For a man may embrace Islam later yet be superior to some who embraced it before him. Such was the case with ‘Umar: it is said that his conversion brought the number to forty, yet Allah favoured him over many who had embraced Islam before him. ‘Uthmān, Talhah, al-Zubayr, Sa‘d, and ‘Abd al-Rahmān ibn ‘Awf had embraced Islam before ‘Umar through Abū Bakr, yet ‘Umar surpassed them in merit.

The first free adult man to embrace Islam was Abū Bakr; the first free boy was ‘Alī; the first among the clients was Zayd ibn Hārithah; and the first woman was Khadījah, the Mother of the Believers. The scholars agree on this.

Allah Most High said:

“Indeed, those who believed, emigrated, and strove with their wealth and their lives in the cause of Allah, and those who gave shelter and support—they are allies of one another.”

The passage continues to His words:

“And those who believed, emigrated, and strove in the cause of Allah, and those who gave shelter and support—they are the true believers. For them are forgiveness and a generous provision.”

“And those who believed afterwards, emigrated, and strove alongside you—they are of you.”

This is general in scope.

He Most High also said:

“For the poor emigrants who were driven from their homes and their possessions, seeking bounty from Allah and His pleasure, and supporting Allah and His Messenger—they are the truthful.”

“And those who had settled in the city and embraced the faith before them love those who emigrated to them and feel no resentment in their hearts over what they were given. They give them preference over themselves, even though they themselves are in need. And whoever is protected from the greed of his own soul—it is they who are successful.”

“And those who came after them say, ‘Our Lord, forgive us and our brothers