Abu Ubaydah ibn al-Jarrah (ra)

An early convert, one of the Ten Promised Paradise, whom the Prophet ﷺ called “the trustee (amin) of this ummah.” Later commander of the Muslim armies in Syria.

Identity & lineage

Amir ibn Abdullah ibn al-Jarrah, of the Quraysh clan of Banu al-Harith ibn Fihr; among the earliest Muslims and an emigrant to Abyssinia and then Madinah.

Role in the Seerah (this source)

At Badr his own pagan father, al-Jarrah, sought repeatedly to kill him; Abu Ubaydah avoided him out of love until, ambushed, he killed his father in self-defense. Grieved and troubled, he was consoled by the revelation:

“You will not find a people who believe in Allah and the Last Day loving those who oppose Allah and His Messenger, even if they be their fathers, sons, brothers or kin…” — Quran 58:22 (the last verse of Surah al-Mujadila).

Character & lessons

The episode enshrines the principle that loyalty to Allah is unconditional, every other loyalty conditional upon it. His title Amin al-Ummah marks his trustworthiness.

At Uhud (EP 041–050)

When the Prophet ﷺ was wounded, two fragments of his mail/arrows had lodged in his cheeks. Abu Ubaydah drew them out with his teeth, losing two of his own teeth (a front tooth and a premolar) so that the pain would be his and not the Prophet’s ﷺ — remaining gap-toothed for the rest of his life.

Death

Died in the Plague of Amwas, 18 AH, in Syria, as commander there. (Beyond this source.)

Cross-references

The Battle of Badr · Muhammad ﷺ · The Muhajirun (the Emigrants) · Seerah Timeline · The Battle of Uhud

Sources

• S006 — Yasir Qadhi Seerah EP 039. Tafsir of Q 58:22; Ibn Ishaq, Ibn Sa’d.
• S007 — Yasir Qadhi Seerah EP 041–050 (Uhud: drawing the mail-fragments from the Prophet’s ﷺ cheeks with his teeth).