It was narrated by Abu Hurairah that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “What an excellent man is Abu Bakr, what an excellent man is Umar, what an excellent man is Abu Ubaydah ibn Al-Jarrah.” This noble Companion held a great status and a high rank with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). ʿĀ’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) was once asked, “If the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) were to appoint a successor, whom would he appoint?” She replied, “Abu Bakr.” They asked, “After Abu Bakr?” She said, “ʿUmar.” They asked again, “After ʿUmar?” She said, “Abu Ubaydah ibn Al-Jarrah.” And she stopped there. Sayyiduna Abu Ubaydah carried in his heart the trust of this religion and a deep concern for delivering its message to the entire world. Throughout his life, we see him striving in jihad alongside the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and later under the leadership of the Rightly Guided Caliphs — always devoted to upholding the banner of Islam with sincerity and steadfastness.
His Jihad In Battle of Uhud
Ibn Saad narrated from Lady Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) who said: Abu Bakr al-Siddiq said:
“On the day of Uhud, the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was struck in his face, and two rings of his helmet (the chainmail he wore on his head) pierced into his cheeks. I rushed toward the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), and I saw a man coming from the direction of the east, moving swiftly as if flying. I said, ‘O Allah, make him come in obedience (to You), so that he may reach the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) with us. Then I realized it was Abu Ubaydah ibn Al-Jarrah, who had reached before me. He said, ‘I ask you by Allah, O Abu Bakr, leave this for me so I may remove it from the face of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). So I left it for him. Abu Ubaydah grasped one of the rings with his front tooth and pulled it out, falling on his back in the process, and one of his front teeth broke. Then he did the same with the second ring, and his other front tooth broke as well. Thus, Abu Ubaydah became gap-toothed, yet he was among the most handsome of people despite it.”
The Nobility of His Character
There is an example in the life of Sayyiduna Abu Ubaydah that reflects his deep love for this religion — his triumph over his own self and desires, his victory against Satan, and his unwavering commitment to unity. He never allowed space for discord, always remaining obedient to the commands of the Prophet (ﷺ) and devoted to the harmony of the Muslim community. Musa ibn Uqbah narrated: The Prophet (ﷺ) appointed Amr ibn Al-As as the commander in the expedition of Dhat al-Salasil, which was near the borders of al-Sham (Greater Syria). Amr felt apprehensive, so he sent to the Prophet (ﷺ) asking for reinforcements. The Prophet (ﷺ) then called upon the early Muhajirin to volunteer, and among those who responded were Abu Bakr and Umar, along with others. The Prophet (ﷺ) appointed Abu Ubaydah ibn al-Jarrah as their leader, sending him as support to ʿAmr ibn Al-AS. When they arrived, Amr said, “I am your commander.” The Muhajirin replied, “You are the commander of your companions, while Abu Ubaydah is the commander of the Muhajirin.” Amr said, “You were only sent as my reinforcement.” When Abu Ubaydah saw this, and knowing his good manners and adherence to the commands and covenant of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), he said, “You know, O Amr, that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) told me: ‘If you arrive to your companion, then cooperate with one another; and if he disobeys you, then obey him.’
His Death
During the caliphate of Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him), a plague spread throughout Al-Sham (Greater Syria). At that time, it was one of the widespread epidemic diseases, and it occurred during a planned visit by Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) to the region. He then decided to cancel the visit in compliance with the saying of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ): not to enter a land afflicted by the plague. Abu Ubaydah ibn Al-Jarrah passed away in Amwas, in present-day Jordan, in the 18th year after Hijrah, during the caliphate of Umar ibn Al-Khaṭṭab (may Allah be pleased with him). He was fifty-eight years old at the time of his death. When Abu Ubaydah ibn Al-Jarrah (may Allah be pleased with him) passed away, Muadh ibn Jabal (may Allah be pleased with him) delivered a sermon and said: “O people, you have been afflicted with the loss of a man — by Allah, I have never seen among the servants of Allah anyone with less malice, a purer heart, farther from deceit, more mindful of the consequences, or more sincere to the public than him. So, seek mercy for him.”
