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PODCAST

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

religion & spirituality islam

All Episodes

66:46

Urwa ibn az-Zubayr (ra): The First Muslim Historian

The Firsts ·

2025/09/16

While other children dreamed of glory on the battlefield or positions of power, Urwa ibn az-Zubayr (ra) dreamed of knowledge—and he pursued it with unwavering dedication. From a childhood shaped by political turmoil to becoming one of Madinah’s foremost scholars, Urwa's life is a powerful testament to the pursuit of lifelong learning and spiritual leadership.

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86:55

Abdullah ibn az-Zubayr (ra): The Defender of Mecca

The Firsts ·

2025/09/02

Abdullah ibn az-Zubayr (ra) was no ordinary child. Born into an extraordinary family, his childhood offered glimpses of the fearless warrior he would become. He lived a long life of piety and courage, serving as a leader in the ummah in one of the most difficult periods of early Islamic history, until he attained martyrdom. The du’a of Abdullah ibn az-Zubayr (ra) at the end of every salah: لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لاَ شَرِيكَ لَهُ لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ وَهُوَ...

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96:34

Abdullah ibn Umar (ra): The Prophet’s ﷺ Shadow

The Firsts ·

2025/08/26

He walked exactly where the Prophet ﷺ walked. Abdullah ibn Umar (ra) lived a life of unmatched devotion, preserving every detail of the Sunnah, refusing positions of power, and embodying humility, generosity, and principle. Discover the story of the last major Companion in Mecca and the man whose love for the Prophet ﷺ shaped every step he took.

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19:14

Qutham ibn Abbas (ra): The Prophet’s ﷺ Lookalike

The Firsts ·

2025/08/20

While Abdullah ibn Abbas (ra) became known for his knowledge and eloquence, his younger brother Qutham (ra) was known for something else: his striking resemblance to the Prophet ﷺ. In this episode, discover how Qutham, who was raised alongside al-Husayn (ra), the last to leave the Prophet’s ﷺ grave, and a martyr who carried Islam to Samarqand, left his mark on history.

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21:33

Ubaydullah ibn Abbas (ra): The Rich Little Brother

The Firsts ·

2025/08/12

He wasn’t a scholar like his brother, but he found his own way to serve. While Abdullah ibn Abbas (ra) became one of the greatest scholars of Islam, his younger brother Ubaydullah (ra) chose a different path: business, generosity, and support. In this episode, discover how Ubaydullah turned his wealth into a means of sustaining knowledge, feeding the ummah, and earning reward alongside the scholars, all without taking center stage. His story is a powerful reminder that there’s more than one...

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28:49

Fadl ibn Abbas (ra): How The Prophet ﷺ Made Him Lower...

The Firsts ·

2025/08/05

He rode behind the Prophet ﷺ, stood by him in battle, and carried him to his final resting place. Fadl ibn Abbas (ra) may not be well-known, but his life was filled with unforgettable moments: from the powerful lesson behind “lower your gaze” to riding with the Prophet ﷺ on his camel during Hajj. This is the story of the eldest Ibn Abbas.

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89:33

The Ocean of Knowledge: The Life of Abdullah ibn...

The Firsts ·

2025/07/29

What made a teenager one of the most trusted scholars of the Qur’an among the Prophet ﷺ’s Companions? In this episode, discover the remarkable life of Abdullah ibn Abbas (ra) — the Prophet ﷺ’s cousin, student, and the Ocean of Knowledge. From his childhood in the Prophet’s arms to his leadership in times of turmoil, Ibn Abbas’s story is a model of prophetic character and leadership.

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12:19

Abdullah ibn Ja’far (ra): Son of the Man With Two Wings

The Firsts ·

2025/07/23

Born a refugee, embraced by the Prophet ﷺ, and connected to nearly every major trial in early Islamic history, Abdullah ibn Ja'far (ra) lived a life marked by displacement, loss, and legacy. From the shores of Abyssinia to the tragedy of Karbala and his final days during Hajj, this is a story of resilience and divine favor.

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23:14

Umm Kulthum bt. Ali (ra): Daughter of Nobility and...

The Firsts ·

2025/07/16

“O daughter of the noble ones!” This was the way to address the younger granddaughter of the Prophet ﷺ, Umm Kulthum bint Ali (ra). She was a woman of piety, like her mother Fatima (ra). In the glimpses we have into her life, we see her marrying Umar (ra) and then the sons of Ja’far (ra), stepping in to help a traveling woman give birth, patiently enduring the martyrdom of many loved ones, and dying alongside her son.

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45:36

Zaynab bint Ali (ra): A Voice of Courage

The Firsts ·

2025/07/08

A granddaughter of the Prophet ﷺ, exemplary for her patience, courage and generosity. She established institutions to support the poor, elderly, and disabled. She persevered after the painful massacre of her family at Karbala, and eloquently spoke truth to power. Zaynab bint Ali (ra) is from the great women of the Ahl al-Bayt and is an enduring role model for every generation of Muslims.

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87:30

Husayn ibn Ali (ra): Redefining Victory in Karbala

The Firsts ·

2025/07/01

Who is Husayn (ra)? The beloved grandson of the Prophet ﷺ, a role model for believers in their pursuits of justice, and the master of the youth of Jannah. Dr. Omar Suleiman explores his life in depth: his birth and childhood, his grandfather ﷺ's love for him, his sense of justice, his service to the ummah, his tragic martyrdom at Karbala, and the lessons his story teaches us today.

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80:03

Hasan ibn Ali (ra): The Beloved Grandson of the...

The Firsts ·

2025/06/26

The Prophet ﷺ called his grandson a sayyid, and indeed, Hasan (ra) was a master among men. Explore the life and legacy of Hasan ibn Ali (ra) in rich detail: his joyous birth, the Prophet ﷺ’s love for him, his unique personality and generosity, his worship and many Hajj journeys, his leadership as the fifth caliph, and his reconciliation and reuniting of the ummah.

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67:29

Ammar ibn Yasir (ra): Sacrifice After Trauma

The Firsts ·

2025/06/24

The son of the first martyrs, a martyr himself, and the father of a martyr. Ammar ibn Yasir (ra) was part of a family chosen by Allah for shahadah. Learn his inspiring story, from being one of the first Muslims; facing torture and witnessing the martyrdom of his parents, Sumayyah (ra) and Yasir (ra); building masajid and fighting battles alongside the Prophet ﷺ; and ultimately sacrificing his life for the truth, a path that his son Muhammad (rh) would follow after him.

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55:58

Tamim al-Dari (ra): The Palestinian Sahabi That Met...

The Firsts ·

2025/06/23

A Palestinian companion of the Prophet ﷺ. The first to light up masjids with oil lamps. He loved the Qur’an. He famously met the Dajjal. This is the story of the incredible Tamim al-Dari (ra).

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48:11

Adi ibn Hatim al-Tai (ra): From Christian King to...

The Firsts ·

2025/06/17

The son of Hatim al-Tai, one of the most famous figures in Arab history, walks into the Prophet ﷺ’s room in Madinah. What happened next transformed the heart of this Christian king. How did the son of Arabia’s most famous man become one of Islam’s closest companions?

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53:46

Jarir ibn Abdullah (ra): The Yusuf of This Ummah

The Firsts ·

2025/06/17

How beautiful would you be if an angel wiped your face? It happened to Jarir ibn Abdullah (ra), a Yemeni companion of the Prophet ﷺ. He was called “the Yusuf of this ummah.” But he had another special gift—the power of persuasion.

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41:50

Abbad ibn Bishr (ra): The Friend of the Qur’an

The Firsts ·

2025/04/02

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43:29

Thabit ibn Qays (ra): Promised Jannah After A Sin

The Firsts ·

2025/04/02

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57:07

Zayd ibn al-Khattab (ra): The Quiet Brother of Omar (ra)

The Firsts ·

2025/04/02

Siblings with very different personalities can serve Islam in their own ways. Omar ibn al khattab (ra) was outspoken and larger-than-life. What about his older brother, Zayd ibn al-Khattab (ra), the silent giant of this ummah?

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57:57

Tulayha ibn Khuwaylid (ra): From False Prophet to...

The Firsts ·

2025/01/08

Is your faith journey complicated? Wait until you hear this story. He embraced Islam. Then he left it. Then he committed the worst sins. He thought he could repent again. After so many twists and turns, you might be surprised at how his story ended.

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