أَبُو عُبَيْدَةَ بْنُ الْجَرَّاح
رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ
Abu Ubaydah ibn al-Jarrah
Amin al-Ummah · Commander in Syria · Muhajir
may Allah be pleased with him
Quraysh — Banu al-Harith ibn Fihr · Makkah, Madinah and Syria, up to 18 AH
The Prophet ﷺ called him the trustworthy one of this community, and the name stuck. He commanded in Syria, had Khalid ibn al-Walid serving under him, and died in the plague that swept the province rather than leave his army in it.
Known for
Amin al-Ummah — the trustworthy one of this community
The Prophet ﷺ said that every community has a trustworthy one, and that this community's was Abu Ubaydah. It is reported in both Sahih collections.
Named among the Ten given glad tidings of Paradise
He commanded the Muslim forces in Syria
Umar placed him in overall command of the province, with Khalid ibn al-Walid serving under him.
He died in the plague of Amwas
It swept Syria in 18 AH and killed a large part of the army there, and him with it.
Story
His story in moments
Short episodes from his life, in order. Read one at a time.
In full
Life & legacy
Makkah and Madinah
Abu Ubaydah — his name was Amir ibn Abdullah — accepted Islam in the earliest years in Makkah, and was among those who left for Abyssinia during the persecution.
He emigrated to Madinah and was present at Badr, Uhud and the campaigns that followed. The description that attached itself to him in this period is the one he is still known by: the trustworthy one of this community.
Syria
Under Umar he was given overall command in Syria. Khalid ibn al-Walid, who had held that command before him and was the more celebrated soldier, served under him without contest — an arrangement the sources treat as a credit to both men.
In 18 AH a plague broke out in the province, at a place called Amwas. It killed a great many of the army. Abu Ubaydah was among the dead.
He is buried in the Jordan valley, where he died.
How the sources describe him
Trusted with things other people wanted
He carried authority without any display of it
Connect
People around him
Alongside
- The Prophet Muhammad ﷺCompanion
He named him the trustworthy one of this community.
Appointed over him in Syria by Umar. Khalid accepted it and went on serving under him.
Gave him command in Syria. Umar is reported to have said that had Abu Ubaydah been alive, he would have named him his successor.
Full timeline
- The early Makkan years
Accepts Islam in Makkah
- 2 AH
Present at Badr
- During Umar's caliphate
Given overall command in Syria
- 18 AH
Dies in the plague of Amwas
Part of
Sources & review
Draft content — undergoing reviewThis content was written for SahabaMate and has not yet been checked by a reviewer against the works below. Treat it as a starting point, not a citation.
Sahih al-Bukhariصحيح البخاري
Hadith collection · Muhammad ibn Isma'il al-Bukhari
Sahih Muslimصحيح مسلم
Hadith collection · Muslim ibn al-Hajjaj
Jami' at-Tirmidhiجامع الترمذي
Hadith collection · Muhammad ibn 'Isa at-Tirmidhi
As-Sirah an-Nabawiyyahالسيرة النبوية
Classical biography · Ibn Hisham, from the recension of Ibn Ishaq
Kitab at-Tabaqat al-Kabirالطبقات الكبرى
Classical biography · Ibn Sa'd
Tarikh ar-Rusul wa'l-Mulukتاريخ الرسل والملوك
Classical history · Muhammad ibn Jarir at-Tabari
Al-Isabah fi Tamyiz as-Sahabahالإصابة في تمييز الصحابة
Classical biography · Ibn Hajar al-'Asqalani
Siyar A'lam an-Nubalaسير أعلام النبلاء
Classical biography · Shams ad-Din adh-Dhahabi
SahabaMate editorial summary
Editorial summary
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