Conversion

Conversion of Sirma, the Hanif of Madinah

Name: Conversion of Sirma, the Hanif of Madinah
Start: 622
Location: Madinah

~the final weeks or months of his life, around the time of the Hijrah · 1 AH

What happened

Sirma was the only hanif known to have lived in Madinah. A hanif was someone who abandoned idolatry to follow the pure monotheism of Ibrahim AS. From his youth, Sirma openly rejected the idol worship of his people, just as the hanifs of Makkah did. At one point he decided to become a Christian, but just before doing so he concluded that Christianity did not make sense either. He resolved instead to stay on the way of Ibrahim AS.

According to Ibn Ishaq, Sirma would perform ghusl after intercourse, and he told his wife to perform ghusl after her menses. He also composed poetry praising monotheism and criticising idolatry. He spent many years living among the Quraysh in Makkah, but he did not find what he was looking for there, and he returned home. When the Prophet ﷺ emigrated to Madinah, Sirma was over 100 years old and in the last weeks or months of his life.

Outcome: Sirma embraced Islam and passed away shortly afterward.

Significance

Sirma is held up as an example that sincerity in seeking the truth is rewarded. It is as if Allah stretched out his life so that, after some 120 years of searching, he could live to see the Prophet ﷺ, embrace Islam and die as a sahabi (companion).

Around this time

Other events recorded in 1 AH. Their order within the year is not established; use the storyline above for the sequence.

ConversionAbdullah ibn Salam Recognizes the Prophet ﷺ at Quba~Early 1 AH (622 CE) · 1 AH IncidentAnas ibn Malik RA Enters the Prophet ﷺ's Service~Around the beginning of the Madinan period · 1 AH InstitutionBilal ibn Rabah Appointed as the Prophet's ﷺ Muezzin~Madinan period (c. 622 CE onward) · 1 AH InstitutionBuilding of Masjid Quba~Wednesday-Thursday, Rabi' al-Awwal 1 AH · 1 AH InstitutionBuilding of the Prophet ﷺ's Houses in Madinah~Shortly after Masjid al-Nabawi was built, 1 AH · 1 AH InstitutionChange of the Prayer Rak'ahs in Early Madinah~Sometime in the early Madani period, exact timing unknown · 1 AH InstitutionEstablishment of the Muslim Souq in Madinah~1 AH, shortly after the Hijrah · 1 AH InstitutionLegislation of the Adhan~Shortly after the Prophet ﷺ's arrival in Madinah, 1 AH · 1 AH MigrationSuhayb al-Rumi's Hijrah to Madinah~c. 622 CE · 1 AH TreatyThe Constitution of Madinah~1 AH (622-623 CE), in the early Madani period · 1 AH InstitutionThe Muakha: Pairing of the Muhajirun and the Ansar~Beginning 1 AH (622 CE), continuing through the Madani period · 1 AH SermonThe Prophet ﷺ's First Salat al-Jumu'ah~Friday morning, Rabi' al-Awwal 1 AH · 1 AH

Sayings & Actions1

Sirma RA

Life event · the final weeks or months of his life, around the time of the Hijrah

After rejecting the idolatry of my people, then testing Christianity, then following the way of Ibrahim AS alone for years, I have at last embraced the truth brought by the Prophet ﷺ, in the final days of my long life.

withMuhammad ﷺ

People involved2

Sirma RA
Embraced Islam
M
Muhammad ﷺ

Conversion of Sirma, the Hanif of Madinah

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What happened

Significance

Around this time

Sayings & Actions1

Original text & sources

People involved2

Conversion of Sirma, the Hanif of Madinah

Original text & sources

Report an inaccuracy

What happened

Significance

Around this time

Sayings & Actions1

Original text & sources

People involved2