Sayyidah ‘Aaishah رضي الله عنها was asked:
“Which companion of Rasulullah صلى الله عليه وسلم was most beloved to him?” She replied, “The most beloved to Rasulullah صلى الله عليه وسلم was Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه, then ‘Umar رضي الله عنه, and then Abu ‘Ubaidah bin Jarraah رضي الله عنه.” (Sunan Tirmizi #3657)
(Sayyiduna Abu Ubaidah bin Jarraah رضي الله عنه pg.5)
THE EXTREME TRUSTWORTHINESS OF HAZRAT ABU UBAIDAH BIN JARRAAH رضي الله عنه
After embracing Islam, the people of Najraan came to Rasulullah صلى الله عليه وسلم and requested him to send to them a trustworthy person (who could teach them deen).
Rasululllah صلى الله عليه وسلم said to them:
لأبعثن إليكم رجلا أمينا حق أمين
“I will send to you a person who is trustworthy, indeed very trustworthy.”
At that point, the Sahaabah رضي الله عنهم who were present all desired to be the recipient of this glad tiding of Rasulullah صلى الله عليه وسلم. Rasulullah صلى الله عليه وسلم then appointed Hazrat Abu Ubaidah رضي الله عنه to go to the people of Najraan and teach them deen.
When Hazrat Abu Ubaidah رضي الله عنه stood up and was about to leave, Rasulullah صلى الله عليه وسلم mentioned regarding him, “This person is the (special) trustee of this Ummah”. (Saheeh Bukhaari #3480- 3481)
Note: The quality of trustworthiness was the hallmark of all the Sahaabah. However, on account of this quality being most outstanding in the life of Hazrat Abu Ubaidah رضي الله عنه, Rasulullah صلى الله عليه وسلم granted him this special title.
(theillustrioussahaabah.com)
REFLECTIONS
This quality of honesty and trustworthiness cannot be emphasised enough.
Hazrat Huzaifah رضي الله عنه reports, “Rasulullah صلى الله عليه وسلم mentioned two Ahaadith to us; I have witnessed the first materialize, and I am still waiting to witness the second. “Rasulullah صلى الله عليه وسلم informed us that amaanah (the fear of accountability) was sent down by Allah Ta’ala into the recesses of the hearts of men. Thereafter, through the light of amaanah, people understood the Quraan and the Sunnah correctly. “Rasulullah صلى الله عليه وسلم thereafter mentioned to us that a time will come when this amaanah will gradually be raised from the hearts of men. “Rasulullah صلى الله عليه وسلم said, ‘A man will sleep and wake up, and a portion of the amaanah will be raised from his heart (i.e. on account of him committing sins, a portion of the amaanah will be raised from his heart overnight, resulting in him not understanding deen correctly and thereafter becoming negligent in fulfilling the rights of Allah Ta‘ala and the servants).’ “Rasulullah صلى الله عليه وسلم then said, ‘People will wake up in the morning dealing among themselves, and they will not uphold amaanah. At that time, it will be said, ‘In such-and-such tribe, there is a man who possesses the quality of amaanah’, and it will be said regarding a certain person, ‘How intelligent is he! How prudent is he! How capable is he!’, yet such a person’s heart will not even contain Imaan equivalent to a mustard seed.” (Bukhaari #6497)
(Orchards of Love pg.61)
May Allah Ta’ala endow us with the quality of trustworthiness and make us beloved to Allah Ta’ala and Rasulullah صلی الله عليه وسلم. Ameen