 g…
Al-Arqam Ibn Abil Arqam: The House of Islam
A young man from a powerful tribe who used his influence and home to help build the world’s greatest movement of Al-Islam.
Suhaib Al Rumi (ra): From Persia, to Rome, to Paradise
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 …
Bilal Ibn Rabah (ra): The Voice of Certainty
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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Khabbab Ibn Al Aratt (ra) - Under Burning Hot Coals
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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Sumayyah (ra): The First Martyr
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 Al Haritha (ra): Loved and Liberated
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 Za…
Abu Bakr (ra) - Part 3: There Will Never Be Another One
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 …
Abu Bakr (ra) - Part 2: Setting His Own Standards
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 Th…
Abu Bakr (ra) - Part 1: Second to None in the Pursuit of God
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. O…
From Love to the Pain of Death
“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 Fatim…
The Beautiful Marriage of Ali (ra) and Fatima (ra)
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 ca…
Ali ibn Abi Talib (ra): Courageous & Steadfast
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 Fir…
Umm Ayman (ra): The Woman Who Never Stopped Caring
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 …
Khadijah (ra): His First Love, Our First Mother
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 descri…