Sell Yourself for God’s Pleasure — The Story of Suhayb Ar Rumi

“And from the people is he who sells himself, seeking the Pleasure of Allah. And Allah is kind to the slaves.” (Quran)

Alhamdulillah,

Praise be to Allah

وَهُوَ الَّذِي خَلَقَ اللَّيْلَ وَالنَّهَارَ وَالشَّمْسَ وَالْقَمَرَ ۖ كُلٌّ فِي فَلَكٍ يَسْبَحُونَ

He is the One Who created the day and the night, the sun and the moon — each swimming in an orbit.

May Allah’s peace and blessings be upon Prophet Muhammad, sallallahu alaihi wasallam, who taught us wisdom.

وَاذْكُرْنَ مَا يُتْلَىٰ فِي بُيُوتِكُنَّ مِنْ آيَاتِ اللَّهِ وَالْحِكْمَةِ

(Meaning:) And remember Allah’s verses and the wisdom that is recited in your homes.

Dear Muslims, fear Allah.

وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّكُم مُّلَاقُوهُ ۗ وَبَشِّرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ

fear Allah and know that you will meet Him. And give good news to the believers.

Dear Muslims, all the blessings that we have is from Allah. Our health, our food, our friends, our school.

وَمَا بِكُم مِّن نِّعْمَةٍ فَمِنَ اللَّهِ

Whatever blessings you have are from Allah.

But the blessings of the world compared to the afterlife is only little. Allah says:

وَالْآخِرَةُ خَيْرٌ وَأَبْقَىٰ

And the afterlife is better and more lasting.

Heaven and its pleasures is for ever and ever.

And hell and its difficulties are for ever and ever.

So the smart person makes a sale.

He sells this world for the afterlife.
And he sells himself for Allah’s pleasure.
He dedicates his life for Allah’s pleasure.

وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَن يَشْرِي نَفْسَهُ ابْتِغَاءَ مَرْضَاتِ اللَّهِ ۗ وَاللَّهُ رَءُوفٌ بِالْعِبَادِ
And from the people is he who sells himself, seeking the Pleasure of Allah. And Allah is kind to the slaves.

Dedicate your life for the sake of Allah.

This much I say, and I seek Allah’s forgiveness for myself and you and the rest of the Muslims. Seek Allah’s forgiveness, He is truly the Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

Part II

Alhamdulillah, who is the Most Generous.

أْ وَرَبُّكَ الْأَكْرَمُ
الَّذِي عَلَّمَ بِالْقَلَمِ
عَلَّمَ الْإِنسَانَ مَا لَمْ يَعْلَمْ
And your Lord is the most Generous -
Who taught by the pen -
Taught man that which he knew not.

I advice myself and you to fear Allah. Allah says:

وَمَن يَتَّقِ اللَّهَ يَجْعَل لَّهُ مِنْ أَمْرِهِ يُسْرًا

(Meaning:) Those who fear Allah, Allah makes things easy.

Dear students, When Rasoolullah sallallahu alaihi wasallam started to call people to Islam in Mecca, they faced lots of difficulty.

The Muslims were tortured and forced to leave their homes.

Suhayb Ar Rumi

• Wanted to escape to Madinah but guards were blocking him.
• One time, pretended to have Diarrhea or stomach problem, he would go many times to the bathroom. And the guards stopped paying attention, He escaped.
• They caught up with him. He told them Im a skilled archer, and I will pop all of you with the arrow.
• They still didn’t want to let him go, so Suhayb said I’ll tell you where all my money is let me go.
• He was one of the richest man, but he gave it up
• He met the Prophet sallallahu alaihi wasaalam who said: يا أبا يحيى! ربح البيع He mentioned that he won the sale. Suhaib said no one came before him to the Prophet sallallahu alaihi wasallam. (How did he know?) Only Jibreel must have informed him.

He lost his wealth, but he become succesful.

وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَن يَشْرِي نَفْسَهُ ابْتِغَاءَ مَرْضَاتِ اللَّهِ ۗ وَاللَّهُ رَءُوفٌ بِالْعِبَادِ
And from the people is he who sells himself, seeking the Pleasure of Allah. And Allah is kind to the slaves.

Dua

Allahumma Akrimna — O Allah, honor us and do not humiliate us

Allahumma Aiina wa laa tuin alaynaa — O Allah, help us and do not support against us.

Our Lord, give us good in this world, and good in the afterlife and protect us from the punishment of the fire.

Establish the salah, may Allah have mercy upon you.