Mu’adh ibn Jabal (Radia Allaahu ‘anhu) ~ The Imam of the Fuqaha’ (Jurists)

Sources:    

•  Companions of the Prophet by: Abdul Wahid Hamid
• Ashaab Ar-Rasool (Salla Allaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam)by Mahmoud al-Masri

The Messenger of Allaah (Salla Allaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said: “O Mu’adh! By Allaah, I love you.” [Reported by Abu Dawoud]

The Prophet (Salla Allaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said: “If Allaah wills to do good to a person, He makes him comprehend the religion.” [Agreed upon]

Knowledge is one of the greatest blessings, therefore, Allaah (subhanaahu wa Ta’aala) ordered His Messenger (Salla Allaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) to increase in acquiring it. He (subhanaahu wa Ta’aala) said: “And say, ‘O my Lord, Increase me in knowledge.'” [Surat Ta-Ha 20: 114]

Because of the greatness of the knowledge of the scholars, and due to their high status with Allaah (subhanaahu wa Ta’aala), He (subhanaahu wa Ta’aala) made them testify upon the greatest testimony, which is the testimony of the Tawheed of Allaah (Oneness of Allaah).

Allaah (subhanaahu wa Ta’aala) said in Surat Aal-Imran (3:18): “Allaah bears witness that Laa ilaaha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He), and the angels and those having knowledge (also give this witness): (He is always) maintaining His creation in justice. Laa ilaaha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He), The All-Mighty, The All-Wise.”

The scholars are the people who fear Allaah (subhanaahu wa Ta’aala) the most, as Allaah (subhanaahu wa Ta’aala) said in Surat Fatir (35:28): “And of men and Ad-Dawaab (moving, living creatures, beasts, etc.) and cattle, (are) in like manner of various colors. It is only those who have knowledge among His slaves who fear Allaah. Verily, Allaah is All-Mighty, Oft-Forgiving.”

Also, Allaah said in Surat az-Zumar (39:9): “Is one who is obedient to Allaah, prostrating himself or standing (in prayer) during the hours of the night, fearing the Hereafter and hoping for the Mercy of his Lord (like those who disbelieve)? Say: ‘Are those who know equal to those who know not?’ It is only men of understanding who will remember (i.e., get a lesson from Allaah’s Signs and Verses).”

And He (subhanaahu wa Ta’aala) said in Surat al-Mujaadilah (58:11): “O you who believe! When you are told to make room in the assemblies, (spread out and) make room. Allaah will give you (ample) room (from His Mercy). And when you are told to rise up [for prayers, Jihaad (fighting in Allaah’s Cause), or for any other good deed], rise up. Allaah will exalt in degree those of you who believe and those who have been granted knowledge. And Allaah is well-Acquainted with what you do.”

Bear in mind that acquiring knowledge is the nearest way to attaining Paradise. The Prophet (Salla Allaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said: “Whoever follows a path for acquiring knowledge, Allaah will make easy a way to Paradise for him.” [Muslim]

The following is the biography of the Imam of the Jurists and scholars and the treasure of the scholars; the Imam in the knowledge of Halaal and Haraam (the lawful and the unlawful). He (Radia Allaahu ‘anhu) was only 28 or 33 years old when he died, but he attained and preceded the Ummah in jurisprudence and the knowledge of Halaal and Haraam in a year. [Tarteeb al-Afwah]

 His Islam

Mu’adh ibn Jabal (Radia Allaahu ‘anhu) was a young man growing up in Medina as the light of guidance and truth began to spread over the Arabian Peninsula. He was a handsome and imposing character with black eyes and curly black hair and he immediately impressed whoever he met. He was already distinguished for the sharpness of his intelligence among young men of his own age.

The young Mu’adh became a Muslim at the hands of Mus’ab ibn ‘Umayr (Radia Allaahu ‘anhu), the da’iy (caller to Islam) whom the Prophet (Salla Allaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) had sent to Medina before the Hijrah. Mu’adh was among the seventy-two Yathribites who journeyed to Makkah one year before the Hijrah, and met the Prophet (Salla Allaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) at his house and later again in the valley of Mina, outside Makkah, at ‘Aqabah. Here, the famous second ‘Aqabah Pledge was made to which the new Muslims of Medina, including some women, vowed to support and defend the Prophet (Salla Allaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) at any cost. Mu’adh (Radia Allaahu ‘anhu) was among those who enthusiastically clasped the hands of the blessed Prophet (Salla Allaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) and pledged allegiance to him.

His Da’wah and Call to Allaah (subhanaahu wa Ta’aala)

As soon as Mu’adh (Radia Allaahu ‘anhu) returned to Madinah from Makkah, he and a few others of his age formed a group to remove and destroy idols from the houses of the Mushrikeen in Medina. One of the effects of this campaign was that a prominent man of the city, ‘Amr ibn al-Jumuh, became a Muslim.

‘Amr ibn al-Jumuh had an idol which was made of the most priceless wood; its name was Manaat. One night ‘Amr’s son went with his friend Mu’adh ibn Jabal (Radia Allaahu ‘anhu) to Manaat and took the idol from its place and threw it (upside down) on its head into the cesspit of Bani Salamah. They returned to their homes without anyone knowing anything about what they had done. When ‘Amr woke up in the morning, he went in quiet reverence to pay his respects to his idol but did not find it.

“Woe to you all,” he shouted. “Who has attacked our god last night?” There was no reply from anyone. He searched frantically for the idol, fuming with rage and threatening the perpetrators. Eventually, he found the idol in the pit. He washed and perfumed it and returned it to its usual place saying: “If I find out who did this to you, I will humiliate him.” The following night the young men did the same to the idol. The old man recovered it, washed and perfumed it as he had done before and returned it to its place. This happened several times until one night ‘Amr put a sword around the idol’s neck and said to it: “O Manaat, I don’t know who is doing this to you. If you have any power of good in you, defend yourself against this evil. Here is a sword for you.” The young men waited until ‘Amr was fast asleep. They took the sword from the idol’s neck and tied a dead dog to the idol and again threw it into the cesspit. In the morning, ‘Amr found the idol lying face down in the pit tied to a dead dog, and the sword was nowhere in sight. When he witnessed that he at last, was convinced that the idol had no power at all and did not deserve to be worshipped. Then, some of the Muslims (of his people) called him to Islam and he entered the religion of Islam and was one of the best Muslims. [Siyar Alaam an-Nubala’ by adh-Dhahabi]

The Love of the Prophet (Salla Allaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) for Mu’adh and his Excellence with him

When the noble Prophet (Salla Allaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) reached Madinah, Mu’adh ibn Jabal (Radia Allaahu ‘anhu) stayed in his company as much as possible. He studied the Qur’an and the laws of Islam until he became one of the best versed of all the Companions in the religion of Islam.

The Prophet (Salla Allaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said: “Take the Qur’an from four: from Ibn Mas’ud, Ubayy, Mu’adh ibn Jabal and Saalim, the freed slave of Abi Hudhaifah.” [Al-Bukhaari and Muslim]

Wherever Mu’adh (Radia Allaahu ‘anhu) went, people would refer to him for legal judgments on matters over which they differed. This is not strange since he was brought up in the school of the Prophet (Salla Allaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) himself and learnt as much as he could from him. He was the best pupil of the best teacher. His knowledge bore the stamp of authenticity. The best certificate that he could have received came from the Prophet (Salla Allaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) himself when he said: “The most merciful to my nation from among my nation is Abu Bakr, the most strict in the religion is ‘Umar, the most modest is ‘Uthman and the most knowledgeable of my Ummah in matters of Halaal and Haraam is Mu’adh ibn Jabal.” [Reported by Ahmad and at-Tirmidhi and authenticated by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Jamie’ 895]

The whole world cannot equal or even compare to the great excellence and merit of Mu’adh (Radia Allaahu ‘anhu) as we can determine from the following:

Mu’adh (Radia Allaahu ‘anhu) narrated: “Allaah’s Messenger (Salla Allaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) held my hand and said: ‘O Mu’adh, by Allaah, I love you and advise you not to miss supplicating at the end of every Salat (prayer), “Allaahuma a’inni a’la dhikrika wa shukrika, wa husni ‘ibadatika,’ (O Allaah, help me in remembering You, expressing gratitude to You and worshipping You in the best manner).” [Abu Dawoud and an-Nisa’i]

The Prophet (Salla Allaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) even spoke regarding the high status Mu’adh (Radia Allaahu ‘anhu) will have among the scholars on the Day of Judgment when he (Salla Allaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said: “Indeed, Mu’adh ibn Jabal will be preceding the ‘Ulama (scholars) by a Ratwah*.” [Reported by Ibn Sa’id in at-Tabaqat]

*Ratwah is the degree and status.

In another Hadeeth, the Prophet (Salla Allaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) praised Mu’adh when he (Salla Allaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said: “What an excellent man Mu’adh is.” [At-Tirmidhi in al-Mana’ghib]

Muhammad ibn Sahl ibn Abi Hathmah reported on the authority of his father, saying: “The three emigrants from whom fatwa were sought are: ‘Umar, ‘Uthman and ‘Ali (Radia Allaahu ‘anhum) and from among the Ansar: Ubayy ibn Ka’b, Mu’adh and Zaid (Radia Allaahu ‘anhum).”

Niyar al-Aslami said: “‘Umar used to consult those (who are mentioned in the above narration) and he mentioned Mu’adh.”

Musa ibn ‘Ula ibn Rabah reported on the authority of his father that ‘Umar (Radia Allaahu ‘anhu) delivered a sermon in al-Jaabiyah and said, “Whoever is seeking Fiqh (Jurisprudence) let him go to Mu’adh ibn Jabal.” [Al-Hakim]

One of the greatest of Mu’adh’s (Radia Allaahu ‘anhu) contributions to the Ummah of Muhammad (Salla Allaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) was that he was one of six selected companions who were commissioned to collect the Qur’an during the lifetime of the Prophet (Salla Allaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam). Whenever a group of Companions met and Mu’adh was among them, they would look at him with awe and respect on account of his knowledge. The Prophet (Salla Allaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) and his two Khalifahs after him placed this unique gift and power in the service of Islam.

His going to Yemen for Da’wah and spreading the Knowledge

After the liberation of Makkah, the Quraish became Muslims en masse. The Prophet (Salla Allaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) immediately saw the need of the new Muslims, for teachers to instruct them in the fundamentals of Islam and to make them truly understand the spirit and letter of its laws. He appointed ‘Attab ibn Usayd (Radia Allaahu ‘anhu) as his deputy in Makkah and he asked Mu’adh ibn Jabal (Radia Allaahu ‘anhu) to stay with him and teach people the Qur’an and instruct them in the religion.

Sometime after the Prophet (Salla Allaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) had returned to Madinah, messengers of the kings of Yemen came to him announcing that they and the people of Yemen had become Muslims. They requested that some teachers should be with them to teach Islam to the people. For this task the Prophet (Salla Allaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) commissioned a group of competent du’at (preachers) and made Mu’adh ibn Jabal (Radia Allaahu ‘anhu) their Amir. [Suwar min Hayaat as-Sahabah]

When the Prophet (Salla Allaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) sent Mu’adh (Radia Allaahu ‘anhu) to Yemen he asked him the following questions:

“According to what will you judge?”

“According to the Book of Allaah,” replied Mu’adh.

“And if you find nothing therein?”

“According to the Sunnah of the Prophet of Allaah.”

“And if you find nothing therein?”

“Then I will exert myself (exercise Ijtihaad) to form my own judgment and I will go beyond that.”

The Prophet (Salla Allaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) was pleased with this reply and said:

“Praise be to Allaah, Who has guided the messenger of the Prophet to that which pleases the Prophet (Salla Allaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam).” [Reported by Ahmad, Abu Dawoud and at-Tirmidhi and al-Albaani said it is Da’ief]

Abu Musa (Radia Allaahu ‘anhu) narrated: “The Prophet (Salla Allaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) sent Abu Musa and Mu’adh ibn Jabal each to a different province in Yemen, as at that time Yemen consisted of two provinces. The Prophet (Salla Allaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said to them: ‘Facilitate things for the people and do not make things difficult for them. Give the people good tidings and do not repulse them.’ So, they both went to carry out their own designated job. Then, when any of the people toured his province and happened to come near (the border of the province of) his Companion, he would visit him and greet him.”

Once, Mu’adh asked Abu Musa, “O ‘Abdullah (ibn Qais)! How do you recite the Qur’an?” Abu Musa said: “I recite the Qur’an regularly at intervals and piecemeal. How do you recite it O Mu’adh?” Mu’adh said: “I sleep in the first part of the night and then get up after having slept for the time allotted for my sleep, and then I recite as much as Allaah has written for me. So, I seek Allaah’s Reward for my sleep as well as my prayer (at night).” [Al-Bukhaari and Muslim]

The Prophet (Salla Allaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) bids Farewell to Mu’adh (Radia Allaahu ‘anhu)

When the Prophet (Salla Allaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) sent Mu’adh (Radia Allaahu ‘anhu) to Yemen, he (Salla Allaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) personally bade him farewell, saying: “O Mu’adh, perhaps you shall not meet me again after this year. Perhaps when you return, you shall see only my mosque and my grave.” Mu’adh (Radia Allaahu ‘anhu) wept. Those with him wept too. A feeling of sadness and desolation overtook him as he parted from his beloved Prophet (Salla Allaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam).

The Prophet’s premonition was correct. The eyes of Mu’adh (Radia Allaahu ‘anhu) never beheld the Prophet (Salla Allaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) after that moment. The Prophet (Salla Allaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) died before Mu’adh (Radia Allaahu ‘anhu) returned from Yemen. There is no doubt that Mu’adh (Radia Allaahu ‘anhu) wept when he returned to Madinah and found there was no longer the company of the blessed Prophet (Salla Allaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam). ‘Umar (Radia Allaahu ‘anhu) saw Mu’adh (Radia Allaahu ‘anhu) weeping at the Prophet’s grave recalling his advice.

His Trust

During the caliphate of ‘Umar (Radia Allaahu ‘anhu), Mu’adh (Radia Allaahu ‘anhu) was sent to the Banu Kilab to apportion their stipends and to distribute the Sadaqah of their richer folk among the poor. When he had done his duty, he returned to his wife with his saddle blanket around his neck, empty handed, and she asked him:

“Where are the gifts which commissioners return with for their families?”

“I had an alert Supervisor who was checking over me,” he replied.

“You were a trusted person with the Messenger of Allaah (Salla Allaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) and with Abu Bakr (Radia Allaahu ‘anhu). Then ‘Umar (Radia Allaahu ‘anhu) came and he sent a supervisor with you to check on you!” she exclaimed.  She went on to talk about this to the women of ‘Umar’s (Radia Allaahu ‘anhu) household and complained to them about it. The complaint eventually reached ‘Umar (Radia Allaahu ‘anhu), so he summoned Mu’adh (Radia Allaahu ‘anhu) and said:

“Did I send a supervisor with you to check on you?”

“No, Amir al-Mu’mineen,” he said. “But that was the only reason I could find to give her.” ‘Umar (Radia Allaahu ‘anhu) laughed and then gave him a gift, saying: “I hope this pleases you.”

Also during the caliphate of ‘Umar (Radia Allaahu ‘anhu), the governor of Syria, Yazid ibn Abi Sufyan sent a message saying:

“O Amir al-Mu’mineen! The people of Syria are many. They fill the towns. They need people to teach them the Qur’an and instruct them in the religion.”

‘Umar (Radia Allaahu ‘anhu) thereupon, summoned five persons who had collected the Qur’an in the lifetime of the Prophet (Salla Allaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam). They were Mu’adh ibn Jabal, ‘Ubadah ibn as-Samit, Abu Ayyub al-Ansari, Ubayy ibn Ka’b and Abu ad-Dardaa’ (Radia Allaahu ‘anhu). He said to them:

“Your brothers in Syria have asked me to help them by sending those who can teach them the Qur’an and instruct them in the religion. Please appoint three among you for this task and may Allaah bless you. I can select three of you myself if you do not want to choose.”

“Why should we choose?” they asked. “Abu Ayyub is quite old and Ubayy is a sick man. That leaves three of us.”

“All three of you go to him (Yazid ibn Abi Sufyan (Radia Allaahu ‘anhu)) first of all. If you are satisfied with the condition of the people there, one of you should stay there, another should go to Damascus and the other to Palestine.”

So, it was that ‘Ubadah ibn as-Samit was left at Hims, Abu ad-Dardaa’ went to Damascus and Mu’adh went to Palestine. In the short time he was in the region, Mu’adh (Radia Allaahu ‘anhu) gained the affection of the people. Someone called Abu Idris al-Khawlani has testified to this. He said:

“I entered the Damascus mosque and there was a man with a beautiful mouth and white teeth sitting with some people. When they disagreed about something, they referred to him. I enquired about him and it was said, ‘This is Mu’adh ibn Jabal.’

The next day I went to the Dhuhr prayer and I found that he had preceded me to the Dhuhr prayer and I found him praying.

Then I came to him from in front of him, greeted him and said: ‘By Allaah, I love you for the sake of Allaah.’ He said, ‘By Allaah?’ I said, ‘By Allaah!’ (This exchange was repeated twice.)

He (Mu’adh) then said (to me): ‘Rejoice! For I heard the Messenger of Allaah (Salla Allaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) speaking Divine words: ‘My love is bound for those who love each other for My Sake, those who sit with each other for My Sake, those who visit each other for My Sake, and those who give to each other generously for My Sake.’“ [Reported by Malik and Ibn Hibban and authenticated by al-Albaani in Saheeh at-Targhib wat-Tarhib, no. 3018.]

His Death

In Palestine, Mu’adh (Radia Allaahu ‘anhu) fell ill with an infectious disease. As he was near to death, he turned in the direction of the Ka’bah and repeated this refrain:

“Welcome Death, Welcome! A visitor has come after a long absence. O Lord! You know that I used to fear You and today I have hope in You.”

And looking up to heaven, he said:

“O Lord, You know that I did not desire the world nor did I want to prolong my stay in it to dig rivers or plant trees, but rather for the thirsts (due to fasting), struggling (in Your Cause) and competing with the Ulama in the assemblies of the dhikr. O Lord, accept my soul with goodness as You would accept a believing soul.” [Ahmad in Az-Zuhd]

He then passed away, far from his family and his clan, a da’iy in the service of Allaah and a muhaajir in His path.