مُعَاذُ بْنُ جَبَل
رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ
Mu'adh ibn Jabal
Sent to Yemen · Ansari · Teacher and judge
may Allah be pleased with him
Khazraj — Banu Salimah, of Madinah · Madinah, Yemen and Syria, up to 18 AH
An Ansari of Madinah, young enough that the responsibility he was given is itself remarkable. The Prophet ﷺ sent him to Yemen to teach and to judge, and he died in the plague that swept Syria in 18 AH.
Known for
The Prophet ﷺ sent him to Yemen to teach and to judge
He was given instructions before he left about what to call people to first, and in what order. The report is in both Sahih collections.
He was remembered for his grasp of what is permitted and forbidden
He was given real authority while still young
He died in the plague of Amwas
He took over command in Syria after Abu Ubaydah ibn al-Jarrah died in the same outbreak, and died shortly afterwards.
His story in moments
Short episodes from his life, in order. Read one at a time.
Life & legacy
Madinah
Mu'adh was of Khazraj, and among the Ansar who accepted Islam young. He was present at Badr and the campaigns that followed.
What sets him apart in this period is the level of responsibility he was given relative to his age. He was sent to Yemen — to instruct people in a place with an established religious life of its own, and to settle disputes there — at a point when he was still a young man.
Syria
After the Prophet ﷺ died, Mu'adh went to Syria, where a large part of the army and many of the Companions were.
In 18 AH the plague broke out at Amwas. Abu Ubaydah ibn al-Jarrah, who held overall command, died in it. Mu'adh took command after him and died in the same outbreak, not long after.
How the sources describe him
He was sent where teaching was needed
He was trusted to judge without supervision
Connect
People around him
Alongside
- The Prophet Muhammad ﷺCompanion
He sent him to Yemen to teach and to judge.
He served under him in Syria and took command after he died in the plague of Amwas — then died in it himself.
Full timeline
- 2 AH
Present at Badr
- The later Madinan years
Sent to Yemen to teach and to judge
- The caliphates of Abu Bakr and Umar
Goes to Syria after the Prophet's ﷺ death
- 18 AH
Dies in the plague of Amwas
Part of
Sources & review
In reviewBased on the listed sources. See something to correct? Tell us.
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
References follow the citation detail available in the source material.
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