ABU UBAIDAH BIN AL JARRAH RADIALLAHO ANHU
Sahaba Series : Our Heroes, Our Role Models
THE TRUSTEE OF THE UMMAH
The image of dignity and grace, a handsome, pleasant, well spoken man with a tall, slim physique and bright sharp eyes. These were the physical good looks of a man whom the Prophet May Allah send his peace and blessings upon him said: ‘Every Ummah (nation) has a trustee: the trustee of my Ummah (nation) is Abu Ubaidah bin Al-Jarrah.’
By character and nature, he was very humble and modest. Amongst his friends, he was gentle and soft as silk. When it came to war, he was as hard as iron. During the battle of Uhud, he lost his two front teeth. It was within this battle that two of the iron links of the Prophet May Allah send his peace and blessings upon him’s helmet pierced his blessed head. Hazrat Ubaidah bin Al-Jarrah (May Allah be pleased with him) pulled them out with his teeth. His integrity and honesty was unparalleled even amongst the companions of the Holy Prophet May Allah send his peace and blessings upon him.
His real name was Amir ibn Abdullah bin Al-Jarrah, but he became famous as Abu Ubaidah bin Al-Jarrah (May Allah be pleased with him) Hazrat Abdullah ibn Umar( May Allah be pleased with him )says that amongst the tribe of the Quraish there were three people in whom manners and modesty excelled all others. They also had the gift of eloquent and gentle speech. If people looked at them, they wished to keep on looking at them. In his opinion, the three people were:
1. Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddique (May Allah be pleased with him)
2. Hazrat Uthman ibn Affaan (May Allah be pleased with him)
3. Hazrat Abu Ubaidah ibn Al Jarrah( May Allah be pleased with him)
Hazrat Ubaidah bin Al-Jarrah (May Allah be pleased with him )was amongst those very first distinguished companions who had accepted Islam. He passed every trial and tribulation with flying colours. The difficult situations created by the Quraish were met with courage and patience. During these times of hardship, he and the other companions of the Holy Prophet May Allah send his peace and blessings upon him remained steadfast.
He sincerely and honestly recognized the authenticity and truth of the Prophet May Allah send his peace and blessings upon him as the Messenger of Allah Taa’la. He never gave any signs of despair.
One of the greatest tests faced was at the battle of Badr, it was so critical that it is beyond human comprehension. Hazrat Ubaidah bin Al-Jarrah (May Allah be pleased with him) advanced into the midst of the battle field, tearing his way in. This made the people run here and there, helter skelter. Everytime he advanced towards a person on horse back, they made way for him, but there was one man among them who would stand in front of him and challenge him, and try to attack him. When Hazrat Abu Ubaidah bin Al-Jarrah (May Allah be pleased with him) realised that this person was his father, he was stunned and shocked. Hazrat Ubaidah bin Al-Jarrah (May Allah be pleased with him )was forced to attack him and he was removed from the face of this earth. Just imagine what love Hazrat Ubaidah bin Al-Jarrah had for Allah and his Nabi that not he would not even allow his father to stand in the way of the deen of Allah. Anything was possible for such people in Islam, nothing could stop them from believing in one Allah and his beloved Messenger Muhammed( May Allah send his peace and blessings upon him.)
Towards the latter part of his life, Hazrat Abu Ubaidah bin Al-Jarrah (May Allah be pleased with him) took residence in Syria. Within this time a fatal disease of plague spread in the city as it had never before. People were affected by it rapidly. When Hazrat Umar Farooq( May Allah be pleased with him) came to know of this, he sent a letter with a messenger to Hazrat Abu Ubaidah bin Al-Jarrah( May Allah be pleased with him.)
He wrote in the letter that he had some important business with him, and he wanted him to make preparations and immediately set out for Madinah Munawwarah to meet him. He was not to delay. If the letter reached him in the morning, then he was to leave by night and if it reached him by night then he had to set out before morning.
When Hazrat Abu Ubaidah bin Al-Jarrah (May Allah be pleased with him) read the letter, he sorrowfully said that he knew what the important business was. Hazrat Umar( May Allah be pleased with him )wanted to keep alive a man who was not born to live in this world forever. He then wrote a reply to the leader of the Muslims, Hazrat Umar( May Allah be pleased with him), after greeting him, he said that he knew what work he had for him and that the Muslims were facing severe problems, he could not leave them alone in this state, unless it was Allah Taa’las will as He is the one who decides on their fate.
He appealed to Hazrat Umar ( May Allah be pleased with him) to consider him helpless to obey his commands in this matter and requested him to give him permission to stay with the Muslims.
When Hazrat Umar (May Allah be pleased with him ) received this letter and read it, his eyes brimmed with tears, the companions sitting around him were shocked to see this and asked him if there was some tragic news, if the commander of the Muslims, Hazrat Abu Ubaidah bin Al-Jarrah (May Allah be pleased with him) had passed away. He answered:
“No, but death is very near him.”
Hazrat Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)’s statement turned out to be true and correct. A few days later, Hazrat Abu Ubaidah bin Al-Jarrah (May Allah be pleased with him )was struck by the plague.
In Hazrat Abu Ubaidah bin Al-Jarrah May Allah be pleased with him’s last days, he made the following statement to the Muslims:
“Today, I am giving you some advice. If you accept it, you will find peace and security to be your companions:
• Establish ‘Salaah’, be regular in your prayer
•Fast during the month of Ramadhan
•Give sacrifices and be charitable often
•Perform the Hajj
• Perform the Umrah
•Encourage and instruct each other to do good actions
• Wish your rulers well and be loyal to them
•Never deceive your rulers
• Be careful that you perform your duties and not be lost in worldly pursuits
Listen carefully to what I have to say next: ‘Even if a man gets to live a thousand years, one day he will be in the same position in which you see me today, no one can escape death.’
“My greetings of peace to all of you. May there be countless blessings of Allah the merciful on you all.”
He then turned to Hazrat Muaz bin Jabal May Allah be pleased with him and said,
“Lead the men well in prayers, May Allah protect you!”
With these humble words on his lips, he became the beloved of Allah Taa’la.
“To Allah we belong and to Him we shall return.”
Muaz ibn Jabal May Allah be pleased with him stood up and told the people with quivering lips and a trembling voice:
“Brothers in Islam, you are sunk in grief today for a man who was more good hearted than any of us. He had a pure heart free from malice and envy. He was a man who loved the hereafter and was a well-wisher of each one of us.”
He was a man whom was given the title ‘Aminul Ummah’, the trustee of this nation and during his lifetime on this earth given the glad tidings that he would go to paradise by the Prophet May Allah send his peace and blessings upon him. He was a very blessed man, indeed!
Let us all pray for him and his position in paradise be ever exalted.
May Allah Taa’la shower blessings on him and our Prophet May Allah send his peace and blessings upon him. Ameen
YOU ARE READING
Stories of Sahaba رضي الله عنه
EspiritualAssalaamu alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh This book will contain stories of the Sahaba (R.A) In sha Allah A sahabi is a person who brought Imaan, stayed in the company of our beloved Prophet and died in the state of Imaan..
