The Trusty of this Nation

Name: Amer Ibn Abdul Jarrah Ibn Hilal Ibn ‘Uhayb Ibn Dabba Ibn Al-Harith Ibn Fahr Ibn Malik Ibn Al-Nadr Ibn Kinana Ibn Khozayma Al-Qurashy Al-Fahrey.

Kunya (Nickname) & Lineage: Abu Ubayda is his nickname; Al-Jarrah was his grandfather. Therefore, named Abu Ubayda Ibn Al-Jarrah. His lineage meets with prophet Muhammad -peace and blessings be upon him-’s lineage at Fahr.

His Mother ‘Umayma Bint Ghanim Ibn Jaber, she’s his father’s cousin also. She embraced Islam while his father killed as an infidel in the Battle of Badr.

Body Features: He was Thin, bony face, Light beard, tall with broken incisors in his front teeth and dies his hear and beard with Henna.

Among the Muslim pioneers

He was amongst the first to embrace Islam, just a day after Abu Bakr May Allah be pleased with them. Amazingly, he embraced Islam by the efforts of Abu Bakr Himself. Accompanying him along with Abdul Rahman Ibn ‘Awf, Uthman Ibn Math’un and Al-Arqam Ibn Aby Al-Arqam to prophet Muhammad -peace and blessings be upon him- where they embraced Islam at the same moment, this was before prophet Muhammad -peace and blessings be upon him- takes Al-Arqam’s home as a headquarter for his message. They were the foundation that Islam founded on from the beginning.

He is amongst the ten promised with paradise named by the messenger of Allah in a single hadith.

The love of Prophet Muhammad -peace and blessings be upon him- to him

One of the most beloved to the Messenger of Allah .

‘Aysha May Allah be pleased with her was asked, “Whom amongst the companions was most favoured by Prophet Muhammad -peace and blessings be upon him- ?”
She said, “Abu Bakr”
I asked: “Then whom?”
She replied, “Umar”
Then who?
She replied, “Abu Ubayda Ibn Al-Jarrah”,
[Reported by Al-Tirmizi and Ibn Majjah]

‹‹قلت لعائشة أي أصحاب النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم كان أحب إلى رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قالت أبو بكر قلت ثم من قالت عمر قلت ثم من قالت ثم أبو عبيدة بن الجراح››

[رواه الترمذي وابن ماجه]

He Immigrated to Ethiopia and from there to Medina. In Medina the Messenger of Allah associated him as a brother to Mu’az Ibn Jabbal and Aby Talha Al Ansary May Allah be pleased with them All.

The Trusty of this Nation

An envoy from Najjran in Yemen came to the messenger of Allah asking him to send with them a trusted man to teach them their religion. He said, “I will send a trusted man, worthy of trust” Every one of the companions wished to be this person, but the Prophet chose Abu ‘Ubayda, saying, “stand up Abu ‘Ubayda.” [Reported By Al-Bukhari]

‹‹جاء العاقب والسيد ، صاحبا نجران ، إلى رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يريدان أن يلاعناه ، قال: فقال أحدهما لصاحبه: لا تفعل ، فوالله لئن كان نبيا فلاعننا لا نفلح نحن ولا عقبنا من بعدنا. قالا : إنا نعطيك ما سألتنا ، وابعث معنا رجلا أمينا ، ولا تبعث معنا إلا أمينا . فقال : ( لأبعثن معكم رجلا أمينا حق أمين ) . فاستشرف له أصحاب رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ، فقال : ( قم يا أبا عبيدة بن الجراح ) . فلما قام ، قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم : ( هذا أمين هذه الأمة )››

[رواه البخاري]

So he was called the trusty of this nation. Messenger of Allah gave him this name where he said, “Every nation has its trusty, and this nation’s trusty is Abu ‘Ubayda Ibn Al-Jarrah.” [Reported By Al-Bukhari]

‹‹لكل أمة أمين ، وأمين هذه الأمة أبو عبيدة بن الجراح››

[رواه البخاري]

In the Book of Tabakat Ibn Sa’d and Mustadrak Al-Hakem it was stated that when the Caliph of Muslims Umar Ibn Al-Khattab approached Sargh (Village in Tabuk between Al Hijjaz and Al Sham) he was informed that there was a severe epidemic in Al Sham. He then said, “If I die and Abu Ubayda is alive I will appoint him as a successor, thus if Allah Almighty Asks me why did you take him as a successor over the Nation of Muhammad -peace and blessings be upon him-? I will reply saying “I heard the Messenger of Allah saying: (Every nation has its trusty, and this nation’s trusty is Abu ‘Ubayda Ibn Al-Jarrah).

His Asceticism and Piety

A man went to Abu Ubayda, he saw him crying, and he asked him what makes you cry O Abu Ubayda? I’m crying because I heard Messenger of Allah enumerate the victories and bounties showering over Muslims, until he mentioned Al Sham, He said, “Abu Ubayda, if your life extends don’t take more than three servants; one for your own service, one for your voyages and one serves your family and answer their needs. Don’t take more than three sumpters (pack animal); one for your travel, one to carry your things and one for your servant. Now look at my house it is full of servants and my stable is full of sumpters and horses. After that all, how could I meet the Messenger of Allah while he told us, “The most beloved and closest to me amongst you, who meets me (in the Day of Judgment) on the same state he departed me.” [Reported by Ahmad]

‹‹إن أحبكم إلي وأقربكم مني من لقيني على مثل الحال الذي فارقني عليها››

One day, Umar Ibn Al-Khatab asked his companions sitting with him to wish for something. One of them said, “I wish I had a house-full of money that I could spend for sake of Allah”, another said, “I wish for a full-house of gold that I could spend for the sake of Allah.” Umar said, “But I wish for a full-house of Abu Ubayda Ibn Al-Jarrah, Muadh Ibn Jabal and Hudthaifa Ibn Al-Yaman to employ them in what Allah pleases. [On the condition of Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

››وقال عمر بن الخطاب يومًا لجلسائه: تمنوا، فتمنّوا، فقال عمر: لكني أتمنَّى بيتًا ممتلئًا رجالاً مثل أبي عُبَيْدَة بن الجَرَّاح‹‹

على شرط البخاري ومسلم

[المجادلة:22]

Transliteration: Lā Tajidu Qawmāan Yu'uminūna Billāhi Wa Al-Yawmi Al-'Ākhiri Yuwāddūna Man Ĥādda Allāha Wa Rasūlahu Wa Law Kānū 'Ābā'ahum 'Aw 'Abnā'ahum 'Aw 'Ikhwānahum 'Aw Ashīratahum 'Ūlā'ika Kataba Fī Qulūbihimu Al-'Īmāna Wa 'Ayyadahum Birūĥin Minhu Wa Yudkhiluhum Jannātin Tajrī Min Taĥtihā Al-'Anhāru Khālidīna Fīhā Rađiya Allāhu Anhum Wa Rađū Anhu 'Ūlā'ika Ĥizbu Allāhi 'Alā 'Inna Ĥizba Allāhi Humu Al-Mufliĥūna

The Battle of Thata Al Salasel (the battle of the chains)

Musa Ibn ‘Uqbah said (in his battles) said: Amr Ibn Al-As was in the campaign of Thata Al-Salasel, at outskirts of Al-Sham. He requested reinforcement from the messenger of Allah so he sent him Abu Bakr, Umar Ibn Al-khattab and a group of the Emigrants. He appointed Abu Ubayda as chief commander on them, on their arrival to Amr Ibn Al-As, Amr said, “I am your chief commander” the Emigrants replied with rejection, “You’re the chief commander over the soldiers under you and our chief commander is Abu Ubayda.” Amr said, “You’re only a mere reinforcement I ordered for.” When Abu-Ubayda saw the quarrelling, he was a well-mannered man a true follower of the Messenger of Allah and his covenant, so he handed over the leadership to Amr...

The Battle of ‘Uhud

During the Battle of ‘Uhud, Abu Ubayda was amongst a group of people surrounding the Messenger of Allah protecting him. When the Battle ended, the messenger of Allah had broken one of his molars, wounded his forehead and two rings from the battle helmet cleaved to his cheeks. Abu Bakr approached him to pull them out, Abu Ubayda told him, “By Allah leave it to me”, he left it to him, Abu Ubayda feared if he pulls them out the Messenger of Allah would be in pain. So he broke one ring with his teeth grinding it strongly, consequently he lost one of his incisors, he did the same thing to the other ring eventually losing another incisor that is why he was famous to have no front teeth.

Abu Bakr May Allah be pleased with him said, “Abu Ubayda, a unique look despite having no front teeth.

As mentioned in the biographies of Al-Dhahaby, “His incisors were plucked out, until people commented that they never saw someone that unique, without front teeth.

The Shed of Bani Sa’ida

Abu Ubayda accompanied Abu Bakr and Al Faruq Umar while attending the meeting at the Shed of Bani Sa’ida, and after the discussion and debate with the Ansar Abu Bakr May Allah be pleased with him said, “I would nominate one of these two men Umar Ibn Al-Khattab and Abu Ubayda Ibn Al-Jarrah.” (Nominated for being Caliph)

The expedition of Al-Khabtt

Abu Ubayda was a unique leader, for that reason the messenger of Allah appointed him as chief commander on a number of battles and expeditions. Once, the messenger of Allah appointed him on over three hundred men in the dispatch of Saif Al Bahr (Sea Edge).

Jabir reported, “Allah’s Messenger sent us (on an expedition) and appointed Abu 'Ubayda our chief that we might intercept a caravan of Quraish and provided us with a bag of dates. He found for us nothing besides it. Abu Ubayda gave each of us one date (everyday). I (Abu Zubair, one of the narrators) asked: What did you do with that? He said, “We sucked that just as a baby sucks and then drank water over that, and it sufficed us for the day until night.” We grounded some leaves with the help of our staffs, drenched them with water and ate them. We then went to the coast of the sea, and there rose before our site on the coast of the sea something like a big mound. We approached it and we found that it was a beast, called al-'Anbar (spermaceti whale). Abu 'Ubayda said, “It is a dead mammal (Thinking it’s impermissible to eat because it wasn’t slaughtered according to Sharia Law). He then said: No (but it does not matter), we have been sent by the Messenger of Allah (May peace be upon him) in the path of Allah and you are hard pressed (on account of the scarcity of food), so you could eat that. We, three hundred in number stayed there for a month, until we grew bulky. He (Jabir) said: I saw how we extracted pitcher after pitcher full of fat from the cavity of its eye and sliced from it compact piece of meat equal to a bull or like a bull. Abu 'Ubayda called forth thirteen men from us and he made them sit in the cavity of its eye, and he took hold of one of the ribs of its chest and made it stand and then saddled the biggest of the camels we had with us and it passed under it (the arched rib). We then provided ourselves with pieces of boiled meat (especially for use in our journey). When we came back to Medina, we went to Allah's Messenger and we mentioned that to him, whereupon he said: That was a provision that Allah had brought forth for you. Is there any piece of meat (left) with you, so that you give to us that? He (Jabir) said: We sent to Allah's Messenger some of that (a piece of meat) and he ate it. [Reported by Muslim]

‹‹بعثنا رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم وأمر علينا أبا عبيدة . نتلقى عيرا لقريش . وزودنا جرابا من تمر لم يجد لم غيره . فكان أبو عبيدة يعطينا تمرة تمرة . قال فقلت : كيف كنتم تصنعون بها ؟ قال : نمصها كما يمص الصبي . ثم نشرب عليها من الماء . فتكفينا يومنا إلى الليل . وكنا نضرب بعصينا الخبط . ثم نبله بالماء فنأكله . قال وانطلقنا على ساحل البحر . فرفع لنا على ساحل البحر كهيئة الكثيب الضخم . فأتيناه فإذا هي دابة تدعى العنبر . قال : قال أبو عبيدة : ميتة . ثم قال : لا . بل نحن رسل رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم . وفي سبيل الله . وقد اضطررتم فكلوا . قال : فأقمنا عليه شهرا . ونحن ثلاث مائة حتى سمنا . قال : ولقد رأيتنا نغترف من وقب عينه ، بالقلال ، الدهن . ونقتطع منه الفدر كالثور ( أو كقدر الثور ) فلقد أخذ منا أبو عبيدة ثلاثة عشر رجلا . فأقعدهم في وقب عينه . وأخذ ضلعا من أضلاعه . فأقامها . ثم رحل أعظم بعير معنا . فمر من تحتها . وتزودنا من لحمه وشائق . فلما قدمنا المدينة أتينا رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم . فذكرنا ذلك له . فقال ( هو رزق أخرجه الله لكم . فهل معكم من لحمه شيء فتطعمونا ؟ ) قال : فأرسلنا إلى رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم منه . فأكله››

[رواه مسلم]

Commander of Al Sham

Abu Ubayda May Allah be pleased with him was one of the chief commanders sent to Al Sham in the era of Caliph Abu Bakr May Allah be pleased with him where he opened Damascus.

When Umar Ibn Al-Khattab May Allah be pleased with him was assigned as Caliph, he removed Khalid Ibn Al-Waleed from leading the army set-out to Al Sham and appointed Abu Ubayda instead subsequently Khalid said, “The trusty of this nation is assigned as commander on you (the army).” Then Abu Ubayda said, “I heard the Messenger of Allah say: “Khalid is one of Allah’s Swords and he is a pleasant brother”” [Reported by Ahmad and Authenticated by Al-Albani]

‹‹خالد سيف من سيوف الله - عز وجل - ؛ ونعم فتى العشيرة! ‹‹

[رواه أحمد وصححه الألباني]

Narrated by Aby Al-Zubayr through Jabir May Allah be pleased with them say, “ I was amongst the army of Khalid sent as reinforcement to Abu Ubayda when he was under siege in Damascus, when we arrived Abu Ubayda asked Khalid to lead the prayer as Imam, telling him you are much worthy of it, because you came to reinforce me. Khalid refused saying, “How could I lead in front a man knowing that the messenger of Allah saying about him: (Every nation has its trusty, and this nation’s trusty is Abu ‘Ubayda Ibn Al-Jarrah)

‹‹لكل أمة أمين ، وأمين هذه الأمة أبو عبيدة بن الجراح‹‹

[رواه البخاري]

Abu Ubayada May Allah be pleased with him was known for his endless worship, living a life of content and asceticism. When Umar Ibn Al-khattab May Allah be pleased with him arrived at Al Sham the army leaders and nobilities received him, Umar enquired, “My brother” they asked, “who?” he replied, “Abu Ubayda,” they answered, “he will be here in a while.” After a while he arrived on a nose banded She-Camel, he greeted Umar and acquired about his state, then he asked the people to leave, so they did. He escorted him until they arrived at Abu Ubayda’s home; it was empty of any furniture except for his sword, armour, and saddle. Umar said, “If you just fixed yourself some furniture or maybe something of that.” Abu Ubayda Said, “O Caliph of the believers this will get us to where we intend to be (Paradise).”

Umar sent to Abu Ubayda with his servant four hundred Dinars and asked him to stay at Abu Ubayda’s house for a while and observe him, how does he dispose this money. The servant set-off to Abu Ubayda’s residence saying to him, “The Caliph of the believers sent you this to be under your disposal.” He then said, “May Allah alleviate and have mercy on him” he then called on his maidservant and told her, “Take seven dinars to this person and five to another and another five to so-and-so until he disposed it all Ibn Sa’d

‹‹أن عمر بن الخطاب أخذ أربعمئة دينار ، فجعلها في صرة ، فقال للغلام : اذهب بها إلى أبي عبيدة بن الجراح ، ثم تله في البيت ساعة ؛ تنظر ما يصنع ؟ فذهب بها الغلام إليه ، فقال : يقول لك أمير المؤمنين : اجعل هذه في بعض حاجتك . فقال : وصله الله ورحمه ، ثم قال : تعالي يا جارية ! اذهبي بهذه السبعة إلى فلان ، وبهذه الخمسة إلى فلان ، وبهذه الخمسة إلى فلان ، حتى أنفذها ، ورجع الغلام إلى عمر ، فأخبره ، فوجده قد أعد مثلها لمعاذ بن جبل ، فقال : اذهب بها إلى معاذ بن جبل ، وتله في البيت ساعة حتى تنظر ما يصنع ؟ فذهب بها إليه ، فقال : يقول لك أمير المؤمنين : اجعل هذه في بعض حاجتك ، فقال رحمه الله ووصله ، تعالي يا جارية ! اذهبي إلى بيت فلان بكذا ، اذهبي إلى بيت فلان بكذا ، اذهبي إلى بيت فلان بكذا ، فاطلعت امرأة معاذ وقالت : نحن والله مساكين ؛ فأعطنا ، فلم يبق في الخرقة إلا ديناران ، فدحى بهما إليها ، ورجع الغلام إلى عمر فأخبره ، فسر بذلك ، فقال : إنهم إخوة ، بعضهم من بعض››

[قال الألباني حسن موقوف]

In another narration by Aby Dawud in his Sunan That Umar Ibn Al-Khattab May Allah be pleased with him said, “The worldly matters has changed us all except you Abu Ubayda”

Abu Ubayda used to say, “Many who would bleach his cloth and stains his faith, and many who think they honour their souls while degrading it! Strive to replace the old sins with new good deeds. [Reported by Aby Nu’aym and Ibn Abdul Bar]

His Death

In the year 18 Hijri, infected by the epidemic of Emmaus - It is named Emmaus after the town it appeared in, and it is between Al Ramlah and Jerusalem – which broke loose and spread. At that time, Abu Ubayda was the chief commander of the Muslim army at Al-Sham; Umar had knowledge of this so he wrote to Abu Ubayda telling him, “I need you in an urgent matter please come quickly”. When Abu Ubayda read the letter, he knew that the Caliph of the believers wanted to save him from the epidemic, then he remembered what the messenger of Allah said, “Death in epidemic is martyrdom to any Muslim.” [Agreed upon]

‹‹الطاعون شهادة لكل مسلم‹‹

[متفق عليه]

He sent back to Umar saying, “I know what you intend, despair me from your will because I’m one of the Muslim soldiers, I won’t despair myself on their account”. When Umar read the letter, he cried, the people asked did Abu Ubayda Die?! He said, “No” but it looks like that.

Umar Ibn Al-Khattab wrote to him again ordering him to relocate at Al-Jabya instead of Emmaus so the epidemic does not wipe-out the whole army. He carried out his order and delegated Mu’adth Ibn Jabbal after being infected with the epidemic.

In the Biographies of Al-Dhahaby narrated by Al-‘Aswad Ibn Urwah, that the Epidemic of Emmaus didn’t affect Abu Ubayda and his family. Abu Ubayda (may Allah be pleased with him) then supplicated to Allah saying, “Where is the share of Abu Ubayda’s household.” After that a pimple on his pinkie appeared, it was the beginning of his epidemic infection. Thirty-six thousand soldiers were in his army, only six thousand remained.

He died at an age of eighty-five, Mu’az Ibn Jabbal prayed on him. He was buried in Beisan in the district of Al Sham May Allah have mercy on him. He narrated fourteen Hadith from Prophet Muhammad -peace and blessings be upon him-.



Translated by Wathakker.info website