Mafi mashahuri ma'anar ma'anar aboki na Annabi Muhammadu shine mutumin da ya sadu da Annabi, yayi imani da shi kuma ya mutu yana musulmi. Fassarar da kalmar larabci shine sahabi, haka sahabbai (jam’i) suka zama sahaba. Kamar yadda yake da duk kalmomin larabci akwai inuwa da matakai masu ma’ana. Tushen kalmar shine sa-hi-ba kuma yana nufin kusanci ta jiki ko zama tare, saboda haka ana daukar sahabi gaba daya wani ya kasance yana kusanci da Annabi Muhammadu; wani wanda ya kwashe lokaci mai yawa a kamfaninsa ko kuma kasancewarsa. Sahabbai, maza, mata da yara suna ƙaunar Annabi Muhammad ƙaunataccen kuma kowane ɗayansu zai ba da rayukansu a cikin tsaro ko kuma ya tsare addinin da ya fito.

Allah da Annabi Muhammadu sun rama sahabbai soyayya da takawa.

"... Allah ya yarda da su kamar yadda suke yarda da Shi. Ya yi musu tattalin gidjen Aljanna, ƙoramu na gudãna daga ƙarƙashinsu, sunã madawwama a cikinsu." (Alkurani 9: 100)

Annabi Muhammad, Allah ya kara tabbata a gare shi, yace, "Mafi alherin al'ummata shine al'ummata sannan wadanda suka biyo bayansu sannan kuma wadanda suka biyo bayansu" [1]

Ana ɗaukar sahabbai a matsayin mafi kyawun al'umman musulinci, duka biyu kuma a yanzu. Mun koya game da kyawawan dabi'un su da halayen su, muna karanta labaransu da kuma mamakin yadda suka amfana; Muna jin daɗin kishin addininsu da duƙufarsu ga Allah da ManzonSa. Koyaya, yawancin lokaci muna rashin cikakkiyar fahimtar rayuwarsu. Su waye ne waɗannan maza, mata da yara? Yaya rayuwarsu take kafin zuwan Islama? Waɗanne irin mutane ne kafin su zaɓi ƙauna da bin Annabi Muhammad? Kuma ban da wannan abin da ke game da Annabi Muhammad ne ya samar da wannan cikakkiyar ibada? 

The people who lived in the society from which the Prophet came from were from different walks of life, exactly as you would find in a small town today.  Some were rich while others were poor, some where kind while others were cruel. Some were honest while others were not. The Companions of the Prophet, may Allah praise him, were indeed the best of all people. Ibn Masood, one of the Companions, said: "Indeed Allah, the Exalted, chose Muhammad as His Prophet, for he was the most pious of His slaves, and Allah sent him with the Message. Allah then chose the Companions of the Prophet to be with the Prophet as they were the best of all people after him."

In pre-Islamic Arabia there was no system of government thus there was no law and order.  If crimes were committed the injured party took justice into his own hands.  A person felt secure only amongst his own tribe and it seems that the peninsula was in a constant state of warfare.  Disputes were settled in battles and old and gallant codes and honour systems were recognised and used.  Caravan trade was an important fixture in Arabia and fortunes were won and lost via the trading of things as diverse as camels, raisins and silver bars.

Islam was able to take the very best of Arabian society and use it.  Their innate traits of valor, strength and fierceness were harnessed and tamed by Islam.  A connection to God changed the lives of the companions of Prophet Muhammad.    Islam took an undisciplined people and used them to establish a system of rule unlike any other known to humankind.  Love for Prophet Muhammad changed lives then, just as it does now.  Let us take a look at some of the changes to the lives of the companions and we will see that this, the first generation of Muslims was very similar to the people converting to Islam now, in the 21st century. 

Hamzah lbn Abdul Muttalib, the Prophet’s paternal uncle was of a similar age to Muhammad, they played together as children.  However as they grew older they parted ways.  Hamzah preferred a life of leisure trying to secure a place amongst the leaders of Makkah while Muhammad chose a life of contemplation.  Hamzah enjoyed his life; he was strong and well respected.   He seemed to be on a path of leadership but soon all his acquaintances were talking about Muhammad and how he was destroying the lifestyle they had come to enjoy.  Hamzah found himself having to make a decision when one day he learned that Muhammad had been insulted by the men Hamzah had been friends with in his quest for the good life.  He chose Muhammad and converted to Islam and in doing so turned his back on a life of luxury and indolence.  Hamzah knew Muhammad well, loved him like a brother and found that his decision was not a hard one to make.

Omar Ibn Al Khattab’s path to Islam began with a vehement hatred of Muhammad but that hatred soon turned into a fierce love.  When Muhammad’s teachings became a problem for the men of Makkah, Omar pronounced his hatred for Islam openly and took part in the abuse and torture of many of the weaker converts to Islam.   His hatred of Islam and the way it was able to change lives was so strong that he volunteered to kill Prophet Muhammad.   On taking the decision and without a second’s hesitation, he strode down the streets of Makkah intent on drawing his sword and ending the life of the Prophet of God.  Omar was a man of strength, he was feared and admired for his boldness but he too was overcome by the sublime beauty of the Quran and his recognition of the innate goodness and justice of the man Muhammad.

The Makkan leader known as ‘Abu Jahal’ (i.e. father of ignorance) was actually named Amr ibn Hisham and he was commonly known as ‘Abu Hakam’ (Father of Wisdom).  His relentless hostility and belligerence towards Islam however, earned him the name Abu Jahal among the Muslims.  He was a staunch polytheist and hated Prophet Muhammad.  He took every opportunity to curse and humiliate him.  If he discovered a convert he would reprimand and humiliate him.  If he discovered a trader had converted to Islam he would give orders that no one trade with him thereby ruining his livelihood and causing him to become impoverished.  Abu Jahal perished in the first battle fought against the Makkans, the Battle of Badr.  His son Ikrimah however, became one of the important military and civil leaders of the Islamic nation.  After years of hatred towards Islam he embraced the new faith when he observed Prophet Muhammad’s justice towards the people of Makkah.  When Makkah was conquered Prophet Muhammad could easily have put his most hated enemies to death however his sense of righteousness caused him to bestow a general pardon and amnesty. 

These three men were very strong in both character and physicality.  They were not easily dominated in fact they were usually the ones with the upper hand.  They made quick and firm decisions to embrace Islam and follow Prophet Muhammad.  In the next article we will look at the qualities and character traits of Prophet Muhammad and ask what was it that made people endure torture and trials in order to support their new religion and follow their Prophet. 

Arabia was a violent male dominated society.  The strong succeeded while the weak perished.  Women were less than chattels and baby daughters were buried alive with less care then we bury our pets today.  These were the conditions under which the men, women and children who became the companions of Prophet Muhammad lived.  It was into this lawless society that God intervened and gave the world the man known as, "a mercy to humankind".  This was a man who valued life, honesty and generosity.  The people admired him for his trustworthiness even before the revelation of Islam.  He was charismatic and accessible to all; men, women and children alike. 

"And We have not sent you, [O Muhammad], except as a mercy to the worlds."  (Quran 21:107)

Muhammad was a selfless man who devoted the last 23 years of his life to teaching his companions and followers how to worship God and how to respect humanity.   He delivered a message imbued with the concepts of mercy, forgiveness and justice for all.  It was a very appealing message to the poor and down trodden, of which there were many but it was also appealing to the wealthy. 

Prophet Muhammad lived in a world where the strong dominated and the weak perished, however even before Islam he was a gentle hearted hospitable man whose admirable traits and qualities made people want to draw close to him.  He was a chaste and contemplative young man yet the wild and undisciplined youth liked to share his company.  He was what we would call today an all-round good guy; one who can be trusted and relied upon.  As he grew into adulthood Prophet Muhammad was known as a good friend and honest businessman.  Among the people of Makkah he was known as Al- Ameen – the trustworthy one.  They turned to him for judgement and consultation, and because of his honesty he was often asked to mediate disputes or hold items in trust. 

Mutanen da suka san Annabi Muhammad ne mafi ƙarancin wahalar amincewa da Annabcinsa ko saƙon ban mamaki da ya nemi yi wahayi zuwa ga mutane da. Sun kasance sane da halinsa, musamman rashin girman kansa da tausayinsa ga waɗanda ƙasa da saɓanin kansa. Daga Annabi Muhammadu farkon mabiyan sun kasance mutane da yawa matalauta, talauci da kuma m mutane. Sun tafi zuwa ga gefensa kuma suna ɗokin samun ta'aziya a cikin kalmominsa da ayyukansa. Da yawa suna jin cewa a ƙarshe suna da wani wanda ya fahimci bukatunsu na zahiri kuma ya kula da yanayin rayukansu. Abin baƙin cikin shine duk da haka waɗannan mutanen da aka fara ba'a, da farko azaba da azaba saboda sabon imaninsu. Sun kasance s without ba tare da goyon baya na kabilu da yawa sha wahala sosai saboda abin da aka makala ga Annabi Muhammad da yarda da sakon Musulunci.

In ji masanin tarihin Ibn Ishaq, wani bawan mai suna Bilal ya sha wahala matuka saboda yadda ya karbi sakon Annabi Muhammadu. An doke shi ba da jinƙai ba, an ja shi a kan tituna da duwatsun Makka a wuyansa, aka kuma doresu tsawon lokaci ba abinci ko ruwa. An bayar da rahoton cewa mai shi Umayya ibn Khalaf, "zai fito da shi a mafi tsananin rana kuma a jefa shi a bayansa a cikin kwari kuma a sami wani babban dutse a kirji; sannan zai ce masa, 'Za ka zauna Ku kasance a nan har ku mutu ko ku kãfirta da Muhammad, kuma ku bauta wa al-Lat da al-'Uzza '. [1] Bilal ba zai rabuwa da addinin Islama ba, kuma a cikin wahalar da ya sha sai ya furta kalma daya kawai - Ahad (ma'ana Allah Daya).

After several years of economic boycott, abuse and torture, the new Muslims had no choice but to migrate to the city of Yathrib (Madina).  There the people were ready to welcome Prophet Muhammad as their secular and spiritual leader but leaving Makkah, especially en masse, proved problematic.  The Makkan leaders were already incensed that Prophet Muhammad had dared to question and alter their way of life.  Now, to walk away unpunished and unrepentant seemed to them to be the highest of insults.  This time also proved to be one where the companions of Prophet Muhammad demonstrated their devotion and love for him.  The Muslims began to migrate, and the polytheists spared no effort in hindering them.

A young man named Hubaib was hung from the gallows and asked to save his own life by saying he wished Prophet Muhammad was in his place.  He answered their request with great courage by saying, "Never! Not only would I not want him to take my place, I would not even want a thorn to prick his foot." One of the leaders of Makkah was heard to say, "I have never seen anyone in the world loved by his friends as much as Muhammad is loved by his companions."[2]

While many Muslims left under the cover of darkness, a man named Suhaib openly expressed his wish to migrate.  The Makkan leaders began to insult and dissuade him, even out rightly demanding that he stay in Makkah.  Suhaib, a wealthy man, offered them his entire fortune in exchange for the right to leave unhindered and this was eventually accepted.  These companions thought nothing of giving up everything that they owned in order to be with the man they loved and admired.  When Prophet Muhammad heard of Suhaib’s dilemma and what he did in order to migrate he said, "Suhaib has conducted a successful trade!"[3]

Ba da daɗewa ba shugabannin Makkan sun kewaye garin nasu suna ƙoƙarin hana ƙaura zuwa Madina. Sun kasance suna sa ido sosai kan gidan Annabi Muhammad, saboda sun san cewa yayin da ya ci gaba da zama a Makka duk ba a rasa ba. A daren Annabi Muhammad yanke shawarar barin zuwa Madina tare da abokinsa da kuma ɓoye Abu Bakr, da ya dan uwan ​​Ali ya zaɓi ya kasance a cikin gidan disguised kamar yadda Annabi. Ali ya yi barci a gado na Muhammadu wanda alkyabbar Muhammadu ta rufe. Ali ya ji cewa Allah ya bashi kariya domin yana kokarin kare manzon Allah. Mutanen da ke tsaron gidan ba su san cewa Annabi Muhammad ya tsere ba. Koyaya a cikin hasken sanyi na rana an yi wa Aliyu tambayoyi game da batun 'yan gudun hijirar biyu. 

Wannan bayanin kuma yana kara tunatar damu cewa matan sahabbai basu cika sadaukar da kai ga Annabi Muhammad ba, Allah ya yabe shi. A lokacin da babu wani bayani da aka samu daga Ali as ga Annabi inda suka fara ba da tsoro da kuma azaba ta jiki Asma, 'yar Annabi Muhammad ta abokin abokin Abu Bakr. A fili wannan yarinyar an buga mara nauyi a fuska da kai. Amma Asma ba ta gajiya ba saboda ta ci gaba da lalata kayan abinci ga Annabi da mahaifinta yayin da suke buya a cikin kogo a wajen Makka.

Dukkan sahabban Annabi Muhammad sun yi masa zancen soyayya da kauna; sun kasance mafi aminci gareshi fiye da yadda suka sadaukar da rayuwarsu da ta'aziyya. Sahabbai sun damu da kowane irin bukata kuma sun sadaukar da rayuwarsu a gare shi da sakon Musulunci. Idan aka ambaci sadaukarwar su za su amsa da cewa: "Ya Annabin Allah kai ne majiɓintanmu gare mu, to, uwayenmu da ubanninmu