The Ten Given Glad Tidings

The closest friend of the Prophet ﷺ and the first adult free man to accept Islam. A respected merchant of Quraysh, he spent his wealth freeing tortured believers such as Bilal, and was the Prophet's ﷺ companion in the Cave of Thawr during the Hijrah. He became the first Rightly-Guided Caliph (radiyallahu anhu).

He believed the Prophet ﷺ without hesitation in the Night Journey, earning the title As-Siddiq. After the Prophet's ﷺ passing he steadied the Ummah, gathered the Qur'an Majeed into one record, and ended the apostasy with wisdom and resolve.

Reference: Bukhari 3654 (Ṣaḥīḥ — included per the compiler's condition); Tirmidhi 3747 (Ahmad Muhammad Shakir: Sahih; Al-Albani: Sahih; Zubair Ali Zai: Isnaad Sahih)

The second Rightly-Guided Caliph, renowned for his justice, strength and fear of Allah. His acceptance of Islam let the Muslims pray openly at the Ka'bah. Under his leadership Islam spread across Persia, Sham and Egypt, yet he lived simply and held himself strictly accountable before Allah (radiyallahu anhu).

A model of accountable government: he established the Islamic (Hijri) calendar, organised the army and public treasury, and would patrol Madinah at night caring for the needy. The Prophet ﷺ praised his perception, saying truth spoke upon Umar's tongue.

Reference: Bukhari 3679 (Ṣaḥīḥ — included per the compiler's condition); Tirmidhi 3747 (Ahmad Muhammad Shakir: Sahih; Al-Albani: Sahih; Zubair Ali Zai: Isnaad Sahih)

The third Rightly-Guided Caliph, known for his modesty, generosity and devotion to the Qur'an Majeed by night. He married two daughters of the Prophet ﷺ in turn, hence "Of the Two Lights." A wealthy merchant, he repeatedly gave his fortune in the service of Islam (radiyallahu anhu).

He bought the well of Rumah and gave it freely to thirsty Madinah, and equipped the Army of Hardship at Tabuk. During his caliphate he unified the Ummah upon a single standard text of the Qur'an Majeed (the Mushaf), sent to every region. His modesty was such that the Prophet ﷺ said even the angels felt shy of him.

Reference: Tirmidhi 3699 (al-Tirmidhī: «حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ غَرِيبٌ»; Ahmad Muhammad Shakir: Sahih; Al-Albani: Sahih; Bashar Awad Maarouf: Hasan Sahih; Zubair Ali Zai: Sahih); Tirmidhi 3747 (Ahmad Muhammad Shakir: Sahih; Al-Albani: Sahih; Zubair Ali Zai: Isnaad Sahih)

Cousin of the Prophet ﷺ, raised in his household, the first young person to embrace Islam, and his son-in-law through Fatimah (radiyallahu anha). A hero of Badr, Uhud, the Trench and Khaybar, deeply learned and eloquent, he became the fourth Rightly-Guided Caliph (radiyallahu anhu).

On the night of the Hijrah he slept in the Prophet's ﷺ bed, risking his life to protect him. At Khaybar he was given the banner and Allah granted victory at his hands (Bukhari 3701 / Muslim 2406). The Prophet ﷺ likened his rank to that of Harun beside Musa (Bukhari 3706).

Reference: Bukhari 3706 (Ṣaḥīḥ — included per the compiler's condition); Tirmidhi 3747 (Ahmad Muhammad Shakir: Sahih; Al-Albani: Sahih; Zubair Ali Zai: Isnaad Sahih)

An early convert from the leading clan of Taym and a generous, gentle-hearted merchant. He was one of the eight who first accepted Islam through Abu Bakr, and one of the six chosen by Umar for the council of succession (radiyallahu anhu).

At the Battle of Uhud he shielded the Prophet ﷺ with his own body as arrows rained down, and his hand was paralysed defending him. The Prophet ﷺ called that day "the day of Talha," and described him as one who had fulfilled his pledge to Allah (Qur'an 33:23).

Reference: Tirmidhi 3747 (Ahmad Muhammad Shakir: Sahih; Al-Albani: Sahih; Zubair Ali Zai: Isnaad Sahih); Tirmidhi 1692 (al-Tirmidhī: «حَسَنٌ غَرِيبٌ»; Ahmad Muhammad Shakir: Hasan; Al-Albani: Hasan; Bashar Awad Maarouf: Hasan; Zubair Ali Zai: Isnaad Hasan)

A cousin of the Prophet ﷺ and nephew of Khadijah (radiyallahu anha), among the very first to accept Islam as a youth. A brave and devoted warrior, he was married to Asma bint Abi Bakr and was one of the six of the council of succession (radiyallahu anhu).

The Prophet ﷺ said, "Every prophet has a disciple (hawari), and my disciple is az-Zubayr." When a false rumour of an attack reached Makkah, the young Zubayr was the first to draw his sword in the Prophet's ﷺ defence. He fought valiantly at Badr, Uhud and beyond.

Reference: Bukhari 3719 (Ṣaḥīḥ — included per the compiler's condition); Tirmidhi 3747 (Ahmad Muhammad Shakir: Sahih; Al-Albani: Sahih; Zubair Ali Zai: Isnaad Sahih)

An early convert and one of the great merchants of the Companions, blessed with abundant wealth that he spent generously in the cause of Allah. He emigrated to Abyssinia and then to Madinah, and was one of the six of the council of succession (radiyallahu anhu).

On reaching Madinah he declined his Ansari brother's offer of wealth, asking only to be shown the marketplace, and prospered through honest trade. He once gave an entire caravan of seven hundred camels with their loads in charity, and it was behind him that the Prophet ﷺ once prayed in a journey.

Reference: Tirmidhi 3747 (Ahmad Muhammad Shakir: Sahih; Al-Albani: Sahih; Zubair Ali Zai: Isnaad Sahih); Bukhari 2049 (Ṣaḥīḥ — included per the compiler's condition)

One of the earliest to accept Islam, a maternal relative of the Prophet ﷺ, and a renowned commander. He was the first to shed blood in the path of Allah and among the answered in supplication. He later led the Muslims to the decisive victory at al-Qadisiyyah (radiyallahu anhu).

At Uhud the Prophet ﷺ gathered arrows for him saying, "Shoot, may my father and mother be sacrificed for you," a distinction granted to no other. The Prophet ﷺ prayed that Allah answer his supplications, and he was known thereafter as one whose prayers were accepted.

Reference: Bukhari 3725 (Ṣaḥīḥ — included per the compiler's condition); Tirmidhi 3747 (Ahmad Muhammad Shakir: Sahih; Al-Albani: Sahih; Zubair Ali Zai: Isnaad Sahih)

An early convert whose father Zayd had rejected idolatry even before Islam, seeking the pure religion of Ibrahim. He and his wife Fatimah (sister of Umar) were already Muslims when their recitation softened Umar's heart toward Islam (radiyallahu anhu).

He bore early persecution patiently and took part in the campaigns alongside the Prophet ﷺ. Known for his humility and truthfulness, he lived modestly and was so trusted that a false claim against him was answered, and the matter judged in his favour by Allah.

Reference: Tirmidhi 3747 (Ahmad Muhammad Shakir: Sahih; Al-Albani: Sahih; Zubair Ali Zai: Isnaad Sahih); Abu Dawud 4649 (Al-Albani: Sahih; Muhammad Muhyi Al-Din Abdul Hamid: Sahih; Shuaib Al Arnaut: Hasan; Zubair Ali Zai: Isnaad Hasan)

An early convert of noble character and one of the foremost commanders of Islam. The Prophet ﷺ named him the trustworthy one (Amin) of this Ummah. He led the conquest of Sham and remained humble and beloved throughout (radiyallahu anhu).

The Prophet ﷺ said, "Every Ummah has a trustworthy one, and the trustworthy one of this Ummah is Abu Ubayda ibn al-Jarrah." As commander in Sham he refused to flee a plague, choosing to stay with his soldiers, and died among them as a martyr to the epidemic.

Reference: Bukhari 3744 (Ṣaḥīḥ — included per the compiler's condition); Tirmidhi 3747 (Ahmad Muhammad Shakir: Sahih; Al-Albani: Sahih; Zubair Ali Zai: Isnaad Sahih)