Sayyiduna ‘Afeef Kindi (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) was a friend of Sayyiduna ‘Abbaas (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) who was the uncle of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam). Sayyiduna ‘Afeef (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) was an ‘itr seller. Because of his business, of selling ‘itr and perfume, he would often travel to Yemen.
Once, prior to accepting Islam Sayyiduna ‘Afeef Kindi (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) was in Mina with Sayyiduna ‘Abbaas (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) when he saw a man arrive. This man first performed wudhu and then stood to perform salaah. Thereafter, a woman appeared. She also performed wudhu and also stood to perform salaah. A little while later, a young boy arrived who seemed to be eleven years old. He also performed wudhu and stood to perform salaah at the side of this man.
When Sayyiduna ‘Afeef (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) saw them perform salaah, which was a type of worship that he had never seen before, he asked Sayyiduna ‘Abbaas (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), “What religion is this?” Sayyiduna ‘Abbaas (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) replied, “This is the Deen of my nephew, Muhammad bin Abdillah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam). He says that Allah Ta‘ala has made him a Rasul. This young boy is also my nephew and a follower of this Deen. This woman is Sayyidah Khadeejah (radhiyallahu ‘anha), the wife of Muhammad (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam).”
Sayyiduna ‘Afeef Kindi (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) did not accept Islam at that time. Rather, he accepted Islam many years later. He always regretted waiting so long to accept Islam, and would wish that he had accepted Islam that day in Mina, when he saw Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) performing salaah. Sayyiduna ‘Afeef (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) would say, “If only I was the fourth person to embrace Islam!”
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