Julaybib

Sayyidina Julaybib radiya Llahu ‘anhu was an ally of the Ansar. He was short in stature with not very good looks and was a bachelor as one would guess.

The practice among the Muslims during the lifetime of Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam was that when any woman was unmarried, they would first wait to see if Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam would send a proposal. If he did not, only then would others send their proposals.

One day, Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam met an Ansari man, whose daughter was unmarried, and asked him for his daughter in marriage. Elated with the honour, he immediately agreed. Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam explained that he wants his daughter to get married to Sayyidina Julaybib radiya Llahu ‘anhu. “Let me consult my wife first,” the man said. His wife flatly refused when she knew who the intended groom was. The girl, however, overheard their conversation and warned them, “Are you rejecting Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam? Give me to Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, for he will never allow me to perish.” She reminded them of the verse:

وَمَا كَانَ لِمُؤْمِنٍ وَّلَا مُؤْمِنَةٍ إِذَا قَضَى اللّٰهُ وَرَسُوْلُهُ أَمْرًا أَنْ يَّكُوْنَ لَهُمُ الْخِيَرَةُ مِنْ أَمْرِهِمْ وَمَنْ يَّعْصِ اللّٰهَ وَرَسُوْلَهُ فَقَدْ ضَلَّ ضَلَالًا مُّبِيْنًا

It is not for a believing man or a believing woman, when Allah and His Messenger have decided a matter, that they should [thereafter] have any choice about their affair. And whoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger has certainly strayed into clear error.^[1]

The father came back with a positive answer and the marriage was contracted by none other than Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam prayed for the girl, who was from the Banu al Harith ibn al Khazraj, “O Allah, pour countless blessings upon her and do not make her life painful and distressful.”^[2]

After some time, Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam went out on an expedition. After defeating the enemy, Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam sat with the Sahabah radiya Llahu ‘anhum and discussed the martyrs. “I cannot locate Julaybib radiya Llahu ‘anhu,” Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said with concern and then instructed the Sahabah radiya Llahu ‘anhum to look for him among the martyrs.

The Sahabah radiya Llahu ‘anhum began searching for him among the dead and finally found him in the midst of seven dead men of the enemy. They informed Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam about this. Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam came to his body and stated, “He killed seven who then succeeded in killing him. He is from me and I am from him,” repeating the last statement twice or thrice.

Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam placed his head on his forearms while the Companions dug a grave for him. All this time, he had no bed, besides the forearms of Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. Finally, he was laid to rest in his grave, without being washed.^[3]

Owing to Rasulullah’s salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam supplication in her favour, there was no widow from the Ansar wealthier than his wife.^[4] The blessed widow of the martyr, Sayyidina Julaybib radiya Llahu ‘anhu.

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^[1] Surah al Ahzab: 36.

^[2] Musnad Ahmed, Hadith: 19367; Sahih Ibn Hibban, Hadith: 4125; al Sunan al Kubra, Hadith: 7930.

^[3] Sahih Muslim, Book 31, Hadith: 6045.

^[4] Usd al Ghabah, pg. 190, Biography: 772.

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