

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 mainstream through accessible resources such as infographics, animations, podcasts, learning materials, and more. Visit www.yaqeeninstitute.org or download the Yaqeen app from the app store to continue dismantling doubts, nurturing conviction, and inspiring contribution, one truth at a time.
Episodes
Mentioned books

11 snips
Jul 27, 2020 • 54min
Abu Bakr (ra) - Part 1: Second to None in the Pursuit of God
Abu Bakr al-Siddiq (ra) was the ultimate “first”: quick to believe, quick to do good, never hesitant to follow the Prophet ﷺ, and had a natural instinct toward good. In Episode 9 of The Firsts, Sh. Omar Suleiman describes the noble character of Abu Bakr (ra), his friendship with the Prophet ﷺ, and his unmatched legacy.Sign up here to get notes sent straight to your inbox.This episode was first recorded on Feb. 13, 2020 and is being re-released in audio format.

6 snips
Jul 23, 2020 • 1h 1min
From Love to the Pain of Death
“Many came to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, asking whom he loved the most, including Ali (ra) and Fatima (ra). He had the most eloquent answer, while maintaining his character of honesty. Even though Fatima was very dear to him and his heart was very attached to her, he didn’t want to answer in a way that would hurt Ali, whom he loved as his own son. He looked at Ali and said, ‘She is more beloved to me than you, but you are more precious to me than her’, making them both very happy. ” In episode 8 of The Firsts, Sh. Omar Suleiman continues to talk about the love between Ali and Fatima and the love they had with Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to the pain that was felt after the passing of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and the passing of Fatima (ra).Sign up here to get notes sent straight to your inbox.This episode was first recorded on Jan. 30, 2020 and is being re-released in audio format.

17 snips
Jul 20, 2020 • 58min
The Beautiful Marriage of Ali (ra) and Fatima (ra)
Both Ali and Fatima were raised by the beloved Prophet ﷺ and had a special place in his heart. They were married by the Prophet ﷺ then counseled by him. Through their blessed marriage, a community came together and a community remains inspired. They faced obstacles that we all face in our marriage but by the guidance of Allah, the advice of the Prophet ﷺ, and the faith in their hearts, they were able to pull through and leave behind one of the greatest examples of a marriage ever to exist. And in studying this blessed family, we get to see our Prophet ﷺ in a new light: as a loving father, grandfather, and father in law.Sign up here to get notes sent straight to your inbox.This episode was first recorded on Jan. 23, 2020 and is being re-released in audio format.

19 snips
Jul 15, 2020 • 52min
Ali ibn Abi Talib (ra): Courageous & Steadfast
Prophet Muhammad’s ﷺ love for Ali was immense. It is narrated that the Prophet ﷺ asked Allah to show love to those who love Ali and to show hate to those who hate Ali. Tune in to episode 6 of The Firsts as Sh. Omar Suleiman talks about the first child to embrace Islam, and the companion with more narrations about his virtues than any other. Sign up here to get notes sent straight to your inbox.This episode was first recorded on Jan. 20, 2020 and is being re-released in audio format.

55 snips
Jul 13, 2020 • 40min
Umm Ayman (ra): The Woman Who Never Stopped Caring
In episode 5 of the Firsts, Sh. Omar Suleiman introduces us to Barakah Bint Thalaba, or Umm Ayman, the woman who never stopped caring. Umm Ayman was a second mother to the Prophet ﷺ after his mother passed. Not only is she the second woman to accept Islam, she is the only woman to have been with him from his birth till his death.Sign up here to get notes sent straight to your inbox.This episode was first recorded on Dec. 19, 2019 and is being re-released in audio format.

83 snips
Jul 9, 2020 • 1h 21min
Khadijah (ra): His First Love, Our First Mother
In episode 4 of the Firsts, dive into the many “firsts” accomplished by the best woman of her time, Kadijah bint Khuwaylid (ra), the Prophet Muhammad’s ﷺ first love and wife. Sh. Omar Suleiman describes the relationship and love between Khadijah (ra) and the Prophet ﷺ, her support, and her station as the first woman to believe in him.Sign up here to get notes sent straight to your inbox.This episode was first recorded on Dec. 12, 2019 and is being re-released in audio format.

55 snips
Jul 6, 2020 • 48min
Waraqa Ibn Nawfal (ra): The First to Confirm Prophethood
We find Waraqa in the seerah and at the very beginning of Sahih Bukhari, but with little beyond his death – making the rest of his life a mystery. Who was he before that? What is his story? What is his status? Sh. Omar Suleiman tells the story of Waraqa Ibn Nawfal, the first to confirm the prophethood.Sign up here to get notes sent straight to your inbox.This episode was first recorded on Dec. 9, 2019 and is being re-released in audio format.

53 snips
Jul 3, 2020 • 42min
Zaid Ibn Amr (ra): A One Man Ummah
Zaid Ibn Amr Ibn Nufaid (ra) is an absolutely remarkable figure in the history of Islam and has a story unlike any other from the companions of the Prophet ﷺ. Aside from being a monotheist before the coming of Islam, he would guide people to what pleased Allah based on intuition and fitrah (natural disposition).Sign up here to get notes sent straight to your inbox.This episode was first recorded Dec. 5, 2019 and has been re-released in audio format.

26 snips
Jul 2, 2020 • 42min
Trendsetters, Revivers, and Strangers
Who are The Firsts? To kick off the lecture series, Shaykh Dr. Omar Suleiman describes the 5 categories of firsts in the Qur’an and Sunnah. Sign up here to get notes sent straight to your inbox.This episode was first recorded Nov. 26, 2019 and has been re-released in audio format.