592 – ʿAbd Allah narrated to us; my father narrated to me; ʿAbd Allah narrated to us; my father narrated to me; ʿAffan narrated to us; Jarir ibn Hazim narrated, saying: I heard al-Hasan say:

Suhayl ibn ʿAmr, al-Harith ibn Hisham, Abu Sufyan ibn Harb, and a number of Quraysh notables were once standing at the door of ʿUmar ibn al-Khattab, together with Suhayb, Bilal, and those other freedmen who had taken part in Badr. ʿUmar’s doorkeeper came out and granted permission to the latter group, leaving the former outside. Abu Sufyan exclaimed, “I have never seen the like of today! He admits these slaves and leaves us at his door, paying us no heed.”

Suhayl ibn ʿAmr—an intelligent man—responded, “People, by Allah, I perceive what is on your faces. If you are angry, then be angry with yourselves. The summons was issued to them and to you alike; they hastened while you held back. What do you imagine will happen when, on the Day of Resurrection, they are called and you are left behind? By Allah, the excellence whereby they have preceded you—though you cannot see it—is far more grievous for you to miss than this doorway over which we now contend.” Having said this, he shook out his cloak and left.

Al-Hasan concluded: “By Allah, Suhayl spoke the truth. Allah will never rank a servant who hastens toward Him with one who is slow to reach Him.”