The Life & Character of the Seal of Prophets (sa) – Volume III — Page 13
I - Commencement of the Second Era of Life in Madīnah 13 took hold of the spoils of war and returned to Madīnah. 1 The two companions in this expedition mentioned, i. e. , Muḥammad bin Maslamah ra and Abū ‘Ubaidah bin Al-Jarrāḥ ra were both from the most venerable of companions. Aside from his own qualities and ability, Muḥammad bin Maslamah ra was also the hero of the K‘ab bin Ashraf Yahūdī affair, because this mischief-maker was brought to his death by him. Muḥammad bin Maslamah ra was from the Aus tribe and in the caliphate of Ḥaḍrat ‘Umar ra he was considered one of his intimate confidants. Therefore, Ḥaḍrat ‘Umar ra would generally send him to investigate complaints about his governors. After the demise of Ḥaḍrat ‘Uthmān ra when the door to internal disorder was opened, Muḥammad bin Maslamah ra broke his sword upon a rock and took a staff in hand. When he was asked the reason for this he responded, “I have heard from the Holy Prophet sa that, ‘When the door to mutual bloodshed is opened within the Muslims, break your sword and lay hidden in your home as a floor lies within the room of a house. ’” 2 This order was perhaps specific to Muḥammad bin Maslamah ra or this particular conflict, as on some occasions the combating of internal disorders is considered a very worthy service of the faith. The second companion was Abū ‘Ubaidah bin Al-Jarrāḥ ra. He was amongst the greatest of companions and was also from the Quraish. His lofty grandeur can be gauged by the fact that the Holy Prophet sa granted him the title of Amīnul-Millah. 3 Moreover, after the demise of the Holy Prophet sa , he was also among the two companions whom Ḥaḍrat Abū Bakr ra considered worthy of caliphate. Abū ‘Ubaidah ra passed away and was martyred by plague during the caliphate of Ḥaḍrat ‘Umar ra. 4 1 Aṭ-Ṭabaqātul-Kubrā, By Muḥammad bin Sa‘d, Volume 2, p. 292, Sariyyatu Muḥammad-ibni Maslamata Ilā Dhil-Qiṣṣati/Sariyyatu Abī ‘Ubaidat-abnil-Jarraḥi Ilā Dhil-Qiṣṣati, Dāru Iḥyā’it- Turāthil-‘Arabī, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (1996) 2 Usdul-Ghābah Fī Ma‘rifatiṣ-Ṣaḥābah, By ‘Izzuddīn Ibnul-Athīr Abul-Ḥasan ‘Alī bin Muḥammad, Volume 4, pp. 319-320, Muḥammad-ubnu Maslamah, Dārul-Fikr, Beirut, Lebanon (2003) 3 Faithful of the Religion (Publishers) 4 * Usdul-Ghābah Fī Ma‘rifatiṣ-Ṣaḥābah, By ‘Izzuddīn Ibnul-Athīr Abul-Ḥasan ‘Alī bin Muḥammad, Volume 5, pp. 207-208, Abū ‘Ubaidat-abnil-Jarraḥ, Dārul-Fikr, Beirut, Lebanon (2003) * Usdul-Ghābah Fī Ma‘rifatiṣ-Ṣaḥābah, By ‘Izzuddīn Ibnul-Athīr Abul-Ḥasan ‘Alī bin Muḥammad, Volume 3, pp. 207-208, ‘Āmir-ubnu ‘Abdillāh-ibnil-Jarraḥ, Dārul-Fikr, Beirut, Lebanon (2003) (Publishers)