Asalamu Aalikum
Waalaikumasalam ,Yousuf uncle
Don't you have school today?
No uncle, it's a holiday for us.
Can you please tell me a story today?
I am so glad that you like the stories of Sahabahs.
Inshallah, I will tell you a new story today.
Today I'm going to tell you the story of Abu Ubaidah ibn al-Jarrah (Rali Allahu Anhu)
Ma sahallah, that sounds great!
Story of Abu Ubaidah ibn al-Jarrah (Rali Allahu Anhu)
Bismillahirrahmanirrahim!
Abu Ubaidah ibn al-Jarrah (Rali Allahu Anhu)
was one of the companions of Prophet Muhammad(Sallallahu alaihi wasallam).
He was one of the ten companions of the Prophet Muhammad(Sallallahu alaihi wasallam)
He was faithful to the Prophet and his religion.
He remained the commander of a large section of the Muslim armies
during the time of Umar(Rali Allahu Anhu) as Caliph.
He was also on the list of 'Umar's appointed successors to the Caliphate.
Abu Ubaidah (Rali Allahu Anhu)
was born in the year 583 CE
in the house of 'Abdullah ibn al-Jarrah,
who was a merchant by profession.
Abu Ubaidah belonged to the Qurayshi clan of Banu al-Harith ibn Fihr.
Even before his conversion to Islam,
he was considered to be one of the nobles of the Qurayshi clan
of Makkah for his modesty and bravery.
When he got converted to Islam,
Abu Ubaidah(Rali Allahu Anhu) had to live through the harsh experiences
like every other Muslims in Makkah.
He endured the insults and oppressions of the Qurayshis
The violence against the Muslims
grew many folds as the first migration happened.
Being the only person in his clan to have accepted Islam,
Abu Ubaidah was considered as a major enemy by his clan.
[---Birds chirping---]
He loved the Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam)
so much that he always wished to spend his time with him.
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Since the enemies were getting stronger day by day,
the Prophet(Sallallahu alaihi wasallam) decided to migrate to Medina.
When the Prophet Mohammed (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam)
migrated from Mecca to Medina,
Abu Ubaidah(Rali Allahu Anhu) also migrated with him.
When the Prophet Mohammed (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam)
arrived at Medina,
he paired off each of his immigrant companions,
with one of the residents of Medina.
Abu Ubaidah loved the Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam )
and his people,
and he was very loyal to them.
Hence he was appointed as the Aamil
or the tax collector of Bahrain by the Prophet Mohammed (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam)
He was a great soldier as well,
and he always fought for the prosperity of Muslims.
Abu Ubaidah(Rali Allahu Anhu)
participated in the first major battle
between the Muslims and the Quraysh of Mecca,
at the Battle of Badr.
Abu Ubaidah(Rali Allahu Anhu) was a great humanitarian too.
He was always concerned about the others.
During the time of great famine,
Arabia fell into a severe drought.
A large number of people
began to perish from hunger and epidemic diseases.
Both resulting from the drought.
Countless number of people throughout Arabia gathered at Medina,
as food was being rationed.
Medina's food reserves were getting depleted.
But people waited outside in the queue,
hoping to get some food.
They were sure that their beloved Caliph would find a way to feed them.
To find a solution for this problem,
Umar(Rali Allahu Anhu) as a Caliph wrote to the governors of his provinces,
requesting their help
As soon as the letter reached Abu Ubaidah(Rali Allahu Anhu),
he responded without wasting any time.
He wrote in his letter
"I am sending you the Caravans whose one end will be here at Syria
and the other will be at Madinah."
Abu Ubaidah's caravans of food supplies were the first to reach Medina,
with 4,000 camels arriving loaded with supplies!!
Umar (Rali Allahu Anhu) was quite surprised,
as it was something more than what he had expected.
Umar(Rali Allahu Anhu) as a Caliph
was unable to handle the overwhelming amount of food supply.
He then appointed Abu Ubaidah (Rali Allahu Anhu)
to distribute this among thousands of people
living in the outskirts of Medina.
Umar (Rali Allahu Anhu) as a Caliph was very much impressed
with Abu Ubaidah (Rali Allahu Anhu)'s generous aid,
and his efforts during the time of extreme crisis.
Umar (Rali Allahu Anhu) as a Caliph provided a stipend to him
as a token of appreciation.
However, he refused it.
He said that what he had done was his duty
and that it was for the sake of Allah.
Nine months had passed since the famine,
and now they had to face a new problem
An epidemic plague broke out in Syria,
the land where Abu Ubaidah lived.
Many people had died,
and the plague continued to take the lives of people living there.
Umar(Rali Allahu Anhu) as a Caliph had been travelling to Syria,
when the news of plague reached him.
Caliph returned to the Syrian border
as advised by his companions..
Abu Ubaidah (Rali Allahu Anhu) met him there and asked:
"Oh our beloved Umar
do you run from Allah's will?"
Umar (Rali Allahu Anhu) was shocked by this and said in sorrow:
"I wish someone other than you
would have said this, Abu Ubaidah.
Yes I am running from Allah's will,
but to Allah's will".
Caliph returned from Syria
because Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam)
had once instructed
that one should not enter the place
where there is an epidemic disease
unless it is absolutely safe.
The plague had devastated the population of Syria,
and that's why the Caliph cancelled his visit,
and returned to his place.
Caliph Umar (Rali Allahu Anhu) always wanted to make
Abu Ubaidah (Rali Allahu Anhu) his successor.
Hence he was very much concerned about his health.
He did not want him to stay in Syria.
Umar (Rali Allahu Anhu) dispatched a messenger to Abu Ubaidah (Rali Allahu Anhu)
with a letter saying:
"I am in urgent need of you.
If my letter reaches you at night
I strongly urge you to leave before dawn.
If this letter reaches you during the day,
I strongly urge you to leave before evening and speed up to me".
Abu Ubaidah (Rali Allahu Anhu)
was very loyal to his people
and hence he never wanted to leave them in the middle of the crisis.
Hence he wrote a reply to Umar (Rali Allahu Anhu):
I know that you need me.
But I am with an army of Muslims
and I have no desire
to save myself from what is afflicting them.
I do not want to separate from them until Allah permits me to do so.
So, when this letter reaches you,
release me from your command and permit me to stay on".
When Caliph Umar (Rali Allahu Anhu) read this letter,
tears filled his eyes.
Those who were with him asked him whether he was alive or not.
Caliph replied that death was very near to him.
Caliph Umar (Rali Allahu Anhu) Sent another message to him
requesting him to at least move to any highland
with a less humid environment for a better health.
Abu Ubaidah obeyed what the Caliph suggested.
He moved to Jabyia, small hill, along with his men.
Another reason why Abu Ubaydah (Rali Allahu Anhu) did not leave Syria
was because of what Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam)
had once ordered.
He had ordered that if a state is being hit by a plague,
none from the state should escape
and none from outside shall enter it.
This shows how much loyal person
he was to the Prophet Muhammad (Salallahu alaihi wasallam)
As soon as Abu Ubaidah (Rali Allahu) moved to Jabyia,
he became infected with the plague.
He then appointed Muadh ibn Jabal as his successor
and ordered him to lead people in prayers.
After the prayers Muadh went to him.
It was at that moment that his soul departed.
He chose to live a simple life,
opting for the most modest of garments
when compared to some of the other sahabas.
His appearance was striking, slim and tall,
his face was bright
and he had a sparse beard.
It was pleasing to look at him and refreshing to meet him.
He was extremely courteous and humble and quite shy as well.
Yet in a tough situation he would become strikingly serious and alert.
He was such a great person, right Abu?
Mashallah! Yes, uncle.
He was truly a great man.
I am leaving now and I will tell you another story tomorrow.
May Allah bless you.
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