The Ten Promised Paradise

Abu Bakr was the Prophet's ﷺ closest friend from before Islam. When the Prophet ﷺ told him about the revelation, he believed straight away, and he became the first free man to accept Islam. Because he believed the Prophet ﷺ in everything, even the night journey to Jerusalem, he was called as-Siddiq, the one who affirms the truth.

He spent his wealth for Islam. He bought and freed Muslims who were being tortured for their faith, among them Bilal. Umar later said: "Abu Bakr is our master, and he freed our master," meaning Bilal (Sahih al-Bukhari 3754). The Prophet ﷺ said that no one's wealth had benefited him as much as the wealth of Abu Bakr (Jami at-Tirmidhi 3661).

When the Prophet ﷺ made the Hijrah to Madinah, Abu Bakr was the one he chose to travel with. They hid in a cave on Mount Thawr while the Quraysh searched for them. Abu Bakr was afraid for the Prophet ﷺ, who told him: "What do you think of two, when Allah is the third of them?" (Sahih al-Bukhari 3653). Allah mentions this moment in the Qur'an: "the second of the two, when they were in the cave" (at-Tawbah 9:40).

In the Prophet's ﷺ last illness, he told Abu Bakr to lead the people in prayer (Sahih al-Bukhari 664). After the Prophet ﷺ passed away, the Muslims chose Abu Bakr as the first khalifah. He led them for about two years, kept the ummah together, and had the Qur'an gathered into one collection. He is buried next to the Prophet ﷺ in Madinah.

"If I were to take a khalil (closest friend) other than my Lord, I would have taken Abu Bakr."

Sahih al-Bukhari 3656

True friendship means standing by someone in the hard times, and true faith means trusting Allah even when you are afraid.

Umar was strong, brave and feared in Makkah, and at first he was against Islam. The Prophet ﷺ made dua that Allah would strengthen Islam through him (Jami at-Tirmidhi 3681). When Umar accepted Islam, the Muslims were able to pray openly at the Ka'bah for the first time.

He was known as al-Faruq, because he made clear the difference between truth and falsehood. The Prophet ﷺ said that whenever Shaytan saw Umar walking on a path, he would take a different path (Sahih al-Bukhari 3683). Umar said that in three matters his opinion agreed with what his Lord then revealed in the Qur'an (Sahih al-Bukhari 402).

After Abu Bakr, Umar became the second khalifah and led the Muslims for about ten years. He was famous for his justice and for how simply he lived, even while ruling a great land. In his time Jerusalem came under Muslim rule peacefully, and the Islamic calendar was set to start from the Hijrah.

He was stabbed while leading the Fajr prayer, and he died a martyr (Sahih al-Bukhari 3700). He asked Aisha if he could be buried next to his two companions, and she agreed. He is buried beside the Prophet ﷺ and Abu Bakr.

"By the One in whose hand is my soul, whenever Shaytan meets you on a path, he takes a path other than yours."

Sahih al-Bukhari 3683

Real strength is using your power to be fair and to look after others, especially those who are weak.

Uthman was a wealthy, gentle and very modest man who accepted Islam early, through Abu Bakr. He married the Prophet's ﷺ daughter Ruqayyah, and after she passed away he married her sister Umm Kulthum. Because he married two of the Prophet's ﷺ daughters, he was called Dhun-Nurayn, the one with two lights.

He gave his wealth again and again for Allah. When the Muslims in Madinah needed clean water, he bought the well of Rumah and made it free for everyone. When the army needed equipment for the hard journey to Tabuk, he provided for it (Sahih al-Bukhari 2778).

He was so shy and modest that the Prophet ﷺ said: "Should I not feel shy of a man whom even the angels feel shy of?" (Sahih Muslim 2401).

Uthman became the third khalifah and led the Muslims for about twelve years. One of his greatest gifts to the ummah was having copies of the Qur'an written out in one standard mushaf and sent to the different lands (Sahih al-Bukhari 4987). He was killed in his home while reading the Qur'an, and he died a martyr.

"Should I not feel shy of a man whom even the angels feel shy of?"

Sahih Muslim 2401

Wealth is a gift to be shared, and modesty makes a person beloved to Allah and to the angels.

Ali was the Prophet's ﷺ cousin. He grew up in the Prophet's ﷺ home and was one of the very first people to accept Islam, while he was still a boy.

On the night of the Hijrah, when the Quraysh surrounded the Prophet's ﷺ house, Ali slept in his bed so that the Prophet ﷺ could leave safely. He then stayed behind in Makkah to return the things people had left with the Prophet ﷺ for safekeeping, before joining him in Madinah.

He was very brave and very knowledgeable. At Khaybar, the Prophet ﷺ said he would give the flag to a man who loves Allah and His Messenger, and whom Allah and His Messenger love, and he gave it to Ali (Sahih al-Bukhari 3701). The Prophet ﷺ also told him: "Are you not pleased to be to me like Harun was to Musa, except that there is no prophet after me?" (Sahih al-Bukhari 3706).

Ali married the Prophet's ﷺ daughter Fatimah, and they were the parents of al-Hasan and al-Husayn. He became the fourth khalifah, and was killed as a martyr in Kufa.

"I will give the flag to a man who loves Allah and His Messenger, and Allah and His Messenger love him."

Sahih al-Bukhari 3701

Courage and knowledge together are a great gift. Use both to stand up for what is right.

Talhah was one of the first eight people to accept Islam, and he was tortured in Makkah for his faith.

At the battle of Uhud, when many of the Muslims were scattered, Talhah stayed by the Prophet ﷺ and protected him with his own body. He shielded the Prophet ﷺ with his hand until it was paralysed (Sahih al-Bukhari 3724). He was covered in wounds that day.

Because of this, the Prophet ﷺ said that whoever wanted to look at a martyr walking on the earth should look at Talhah (Jami at-Tirmidhi 3739). He was also known for being extremely generous, giving away his wealth to the poor and to his relatives.

"I saw the hand of Talhah, with which he protected the Prophet ﷺ on the day of Uhud, and it was paralysed."

Qays ibn Abi Hazim, Sahih al-Bukhari 3724

Love for the Prophet ﷺ means putting him first, and standing firm when others step back.

Az-Zubayr was the Prophet's ﷺ cousin. His mother, Safiyyah, was the Prophet's ﷺ aunt. He accepted Islam when he was young and stayed firm even when his family tried to force him to leave it.

He was a brave horseman who took part in every battle with the Prophet ﷺ. During the battle of the Trench, the Prophet ﷺ asked who would bring him news of the enemy, and az-Zubayr volunteered each time. The Prophet ﷺ then said: "Every prophet has a disciple, and my disciple is az-Zubayr" (Sahih al-Bukhari 2846).

He was married to Asma, the daughter of Abu Bakr, and he was known for giving large amounts of charity.

"Every prophet has a disciple (hawari), and my disciple is az-Zubayr."

Sahih al-Bukhari 2846

Be the person who says "I will" when help is needed, again and again.

Abdur-Rahman accepted Islam early, through Abu Bakr. He made the Hijrah to Madinah leaving his wealth behind in Makkah.

In Madinah the Prophet ﷺ made him a brother to Sa'd ibn ar-Rabi' of the Ansar, who offered to share half his wealth with him. Abdur-Rahman thanked him, made dua for him, and said: "Show me the way to the market" (Sahih al-Bukhari 2048). He started trading and Allah blessed his business until he became very wealthy.

He gave huge amounts of his wealth in charity, for the army, for the poor and for the wives of the Prophet ﷺ after he passed away. On the journey to Tabuk, the Prophet ﷺ arrived late for Fajr and prayed behind Abdur-Rahman, who was leading the prayer (Sahih Muslim 274).

"Show me the way to the market."

Abdur-Rahman ibn Awf, Sahih al-Bukhari 2048

Work hard, keep your dignity, and let your wealth be a way to help others.

Sa'd accepted Islam as a teenager, one of the very first Muslims. When his mother heard, she refused to eat or drink until he left Islam. He loved her, but he would not leave his faith. Allah revealed that we must be kind to our parents, but must not obey them in associating partners with Allah (Sahih Muslim 1748, Luqman 31:15).

He was a skilled archer and the first person to shoot an arrow in the cause of Allah (Sahih al-Bukhari 3728). At Uhud, the Prophet ﷺ handed him arrows and said: "Shoot, may my father and mother be ransomed for you" (Sahih al-Bukhari 4055).

Later, he led the Muslim army that opened the land of Iraq, and he founded the city of Kufa. He was the last of the ten to pass away.

"Shoot, may my father and mother be ransomed for you."

Sahih al-Bukhari 4055

Be kind and respectful to your parents always, but never let anything come between you and Allah.

Sa'id's father, Zayd ibn Amr, refused to worship idols even before Islam. He followed the religion of Ibrahim and worshipped Allah alone (Sahih al-Bukhari 3828). Sa'id grew up with this example and accepted Islam early, together with his wife Fatimah bint al-Khattab, the sister of Umar.

Umar was very harsh with them for becoming Muslim (Sahih al-Bukhari 3862). According to the books of seerah, it was in their home that Umar heard the Qur'an and his heart opened to Islam.

Years later, a woman falsely claimed that Sa'id had taken some of her land. He gave it up rather than argue, and made dua against her if she was lying. He reminded people of the hadith that whoever takes a hand's span of land wrongly will have it hung around his neck on the Day of Judgement (Sahih Muslim 1610).

"Whoever takes a hand's span of land wrongfully, it will be wrapped around his neck from seven earths."

Sahih Muslim 1610

Stay away from what isn't yours. Being honest is better than winning an argument.

Abu Ubaydah accepted Islam early, through Abu Bakr. He was tall, gentle, humble and completely honest.

When the people of Najran asked the Prophet ﷺ to send them a man they could trust, he said he would send someone "truly trustworthy", and everyone hoped it would be them. He chose Abu Ubaydah (Sahih al-Bukhari 4380). The Prophet ﷺ said: "Every nation has a trustworthy one, and the trustworthy one of this ummah is Abu Ubaydah ibn al-Jarrah" (Sahih al-Bukhari 3744).

Later he led the Muslim armies in the land of Sham. He lived very simply, even as a great leader, and he passed away there during a plague.

"Every nation has a trustworthy one, and the trustworthy one of this ummah is Abu Ubaydah ibn al-Jarrah."

Sahih al-Bukhari 3744

Be someone people can trust with anything. Honesty is a crown that never wears out.