Julaybib
RA was a Martyr.
This is all about Julaybib RA, not many of us ever heard of this dear sahaba of Rasulullah SAW. This is about humanity, a sense of dignity,love, compassion and reality of worldly life. Where only the most Taqwa and highest of iman will be able to understand the torment of inequality of this physical life.
Rasulullah SAW, the best of mankind, exemplary " Uswatun Hasanah" in showing us the (sunnah) in dealing with others and other beings. The kind of love we should shower unto others as a Khalifah on this earth.
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Though
one of the less known companions but not to within the companions in
the early time of Islam, but not with Rasulullah SAW who knew him and
like Julaybib RA. His name was acquired prior to his acceptance
of Islam
and
is considered unusual and incomplete. In the Arabic
language Julaybib
means
"small grown" being the diminutive form of the word jalbab,
indicating that Julaybib was small and short, even dwarf-like. He was
also described as being damim,
meaning ugly, deformed, or not likened by many..
Julaybib's
lineage was unknown and there is no record of his parents or what
tribe he belonged to. All that was known of him was that he was an
Arab
and
that he was one of the Ansar
in
Medina.
With
Julaybib RA in mind, Rasulullah SAW went to an Ansari man and said:
"I want to have your daughter married." "How wonderful
and blessed, O Rasulullah and what a delight to the eye (this would
be)," he replied. "I do not want her for myself,"
added Rasulullah SAW "Then for whom, O Rasulullah?" asked
the man, obviously disappointed. "For Julaybib," said
Rasulullah SAW. The Ansari went to consult with his wife, telling her
of Rasulullah's desire for their daughter to marry Julaybib. His
wife was repulsive, and protested saying "To Julaybib! No, never
to Julaybib! No, by Allah , we shall not marry (her) to him."
While
the Ansari was preparing to inform Rasulullah SAW of what his wife
said, the daughter hearing her mother's protestations, asked: "Who
has asked you to marry me?" It is said that she the daughter was
so beautiful that there was none among the women of that clan who
could compete with her looks. She was so shy and modest that perhaps
the sky itself had never seen her head uncovered. She had so much
fear of her creator and piety, that she would spend her days and
nights in worship.
The daughter asked what was happening, she was
told that Rasulullah SAW wants your hand in marriage for Julaybib. As
the Mother continued her crying and wailing the daughter spoke she
said, "O my Mother fear Allah SWT think of what you are saying
are you turning away Rasulullah.. 'O my Mother it does not suit a
believer to make their own decision once Allah SWT and his Rasul have
decided on a matter. Do you think that Rasulullah SAW will disgrace
us?
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How blessed is the status of Julaybib RA, that Allah SWT and his
Rasul are asking for your daughters hand on his behalf. Don't you
know that the angels themselves envy the dust on the feet of one who
is a beloved of Allah SWT and Rasulullah SAW. Ask Rasulullah SAW to send
me Julaybib for their is no greater privilege than for me to be
blessed by such a husband, Rasulullah SAW has arrived with such a
wonderful gift yet my Mother you cry and wail."
She
was married by Rasulullah SAW to Julaybib RA and they lived together
until he was killed in an expedition. On
the day of the expedition his father in law, had pleaded with him:
"'O Julaybib this is just an expedition, it is not a compulsory
Jihad, it is a voluntary Jihad, therefore you are newly married spend
some time with your wife." Julaybib RA, the one who had spent a
lifetime in despair had now found a loving wife. But he replied to
his father In laws request and said, " 'O my father you say a
strange thing, my Rasulullah is in the battlefield facing the
enemies of Islam and you want me to sit at home with my wife, nay I
will sacrifice my blood and my soul rather than see my Rasul facing
hardship while I sit at home in luxury".
Julaybib
participated in an expedition with Rasulullah SAW in which an
encounter with some enemies ensued. After that battle the Rasulullah
SAW , asked his companions to go and to see if anyone was missing
from their family's and clans. Each one returned accounting for all
his family members. Then Rasulullah SAW spoke with tears in his
eyes he said "But I have lost my Beloved Julaybib, go and find
him." They found his diminutive body lying next to seven enemies
he had slain in the battle.
Rasulullah
SAW asked for a grave to be dug, while Rasulullah SAW held the body
of Julaybib he said. "O' Allah he is from me and I am from Him",
he repeated this three times. The companions wept profusely "May
our Mothers and Fathers be sacrificed for you O' Julaybib, how great
is your status." Thus a companion who had once lived as an
outcast, shunned by the society around him. He loved Allah SWT and
his Rasul and reached such a high status. He who was not good
looking was blessed with a beautiful wife, he who was poor was
blessed by a wealthy wife, he who had no family or status, was
blessed by a wife with noble status and lineage he who had lived in
loneliness and despair, was loved by Allah and his Rasul ,He had
Rasulullah say: " O Allah he is from me and I am from him."
It
is said: "That upon his martyrdom, that the sky itself was
filled with thousands of angels who had come to participate in his
funeral."
Julaybib
RA 'The Lonesome one' had become a beloved of Allah, and his prophet,
he was lonely no more. Such is the status of the lovers of the
Rasulullah..As for his wife it is said that there was no widow whose
hand was more sought after in marriage than hers.
Julaybib
the little angel among the companions.(Another Version)
There
is no record of who his mother of his father was or to what tribe he
belonged. This was a grave disability in the society in which he
lived. Julaybib RA could not expect any compassion or help, any
protection or support from a society that placed a great deal of
importance on family and tribal connections. In this regard, all that
was known of him was that he was an Arab and that, as far as the new
community of Islam was concerned, he was one of the Ansar. Perhaps he
belonged to one of the outlying tribes beyond Madinah and had drifted
into the city or he could have even been from among the Ansar of the
city itself.
The
disabilities under which Julaybib RA lived would have been enough to
have him ridiculed and shunned in any society and in fact he was
prohibited by one person, a certain Abu Barzah of the Aslam tribe,
from entering his home. He once told his wife: “Do not let Julaybib
enter among you. If he does, I shall certainly do (something terrible
to him).” Probably because he was teased and scoffed at in the
company of men, Julaybib RA used to take refuge in the company of
women. Was there any hope of Julaybib RA being treated with respect
and consideration? Was there any hope of his finding emotional
satisfaction as an individual and as a man? Was there any hope of his
enjoying the relationships which others take for granted? And in the
society emerging under the guidance of Rasulullah SAW, was he so
insignificant as to be overlooked in the preoccupation with the great
affairs of the state and in the supreme issues of life and survival
which constantly engaged the attention of Rasulullah SAW?
Just
as he was aware of the great issues of life and destiny, Rasulullah
SAW was also aware of the needs and sensibilities of his most humble
companions. With Julaybib in mind, Rasulullah went to one of the
Ansar and said: “I want to have your daughter married.” “How
wonderful and blessed, O Messenger of Allah and what a delight to the
eye (this would be),” replied the Ansari man with obvious joy and
happiness. “I do not want her for myself,” added the Prophet.
“Then for whom, O Messenger of Allah?” asked the man, obviously
somewhat let down. “For
Julaybib,”
said the Prophet. The Ansari must have been too shocked to give his
own reaction and he merely said: “I will consult with her mother.”
And off he went to his wife. “The Messenger of Allah, may Allah
bless him and grant him peace, wants to have your daughter married,”
he said to her. She too was thrilled. “What a wonderful idea and
what a delight to the eye (this would be),” she said. “He does
not want to marry her himself but he wants to marry her to Julaybib,”
he added. She was flabbergasted.
“To
Julaybib! No, never to Julaybib! No, by Allah, we shall not marry
(her) to him,” she protested. As the Ansari was about to return to
Rasulullah SAW to inform him of what his wife had said, the daughter
who had head her mother’s protestations, asked: “Who has asked
you to marry me?” Her mother told her of Rasulullah's request for
her hand in marriage to Julaybib. When she heard that the request had
come from Rasulullah SAW and that her mother was absolutely opposed
to the idea, she was greatly perturbed and said: “Do you
refuse the request of Rasul of Allah? Send me to him for he shall
certainly not bring ruin to me.” This was the reply of a truly
great person who had a clear understanding of what was required of
her as a Muslim. What greater satisfaction and fulfillment can a
Muslim find than in responding willingly to the requests and commands
of Rasulullah SAW! No doubt, this companion of Rasulullah SAW, whose
name we do not even know had heard the verse of the Quran:
“It
is not for a believer, man or woman, when Allah and his Rasul have
decreed a matter that they should have any option in their decision.
And whoever disobeys Allah and Rasul, he has indeed strayed in a
plain error.”
(The
Qur’an, Surah al-Ahzab, 33:36)
This
verse was revealed in connection with the marriage of Zaynab bint
Jahsh and Zayd ibn al-Harithah RA which was arranged by Rasulullah
SAW to show the egalitarian spirit of Islam. Zaynab at first was
highly offended at the thought of marrying Zayd a former slave and
refused to do so. The Prophet prevailed upon them both and they were
married. The marriage however ended in divorce and Zaynab was
eventually married to Rasulullah himself. It is said that the Ansari
girl read the verse to her parents and said: “I am satisfied and
submit myself to whatever the Rasulullah see fit and deems good for
me.” Rasulullah SAW heard of her reaction and prayed for her: “O
Lord, bestow good on her in abundance and make not her life one of
toil and trouble.”
Among the Ansar, it is said that there was not a more eligible bride
than she. She was married by Rasulullah SAW to Julaybib and they
lived together until he was killed.
And
how was Julaybib killed? He went on an expedition with Rasulullah SAW
and an encounter with some mushrikin (polytheists) ensued. When the
battle was over, Rasulullah asked his companions: “Have you lost
anyone?” They replied giving the names of their relatives or close
friends who were killed. He put the same questions to other
companions and they also named the ones they had lost in the battle.
Another group answered that they had lost no close relatives
whereupon Rasulullah SAW said: “But
I have lost Julaybib. Search for him in the battlefield.”
They searched and found him beside seven mushrikin whom he had struck
before meeting his end. Rasulullah SAW stood up and went to the spot
where Julaybib, his short and deformed companion, lay. He stood over
him and said: “He
killed seven and then was killed? This (man) is of me and I am of
him.”
He repeated this two or three times. Rasulullah SAW then took him in
his arms and it is said that he had no better bed besides the
forearms of Rasulullah SAW. Rasulullah then dug for him a grave and
himself placed him in it. He did not wash him for martyrs and not
washed before burial.
Julaybib
and his wife are not usually among the Companions of Rasulullah SAW
whose deeds are sung and whose exploits are recounted with reverence
and admiration as they should be. But in the meagre facts that are
known about them and which have here been recounted we see how humble
human beings were given hope and dignity by Rasulullah SAW where once
they was only despair and self-debasement. The attitude of the
unknown and unnamed Ansari girl who readily agreed to be the wife of
a physically unattractive man was an attitude which reflected a
profound understanding of Islam. It reflected on her path the
effacement of personal desires and preferences even when she could
have counted on the support of her parents. It reflected on her part
a total disregard for social pressures. It reflected above all a
ready and implicit confidence in the wisdom and authority of
Rasulullah SAW in submitting herself to whatever he deemed good.
This is the attitude of the true believer.
In
Julaybib, there is the example of a person who was almost regarded as
a social outcast because of his appearance. Given help, confidence
and encouragement by the noble Rasul SAW, he was able to perform acts
of courage and make the supreme sacrifice and deserve the
commendation of Rasulullah SAW : “He is of me and I am of him.”
The
blessed wife of Julaybib RA- The best of Iman and Taqwa.
(Another side of Julaybib)
On
the early part of the story of Julaybib RA, we can learn from the
life of Julaybib RA. But his life story is a special one, that
includes also a special woman. There are plenty of lessons we can
learn from her as well. Although we provide a small recap on the life
of Julaybib RA. Julaybib RA was a companion of Rasulullah SAW, though
Julaybib RA was not his real name. In fact, we don’t know what his
real name was. What we do know is that ‘Julaybib’ (meaning ‘small
grown’) was a nickname given to him by the people of his community:
a reference to his appearance. He was labelled as ‘damaam’, which
means ugly or unattractive, and as well as being very small and
short, he suffered from a physical deformity that most narrators
describe as being ‘Dwarfism’.
The
companion knew nothing much of his lineage. He had absolutely no
family, and nobody knew his mother or father. In a society that
inextricably bound lineage with social status, there was no way for
Julaybib RA to enjoy the benefits of the tribal social structure. He
had no kin, no wealth, no protection, and no support. For him, there
was no prospect of marriage. It was simply assumed by the Arabs that
he was an Ansari.
Some
of the sahabi treated him just like a below average person, been
teased and mocked at every opportunity. Because of these, he was
forced to sit with women (before the ruling of hijab and
segregation), who were much more compassionate to him, and who didn’t
find his appearance a source of laughter. But this wasn’t liked by
everyone. One companion, Abu Barzah Al-Aslami, even said:
“Julaybib was a man who used to enter upon women and joke with them. I said to my wife, ‘Do not let Julaybib enter upon you, for if he enters upon you I shall do such and such.’” [Musnad Ahmad (4/422) No. 19799]
The
Rasulullah SAW,
however, considered Julaybib to be a dear friend, and was thus keen
to help him. He set about trying to find him a wife, knowing that
without his assistance, it was highly unlikely that his friend would
be married. It was then that the Rasulullah SAW first approached the
family of the sahaabiyah who would later become Julaybib’s wife.
Her name is unknown, but her legacy and reputation precedes her. Both
her father and mother initially mistook Rasulullah's request as his
own, and when he clarified that no, he was not asking about marriage
for himself, but for Julaybib, the sahabiyah’s parents were
bitterly disappointed. Their daughter was a woman who was highly
sought after by many wealthy and well-respected companions. Her
parents perhaps expected this request to be, if not from Rasulullah SAW himself,but from Uthman RA or Abu Bakr RA, but not Julaybib RA.
In
fact, at the mention of his mere name, the mother cried:
“What!
Julaybib? No, by Allah, we will not marry her to him.” [Musnad
Ahmad (4/422) No. 19799]
But
this conversation was overheard by their daughter – a woman of Iman
and Tawaakul; a woman who possessed a strong desire to please and
submit to the Rasul of Allah. She knew exactly who Julaybib was; she
knew of his appearance, his status (or lack thereof), and his
reputation. Despite her own beauty, wealth and desired status, she
told her mother:
“Are
you refusing to follow the command of Rasulullah SAW? Follow his
command, for I will not come to any harm.” [Musnad Ahmad
(4/422) No. 19799]
Soon
after their marriage, there came the opportunity for Julaybib RA to
join Rasulullah SAW on an expedition. Being keen to fight alongside
Rasulullah SAW, he left behind the comforts of newly-married life to
join the battalion – and his sacrifice was rewarded immensely, with
Julaybib RA meeting his end as a Martyr.
With
regards to Julaybib’s wife, the following has been narrated:
Thabit, said: “There was no widow among the Ansar who was more sought after for marriage than that girl.” Ishaq bin Abdullah bin Abi Talhah asked Thabit, “Do you know how Rasulullah prayed for that girl?”
He told him: “He said, O Allah , pour blessings upon her and do not make her life hard.” And this is how it was; there was no widow among the Ansar who was more sought after for marriage than her.” [Musnad Ahmad (4/422) No. 19799]
His
name was unusual and incomplete. Julaybib means "small grown"
being the diminutive form of the word "Jalbab ". The name
is an indication that Julaybib was small and short, even of
dwarf-like stature. More than that, he is described as being "damim"
which means ugly, deformed, or of repulsive appearance.
Even
more disturbing, for the society in which he lived, Julaybib's
lineage was not known. There is no record of who his mother or his
father was or to what tribe he belonged. This was a grave disability
in the society in which he lived. Julaybib RA could not expect any
compassion or help, any protection or support from a society that
placed a great deal of importance on family and tribal connections.
In this regard, all that was known of him was that he was an Arab and
that, as far as the new community of Islam was concerned, he was one
of the Ansar. Perhaps he belonged to one of the outlying tribes
beyond Madinah and had drifted into the city or he could even have
been from among the Ansar of the city itself.
The
disabilities under which Julaybib RA lived would have been enough to
have him ridiculed and shunned in any society and in fact he was
prohibited by one person, a certain Abu Barzah of the Aslam tribe,
from entering his home. He once told his wife:
"Do
not let Julaybib enter among you. If he does, I shall certainly do
(something terrible to him)." Probably because he was teased and
scoffed at in the company of men, Julaybib used to take refuge in the
company of women.
Was
there any hope of Julaybib RA being treated with respect and
consideration? Was there any hope of his finding emotional
satisfaction as an individual and as a man? Was there any hope of his
enjoying the relationships which others take for granted? And in the
new society emerging under the guidance of the Rasulullah SAW, was he so
insignificant as to be overlooked in the preoccupation with the great
affairs of state and in the supreme issues of life and survival which
constantly engaged the attention of the Rasulullah SAW?
Just
as he was aware of the great issues of life and destiny, Rasulullah SAW was also aware of the needs and sensibilities of his most
humble companions. With Julaybib in mind, Rasulullah SAW went to one of
the Ansar and said: "I want to have your daug hter married."
"How wonderful and blessed, O! Rasulullah and what a
delight to the eye (this would be)," replied the Ansari man with
obvious joy and happiness. "I do not want her for myself,"
added the Prophet. "Then for whom, O! Rasulullah?" asked the man, obviously somewhat let down. "For Julaybib,"
said Rasulullah SAW.
The
Ansari must have been too shocked to give his own reaction and he
merely said: "I will consult with her mother." And off he
went to his wife. "Rasulullah , may Allah bless him and
grant him peace, wants to have your daughter married," he said to her. She too was thrilled. "What a wonderful idea and what a
delight to the eye (this would be)." she said. "He doesn't
want to marry her himself but he wants to marry her to Julaybib,"
he added. She was flabbergasted.
"To
Julaybib! No, never to Julaybib! No, by the living Allah, we shall not
marry (her) to him." she protested.
As
the Ansari was about to return to Rasulullah SAW to inform him of what
his wife had said, the daughter who had heard her mother's
protestations, asked: "Who has asked you to marry me?"
Her
mother told her of the Rasulullah's request for her hand in marriage to
Julaybib. When she heard that the request had come from Rasulullah SAW and that her mother was absolutely opposed to the idea, she was
greatly perturbed and said:
"Do
you refuse the request of Rasulullah? Send me to him for he
shall certainly not bring ruin to me." This was the reply of a
truly great person who had a clear understanding of what was required
of her as a Muslim. What greater satisfaction an d fulfillment can a
Muslim find than in responding willingly to the requests and commands
of Rasulullah SAW! No doubt, this companion of the Rasulullah,
whose name we do not even know had heard the verse of the Quran:
"Now
whenever Allah and His Rasul have decided a matter, it is not for a
believing man or believing woman to claim freedom of choice in so far
as they themselves are concerned. And he who disobeys Allah and His Rasul has already, most obviously, gone astray." (The Quran,
Surah al-Ahzab, 33:36).
This
verse was revealed in connection with the marriage of Zaynab bint
Jahsh and Zayd ibn al-Harithah which was arranged by the Rasulullah SAW to
show the egalitarian spirit of Islam. Zaynab at first was highly
offended at the thought of marrying Zayd a former s lave and refused
to do so. Rasulullah SAW prevailed upon them both and they were married.
The marriage however ended in divorce and Zaynab was eventually
married to Rasulullah SAW himself. It is said that the Ansari girl read
the verse to her parents and said :
"I
am satisfied and submit myself to whatever Rasulullah SAW and Allah deems
good for me." Rasulullah SAW heard of her reaction and prayed for
her: "O Lord, bestow good on her in abundance and make not her
life one of toil and trouble."
Among
the Ansar, it is said there was not a more eligible bride than she.
She was married by Rasulullah SAW to Julaybib and they lived together
until he was killed.
And
how was Julaybib killed? He went on an expedition with the Rasulullah SAW, and an encounter with some mushrikin ensued. When
the battle was over, Rasulullah SAW asked his companions: "Have you
lost anyone?" They replied giving the names of their relatives
of close friends who were killed. He put the same questions to other
companions and they also named the ones they had lost in the battle.
Another group answered that they had lost no close relative whereupon
the Prophet said:
"But
I have lost Julaybib. Search for him in the battlefield." They
searched and found him beside seven mushrikin whom he had struck
before meeting his end. Rasulullah stood up and went to the spot
where Julaybib, his short and deformed companion, lay. He stood over
him and said: "He killed seven and then was killed? This (man)
is of me and I am of him."
He
repeated this two or three times. Rasulullah SAW then took him in his
arms and it is said that he had no better bed besides the forearms of Rasulullah. Rasulullah SAW then dug for him a grave and
himself placed him in it. He did not wash him for martyrs are not
washed before burial.
Julaybib
and his wife are not usually among the companions of Rasulullah SAW whose deeds are sung and whose exploits are recounted with reverence
and admiration as they should be. But in the meagre facts that are
known about them and which have here been re counted we see how
humble human beings were given hope and dignity by Rasulullah SAW where
once there was only despair and self-debasement.
The
attitude of the unknown and unnamed Ansari girl who readily agreed to
be the wife of a physically unattractive man was an attitude which
reflected a profound understanding of Islam. It reflected on her part
the effacement of personal desires and preferences even when she
could have counted on the support of her parents. It reflected on her
part a total disregard for social pressures. It reflected above all a
ready and implicit confidence in the wisdom and authority of Rasulullah in submitting herself to whatever he deemed good. This is
the attitude of the true believer.
In
Julaybib RA, there is the example of a person who was almost regarded as
a social outcast because of his appearance. Given help, confidence
and encouragement by the noble Rasulullah SAW, he was able to perform acts
of courage and make the supreme sacrifice and deserve the
commendation of Rasulullah SAW: "He is of me and I am of him."
Another story of the Sahaba: Julaybib RA
Companions
of the Rasulullah SAW who come to mind
throughout Islamic history. Some are huge in stature, and others are
humble, yet highly respectable or brilliant in some way. Julaybib RA was
a beloved companion of Rasulullah SAW, however, not a likely figure
to make it in the ranks of celebrated heroes of Islam.
His life and deeds were not sung nor recounted with reverence as they should be but with the meager facts available one sees hope for humble souls through his life. Julaybib was not tall, or handsome, he was not known to be a gallant warrior on the battlefield before the advent of Islam. His personal attributes appeared so contrary to the normal heroes of old. Julaybib RA was an orphan, deformed and extremely short. He was brutally rejected by society because the people were more concerned with his physical appearance and status than integrity.
His story is significant and many lessons can be learnt from it. It shows us a lot about how a human being can be devalued based on superficial things. His life is an example and hope for souls filled with despondency because they do not measure up to the norms set by society. His story touches the hearts of many even today.
Julaybib RA was an orphan from Madinah and acquired his name before embracing Islam. His name means "small grown" in Arabic which denoted his physical appearance. He was extremely short and could be compared to a dwarf when considering today's definition. It is also noted that he was even described as "damim" in Arabic which means deformed, unattractive or of repulsive appearance. In addition to his physical appearance, another important factor in his mistreatment had to do with his lineage. Lineage was an essential part in the Arab society he lived in, just as it is still important today in many cases. One's lineage determined his or her status in the society. His physical appearance, and unknown lineage, made people shun and spurn him. He was an outcast which caused him much public humiliation and disgrace.
Facing such disdainful treatment, Julaybib was apparently a lonely soul yearning for love and compassion. As he was carrying the burden of prejudice on his shoulder from the time he was born, companionship, love and compassion became alien to him.There were often times, a question as to whether this man would even taste any compassion or respect in his life. The question cleared with his acceptance of the Prophet Muhammad's message of Islam.
He became a devoted servant of Almighty Allah and beloved companion of Prophet Muhammad. He gained respect and affection from Prophet Muhammad, for his sincerity, integrity and strong Islamic belief. Julaybib earned the honor he yearned and became one of the most valued companions of the Prophet. Prophet Muhammad cared deeply for this soul. He was sensitive of Julaybib's needs, and this is evident from the hadith where the Prophet approached a man from the Ansar (Madinah Muslims who helped the Makkans when they emigrated to Madinah), seeking the hand of his beautiful daughter in marriage on behalf of Julaybib. The Islamic scholar, Imam Ahmad, has recorded this incidents in Julaybib life as follows:
The Prophet went to a man of the Ansar and said:"Give me your daughter for marriage."The man answered excitedly, "Yes, O Messenger of Allah , it would be an honor and a blessing."For which the Prophet said, "I do not want her for myself."The Ansari man asked, "Then for whom, O Messenger of Allah?"And the Prophet answered, "For Julaybib."When the Ansari man heard this, he was shocked and said, "O Messenger of Allah, let me consult her mother." So he went to the girl's mother (his wife) and told her, "The Messenger of Allah is proposing marriage for your daughter."The wife of the Ansari seemed overjoyed and said, "Yes, it would be a pleasure."The Ansari explained to his wife that the Prophet was not proposing to marry their daughter for himself but he is proposing on behalf of Julaybib.His wife was almost shaken and immediately responded, "What! Julaybib? No, by Allah, we will not marry her to him."
When the Ansari prepared to leave to meet the Messenger of Allah and mentioned to him his mother's disapproval, his daughter, a pious Muslim, asked her father, "Who is asking for my hand?"
Her mother told her that the Prophet was asking her hand on behalf Julaybib. Their daughter instantly asked them, "Are you refusing to follow the command of the Messenger of Allah? Follow his command, for I will not come to any harm."
The following is illustrated in the book Companions of the Prophet by Abdul Wahid Hamid: Hearing her daughter's word, the Mother's heart being filled with remorse said: "Stop my daughter, don't say another word indeed I have erred I repent and I repent a thousand times over for as of this moment their is no one who I would prefer for you than Julaybib."
The following day the marriage was in place, Uthman and Ali, two of the Prophet's Companions, presented Julaybib a gift of money to help arrange the wedding reception, and to purchase necessary accommodation. So the Prophet married the beautiful daughter of the Ansari to Julaybib who was once rejected by the whole society. The attitude of the daughter of the Ansari was that of a true believer.
The daughter's attitude shows her confidence of a Muslim woman who could not be influenced by the whims of the society. Unlike the parent's of today's world who are more concerned about status and money, her parents' reaction to her approval explains how Islam does not pressure a woman nor does it disregard her right to choose her husband.
Islam gave the happiness Julaybib deserved and he lived happily together with his beautiful wife until he was martyred. The following hadith is another proof that Julaybib was indeed dearly loved and valued by Prophet Muhammad:
...After a battle, the Prophet asked his Companions:
…."Is anyone missing amongst you?"
…..They said: "So and so and so."
…...He asked them again: "Is there anyone missing amongst you?"
…...They answered: "So and so and so."
…...He asked them for the third time: "Is there anyone missing amongst you?"
…...They said: "No."
…...Thereupon the Prophet said:
…..."But I see that Julaybib is missing."
The Companions searched for him amongst those who had been killed and found him by the side of seven enemies whom he had killed. He had been killed. The Prophet came there and stood by his body and said: "He killed seven people. Then his opponents killed him. He is mine and I am his."
He then placed him upon his hands and there was none else to lift him but the Prophet Muhammad. Then the grave was dug for him and he was placed in it. ( Sahih Muslim)
The man whose life was filled with despair and struggles won the hearts and admiration of many through his pure intentions, traits, and love for Islam and the Prophet. It is really amazing to note how this man of small stature managed to hold a sword and kill his opponent. He was able to accomplish much chivalry through the Prophet's encouragement.
There are so many lessons to be learnt from Julaybib's life. His story is a reflection of Islam. Islam ended his desolate world of disparagement.
