The Firsts
The Firsts: The Forerunners of Islam is the series that visits trailblazers of the ummah. 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.
Episodes
The 30 most recent of 185 episodes of The Firsts
Abu Mihjan (ra): The Sahabi With A Substance Use Disorder
· 20 min
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…
Nu’ayman ibn Amr (ra): The Funniest Man in Medina
· 40 min
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…
Abu Lubabah (ra): A Rope Only the Prophet ﷺ Could Untie
· 23 min
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…
Hatib (ra): Leaking the Prophet’s ﷺ Plans to the Enemy
· 47 min
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…
Mariya al-Qibtiyya (ra): Mother of the Prophet’s ﷺ Last Child
· 1 hr 7 min
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…
Salma (ra) and Ubaydullah (ra): A Legacy of Serving the Ahlul Bayt
· 11 min
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…
Abu Rafi al-Qibti (ra): The Man Inside the Prophet’s ﷺ Home
· 29 min
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)?…
Abu Muwayhiba (ra): What Happened on the Prophet’s ﷺ Final Night
· 14 min
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…
Thawban (ra): The One Called “An-Nabawi”
· 36 min
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…
Safina (ra): He Spoke To A Lion
· 26 min
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…
Julaybib (ra): The Most Beautiful Story
· 25 min
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…
Zahir ibn Haram (ra): Low Self-Esteem Until He Met the Prophet ﷺ
· 17 min
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…
Umm Mahjan (ra): The Woman Who Cleaned the Masjid
· 25 min
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…
Bishr ibn al-Baraa (ra): The Story of the Poisoning of the Prophet ﷺ
· 24 min
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…
Al-Baraa ibn Ma'roor (ra): He Made Two Good Mistakes
· 26 min
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)…
Al-Baraa ibn Aazib (ra): He Described the Grave in Detail
· 1 hr 8 min
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…
Umayr ibn Sa’d (ra): First in Salah and Battle
· 32 min
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…
Zayd ibn Al-Arqam (ra): Exposer of Hypocrites
· 58 min
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…
Fatima bint Qays (ra): She Preserved Hadiths About Dajjal and Divorce
· 17 min
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…
Usama ibn Zayd (ra): The Prophet ﷺ’s Chosen Grandson
· 1 hr 22 min
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…
Abdullah ibn Amr (ra): The One Who Preserved The Sunnah
· 1 hr 26 min
He embraced Islam later in the Prophet ﷺ’s life, but strove to catch up in seeking and serving knowledge, sometimes almost going to extremes in that pursuit. Abdullah ibn Amr ibn al-As (ra) became among the first to gain permission to…
Urwa ibn az-Zubayr (ra): The First Muslim Historian
· 1 hr 7 min
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…
Abdullah ibn az-Zubayr (ra): The Defender of Mecca
· 1 hr 27 min
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…
Abdullah ibn Umar (ra): The Prophet’s ﷺ Shadow
· 1 hr 37 min
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…
Qutham ibn Abbas (ra): The Prophet’s ﷺ Lookalike
· 19 min
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…
Ubaydullah ibn Abbas (ra): The Rich Little Brother
· 22 min
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…
Fadl ibn Abbas (ra): How The Prophet ﷺ Made Him Lower His Gaze
· 29 min
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…
The Ocean of Knowledge: The Life of Abdullah ibn Abbas (ra)
· 1 hr 30 min
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.…
Abdullah ibn Ja’far (ra): Son of the Man With Two Wings
· 12 min
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…
Umm Kulthum bt. Ali (ra): Daughter of Nobility and Tragedy
· 23 min
“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…
More ways to listen
Host
Dr. Omar Suleiman
Imam Omar Suleiman is the Founder and President of the Yaqeen Institute for Islamic Research, and an Adjunct Professor of Islamic Studies in the Graduate Liberal Studies Program at SMU (Southern Methodist University).
FAQ
What is The Firsts about?
A podcast series that dives into the trailblazers and forerunners in Islam who were the first of their kind in this world, and distinguished in the next.
Who hosts The Firsts?
The Firsts is hosted by Dr. Omar Suleiman.
Where can I listen to The Firsts?
The Firsts is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Amazon Music. Every episode also plays from this page on yaqeeninstitute.org.
How many episodes of The Firsts are there?
The Firsts has 185 episodes. The most recent, "Abu Mihjan (ra): The Sahabi With A Substance Use Disorder", was released on July 13, 2026.
Is there a video version of The Firsts?
Yes. This page links to a video version of The Firsts under "Watch it".
