Suhayb ar-Rumi

Suhayb ar-Rumi (Arabic: صهيب الرومي‎‎) (born c. 587), also known as Suhayb ibn Sinan, was a former slave in the Byzantine Empire who went on to become an esteemed companion of Muhammad and revered member of the early Muslim community.

Around the year 591, about twenty years before the commencement of Muhammad's mission, an Arab named Sinan ibn Malik governed the city of al-Uballah on behalf of the Persian emperor (perhaps Khosrow II). The city, which is now part of Basra, lay on the banks of the Euphrates. He had several children and was particularly fond of one of them who was then barely five years old with blond hair and a fair-complexion named Suhayb. One day Suhayb's mother took him to a village called ath-Thani for a picnic. That day ath-Thani was attacked by Byzantine soldiers who took a large number of prisoners, including Suhayb ibn Sinan.

Suhayb was taken to one of the slave markets of the Byzantine Empire, thereafter he passed from one master to another, remaining for about twenty years in Byzantine lands as a slave. He grew up speaking Greek, the language of the Byzantine Empire and practically forgot Arabic. At the first opportunity Suhayb escaped from bondage and headed for Mecca which was considered a place of asylum. There people called him Suhayb ar-Rumi or "the Roman" because of his peculiarly heavy speech and blond hair. He became the representative of an aristocrat in Mecca, Abdullah ibn Judan, engaging in trade and becoming quite wealthy.

One day he was told that Muhammad was calling people to a new religion in the house or' al-Arqam ibn Abi al-Arqam. After meeting with him, he was convinced of the truth of his message and pledged fealty to Muhammad. The ruling tribe of Quraish soon learned of Sohaib's acceptance of Islam and began harassing him. When Muhammad gave permission for his followers to migrate to Medina in 622, Sohaib resolved to accompany Muhammad and Abu Bakr, but the Quraish discovered his intentions and placed guards over him to prevent him from leaving Mecca and taking the wealth he had acquired through trade. After the departure of Muhammad and Abu Bakr, Suhayb continued to bide his time, unsuccessfully attempting to escape several times.

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