Thread by @sirnucy

Know your heroes series 4

أمين الأمة: أبو عبيدة عامر بن عبد الله بن الجراح

Abū ‘Ubaydah ‘Āmir ibn ‘Abdillāh ibn al-Jarrāḥ

1. Abū ‘Ubaydah (may Allāh be pleased with him) was one of the most distinguished companions of the noble Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.

2. He was one of the earliest reverts to Islām. It is said that he accepted Islām together with the likes of ‘Uthmān bn Madh’ūn, ‘Abdurrahmān bn ‘Awf. He was one of the ten companions of the Prophet ﷺ who received glad tidings of Jannah.

3. Abū ‘Ubaydah was one of the most beloved persons to the Prophet ﷺ. ‘Ibn Hibbaan narrated in his Saheeh on the authority of ‘Amru bn al-‘Ās who said, “I asked Allāh’s Messenger, ‘Who is the most beloved person to you?’ Abū ‘Ubaydah was one of the most beloved persons to

4. the Prophet ﷺ. ‘Ibn Hibbān narrated in his Sahīh on the authority of ‘Amru bn al-‘Ās who said, “I asked Allāh’s Messenger, ‘Who is the most beloved person to you?’ He replied:

عائشةُ، قيل: مِن الرِّجالِ؟ قال: أبو بكرٍ، قيل: ثمَّ مَن؟ قال: عمَرُ، قيل: ثمَّ مَن؟

5.
قال: أبو عُبَيدةَ بنُ الجرَّاحِ

“‘Ā'isha.” I said, among men? He said, “Abūbakr”. I said, then who? He said, “Umar”. I said, then who? He said, “‘Abū ‘Ubaydah ibn al-Jarrāḥ”.

Abū ‘Ubaydah participated actively in all the battles fought by the Prophet ﷺ.

6. In fact, he was described as one of the best knights in the Muslim army. At the battle of Badr, Abū ‘Ubaydah came face to face with his father who was a kaafir and an enemy of Islām and the Muslims. At first, he tried to avoid his father who was aiming to kill him.

7. However, when his father would not stop charging at him, Abū ‘Ubaydah attacked and killed him. His heart was broken, and he became cold and sober. In recognition of Abū ‘Ubaydah’s huge sacrifice for Islām, Allāh revealed the following verse:

8.
لَّا تَجِدُ قَوْمًا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَـهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ يُوَادُّونَ مَنْ حَادَّ اللّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ وَلَوْ كَانُوا آبَاءَهُمْ...

“You will not find a people who believe in Alla6h & the Last Day having affection for those who oppose Allāh and His Messenger,

9.even if they were their father...”

On hearing this, Abū ‘Ubaydah became relieved and his resolve and steadfastness grew even stronger. His sacrifice was not in vain.

At the  battle of Uhud, when many of the Sahābah fled after the enemies launched a surprise comeback

10. against the faithful, Abū ‘Ubaydah was one of those that stayed back and encircled the Prophet ﷺ, defending him against enemy’s attack. After the battle, it was discovered that the Prophet ﷺ had sustained several wounds to the extent that his molar teeth was broken,

11. his forehead was bashed in and two discs from his shield had penetrated into his cheeks. Abūbakr was about to remove them when Abū ‘Ubaydah came forward and said, “Please leave that to me."

He was scared that removing it would cause the Prophet ﷺ so much pain and 1

12. he could not allow that to happen. So, instead of using his hand to remove it, he bent over and used his teeth so as to ease the pains. Sadly, he lost two of his incisor teeth in the process. He sacrificed his teeth to ease the pains of the Prophet ﷺ.

Allāhu Akbar!!!

13. When the delegates of Najrān came to the Prophet ﷺ and sought that he send to them a trusted person to judge among them, he said:  لأبعثنَّ معكم رجلاً أميناً حقَّ أمينٍ “I will send with you one who is strong and most trustworthy.' Umar ibn al-Khattāb who heard

14. the Prophet saying this became covetous of this task, so he said:

"I went to the Zuhr prayer early hoping to be the one who would fit the description of the Prophet ﷺ . After the Prayer, the Prophet ﷺ began looking to his right and his left and I raised myself so that

15. he could see me. But he continued searching until he spotted Abū ‘Ubaydah. He called him and said,

قُمْ يا أبا عبيدةِ بنِ الجراحِ، فلمّا قام، قال رسولُ اللهِ صلّى اللهُ عليهِ وسلَّمَ: هذا أمينُ هذهِ الأمّةِ

'Stand up o Abū ‘Ubaydah.’ After he stood up, Allāh’s Messenger ﷺ

16. said, ‘This is the most trustworthy man of this Ummah.”

After the Prophet ﷺ passed away, and the Ansars tried to appoint a leader amongst themselves, Abū ‘Ubaydah went in company of both Abubakr and Umar to meet them to resolve the impending imbroglio before it degenerates.

17. After Abūbakr had made his speech & asked d pple to choose btwn his companions, ‘Umar said to Abū ‘Ubaydah, “Stretch forth ur hand & I'll swear allegiance to you fir I heard d Prophet, say, إنَّ لكلِّ أمَّةٍ أميناً، وإنَّ أميننَا، أيَّتُها الأمَّةُ، أبو عبيدةَ بنُ الجرََّاح

18. “Every ummah has an amin (custodian) and you, Abū ‘Ubaydah bn al-Jarrāḥ are the amin of this ummah.'

However, Abū ‘Ubaydah refused vehemently and said to Umar, I will not put myself forward in the presence of a man whom the Prophet ﷺ commanded to lead us in

19. prayer & who led us right until d Prophet's death." So he pledged allegiance to Abūbakr & Umar followed suit & others too.

Abū ‘Ubaydah was hit by a devastating plague in Syria during d time of Umar. He died towards d tail end of 18AH.

رضي الله عنك يا أمين الأمة!!!!!