Part of The Ten Given Glad Tidings of Paradise (series completed)
· Lesson 27 of 30
The ten promised Paradise | Episode (27) | Abu Ubaidah bin Al-Jarrah, may God be pleased with him (Part 1)
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Transcript
Machine translation — may contain errors
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In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
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Mawaddah Association
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Presents: "The Ten Promised Paradise"
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Abu Ubaydah ibn al-Jarrah (may Allah be pleased with him)
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Love for the Companions and the Prophet's kin is a Sunnah
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By which I shall meet my Lord as long as I live.
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"Every nation has a trustworthy custodian,
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and the trustworthy custodian of this Ummah is
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Abu Ubaydah ibn al-Jarrah."
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With these magnificent words,
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the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) adorned
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the noble head of Abu Ubaydah (may Allah be pleased with him),
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robing him in garments of honor and distinction.
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Who, then, is this Abu Ubaydah?
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Let us live through his biography
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and drink deeply from his traditions.
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He is the revered Companion,
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'Amir ibn 'Abd Allah ibn al-Jarrah,
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of the Quraysh tribe, from the clan of Banu Fihr—
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known as Abu Ubaydah.
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He embraced Islam early, at the very inception of the Prophetic call,
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and endured his share of the harm his companions suffered in the cause of Allah.
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He possessed vast knowledge of the Book and the Sunnah,
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was a dignified master held in high esteem among his people,
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and was an expert in combat, intimately seasoned in war—
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which made him a seasoned commander,
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placed at the forefront of military expeditions and raids.
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May Allah be pleased with him, he was
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a slender man,
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lean-faced,
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sparse-bearded,
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tall, and missing his two front central teeth,
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who dyed his hair with henna and *katam*.
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He had two braids—
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that is, two plaits of hair—
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which he wrapped and tucked behind his ears.
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Abu Ubaydah
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loved the Prophet (peace be upon him)
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with a love that penetrated to the very depths of his heart.
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This was manifest in his constant companionship with him (peace be upon him)
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in every battle,
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and his defending him with all devotion and strength.
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The Prophet (peace be upon him) reciprocated
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his love with love, and his closeness with closeness.
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'A'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) was asked,
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"Which of the Companions of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him)
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was most beloved to him?"
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She replied, "Abu Bakr."
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It was asked, "Then who?"
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She replied, "Then 'Umar."
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It was asked, "Then who?"
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She replied, "Then Abu Ubaydah ibn al-Jarrah."
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It was asked, "Then who?"
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And she remained silent.
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The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:
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"What an excellent man is Abu Bakr,
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what an excellent man is 'Umar,
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and what an excellent man is Abu Ubaydah ibn al-Jarrah."
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Among the evidence showing his status with the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him)
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was his selecting him to accompany the people of Yemen
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when they came to him and said,
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"Send with us a trustworthy man
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to teach us the Sunnah and Islam."
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So the Prophet (peace be upon him) took
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Abu Ubaydah by the hand
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and said, "This is the trustworthy custodian of this Ummah."
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What an excellent man Abu Ubaydah was—
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a devout worshipper and an ascetic!
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The worldly life sought him, but he did not seek it;
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it presented itself to him, yet he turned away from it,
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offering whatever he possessed as provision to meet in the Hereafter.
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'Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him)
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used to observe this in him
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and admire it.
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When 'Umar assumed the Caliphate,
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he once sent him four hundred dinars,
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instructing the messenger,
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"See what he does with it."
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Abu Ubaydah (may Allah be pleased with him) distributed it all,
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leaving nothing of it for himself or his family.
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When the messenger informed 'Umar,
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he said,
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"Praise be to Allah, Who has placed in Islam those who do such deeds."
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On another occasion overflowing with awe and grandeur,
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demonstrating absolute detachment from worldly adornments and splendors,
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the Commander of the Faithful, 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him), arrived in the Levant,
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where the commanders and notables met him.
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'Umar asked,
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"Where is my brother?"
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They asked, "Who?"
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He replied,
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"Abu Ubaydah."
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They said,
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"He is coming to you now."
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Abu Ubaydah arrived riding a camel reined with a plain rope.
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He greeted 'Umar with peace,
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so 'Umar dismounted and embraced him,
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then said to the people,
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"Leave us."
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He walked with Abu Ubaydah until they reached his dwelling, where 'Umar stayed with him as a guest.
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'Umar saw nothing in his house except his sword, shield, and saddle-bag.
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'Umar said to him,
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"You are the commander of the Levant!
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Where are your worldly belongings?"
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Abu Ubaydah replied,
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"O Commander of the Faithful,
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these are enough to reach the resting place."
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He then went to a vessel,
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brought out a few dry crusts of bread,
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and presented them to the Commander of the Faithful.
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The eyes of the ascetic Caliph welled with tears, and he said,
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"The worldly life has changed us all,
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except you, O Abu Ubaydah!"
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Abu Ubaydah (may Allah be pleased with him) was not content with personal asceticism alone;
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he would actively urge others to be ascetic in this world and be content with little.
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He used to walk among the people saying:
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"Lo! Many a person who whitens his garments soil his religion!
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Lo! Many a person who honors himself is actually humiliating it!
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Repel old sins with fresh good deeds,
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for if one of you were to commit sins filling the space between him and the sky,
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and then perform a good deed, it would rise above his sins until it overcomes them."
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When the people were stricken by the death of the Prophet (peace be upon him)
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and gathered at the Portico of Banu Sa'idah to choose a leader for themselves,
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Abu Ubaydah took a commendable stance for which he is praised and remembered,
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and which the people of virtue will never forget.
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The Caliphate was presented to him, yet he refused it and returned it to those worthy of it.
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For when the Ansar and the Emigrants disagreed over who should succeed the Prophet (peace be upon him),
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the Ansar said to the Emigrants,
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"There shall be a leader from us, and a leader from you."
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The trustworthy custodian, Abu Ubaydah (may Allah be pleased with him), stood up and said to them,
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"O assembly of the Ansar!
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You were the first to support and assist,
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so do not be the first to alter and change!"
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Thereupon, the people fell silent.
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Then Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) stood up and spoke,
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delivering an excellent speech that satisfied the people.
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Then Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) said,
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"I am pleased for you to choose either of these two men"—
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meaning 'Umar and Abu Ubaydah.
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He then said to Abu Ubaydah,
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"Extend your hand so that I may pledge allegiance to you,
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for I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) say:
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'Every nation has a trustworthy custodian,
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and you are the trustworthy custodian of this Ummah.'"
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Abu Ubaydah (may Allah be pleased with him) replied,
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"I would never step ahead of a man whom the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) ordered to lead us in prayer!"
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So 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) stepped forward
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and pledged allegiance to Abu Bakr for the Caliphate,
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and Abu Ubaydah did the same.
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Then the people followed in succession, pledging allegiance to Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him).
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And when 'Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) was stabbed,
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he said as he was drawing his final breaths,
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"If Abu Ubaydah ibn al-Jarrah were alive, I would have appointed him as my successor.
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If my Lord were to ask me about him, I would say:
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'I appointed as my successor the trustworthy custodian of Allah and the trustworthy custodian of His Messenger.'"
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In the eighth year after the Hijrah,
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the Prophet (peace be upon him) dispatched 'Amr ibn al-'As (may Allah be pleased with him)
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at the head of a military detachment to the lands of Bali and 'Udhrah,
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during the Expedition of Dhat al-Salasil.
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'Amr ibn al-'As (may Allah be pleased with him) found that his enemy's force was vast,
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so he sent word to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) requesting reinforcements.
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The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) reinforced him
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with two hundred of the noble leaders among the Emigrants and the Ansar,
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among whom were Abu Bakr and 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both).
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He placed Abu Ubaydah ibn al-Jarrah (may Allah be pleased with him) in command over them
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and instructed him to join 'Amr ibn al-'As,
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telling them to unite and not to differ.
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Abu Ubaydah (may Allah be pleased with him) and those with him joined 'Amr.
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When the time for prayer arrived,
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Abu Ubaydah stepped forward to lead the people in prayer.
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'Amr said to him,
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"You have only come to me as reinforcements, while I am the overall commander."
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Those in the reinforcement force said, "Our commander is Abu Ubaydah,
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while you are the commander of your own companions."
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However, Abu Ubaydah (may Allah be pleased with him) took a different stance,
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for he carried within his chest the counsel of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him),
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who had said to him, "Obey each other and do not differ."
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Thus, he yielded the command to 'Amr,
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and 'Amr (may Allah be pleased with him) led the people in prayer.
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Such was his biography (may Allah be pleased with him):
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disinclined toward leadership despite being fully qualified for it,
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preferring obedience to Allah and His Messenger (peace be upon him) over his own ego,
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and seeking to preserve the unity of the Muslims—
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thus truly becoming the trustworthy custodian of this Ummah in every sense.
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Among his most prominent words rousing the passion of his troops for battle
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and inciting them to strive in the cause of Allah
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is his immortal saying:
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"O servants of Allah!
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Support Allah, and He will support you and plant your feet firmly.
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O servants of Allah!
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Endure with patience,
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for patience is a salvation from disbelief,
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a source of the Lord's pleasure,
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and a refutation of shame.
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Do not leave your battle ranks,
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do not take a step toward them,
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do not initiate combat against them,
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level your spears,
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Protect yourselves behind your leather shields,
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meaning your armor,
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and remain silent, except for remembering Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, within yourselves,
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until your matter is fulfilled, Allah willing.
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Abu 'Ubaydah is an exemplar of humility.
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Among the manifestations of his humility—may Allah be pleased with him—
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is that he said to the people of the Levant while serving as their commander:
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"O people!
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I am simply a Muslim man from Quraysh.
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There is no one among you, whether fair or dark-skinned, who surpasses me in righteousness
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but that I wish I were in his skin"—
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meaning in his very hide.
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He teaches us a lesson in asceticism and the fear of Allah, the Glorious—
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a lesson that shall never be forgotten,
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no matter how much time passes.
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For he is one glad-tidings of Paradise,
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a conqueror of lands,
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a commander over the armies of Islam,
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yet ascetic regarding this fleeting world,
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taking absolutely nothing from it.
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Nevertheless, he spoke with the tongue of one who fears Allah
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and humbly supplicates before Him, saying:
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"I wish I were a ram,
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so that my family would slaughter me,
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eat my meat, and sip my broth."
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For the Chosen One,
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the finest Companions were preserved by Him;
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in the Eternal Garden, they are preserved.
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He increased them in honor:
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they are Talhah,
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Ibn 'Awf,
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al-Zubayr, along with
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Abu 'Ubaydah,
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the two Sa'ds,
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and the two Caliphs.