[For Illiustration Only]
Lineage and Clan
His name, name, and lineage are Sulaiman bin Shurad bin al-Jaun bin Abil Jaun, Abul Mutharrif al-Khuza'i. Some say his real name is Yasar. Which means left. Then Rasulullahﷺ replaced his name with Solomon or Sulaiman.
(Ibn Hajar: al-Ishabah fi Tamyiz ash-Shahabah, 3/172).
Sulaiman bin Shurad is a very respected person among his people. He is an intelligent person, an expert in worship, and an ascetic.
(Ibn Katsir: al-Bidayah wa an-Nihayah, 8/280).
The Role;
History records that Sulaiman bin Shurad is connected with several major events in history. Those events may cause him to have bad suspicions. But what the reader needs to remember is that Sulaiman bin Shurad was a companion of Rasulullahﷺ. We must be careful to guard our words to our friends. This word of Allahﷻ is enough as advice for all of us:
تِلْكَ أُمَّةٌ قَدْ خَلَتْ لَهَا مَا كَسَبَتْ وَلَكُم مَّا كَسَبْتُمْ وَلَا تُسْـَٔلُونَ عَمَّا كَانُوا۟ يَعْمَلُونَ
“That was the people of the past; for him is what he has earned and for you is what you have earned, and you will not be held accountable for what they have done." [Quran Al-Baqarah: 134]
Sulaiman bin Shurad was a brave man. His courage was seen during the Shiffin War with Ali bin Abu Talib. This means that Sulaiman bin Shurad was one of Ali bin Abu Talib's friends (defender). Of course, this is an important point regarding the definition of Shia from a historical perspective. Shia Ali in the early days had a problem of attitude when the split occurred. Behave as a (defender) of Ali or a (defender) of Muawiyah. In the time of Shia friends, Ali could be a friend and tabi'in. Meanwhile, Shia is now an ideological problem. The Shiites are now a heretical sect that has converted a large number of Rasulullahﷺ's companions to Islam.
Even though he was known for his courage, on the other hand, Sulaiman bin Shurad was also someone who easily doubted. This combination of courage and doubt made him take the wrong step in the murder of the grandson of Rasulullahﷺ, Husein bin Aliرضي الله عنه.. This is also his regret.
Once, he wrote a letter to Husein bin Aliرضي الله عنه., to come to Kufa. Upon Hussein's arrival in Kufa, Sulaiman hesitated and did not take a stand. Until the time Husein was fought, he did not participate in the ranks of the team that defended Husein. In the end, he and al-Musayyib bin Najih al-Fazari and a group of people who were the defender of Ali and Husein bin Aliرضي الله عنه. regretted their choice.
(Ibn Saad: ath-Thabaqat al-Kubra, 4/292).
To make up for the mistake, Sulaiman bin Shurad went out with 4000 troops. This team is known as al-Jaisy at-Tawwabun (Team of Repentance). They came out in the year 65 AH, four years after the killing of Husein bin Aliرضي الله عنه. in Karbala.
This team met with the Bani Umayyah team at a place called Ainul Wardah. The Umayyad forces managed to defeat them. And Sulaiman bin Shurad also died in that place.
Narrating Hadith
Among the hadith narrated by Sulaiman bin Shurad's friend are:
From Sulaiman bin Shurad, he said,
كُنْتُ جَالِسًا مع النبيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عليه وسلَّمَ ورَجُلَانِ يَسْتَبَّانِ، فأحَدُهُما احْمَرَّ وجْهُهُ، وانْتَفَخَتْ أوْدَاجُهُ، فَقالَ النبيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عليه وسلَّمَ: إنِّي لَأَعْلَمُ كَلِمَةً لو قالَهَا ذَهَبَ عنْه ما يَجِدُ، لو قالَ: أعُوذُ باللَّهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ، ذَهَبَ عنْه ما يَجِدُ فَقالوا له: إنَّ النبيَّ صَلَّى اللهُ عليه وسلَّمَ قالَ: تَعَوَّذْ باللَّهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ، فَقالَ: وهلْ بي جُنُونٌ
“I once sat with the Prophet sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam. At that time there were two people insulting each other. Until one of them turned red in the face and strained his neck veins." Then Rasulullahﷺ said, "Truly I know one sentence that if he said, the condition he was feeling now would disappear. If he said a'udzubillah minasy syaithon (I seek refuge in Allah from Satan), his anger would disappear.
Then the people told him, "Indeed Rasulullahﷺ said, 'Ask protection from Allah from Satan'. The person instead answered, 'Am I experiencing madness'?"
[HR. al-Bukhari 3282].
Another hadith was narrated by Imam at-Turmudzi.
قالَ سُitor ُ: مَن قتلَهُ بطنُهُ لم يُعَذَّبْ في قبرِهِ؟ فقالَ أحدُهُما لصاحبِهِ : نعَم
Sulaiman bin Shurad said to Khalid bin Urfuthah. Or this statement was conveyed by Khalid to Sulaiman. "Have you ever heard Rasulullahﷺ say, 'Whoever dies because of a disease in his stomach, he will not be punished in his grave'? One of the two answered, 'Yes, I have'.
[Saheeh at-Turmudzi 1064].
Next hadith:
عَنْ سُلَيْمَانَ بْنِ صُرَدٍ قَالَ : قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَى اللَّهُ وَسَلَّمَ:
“Stay, and purify, and fear, and God loves you ْرَ
From Sulaiman bin Shurad, Rasulullahﷺ, said, "Clean your body and clothes. Do with prayer. Because God is odd (esa) and likes the odd."
[Faidhul Qadir 967].
Also narrated in Tafsir al-Qurthubi, Sulaiman bin Shurad said: "When people wanted to throw Ibrahim into the fire, they gathered firewood. There was an old woman carrying firewood on her back. The woman said to someone, 'Take this stick to the person who has blasphemed our Lord'.
When Prophet Ibrahim was marched towards the fire, he said:
وَقَالَ إِنِّى ذَاهِبٌ إِلَىٰ رَبِّى سَيَهْدِينِ
"And Ibrahim said: "Indeed I am going to face my Lord, and He will guide me."
[Quran Ash-Shaffat: 99]
When Prophet Ibrahim was thrown into the fire, he said, "Hasbiyallahu wa ni'mal wakil (Allah is sufficient as my helper)."
Then Allah Ta'ala said,
Qulna
We said:
قُلْنَا يَـٰنَارُ كُونِى بَرْدًۭا وَسَلَـٰمًا عَلَىٰٓ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ ٦٩
"O fire, cool down, and be salvation for Ibrahim",
[Quran Al-Anbiya: 69]
The story of his death;
Sulaiman bin Shurad was one of the people who sent al-Husein a letter but he left it. Later, he together with al-Musayyib bin Najih set out with 4000 troops to demand justice for the murder of Hussein.
They met with Ubaidullah bin Ziyad and his team in Ainul Wardah. Sulaiman bin Shurad and those with him were killed. He was hit by the arrow of Yazid bin al-Husein bin Numair. His head and al-Musayyib's head were taken to Caliph al-Marwan bin al-Hakam. The event happened in the month of Rabiul Akhir in the year 65 H. He died at the age of 93. Sulaiman bin Shurad died in 65 H in Ain al-Wardah.
May God be pleased with Rasulullahﷺ's friend, Sulaiman bin Shurad. Although there is a historical record for him. Our mouths do not say anything bad about him. But we still pray for him as God said:
ٱلَّذِينَ جَآءُو مِنۢ بَعْدِهِمْ يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَا ٱغْفِرْ لَنَا وَلِإِخْوَٰنِنَا ٱلَّذِينَ سَبَقُونَا بِٱلْإِيمَٰنِ وَلَا تَجْعَلْ فِى قُلُوبِنَا غِلًّا لِّلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ رَبَّنَآ إِنَّكَ رَءُوفٌ رَّحِيمٌ
"And those who came after them (Muhajirin and Anshor), they prayed: "O our Lord, forgive us and our brothers who have believed before us, and do not allow malice in our hearts towards people believers; Oh our Lord, You are indeed Most Compassionate and Most Merciful".
[Quran Al-Hasyr: 10]