Abu Ubayda Bin Jarrah

 

Abu Ubayda was tall and thin.  He had a pleasant face.

 Everyone liked to look at his warm smile.  He was courteous, humble and shy.  But at the same time he was very serious and alert.

Abdullah bin Omar, one of the companions of the Prophet, said,  “Three people of the Qureish are the best-looking, of the best character and the shyest.  They speak only the truth.  They are Abu Bakr, Osman Ibn Affan and Abu Ubayda.”

Abu Ubayda was one of the first Muslims.  He accepted Islam the day after Abu Bakr did.  In fact, he became Muslim with Abu Bakr’s help.  Abu Ubayda went through many trials and difficulties along with the other early Muslims.  He was faithful in the face of every kind of hardship.

In the Battle of Badr, Abu Ubayda faced a very hard and unusual test.  Abu Ubayda was not afraid of death or the enemy.  But the pagan enemy soldiers were afraid of him.  Except for one person, they all ran away from him.  That person followed Abu Ubayda everywhere he went.  Abu Ubayda tried to avoid him.  He even changed his path.  But the man kept following him.  Finally, Abu Ubayda attacked the man with his sword.  The enemy fell to the ground dead.

Who was that man?   It was Abu Ubayda’s father.  Of course, Abu Ubayda did not want to kill his father.  But his father was a pagan and an enemy of God.

God sent a verse about this:

‘You will not find a people who believe in God and the Last Day making friends with those who oppose God and His Messenger even if these people were their fathers, their sons, their brothers or their relatives.  God has placed faith in their hearts and strengthened them with a spirit from Him.  He will cause them to enter gardens beneath which streams flow that they may dwell therein.  God is well pleased with them and they are well pleased with Him.  They are the party of God.  Is not the party of God the successful one?’ (58:22)

One day a Christian delegation came to the Prophet and said, “O Abu Kasim, send one of your companions with us.  We have a disagreement over dividing some goods.  Send us a good judge.  We trust Muslims.”

The Prophet said, “Come back to me this afternoon.  I’ll send someone trustworthy then.”

Omar bin Hattab heard about this and went to the midday prayer.  He hoped he would be chosen as judge.  After the salat finished, the Prophet began looking around at the Muslims.  Omar tried to make himself seen.  But the Prophet kept looking.  Then he saw Abu Ubayda and chose him.

“Go with the Christians,” said the Prophet to Abu Ubayda.  “Give a just decision on the disputed matter.”

One day, the Prophet sent a group of companions to meet a Qureish caravan.  He made Abu Ubayda their ameer.  The Prophet gave them a bag of dates.  There were no other provisions.  Each day Abu Ubayda gave the men one date and a little water.  That’s all they had to eat the whole day.

During the Battle of Uhud the Muslims were losing.  A pagan shouted, “Show me Muhammad.  Show me Muhammad.”  Ten Muslims were protecting the Prophet.  Abu Ubayda was one of them.

During the battle one of the Prophet’s teeth was broken and his forehead was cut.  Also two rings from his shield entered his cheek.  Abu Ubayda went to pull out the rings.

Abu Ubayda said, “Please let me take them out.”  He was afraid his hand would hurt the Prophet.  So he removed one of the rings with his tooth.  But his tooth fell to the ground.  He removed the other ring with another tooth.  That tooth, too, fell to the ground.

Abu Bakr said, “Abu Ubayda is the best of teeth-breaking men.”

Abu Ubayda was with the Prophet throughout his lifetime.  After the Prophet’s death the companions gathered to choose a leader.  That day is known as the Day of Saqifah.  On that day Omar wanted to choose Abu Ubayda as leader.  But Abu Ubayda didn’t accept.  He wanted Abu Bakr to be leader.

Abu Ubayda helped both Abu Bakr and Omar during their caliphates.  Only once did Abu Ubayda disobey Omar.  At that time Abu Ubayda was leading the Muslim forces and winning victories in Syria.

There was a dangerous plague then in Syria.  Omar sent a letter to Abu Ubayda.  The letter read, ‘I need your help immediately.  I must see you.  Come as soon as you get this letter.’  Abu Ubayda understood why Omar wanted him to come.

He answered the letter, “I know you need me.  But I am at the head of a Muslim army.  I don’t want to save only myself.  I don’t want to leave them until God wills.  Please change your decision.  Give me permission to stay.”

Omar cried when he got the answer.  Shortly after that Abu Ubayda got the plague.

 

On his deathbed he gave this advice to his men, “If you accept this advice, you will be happy all your lives.  Perform salat, fast during Ramadan, give zakat and charity and perform the pilgrimage.  Advise good acts to one another.  Don’t ignore the advice of your leaders.  We must all face death.  Peace and mercy be upon you.”

After that he turned to Muaz bin Jabal and said, “Muaz, you lead the prayer.”  Then his spirit departed.

Muaz stood up and said, “O people, Abu Ubayda was the most righteous, the farthest from evil and the most sincere of people.  May God send His mercy to him and to you.”