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Suhayb The Roman Blonde-haired and fair complexioned Abu Yahya Suhayb was born into the luxurious house of his father, a client governor for the Persian emperor. As a child, Suhayb was captured by a Byzantine raiding party and eventually sold into slavery in Constantinople. Suhayb eventually escaped from bondage and fled to Mecca, a popular place of asylum, where he soon became a prosperous merchant nicknamed 'ar-Rumi' (the Roman) due to his Greek tongue and Byzantine up bringing. When Suhayb heard Muhammad preach, he was at once convinced of the truth of his message and readily embraced Islam. Like the rest of the early Muslims, Suhayb was persecuted by the idolatrous Meccans and had to trade all his wealth in exge for safe passage to join the Prophet at Medina. When Suhayb finally arrived at Medina, the Prophet, delighted to see him, greeted him thrice: "Your transaction has been fruitful, O Abu Yahya. Your transaction has been fruitful." Allah had informed the Prophet of Suhayb's exploits even before they were reunited: "And there is a type of man who gives his life to earn the pleasure of Allah. And Allah is full of kindness to His servants." [2:207] The Prophet loved Suhayb a great deal and described him as having preceded the Byzantines to Islam. Suhayb's piety and standing among Muslims was so high that when Caliph Umar was on his deathbed, he selected Suhayb to lead the Muslims whilst they were choosing a successor