The First 8 Companions Who Entered Islam
The early days of Islam witnessed the dedication and courage of a small group of individuals who were the first to believe in the message of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). These early converts came from various social backgrounds: men, women, youth, and freed slaves, and each played a significant role in supporting the Prophet and spreading the Islamic faith.
Their contributions laid the foundation for the rapid expansion of Islam and earned them a unique and honored place in Islamic history. This account highlights the lives and virtues of the first eight individuals who embraced Islam.
1. Khadijah bint Khuwaylid
She was Khadijah bint Khuwaylid ibn Asad of the Quraysh tribe, from the Asadi clan. She was the noblest woman in Quraysh in terms of lineage and the foremost of their women. She was the first to believe in the Messenger, peace be upon him, among men and women, and all Muslims agree on this. She stood by her husband and supported him, bearing with him the burdens of the dawah (Islamic mission). She passed away, may Allah be pleased with her, three years before the Hijrah (migration).
2. Abu Bakr Al-Siddiq
His full name is Abdullah ibn Uthman ibn Aamir, and he is known by the kunya Abu Bakr. He was born, may Allah be pleased with him, two years and six months after the Year of the Elephant. He worked in trade and was the first man to convert to Islam. The Messenger of Allah called him “Al-Siddiq” (the truthful). Through him, many prominent companions entered Islam, including Uthman, Al-Zubayr, Talhah, Abdur-Rahman ibn Awf, and Abu Ubaydah, may Allah be pleased with them.
3. Uthman ibn Affan
He was Uthman ibn Affan ibn Abi Al-As of the Umayyad clan of Quraysh. His title was Dhu al-Nurayn ("The Possessor of Two Lights") because he married two daughters of the Prophet, Ruqayyah and Umm Kulthum. He had a large beard, a handsome face, a dark complexion, and broad shoulders.
4. Ali ibn Abi Talib
Ali ibn Abi Talib is one of the ten promised Paradise (Al-‘Ashara Al-Mubasharun), one of the earliest converts, and the fourth of the Rightly Guided Caliphs. He was the first of the young to embrace Islam, being only ten years old at the time. He was the husband of Fatimah, the daughter of Muhammad, who is the foremost woman of all time. Ali was the father of the two chiefs of the youth of Paradise and the grandsons of the Messenger, Al-Hasan and Al-Husayn, peace be upon them.
5. Zayd ibn Harithah
He was Zayd ibn Harithah ibn Shurahil, also known as Abu Usamah. He was the beloved of the Prophet, peace be upon him, and the first of the mawali (freed slaves) to embrace Islam while he was in his twenties. He was martyred in the Battle of Mu’tah in the eighth year of the Hijrah.
6. Al-Zubayr ibn Al-Awwam
He was Al-Zubayr ibn Al-Awwam ibn Khuwaylid ibn Asad. His mother was Safiyyah bint Abd Al-Muttalib, the Prophet’s aunt, peace be upon him. Al-Zubayr, may Allah be pleased with him, was martyred on the day of the Battle of the Camel.
7. Abdur-Rahman ibn Awf
He was Abdur-Rahman ibn Awf of the Zuhri clan of Quraysh. He was born ten years after the Year of the Elephant. He was among the first eight to embrace Islam. He was tall, handsome, with light skin that had a reddish tint, may Allah be pleased with him.
8. Sa’d ibn Abi Waqqas
Sa’d ibn Abi Waqqas embraced Islam before he was seventeen. He was among the earliest to convert and witnessed all the battles of the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him. He passed away at the age of seventy-eight and was buried in Al-Baqi’.
The lives of these first eight companions reflect unwavering faith, sacrifice, and devotion to the message of Islam. From Khadijah’s steadfast support to Abu Bakr’s influence in spreading the faith, from the youthful commitment of Ali to the bravery of Zayd, their stories continue to inspire Muslims around the world. Recognizing their contributions not only deepens our understanding of Islamic history but also honors the legacy of those who helped shape the earliest Muslim community.
