Introduction
Abu Ubaydah ibn al-Jarrah was one of the earliest to embrace Islam, brought to the faith through the efforts of Abu Bakr. He emigrated, fought alongside the Prophet at Badr, Uhud, and the other major battles, and was known for gentle manners, humility, and caution in matters of wealth and authority.
The Prophet gave him a title no one else carried: the trustworthy one of this Ummah. When the people of Najran asked for a man to teach them the religion, it was Abu Ubaydah he sent, and the Companions each hoped it would be them. He was also named by the Prophet among the ten who were promised Paradise while still alive.
After the Prophet's death he supported Abu Bakr's succession, led armies in Syria, and ended as commander of the Muslim forces there under Umar. He died in the plague of Amwas in 18 AH, refusing the offer to leave the region and share a safer place while his men remained in it.
The story
Mecca, early Islam
Accepted Islam early and took part in the emigrations.
Medina, 2 AH / 624 CE
Fought at Badr and in the later campaigns of the Prophet.
Year 8 AH
Commanded a three-hundred-man expedition to the sea coast, where the army endured great hunger and ate leaves and then a huge sea creature.
Read the wording
Sahih al-Bukhari 4360Sahih Arabic text
… اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم بَعْثًا قِبَلَ السَّاحِلِ وَأَمَّرَ عَلَيْهِمْ أَبَا عُبَيْدَةَ بْنَ الْجَرَّاحِ وَهُمْ ثَلاَثُمِائَةٍ، فَخَرَجْنَا وَكُنَّا بِبَعْضِ الطَّرِيقِ فَنِيَ الزَّادُ فَأَمَرَ أَبُو عُبَيْدَةَ بِأَزْوَادِ الْجَيْشِ، فَجُمِعَ فَكَانَ مِزْوَدَىْ تَمْرٍ، فَكَانَ يَقُوتُنَا كُلَّ يَوْمٍ قَلِيلٌ قَلِيلٌ حَتَّى فَنِيَ، فَلَمْ يَكُنْ يُصِيبُنَا إِلاَّ تَمْرَةٌ تَمْرَةٌ …
“appointed Abu 'Ubaida bin Al-Jarrah as their commander”
Late 9 AH / 10 AH
Sent by the Prophet as the trustworthy man to teach the people of Najran.
Read the wording
Sahih al-Bukhari 3745Sahih Arabic text
قَالَ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم لأَهْلِ نَجْرَانَ " لأَبْعَثَنَّ ـ يَعْنِي عَلَيْكُمْ ـ يَعْنِي أَمِينًا ـ حَقَّ أَمِينٍ". فَأَشْرَفَ أَصْحَابُهُ، فَبَعَثَ أَبَا عُبَيْدَةَ رضى الله عنه.
“I will send you the most trustworthy man”
After 11 AH
Supported the succession of Abu Bakr; led Muslim armies in Syria and later became commander-in-chief there under Umar.
18 AH / 639 CE
Died during the plague of Amwas in Syria.
A day in their footsteps
6 small, repeatable practices from Abu Ubaydah ibn al-Jarrah's life. Each comes with the Arabic text and English wording of its source, and links to read the full report.
Being trustworthy in whatever he was given
The Prophet called him the trustworthy man of this Ummah, a reputation built on honest dealing with wealth, responsibility, and people's rights. He was repeatedly chosen for tasks that needed reliability.
Try this today
Make your word and your handling of other people's things something people can rely on completely.
Sit with this
Would people trust you with their things the way they trusted Abu Ubaydah?
Sources
Sahih al-Bukhari 3744Sahih أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " إِنَّ لِكُلِّ أُمَّةٍ أَمِينًا، وَإِنَّ أَمِينَنَا أَيَّتُهَا الأُمَّةُ أَبُو عُبَيْدَةَ بْنُ الْجَرَّاحِ".
“the trustworthy man of this (i.e. Muslim) nation is Abu 'Ubaida bin Al-Jarrah”
Sunan Ibn Majah 136Sahih أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ قَالَ لأَبِي عُبَيْدَةَ بْنِ الْجَرَّاحِ " هَذَا أَمِينُ هَذِهِ الأُمَّةِ".
“This is the trustworthy man of this Ummah”
Sharing scarce food fairly under pressure
When the army's supplies ran low, he had everyone's food collected and distributed it by daily ration, until each man received one date. He kept order and fairness when it was hardest to do so.
Try this today
In a hard time, share what you have fairly, and do not hoard.
Sit with this
In a hard week, how fairly do you share what little there is?
Source
Sahih al-Bukhari 4360Sahih … فَخَرَجْنَا وَكُنَّا بِبَعْضِ الطَّرِيقِ فَنِيَ الزَّادُ فَأَمَرَ أَبُو عُبَيْدَةَ بِأَزْوَادِ الْجَيْشِ، فَجُمِعَ فَكَانَ مِزْوَدَىْ تَمْرٍ، فَكَانَ يَقُوتُنَا كُلَّ يَوْمٍ قَلِيلٌ قَلِيلٌ حَتَّى فَنِيَ، فَلَمْ يَكُنْ يُصِيبُنَا إِلاَّ تَمْرَةٌ تَمْرَةٌ فَقُلْتُ مَا تُغْنِي عَنْكُمْ تَمْرَةٌ فَقَالَ لَقَدْ وَجَدْنَا فَقْدَهَا حِينَ فَنِيَتْ. ثُمَّ انْتَهَيْنَا إِلَى الْبَحْرِ، فَإِذَا …
“Abu 'Ubaida ordered that all the food present with the troops be collected”
Patience through hunger
His army endured such hunger that they ate desert leaves, until Allah sent them a huge fish on the shore. He led by keeping morale and discipline.
Try this today
When resources are thin, stay calm and keep going. Relief often comes from where you do not expect it.
Sit with this
What keeps you going when resources are thin and relief is not yet visible?
Sources
Sahih al-Bukhari 5493Sahih أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ جَابِرًا ـ رضى الله عنه ـ يَقُولُ غَزَوْنَا جَيْشَ الْخَبَطِ وَأُمِّرَ أَبُو عُبَيْدَةَ فَجُعْنَا جُوعًا شَدِيدًا فَأَلْقَى الْبَحْرُ حُوتًا مَيِّتًا لَمْ يُرَ مِثْلُهُ يُقَالُ لَهُ الْعَنْبَرُ فَأَكَلْنَا مِنْهُ نِصْفَ شَهْرٍ فَأَخَذَ أَبُو عُبَيْدَةَ عَظْمًا مِنْ عِظَامِهِ فَمَرَّ الرَّاكِبُ تَحْتَهُ.
“We were struck with severe hunger”
Sunan an-Nasa'i 4352Sahih … قُرَيْشٍ فَأَقَمْنَا بِالسَّاحِلِ فَأَصَابَنَا جُوعٌ شَدِيدٌ حَتَّى أَكَلْنَا الْخَبَطَ - قَالَ - فَأَلْقَى الْبَحْرُ دَابَّةً يُقَالُ لَهَا الْعَنْبَرُ فَأَكَلْنَا مِنْهُ نِصْفَ شَهْرٍ وَادَّهَنَّا مِنْ وَدَكِهِ فَثَابَتْ أَجْسَامُنَا وَأَخَذَ أَبُو عُبَيْدَةَ ضِلَعًا مِنْ أَضْلاَعِهِ فَنَظَرَ إِلَى أَطْوَلِ جَمَلٍ وَأَطْوَلِ رَجُلٍ فِي الْجَيْشِ فَمَرَّ تَحْتَهُ ثُمَّ جَاعُوا فَنَحَرَ …
“we ate Khabat”
Obeying a ruling the moment it is announced
When someone announced that alcohol had been forbidden, he and his companions at the gathering acted on it immediately, with the drink poured out without argument.
Try this today
When you learn something is forbidden or required, act on it straight away, before it fades from your mind.
Sit with this
What do you already know you should stop, and why not today?
Source
Sahih al-Bukhari 5582Sahih قَالَ كُنْتُ أَسْقِي أَبَا عُبَيْدَةَ وَأَبَا طَلْحَةَ وَأُبَىَّ بْنَ كَعْبٍ مِنْ فَضِيخِ زَهْوٍ وَتَمْرٍ فَجَاءَهُمْ آتٍ فَقَالَ إِنَّ الْخَمْرَ قَدْ حُرِّمَتْ. فَقَالَ أَبُو طَلْحَةَ قُمْ يَا أَنَسُ فَأَهْرِقْهَا. فَأَهْرَقْتُهَا.
“Alcoholic drinks have been prohibited”
Delivering public funds and responsibilities honestly
He returned from Bahrain with money collected as jizya for the Prophet. The Prophet used the moment to warn the Ansar not to compete for worldly wealth, and Abu Ubaydah is the one who carried it faithfully.
Try this today
If you handle money for others, deliver it exactly and on time, and keep your own heart free of it.
Sit with this
If you handle others' money or time, would they find every part of it in place?
Source
Sahih al-Bukhari 3158Sahih … بْنِ لُؤَىٍّ وَكَانَ شَهِدَ بَدْرًا أَخْبَرَهُ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم بَعَثَ أَبَا عُبَيْدَةَ بْنَ الْجَرَّاحِ إِلَى الْبَحْرَيْنِ يَأْتِي بِجِزْيَتِهَا، وَكَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم هُوَ صَالَحَ أَهْلَ الْبَحْرَيْنِ وَأَمَّرَ عَلَيْهِمُ الْعَلاَءَ بْنَ الْحَضْرَمِيِّ، فَقَدِمَ أَبُو عُبَيْدَةَ بِمَالٍ مِنَ الْبَحْرَيْنِ، فَسَمِعَتِ الأَنْصَارُ بِقُدُومِ أَبِي …
“Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) sent Abu 'Ubaida bin Al-Jarreh to Bahrain to collect the Jizya”
Reporting honestly and consulting before big decisions
When an epidemic broke out in Syria, he and the other commanders met Umar on the road and told him plainly what was happening, so that Umar could take counsel and decide.
Try this today
Bring bad news early and honestly, and invite counsel before a hard decision.
Sit with this
Is there bad news you are delaying that someone needs to hear now?
Source
Sahih al-Bukhari 5729Sahih … ـ رضى الله عنه ـ خَرَجَ إِلَى الشَّأْمِ حَتَّى إِذَا كَانَ بِسَرْغَ لَقِيَهُ أُمَرَاءُ الأَجْنَادِ أَبُو عُبَيْدَةَ بْنُ الْجَرَّاحِ وَأَصْحَابُهُ، فَأَخْبَرُوهُ أَنَّ الْوَبَاءَ قَدْ وَقَعَ بِأَرْضِ الشَّأْمِ. قَالَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ فَقَالَ عُمَرُ ادْعُ لِي الْمُهَاجِرِينَ الأَوَّلِينَ. فَدَعَاهُمْ فَاسْتَشَارَهُمْ وَأَخْبَرَهُمْ أَنَّ الْوَبَاءَ قَدْ وَقَعَ بِالشَّأْمِ فَاخْتَلَفُوا. …
“the commanders of the (Muslim) army, Abu 'Ubaida bin Al-Jarrah and his companions met him and told him that an epidemic had broken out in Sham”
Virtues
The Prophet named him among the ten who were given the good news of Paradise.
“Abu 'Ubaidah bin Al-Jarrah is in Paradise”
Arabic text
… عَنْ عَبْدِ الْعَزِيزِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ حُمَيْدٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم نَحْوَهُ وَلَمْ يَذْكُرْ فِيهِ عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ عَوْفٍ. قَالَ وَقَدْ رُوِيَ هَذَا الْحَدِيثُ عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ حُمَيْدٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ زَيْدٍ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم نَحْوَ هَذَا وَهَذَا أَصَحُّ مِنَ الْحَدِيثِ …
Jami at-Tirmidhi 3747Sahih
The Prophet said that every nation has a trustworthy man, and that the trustworthy man of this nation is Abu Ubaydah.
“the trustworthy man of this (i.e. Muslim) nation is Abu 'Ubaida bin Al-Jarrah”
Arabic text
أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " إِنَّ لِكُلِّ أُمَّةٍ أَمِينًا، وَإِنَّ أَمِينَنَا أَيَّتُهَا الأُمَّةُ أَبُو عُبَيْدَةَ بْنُ الْجَرَّاحِ".
Sahih al-Bukhari 3744Sahih
The Prophet praised him as an excellent man.
“what an excellent man is Abu 'Ubaidah bin Al-Jarrah”
Arabic text
… صلى الله عليه وسلم " نِعْمَ الرَّجُلُ أَبُو بَكْرٍ نِعْمَ الرَّجُلُ عُمَرُ نِعْمَ الرَّجُلُ أَبُو عُبَيْدَةَ بْنُ الْجَرَّاحِ نِعْمَ الرَّجُلُ أُسَيْدُ بْنُ حُضَيْرٍ نِعْمَ الرَّجُلُ ثَابِتُ بْنُ قَيْسِ بْنِ شَمَّاسٍ نِعْمَ الرَّجُلُ مُعَاذُ بْنُ جَبَلٍ نِعْمَ الرَّجُلُ مُعَاذُ بْنُ عَمْرِو بْنِ الْجَمُوحِ". قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ إِنَّمَا نَعْرِفُهُ مِنْ حَدِيثِ …
Jami at-Tirmidhi 3795Sahih
Words on this page
- Ansarالأنصار
- "The Helpers": the Muslims of Madinah, from the Aws and Khazraj tribes, who welcomed and sheltered the Prophet ﷺ and the emigrants from Makkah.
- Badrبدر
- The first major battle between the Muslims and Quraysh, in 2 AH. Those who fought there hold a special rank among the Companions.
- Uhudأحد
- The mountain outside Madinah where the Muslims fought Quraysh in 3 AH, and where Hamzah and many others were martyred.
- Ummahالأمة
- The worldwide community of Muslims.
Related companions
- أبو بكر الصديقAbu Bakr al-SiddiqThe Prophet's closest companion and first caliph, remembered for truthfulness, tender-hearted worship and giv…
- عمر بن الخطابUmar ibn al-KhattabUmar ibn al-Khattab, al-Faruq and second caliph: his night prayer, justice, generosity and respect for the Bo…
- معاذ بن جبلMu'adh ibn JabalMu'adh ibn Jabal, the young Ansari scholar sent to teach Yemen: his night prayer, the du'a taught to him, his…
- عبد الله بن سلامAbdullah ibn SalamA leading Jewish scholar of Medina who recognised the Prophet on arrival, became Muslim and was named by the…
Sources and review
- Wikipedia: Abu Ubayda ibn al-Jarrah (opens in a new tab)
- Hadith texts and grades cross-checked against the fawazahmed0 hadith-api dataset (mirrors sunnah.com numbering) (opens in a new tab)
Hadith numbers follow sunnah.com. Each report links to sunnah.com, and, where the numbering matches, to al-Hadees or HadithUnlocked as well. Quran verses link to quran.com, Tafsir Ibn Kathir and Tanzil. The Arabic is taken from the hadith editions and trimmed around the quoted words, so read the full report at the source before relying on it. Grades are the ones those editions give.
This page is pending scholar review. It was compiled from public sources, and its citations were last checked on 7 October 2026. If you notice a mistake or a missing source, please tell us.