'Ubadah ibn al-Samit ( ) was a
companion of Muhammad
The Companions of the Prophet () were the Muslim disciples and followers of the Islamic prophet Muhammad who saw or met him during his lifetime. The companions played a major role in Muslim battles, society, hadith narration, and governance ...
and a well-respected chieftain of the
Ansar tribes confederation. He participated in almost every battle during
Muhammad
Muhammad (8 June 632 CE) was an Arab religious and political leader and the founder of Islam. Muhammad in Islam, According to Islam, he was a prophet who was divinely inspired to preach and confirm the tawhid, monotheistic teachings of A ...
's era. His official title, according to Muslim scholarly tradition, was 'Ubadah ''bin Saamit al-Ansari al-Badri'' () for his actions at the
Battle of Badr
The Battle of Badr or sometimes called The Raid of Badr ( ; ''Ghazwahu Badr''), also referred to as The Day of the Criterion (, ; ''Yawm al-Furqan'') in the Qur'an and by Muslims, was fought on 13 March 624 CE (17 Ramadan, 2 AH), near the pre ...
.
He served under the first three
Rashidun
The Rashidun () are the first four caliphs () who led the Muslim community following the death of Muhammad: Abu Bakr (), Umar (), Uthman (), and Ali ().
The reign of these caliphs, called the Rashidun Caliphate (632–661), is considered i ...
caliphs
A caliphate ( ) is an institution or public office under the leadership of an Islamic steward with the title of caliph (; , ), a person considered a political–religious successor to the Islamic prophet Muhammad and a leader of the enti ...
in the Muslim conquest against the
Byzantines.
The conquest of
Cyprus
Cyprus (), officially the Republic of Cyprus, is an island country in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. Situated in West Asia, its cultural identity and geopolitical orientation are overwhelmingly Southeast European. Cyprus is the List of isl ...
marked 'Ubadah as one of the
Rashidun army
The Rashidun army () was the core of the Rashidun Caliphate's armed forces during the early Muslim conquests in the 7th century. The army is reported to have maintained a high level of discipline, strategic prowess and organization, grantin ...
's most successful military commanders. He participated in more than seven large scale military campaigns before ending his career as a
Qadi
A qadi (; ) is the magistrate or judge of a Sharia court, who also exercises extrajudicial functions such as mediation, guardianship over orphans and minors, and supervision and auditing of public works.
History
The term '' was in use from ...
in the
Holy Land
The term "Holy Land" is used to collectively denote areas of the Southern Levant that hold great significance in the Abrahamic religions, primarily because of their association with people and events featured in the Bible. It is traditionall ...
. In later years he assisted the then-governor and later
Umayyad caliph Mu'awiya
Mu'awiya I (–April 680) was the founder and first caliph of the Umayyad Caliphate, ruling from 661 until his death. He became caliph less than thirty years after the death of the Islamic prophet Muhammad and immediately after the four Rashid ...
.
'Ubadah served as the Qur'anic teacher of
Suffah
Al-Ṣuffah (), or ''Dikkat Ashab As-Suffah'' () was a sheltered raised platform that was available at the rear side of the Prophet's Mosque during the Medina period (622-632) of early Islam. It was initially available at the northeastern corner ...
and the
Mufti
A mufti (; , ) is an Islamic jurist qualified to issue a nonbinding opinion ('' fatwa'') on a point of Islamic law (''sharia''). The act of issuing fatwas is called ''iftāʾ''. Muftis and their ''fatāwa'' have played an important role thro ...
and judge of the Rashidun caliphate, along with matters of converting subdued populations and building
Mosque
A mosque ( ), also called a masjid ( ), is a place of worship for Muslims. The term usually refers to a covered building, but can be any place where Salah, Islamic prayers are performed; such as an outdoor courtyard.
Originally, mosques were si ...
s, such as the
Mosque of Amr ibn al-As
The Amr ibn al-As Mosque () is a mosque in Cairo, Egypt. Named after the Arab Muslim commander Amr ibn al-As, the mosque was originally built in 641–642 CE as the center of the newly founded capital of Egypt, Fustat. The original structure ...
in
Egypt
Egypt ( , ), officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, is a country spanning the Northeast Africa, northeast corner of Africa and Western Asia, southwest corner of Asia via the Sinai Peninsula. It is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to northe ...
and the Bazaar
Congregational mosque
A congregational mosque or Friday mosque (, ''masjid jāmi‘'', or simply: , ''jāmi‘''; ), or sometimes great mosque or grand mosque (, ''jāmi‘ kabir''; ), is a mosque for hosting the Friday noon prayers known as ''Friday prayer, jumu'ah' ...
in
Homs
Homs ( ; ), known in pre-Islamic times as Emesa ( ; ), is a city in western Syria and the capital of the Homs Governorate. It is Metres above sea level, above sea level and is located north of Damascus. Located on the Orontes River, Homs is ...
. Despite his low structural position, 'Ubadah's influence as a respected senior Sahabah who was trusted by Muhammad and caliph Umar could rule many of his compatriots, including those who outranked him structurally such as
Mu'awiya
Mu'awiya I (–April 680) was the founder and first caliph of the Umayyad Caliphate, ruling from 661 until his death. He became caliph less than thirty years after the death of the Islamic prophet Muhammad and immediately after the four Rashid ...
, who served as Governor of
Homs
Homs ( ; ), known in pre-Islamic times as Emesa ( ; ), is a city in western Syria and the capital of the Homs Governorate. It is Metres above sea level, above sea level and is located north of Damascus. Located on the Orontes River, Homs is ...
during 'Ubadah's tenure as judge.
Islamic scholars regard 'Ubadah as an influential companion of Muhammad who passed down many
Hadith
Hadith is the Arabic word for a 'report' or an 'account f an event and refers to the Islamic oral tradition of anecdotes containing the purported words, actions, and the silent approvals of the Islamic prophet Muhammad or his immediate circle ...
s that became the basis of
Fiqh
''Fiqh'' (; ) is the term for Islamic jurisprudence.[Fiqh](_blank)
Encyclopædia Britannica ''Fiqh'' is of ...
ruling in various matters.
Early life
'Ubadah was a descendant from
Yemen
Yemen, officially the Republic of Yemen, is a country in West Asia. Located in South Arabia, southern Arabia, it borders Saudi Arabia to Saudi Arabia–Yemen border, the north, Oman to Oman–Yemen border, the northeast, the south-eastern part ...
i Arabs who settled in
Yathrib
Medina, officially al-Madinah al-Munawwarah (, ), also known as Taybah () and known in pre-Islamic times as Yathrib (), is the capital of Medina Province (Saudi Arabia), Medina Province in the Hejaz region of western Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, ...
and formed the
Banu Aws
The Banū Aws ( , "Sons of Aws") or simply Aws (, also romanised as Aus) was one of the main Arab tribes of Medina. The other was Khazraj, and the two, constituted the Ansar ("Helpers of Muhammad”) after the Hijra..
The Aws tribe desc ...
and
Khazraj
The Banu Khazraj () is a large Arab tribe based in Medina. They were also in Medina during Muhammad's era.
The Banu Khazraj are a South Arabian Qahtanite tribe that were pressured out of South Arabia as a result of the destruction of the Marib ...
tribes. He was born into the latter and became a prominent chief.
His genealogical lineage was 'Ubadah ibn al-Samit Ibn Qais bin Asram bin Fahr bin Tha'labah ibn Ghanm ibn Auf ibn (Amr bin Auf) ibn Al Khazraj. Sometime before Muhammad's migration from
Mecca
Mecca, officially Makkah al-Mukarramah, is the capital of Mecca Province in the Hejaz region of western Saudi Arabia; it is the Holiest sites in Islam, holiest city in Islam. It is inland from Jeddah on the Red Sea, in a narrow valley above ...
, 'Ubadah and other Banu Aws and Khazraj tribe chieftains, such as
Abdullah ibn Rawahah
Abd Allah ibn Rawahah ibn Tha'laba (), was one of the Sahaba, companions of the Islamic Prophets of Islam, prophet Muhammad who was killed in the Battle of Mu'tah, Battle of Mut'ah.
Biography
Ibn Rawaha was from the Tribes of Arabia, Arabian tri ...
, ʿAbdullah ibn Haram,
Sa'd ibn 'Ubadah, and
Abu Talha al-Ansari, met Muhammad at
Aqabah during their journey from
Medina
Medina, officially al-Madinah al-Munawwarah (, ), also known as Taybah () and known in pre-Islamic times as Yathrib (), is the capital of Medina Province (Saudi Arabia), Medina Province in the Hejaz region of western Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, ...
to perform
Hajj
Hajj (; ; also spelled Hadj, Haj or Haji) is an annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, the holiest city for Muslims. Hajj is a mandatory religious duty for capable Muslims that must be carried out at least once in their lifetim ...
in
Mecca
Mecca, officially Makkah al-Mukarramah, is the capital of Mecca Province in the Hejaz region of western Saudi Arabia; it is the Holiest sites in Islam, holiest city in Islam. It is inland from Jeddah on the Red Sea, in a narrow valley above ...
. In historical literature, these clan leaders are said to have done Hajj to achieve enlightenment after they grew weary of tribal conflicts, particularly the civil war of Yathrib that Muslim historians call the
Battle of Bu'ath. They listened to Muhammad's preaching and considered him to be the solution to unite their tribes. They immediately pledged their allegiance to him, marking this event as the first pledge of al-Aqabah. 'Ubadah was around forty years old.
Later he participated in the
Second pledge at al-Aqabah
The second pledge at al-ʿAqabah () was an important event in Islam where 75 residents of the city of Medina pledged their loyalty to Muhammad as their leader in an oath of allegiance known as a '' bay'ah''. It preceded the Hijrah, or migration ...
, and narrated the event.
When the
Meccan Muslims
were migrating to seek refuge in Yathrib (now Medina), 'Ubadah and his fellow
Banu Aws
The Banū Aws ( , "Sons of Aws") or simply Aws (, also romanised as Aus) was one of the main Arab tribes of Medina. The other was Khazraj, and the two, constituted the Ansar ("Helpers of Muhammad”) after the Hijra..
The Aws tribe desc ...
and
Khazraji provided shelter to them as Muhammad immediately instructed 'Ubadah to take an oath of brotherhood with the
Muhajireen named Abu Marthad al-Ghanwi.
Battles under Muhammad
During Muhammad's stay in Yathrib, 'Ubadah participated at the
battle of Badr
The Battle of Badr or sometimes called The Raid of Badr ( ; ''Ghazwahu Badr''), also referred to as The Day of the Criterion (, ; ''Yawm al-Furqan'') in the Qur'an and by Muslims, was fought on 13 March 624 CE (17 Ramadan, 2 AH), near the pre ...
, which elevated his status as a patron of
Islam
Islam is an Abrahamic religions, Abrahamic monotheistic religion based on the Quran, and the teachings of Muhammad. Adherents of Islam are called Muslims, who are estimated to number Islam by country, 2 billion worldwide and are the world ...
in the view of Muslim scholars and earned him the title of ''al-Badri'', which is bestowed to Muslims who attended the battle.
'Ubadah gave his testimony in regards to the aftermath of the battle when the Muslim army discussed their prisoners of war.
'Ubadah also participated in the
battle of Uhud
The Battle of Uhud () was fought between the early Muslims and the Quraysh during the Muslim–Quraysh wars in a valley north of Mount Uhud near Medina on Saturday, 23 March 625 AD (7 Shawwal, 3 AH).
After the expulsion of Hijrah, Muslims from ...
.
After the ancident between the
Banu Qaynuqa
The Banu Qaynuqa (; also spelled Banu Kainuka, Banu Kaynuka, Banu Qainuqa, Banu Qaynuqa) was one of the three main Jewish tribes that originally lived in Medina (now part of Saudi Arabia) before being expelled by Muhammad. They were merchants an ...
tribe and Muhammad, 'Ubadah announced that he had annulled the alliance with Banu Qaynuqa, and it was this incident that led to the
revelation
Revelation, or divine revelation, is the disclosing of some form of Religious views on truth, truth or Knowledge#Religion, knowledge through communication with a deity (god) or other supernatural entity or entities in the view of religion and t ...
of and from Allah to Muhammad. 'Ubadah's position as a respected head clan superseded
Abdallah ibn Ubay's (another Khazraji chief) support of the
Jews
Jews (, , ), or the Jewish people, are an ethnoreligious group and nation, originating from the Israelites of History of ancient Israel and Judah, ancient Israel and Judah. They also traditionally adhere to Judaism. Jewish ethnicity, rel ...
. In the end, the entire clan instead followed 'Ubadah and supported Muhammad and they expelled the Banu Qaynuqa Jews from Medina and took their
date palm
''Phoenix dactylifera'', commonly known as the date palm, is a flowering-plant species in the palm family Arecaceae, cultivated for its edible sweet #Fruits, fruit called dates. The species is widely cultivated across North Africa, northern A ...
gardens as
holy war
A religious war or a war of religion, sometimes also known as a holy war (), is a war and conflict which is primarily caused or justified by differences in religion and beliefs. In the modern period, there are frequent debates over the extent t ...
benefit for the city's Muslim community before continuing to serve in the
Battle of Khandaq.
In January 627, the Ansaris under 'Ubadah and his colleague, Sa'd ibn 'Ubadah, led an expedition against the
Banu Mustaliq tribe. The raid was successful and they took 200 families captive, along with 200 camels, 5,000 sheep, goats, and a large quantity of household goods.
online
However, during the battle 'Ubadah unintentionally killed one of his Ansari clansmen, Hisham ibn Subabah.
Sometime after the
treaty of Hudaybiyya, 'Ubadah fought in the
Battle of Khaybar
The Battle of Khaybar () was an armed confrontation between the early Muslims and the Jewish community of Khaybar in 628 CE. Khaybar, which is located approximately to the northwest of Medina, was home to a sizable community of Jewish tribe ...
.
'Ubadah participated in virtually all military expeditions personally led by Muhammad before his death.
Rashidun caliphate
After the selection of the first caliph, rebellion broke out across the caliphate. 'Ubadah was commanded by Caliph Abu Bakr to quell the
rebellions across Arabia, though it history did not record which battles he was involved in. According to David Nicolle, the four Rashidun contingents left Medina between the autumn of 633 to 634 before Khalid converged with other contingents led by generals such as
Abu Ubaydah ibn al-Jarrah,
Yazid ibn Abu Sufyan
Yazid ibn Abi Sufyan ibn Harb ibn Umayya (; died 639) was a leading Arab Muslim commander in the conquest of Syria from 634 until his death in the plague of Amwas in 639. Following the capture of Damascus around 635, he was placed in command of ...
,
Amr ibn al-A'as and
Shurahbil Ibn Hasanah.
[D. Nicolle, ''Yarmuk 636 AD – The Muslim Conquest of Syria'', Osprey, 1994, p. 46.] 'Ubadah,
Abu Darda, and
Muadh ibn Jabal
Muʿādh ibn Jabal (; 603 – 639) was a (companion) of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. Muadh was an of the Banu Khazraj tribe and compiled the Quran with five companions while Muhammad was still alive. He acquired a reputation for knowledge.
Mu ...
were sent to
Syria
Syria, officially the Syrian Arab Republic, is a country in West Asia located in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Levant. It borders the Mediterranean Sea to the west, Turkey to Syria–Turkey border, the north, Iraq to Iraq–Syria border, t ...
after ibn Abu Sufyan asked the caliph to send him preachers to teach the newly subdued Syrian Christians. At some point, 'Ubadah was tasked to assist the military campaigns in Syria.
During the time of Caliph
Umar ibn al-Khattab
Umar ibn al-Khattab (; ), also spelled Omar, was the second Rashidun caliph, ruling from August 634 until his assassination in 644. He succeeded Abu Bakr () and is regarded as a senior companion and father-in-law of the Islamic prophet Muh ...
, reinforcement requests came from the Syrian front during the Rashidun's
conquest of Levant. Khattab sent 'Ubadah to join forces with
Abu Ubaidah ibn al-Jarrah
ʿĀmir ibn ʿAbd Allāh ibn al-Jarrāḥ (; 583–639), better known as Abū ʿUbayda () was a Muslim commander and one of the Companions of the Prophet. He is mostly known for being one of the ten to whom Paradise was promised. He was comm ...
and
Khalid ibn al-Walid
Khalid ibn al-Walid ibn al-Mughira al-Makhzumi (; died 642) was a 7th-century Arabs, Arab military commander. He initially led campaigns against Muhammad on behalf of the Quraysh. He later became a Muslim and spent the remainder of his career ...
.
'Ubadah participated in the
Battle of Ajnadayn under Khalid ibn al-Walid, where the 100,000 Byzantine soldiers under Vardan were trapped, defeated, and fled to
Damascus
Damascus ( , ; ) is the capital and List of largest cities in the Levant region by population, largest city of Syria. It is the oldest capital in the world and, according to some, the fourth Holiest sites in Islam, holiest city in Islam. Kno ...
. This battle ended with more than half of the Byzantine army killed, including General Vardan.
During the
Siege of Emesa between 635 and 636 AD, Abu Ubaydah appointed 'Ubadah as his deputy in Homs while Abu Ubaydah left to capture
Hamah. 'Ubadah stayed there with his wife,
Umm Haram, where Umm Haram remembered the Hadith that allegedly prophesied the future conquest of
Cyprus
Cyprus (), officially the Republic of Cyprus, is an island country in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. Situated in West Asia, its cultural identity and geopolitical orientation are overwhelmingly Southeast European. Cyprus is the List of isl ...
in which she and her husband participated.
'Ubadah participated in the
Battle of Yarmouk
The Battle of the Yarmuk (also spelled Yarmouk; ) was a major battle between the army of the Byzantine Empire and the Arab Muslim forces of the Rashidun Caliphate. The battle consisted of a series of engagements that lasted for six days in Aug ...
.
After they defeated the Byzantine coalitions in Yarmouk, 'Ubadah, along with the army of Abu Ubaydah and Khalid, continued their conquest until they reached Northern Syria, where they turned south to pacify the shore areas of Levant. 'Ubadah was instructed to lead a detachment to subdue
Tartus
Tartus ( / ALA-LC: ''Ṭarṭūs''; known in the County of Tripoli as Tortosa and also transliterated from French language, French Tartous) is a major port city on the Mediterranean coast of Syria. It is the second largest port city in Syria (af ...
, a coastal fortress city.
While 'Ubadah occupied Tartus in 636, Mu'awiya came to the city, and built an
Amsar
Amṣar (), refer to civilised cities and large areas in which houses, markets, schools and other public facilities are located. The plural form also sometimes referred to 'garrison towns' or structures that were established by Muslim warriors ...
complex, while also delegating fiefs to the garrison commanders.
'Ubadah was commanded by Abu Ubaydah to march towards
Jablah and Laodicea (
Latakia
Latakia (; ; Syrian Arabic, Syrian pronunciation: ) is the principal port city of Syria and capital city of the Latakia Governorate located on the Mediterranean coast. Historically, it has also been known as Laodicea in Syria or Laodicea ad Mar ...
).
'Ubadah met with resistance from the local garrison during the
siege of Latakia. He observed that the city had a massive gate that could only be opened by a large number of men. He ordered his men to camp and dig trenches that could hide a rider on horseback. 'Ubadah and his army pretended to return to Homs, while at night he ordered the army to return hide themselves inside the trench. As soon as people in Laodicea thought 'Ubadah had left, they opened the gate to let their cattle out. 'Ubadah then ordered his entire army to attack. The Byzantines were caught by surprise and failed to close the gate. He climbed the wall then gave signal of
Takbir
The ''takbīr'' (, , ) is the name for the Arabic phrase ' (, , ).Wensinck, A.J., "Takbīr", in: Encyclopaedia of Islam, Second Edition, Edited by: P. Bearman, Th. Bianquis, C.E. Bosworth, E. van Donzel, W.P. Heinrichs. Consulted online on 09 ...
terrifying the Byzantine defenders to flee towards Al-Yusaiyid.
The fleeing Byzantine soldiers and local citizens returned and surrendered to 'Ubadah, who accepted their surrender and allowed them to return to their homes with specific conditions, including the obligation to pay the
Kharaj
Kharāj () is a type of individual Islamic tax on agricultural land and its produce, regardless of the religion of the owners, developed under Islamic law.
With the first Muslim conquests in the 7th century, the ''kharaj'' initially was synonym ...
land tax.
While 'Ubadah oversaw Latakia, no buildings were razed including churches, while starting to build mosques. He stayed to establish the order of the caliphate on the subdued population. One particular mosque, Jami' al Bazaar or Mosque al-Bazaar survives. Laodicea was renamed to Latakia or ''Al-Ladhiqiyah.''
After settling matters in Latakia, 'Ubadah marched into other Byzantine controlled cities, and subdued them one by one from
Salamiyah
file:Hama qalat shmemis salamiyyah syria 1995.jpg, A full view of Shmemis (spring 1995)
Salamiyah (; also transliterated ''Salamiyya'', ''Salamieh'' or ''Salamya'') is a city in central Syria, administratively part of the Hama Governorate. It is ...
to
Baniyas
Baniyas ( ') is a Mediterranean Sea, Mediterranean coastal city in Tartous Governorate, western Syria, located south of Latakia and north of Tartous.
It is known for its citrus fruit orchards and its export of wood. North of the city is an B ...
port city.
Circa 630s, 'Ubadah subdued the city of
Paltus, which would become an Arab settlement called
Arab al-Mulk
Arab al-Mulk (, also spelled Arab al-Milk, Beldi al-Melek, Balda al-Milk or Beldeh) is a coastal village in northwestern Syria, administratively part of the Jableh District in the Latakia Governorate, located south of Latakia. Nearby localities inc ...
during later era, as recorded by
Yaqut al-Hamawi
Yāqūt Shihāb al-Dīn ibn-ʿAbdullāh al-Rūmī al-Ḥamawī (1179–1229) () was a Muslim scholar of Byzantine ancestry active during the late Abbasid period (12th–13th centuries). He is known for his , an influential work on geography con ...
.
Transfer to Egypt
In July 640, during the
siege of Babylon fortress in
Egypt
Egypt ( , ), officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, is a country spanning the Northeast Africa, northeast corner of Africa and Western Asia, southwest corner of Asia via the Sinai Peninsula. It is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to northe ...
against the Byzantine forces, the caliph sent 'Ubadah with 4,000 soldiers.
The four commanders were two veteran Muhajireen,
Zubayr ibn al-Awwam
Al-Zubayr ibn al-Awwam ibn Khuwaylid al-Asadi (; ) was an Arab Muslim commander in the service of the Islamic prophet Muhammad and the caliphs Abu Bakr () and Umar () who played a leading role in the Ridda Wars, Ridda wars against rebel tribes in ...
and
Miqdad ibn al-Aswad; a young Ansari commander named
Maslama ibn Mukhallad al-Ansari
Maslama ibn Mukhallad ibn Samit al-Ansari () was one of the companions of the Prophet and active in Egypt in the decades after its conquest by the Muslims.
Biography
He was born in 616 or 620, and participated in the Muslim conquest of Egypt, r ...
; and 'Ubadah. These reinforcements arrived in September 640.
Imam
Awza'i
The Awza'i school () was one of the schools of Fiqh, the Islamic jurisprudence, or religious law within Sunni Islam in the 8th century. Its Imam was Abd al-Rahman al-Awza'i.
History
In the Maghreb and al-Andalus
Since the Umayyad conquest an ...
, a
Tabi'un
The tābiʿūn (, also accusative or genitive tābiʿīn , singular ''tābiʿ'' ), "followers" or "successors", are the generation of Muslims who followed the companions (''ṣaḥāba'') of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, and thus received their ...
and founder of now extinct Awza'i school
Madhhab
A ''madhhab'' (, , pl. , ) refers to any school of thought within fiqh, Islamic jurisprudence. The major Sunni Islam, Sunni ''madhhab'' are Hanafi school, Hanafi, Maliki school, Maliki, Shafi'i school, Shafi'i and Hanbali school, Hanbali.
They ...
, recorded that he witnessed the Muslim conquest of Egypt and he confirmed that 'Ubadah was among the leaders.
Amr ibn al-Aas decided to battle on the open field near
Heliopolis in early to mid July 640. 8,000 al-Aas soldiers were led by Zubayr, 'Ubadah, Maslama, Miqdad,
Bisr ibn Abi Artat. They defeated the 20,000 strong Byzantine army under Theodore.
The Muslims
besieged the fortress over the course of months without a clear victory. During the siege, both sides exchanged envoys in an effort to demoralize each other.
In the days leading up to the end, 'Ubadah was sent with a delegation to
Muqawqis to negotiate for the last time. It is said that Muqawqis became afraid of 'Ubadah when he saw 'Ubadah's dark and majestic appearance. 'Ubadah then mocked Muqawqis in a chronicle:
'Ubadah gave him three options: accept Islam, pay ''
Jizyah
Jizya (), or jizyah, is a type of taxation levied on non-Muslim subjects of a state governed by Islamic law. The Quran and hadiths mention jizya without specifying its rate or amount,Sabet, Amr (2006), ''The American Journal of Islamic Social Sc ...
'', or fight. Muqawqis refused chose to continue fighting.
Following the failed negotiation, Byzantine forces decided to fight, and on the same day the fortress fell to the Muslims led
Zubayr ibn al-Awwam
Al-Zubayr ibn al-Awwam ibn Khuwaylid al-Asadi (; ) was an Arab Muslim commander in the service of the Islamic prophet Muhammad and the caliphs Abu Bakr () and Umar () who played a leading role in the Ridda Wars, Ridda wars against rebel tribes in ...
who climbed the fortress wall alone and opened the gate from inside.
After the fortress had been taken, al-Aas consulted with
Maslama ibn Mukhallad
Maslama ibn Mukhallad ibn Samit al-Ansari () was one of the companions of the Prophet and active in Egypt in the decades after its conquest by the Muslims.
Biography
He was born in 616 or 620, and participated in the Muslim conquest of Egypt, ...
. Maslama suggested that Amr give a field command to 'Ubadah to attack
Alexandria
Alexandria ( ; ) is the List of cities and towns in Egypt#Largest cities, second largest city in Egypt and the List of coastal settlements of the Mediterranean Sea, largest city on the Mediterranean coast. It lies at the western edge of the Nile ...
. 'Ubadah rode to Amr, who gave him his spear of command.
'Ubadah rode towards the army and gave a speech before commencing his
attack on Alexandria. 'Ubadah led a detachment to
besiege Alexandria and reused his strategy of using trenches to conquer Latakia in Syria. When he and his main force arrived at Alexandria's outskirts, he gave a signal to the army including those who hid in the trenches to launch an assault. His attack breached and routed the Alexandrian garrison forces on the first charge.
After Alexandria, 'Ubadah stayed in Egypt to help al-Aas build the city of
Fustat
Fustat (), also Fostat, was the first capital of Egypt under Muslim rule, though it has been integrated into Cairo. It was built adjacent to what is now known as Old Cairo by the Rashidun Muslim general 'Amr ibn al-'As immediately after the Mus ...
and its landmark, Mosque Amr ibn al-Aas.
Return to Levant
'Ubadah was dispatched by
Caliph Umar to assist Abu Ubaydah and Mu'awiya in Syria. Until the last years of caliph Umar's life, he wanted to appoint 'Ubadah as governor in Homs, as the caliph thought that the grip of the caliphate and Islam was new in that area, so he wanted someone he trusted to impose strict order.
'Ubadah declined the offer and then agreed to be instead appointed as
Qadi
A qadi (; ) is the magistrate or judge of a Sharia court, who also exercises extrajudicial functions such as mediation, guardianship over orphans and minors, and supervision and auditing of public works.
History
The term '' was in use from ...
in Palestine. 'Ubadah spent time during his tenure as Qadi to teach the Quran and Hadith, opened a public
Majlis
(, pl. ') is an Arabic term meaning 'sitting room', used to describe various types of special gatherings among common interest groups of administrative, social or religious nature in countries with linguistic or cultural connections to the Mus ...
and led sermons.
'Ubadah joined the main force of Mu'awiya to conquer
Caesarea
Caesarea, a city name derived from the Roman title " Caesar", was the name of numerous cities and locations in the Roman Empire:
Places
In the Levant
* Caesarea Maritima, also known as "Caesarea Palaestinae", an ancient Roman city near the modern ...
in 640 and was appointed to lead the right flank of the Mu'awiya corps during the last battle against the
Romans at Qaysariyyah or
Caesarea Maritima
Caesarea () also Caesarea Maritima, Caesarea Palaestinae or Caesarea Stratonis, was an ancient and medieval port city on the coast of the eastern Mediterranean, and later a small fishing village. It was the capital of Judaea (Roman province), ...
, The Muslims were repelled several times before 'Ubadah and his men crushed the Byzantine ranks in a single charge that broke the stalemate. This allowed the Muslim forces to annex the historical territory of Byzantine, which led to the formation of the
Jund Filistin. This ended 'Ubadah's journey in the Levant. During this time, 'Ubadah was appointed as the first governor of Jund Filistin.
Later, 'Ubadah assisted
Mu'awiya
Mu'awiya I (–April 680) was the founder and first caliph of the Umayyad Caliphate, ruling from 661 until his death. He became caliph less than thirty years after the death of the Islamic prophet Muhammad and immediately after the four Rashid ...
to attack
Amorium
Amorium, also known as Amorion (), was a city in Phrygia, Asia Minor which was founded in the Hellenistic period, flourished under the Byzantine Empire, and declined after the Sack of Amorium, Arab sack of 838. It was situated on the Byzantine m ...
, 170 miles south east of
Constantinople
Constantinople (#Names of Constantinople, see other names) was a historical city located on the Bosporus that served as the capital of the Roman Empire, Roman, Byzantine Empire, Byzantine, Latin Empire, Latin, and Ottoman Empire, Ottoman empire ...
,
in the winter of 644 with a force of 10,000 men.
This raiding operation started from area called Shaifa and ended in Amorium.
First Conquest of Cyprus

At sometimes during the
Muslim conquest of the Levant
The Muslim conquest of the Levant (; ), or Arab conquest of Syria, was a 634–638 CE invasion of Byzantine Syria by the Rashidun Caliphate. A part of the wider Arab–Byzantine wars, the Levant was brought under Arab Muslim rule and develope ...
, Muawiyah proposed idea to Umar to allow him built a navy which he will command to pacify the island of
Cyprus
Cyprus (), officially the Republic of Cyprus, is an island country in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. Situated in West Asia, its cultural identity and geopolitical orientation are overwhelmingly Southeast European. Cyprus is the List of isl ...
. However, Umar did feel hesitant to give permission and he instead asking from other Rashidun commanders from 'Ubadah, Khalid (ibn Walid), then Amr ibn al-Aas. Amr gave his opinion that he express doubts the Rashidun army are ready to mount such naval operations, which prompted Umar to duly reject the proposal of Muawiyah.
After
Uthman ibn al-Affan
Uthman ibn Affan (17 June 656) was the third caliph of the Rashidun Caliphate, ruling from 644 until his assassination in 656. Uthman, a second cousin, son-in-law, and notable companion of the Islamic Prophet Muhammad, played a major role ...
became caliph after Umar's death, Muawiyah once again wrote proposal request to the caliph to allow him to build a navy to attack Cyprus, as Muawiyah reasoned that Cyprus had become a satellite island of Byzantine forces which could threaten the caliphate on the western banks of Palestine.
[Ali Sallabi" />
'Ubadah, along with veteran companions of Muhammad such as Miqdad Ibn al-Aswad, Abu Dhar GhiFari, Shadaad ibn Aws, Khalid bin Zayd al-Ansari, and ]Abu Ayyub al-Ansari
Abu Ayyub al-Ansari (, , died c. 674) — born Khalid ibn Zayd ibn Kulayb ibn Tha'laba () in Yathrib — was from the tribe of Banu Najjar, and a close companion (Arabic: الصحابه, ''sahaba'') and the standard-bearer of the Prophets and mes ...
, all participated in building the caliphate's first Naval armada, led by Muawiyah. Before he joined Muawiyah's project to build first naval forces of the caliphate, 'Ubadah joined forces with Muslim general, Abd Allah ibn Qays. Together with Muawiyah, they built the first caliphate armada with permission from ibn al-Affan. Abu Dharr mentioned that Miqdad ibn Amr al-Aswad participated in this project. Shortly later, Muawiyah and 'Ubadah departed from Acre
The acre ( ) is a Unit of measurement, unit of land area used in the Imperial units, British imperial and the United States customary units#Area, United States customary systems. It is traditionally defined as the area of one Chain (unit), ch ...
and headed to Cyprus
Cyprus (), officially the Republic of Cyprus, is an island country in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. Situated in West Asia, its cultural identity and geopolitical orientation are overwhelmingly Southeast European. Cyprus is the List of isl ...
. According to al-Baladhuri
ʾAḥmad ibn Yaḥyā ibn Jābir al-Balādhurī () was a 9th-century West Asian historian. One of the eminent Middle Eastern historians of his age, he spent most of his life in Baghdad and enjoyed great influence at the court of the caliph al ...
and Khalifa ibn Khayyat, Muawiyah and 'Ubadah led the attack and were accompanied by their wives Katwa bint Qaraza ibn Abd Amr of the Qurayshite Banu Nawfal and Umm Haram. Umm Haram died in an accident during the campaign.[Ali Sallabi" /> The Muslim forces accepted Cyprus' surrender under the condition that they refrain from hostility to the Muslims, inform the caliphate of any Byzantine movements, pay 7,200 dinars annually for ]Jizya
Jizya (), or jizyah, is a type of taxation levied on non-Muslim subjects of a state governed by Sharia, Islamic law. The Quran and hadiths mention jizya without specifying its rate or amount,Sabet, Amr (2006), ''The American Journal of Islamic Soc ...
, and never reveal information to outsiders regarding the caliphate's military operations.[Ali Sallabi" />
Muawiyah and 'Ubadah forces pacified almost every Byzantine garrison. This is evidenced by two Greek inscriptions in the Cypriot village of Solois that note those two offensives. The entire island of Cyprus surrendered after their capital, Salamis, Cyprus, Salamis, was surrounded and besieged.][Ali Sallabi" /> At least 50 military operations occurred in Cyprus between this first campaign in 648 until the last one in 650.][Ali Sallabi">]
Hadith of the prophecy of Cyprus conquest
One of the most famous Hadiths related to 'Ubadah and Umm Haram relate to the prophecy that the Islamic caliphate would dominate the sea on two occasions. This was taught by Muslim scholars as a prophecy of the conquest of Cyprus. 'Ubadah participated in both the initial conquest and the second campaign years later. Umm Haram narrated the prophecy, which she believed related to this campaign. Anas ibn Malik, her nephew, reminded them about the Hadith of the promise of incoming naval conquests by Islam.
Second conquest
In 652, Cyprus rebelled against the caliphate and caused Muawiyah and 'Ubadah to mount a second campaign.[Ali Sallabi" /> This time Muawiyah and 'Ubadah split their forces: one led by Muawiyah and the other by Abd Allah ibn Sa'd. This punitive campaign was described in Tarikh fi Asr al-Khulafa ar-Rashidin as particularly brutal. Many died in the campaign and many were taken captive.][Ali Sallabi" />
After they pacified Cyprus once more, 'Ubadah told Muawiyah to share the spoils according to the Sunnah, Teaching of Muhammad, which must be divided in fifths.][Ali Sallabi" /> Muawiyah agreed with 'Ubadah's counsel and gave him the task. Afterwards, Muawiyah consulted with one of his officers, Ismail ibn al-Ayyash, as to how to prevent another uprising. Then Muawiyah decided to post a garrison of 12,000 soldiers. Muawiyah also transferred Muslim settlers from Baalbek, to Cyprus and constructed mosques on there.][Ali Sallabi" />
]
Later life and death
At the end of his military career, 'Ubadah retired to Palestine. When Uthman, Caliph Uthman faced dissidents from the Khawarij sect and portions of the followers of Abdullah ibn Saba. 'Ubadah was among those who expressed support for Uthman, as 'Ubadah opposed the revolts from the Abdullah ibn Saba followers, which was headed by Yazid ibn Qais and Malik al-Ashtar. He, Mu'awiya, Kharijah ibn Huzafah of Egypt, Anas ibn Malik, Hisham ibn Amir, Abu Darda, and Tabi'un, Tabiin pupils of Abd Allah ibn Mas'ud were among those from outside Medina who urged the caliphate to take action against the Khawarij dissidents in Medina.
'Ubadah passed in Ramla at the age of seventy two (72) years. 'Ubadah said on his deathbed:
Personal information
Appearance
Ibn Hajar in his ''Siyar A'lam Nubala'' in the chapter of 'Ubadah describes him as physically attractive. Several historians said his enemies were awed by his appearance.
Family
'Ubadah's sister was named Nusaybah. His father was Samit Ibn Qais Ibn Asram Ibn Fahr while his mother was Qarat al-Ain Bint 'Ubadah bin Nidhal al-Khazrajiyya. His brother, 'Aws bin al-Samit, was married to Khawla bint Tha'labah, a disciple (Companions of the Prophet, Sahaba) of Muhammad who was mentioned in Surah al Al-Mujadila, Mujadalah.
Records from Muhammad al-Bukhari, Bukhari and Muslim ibn al-Hajjaj, Muslim texts included a statement from Anas Ibn Malik that 'Ubadah was married to Umm Haram bint Milhan during the first conquest of the Island of Cyprus with Mu'awiya where Umm Haram died during the campaign. Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani translated this to mean 'Ubadah married Umm Haram during the campaign. However, Ibn Ishaq disagreed and translated the words of Anas to mean Umm Haram had married 'Ubadah before the campaign. Ibn Hajar argued further that another record from Ibn Hibban that stated that Umm Haram had just married 'Ubadah, which caused Ibrahim al Quraibi, author of Tarikh ul-Khulafa, to support the opinion of Ibn Hajar.
'Ubadah was also married to Jamilah bint Abi Sa'sa' and they had a son named Walid ibn 'Ubadah.
His son, Ubaydah ibn Ubadah ibn Ubadah, was buried in Egypt.
Character
During his lifetime, 'Ubadah held influence within caliphate administration. He was asked to pass judgements, which only a handful of Muhammad's companions were allowed during their life. No one truly understands who gave them such privileges.
Regarding his battlefield achievements, 'Ubadah was known as a fearless warrior. Caliph Umar himself has praised him as an equal of 1,000 warriors. He was once recorded for displaying his personal military prowess when the Muslims had besieged a Byzantine fort. 'Ubadah was found alone praying in a field by Byzantine soldiers. Before they could approach, he jumped to his horse and advanced towards them. The Byzantine soldiers fled and were chased by 'Ubadah until they reached their fort.
He was known as a clever commander who deployed successful strategies, such as the use of ambush trenches which allowed him to conquer strongholds such as Latakia in Syria and Alexandria in Egypt.
Islam historians described 'Ubadah as a proud man who could not be easily intimidated during negotiation. He is known as a solemn personality who detested sycophants, which he showed at one Friday prayer in Damascus. The khatib lauded him with praise when 'Ubadah was a chief judge. He threw mud in the Khatib's face and quoted Hadith about the instruction from Muhammad to throw mud in the face of flatterers. Caliph Umar held 'Ubadah in high regard. The caliph respected him to the extent that he gave 'Ubadah important tasks. Caliph Umar supported 'Ubadah when the latter came into dispute with Mu'awiya. The caliph appointed 'Ubadah as a judge while giving him autonomy so that Mu'awiya, who was the governor of Syria, could not interfere with his verdicts. The source of the dispute was recorded by a Hadith that was graded highly by Sunan ibn Majah. The Hadith explained the difference between 'Ubadah and Mu'awiya regarding the permissibility of transactions using gold to exchange with coin of Dinar and silver with coin of Dirham.
Legacy
Sunni scholars classified 'Ubadah as among the higher-ranked companions of Muhammad, due to his heritage as an Ansari and his attendance at the First and Second Pledges in Aqaba, the Battle of Badr, and the Pledge of the Tree. At least five reasons are stated by scholars that ranked 'Ubadah in such saintly venerable status according to the traditions of Islamic scholars:
* His attendance at the Aqaba pledge of allegiance, which inaugurated an honorific title of ''Al-Aqabi''.
* His status as Ansar, which inaugurated a honorific title of ''"Al-Ansari"''. Furthermore, The embeddings of 'Ansari by Muhammad in various Qur'an verses and Hadith were viewed as a special status in Islam. Two patrons of Hadith, Muslim ibn al-Hajjaj, Muslim and Muhammad al-Bukhari, Bukhari, compilled special chapters regarding the Ansar matter. Muhammad Nasiruddin al-Albani, Nasiruddin al Albani highlighted the Hadith from Muslim, that the Ansar is "the best tribe in human history until end of times". Ibn Hajar Al-Asqalani recorded and gave commentary in his book, Fath al-Bari, regarding the Hadith that loving and caring the Ansaris are required Muslims, while bearing ill will towards the Ansaris and their families were sign of hypocrisy.
* His attendance at the Battle of Badr, which inaugurated a honorific title of ''"Al-Badri"''. His status as a veteran is special in the eyes of scholars as Muhammad regarded those of his companions who attended Badr as among the most important in Islam.
* His attendance at the Battle of Uhud, which inaugurated a honorific title of ''"Al-Uhudi".''
* His attendance in the Pledge of the Tree. Rashid Rida explained that for everyone who pledged were regarded by Islam teaching as special. This explanation is in line with Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani's explanation of the Hadith Bukhari regarding pledge attendance, which resulted to the revelation of Hadith Qudse regarding the God's will towards them.
Early Muslim scholars supported scholarly knowledge of 'Ubadah's status as evidenced from Ahmad ibn Hanbal. Al-Dhahabi listed a specific chapter of his biography in his ''Siyar a'lam Nubala.''
Quran
Muhammad ibn Ka'b al-Qurazi narrated that during the time of Muhammad, 'Ubadah was among those who collected and wrote down the Qur'an along with Muadh ibn Jabal
Muʿādh ibn Jabal (; 603 – 639) was a (companion) of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. Muadh was an of the Banu Khazraj tribe and compiled the Quran with five companions while Muhammad was still alive. He acquired a reputation for knowledge.
Mu ...
, Abayyuu ibn Ka'ab, Abu Ayyub al-Ansari
Abu Ayyub al-Ansari (, , died c. 674) — born Khalid ibn Zayd ibn Kulayb ibn Tha'laba () in Yathrib — was from the tribe of Banu Najjar, and a close companion (Arabic: الصحابه, ''sahaba'') and the standard-bearer of the Prophets and mes ...
, and Abu Darda. Quranic experts generally accepted 'Ubadah's participation in the Pledge of the Tree as Asbab al-nuzul of the verse 55-56 of Surah Al-Ma'idah, which is one of the factors that makes 'Ubadah venerated. Furthermore, tradition from Al-Tabarani and bayhaqi agreed that the revelation of verse 51 to 52 of Surah Al Ma'idah was also linked with 'Ubadah. Where the verses reprimanded 'Ubadah to not follow the path of hypocrites like Abd-Allah ibn Ubayy who took companionship from heretics like Jews and Christians. Those verses are believed by Muslims to be the revision of the Ten Commandments according to Islam. Either as revealed to Moses Tahrif, originally or as taken by Muslims now: 'Ubadah was reportedly one of the earliest figures to teach Qur'an exegesis. Hammam ibn Munabbih, a Tabi'in who authored one of the oldest Sahifah Hammam ibn Munabbih, Hadith, reported that 'Ubadah was trusted by Muhammad to tutor the disciples of Suffah
Al-Ṣuffah (), or ''Dikkat Ashab As-Suffah'' () was a sheltered raised platform that was available at the rear side of the Prophet's Mosque during the Medina period (622-632) of early Islam. It was initially available at the northeastern corner ...
the art of writing and imparting tafseer of Qur'an
Hadith & Legals
The fact that 'Ubadah was among the few ompanions of Muhammad who are allowed to give Fatwa verdicts and passed down the knowledge of so many Hadith
Hadith is the Arabic word for a 'report' or an 'account f an event and refers to the Islamic oral tradition of anecdotes containing the purported words, actions, and the silent approvals of the Islamic prophet Muhammad or his immediate circle ...
narrations from Muhammad, Muslim scholars across generations generally view him as one of Islam's patrons of knowledge, and borrowed traditions from 'Ubadah as the basis for various rulings, including the observance of Islamic teaching, mysticism, eschatological, ethics or fiqh, jurisrudence in Sunni Madhhab
A ''madhhab'' (, , pl. , ) refers to any school of thought within fiqh, Islamic jurisprudence. The major Sunni Islam, Sunni ''madhhab'' are Hanafi school, Hanafi, Maliki school, Maliki, Shafi'i school, Shafi'i and Hanbali school, Hanbali.
They ...
. In al-Dhahabi's book ''Siyar a'lam al-nubala'', he recorded that at least one hundred and eighty-one (181) Hadiths were narrated by 'Ubadah.
Numerous Hadith for observances of Islamic faith were transmitted by 'Ubadah, such as the Hadith about Salah times, five daily prayers. This Hadith was deemed authentic by Al-Nasa'i, Imam an Nasa'i. Another Hadith that has been used by scholars was narratd by Ibn Shihab al-Zuhri. He attributed it to 'Ubadah through Mahmud ibn al-Rabi. This Hadith became a basis of later Fiqh
''Fiqh'' (; ) is the term for Islamic jurisprudence.[Fiqh](_blank)
Encyclopædia Britannica ''Fiqh'' is of ...
scholars to formulate the ruling that al-Fatiha are obligatory to be recited in every Salah ritual. Another observance Hadith transmitted by 'Ubadah was used as a metric by Muslims to measure the existence and omen of Laylat al-Qadr, a special occasion for Muslims that occurred once a year, which are found in the work of Ahmad Bin Hanbal
On the field of Mysticism regarding teaching of Islam, Hadith from 'Ubadah were compiled by Abu Dawud al-Sijistani, Abu Dawud regarding a dream of Mumin or true believer of Islam as one of Muhammad's forty miracles. The chains were deemed authentic by the author of the Hadith critics, while the exegete commentary preserved from Abu Hurairah from the classical era by Mahmud ibn Ghaylan translated this Hadith that sometimes, proof of Muhammad prophecies and signs of Qur'an and Sunnah appear in the dreams of believers.
In the school of Fiqh
''Fiqh'' (; ) is the term for Islamic jurisprudence.[Fiqh](_blank)
Encyclopædia Britannica ''Fiqh'' is of ...
jurisprudence, Maddhab scholars from Hanafi, Hanbali, Shafii, Maliki and other smaller and extinct Madhhab schools like Madhhab of Sufyan al-Thawri took the Hadith regarding governorship and conduct of ruling that loyalty and obedience to the rightful rulers or leaders are a part of Muslim obligation and as a basis of Sharia law about government authority. The exemplary Hadith of 'Ubadah deemed important by Maliki Madhab regarding transactions was recorded by the founder of Maliki Madhhab, Malik ibn Anas in his book ''Muwatta Imam Malik'', which was also deemed authentic by Muslim ibn al-Hajjaj in his Hadith compilation.
Modern contemporary scholars such as Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia, Abd al-Aziz Bin Baz, based their Fatwa, ''fatwas'' on the basis of his Hadiths as Oath#Islamic tradition, transactions in Islam, Hajj
Hajj (; ; also spelled Hadj, Haj or Haji) is an annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, the holiest city for Muslims. Hajj is a mandatory religious duty for capable Muslims that must be carried out at least once in their lifetim ...
ritual, Religion and divorce#Islam, divorces, and Oath#Islamic tradition, oaths. Meanwhile, the Sharia law about Zina, adultery also found from Ubadah narration of Hadith.
Jihad and laws of war
'Ubadah passed down Hadith that ruled the administration of Prize of war, Spoils of War such as the one after they pacified Cyprus for the second time. 'Ubadah told Mu'awiya to share the spoils that were acquired through military campaigns according to the Sunnah, which must be divided in fifths.[Ali Sallabi" /> In response Mu'awiya tasked 'Ubadah to manage the spoils.][Ali Sallabi" />
On smaller scale operations, such as limited military raids, a hadith says 'Ubadah said that Muhammad "awarded one quarter of the spoils to those who attacked the enemy at the beginning and one third to those who attacked at the end...".] Hanafite scholar Muhammad 'Abid al-Sindi preserved the exegesis from Ali ibn Muhammad al-Shaddad, that this Hadith rules that those involved in the start of the fight have right of one quarter of the spoils, while those who participated later acquired one third of the spoils.
Hadith of the usury
Perhaps the most impactful Hadith narrated by 'Ubadah were Hadiths that focus on ''riba'' or usury. It rules out hand-to-hand transactions of commodities. It requires that only similar items be traded, except where the transaction consisted of two different commodities. The exegete scholars agreed that this tradition from 'Ubadah covered at least one of the six types of ''riba'', ''Riba al Fadhl'' type, which rules that an increase in one of the two exchanged ribawi items that are of the same nature and type. Thus, on the scope of Madhhab schools, four major Madhhabs, along with Zahiri, unanimously agreed on the implementation of bans for such types of ''Riba''. Although the degree of the ban differs among those Madhhabs, such as that Hanbalis disagreed with Hanafis' total ban for any items, as Hanbalis argues on the basis of Said ibn al-Musayyib reasoning, that the Hadith of 'Ubadah were limited to foodstuffs, as non-consumable items were exempted. Sa'ib used another authentic Hadith from Abu Sa'id al-Khudri to regard this matter as counterargument.
Historical usage of this Hadith from 'Ubadah was found, as 'Ubadah tried to implemented the Hadith during the campaign of Cyprus. However, Sunan ibn Majah recorded that during his tenure as judge in Homs, this effort of 'Ubadah to implement the rule became the source of a dispute between 'Ubadah and city governor Mu'awiya. 'Ubadah argued by basing his argument from this Hadith of usury that Islam forbid the unequal exchanging of goods unless they were of similar quality, in this case the exchange of gold to with dinar and dirham. 'Ubadah viewed that it falls under a practice of ''Riba'', while Mu'awiya argued that there was no element of usury, except given delays in a transaction. This Hadith was enough to overrule the early verdict regarding ''Riba'' by Ibn Abbas, another companion of the Muhammad with similarly high rank. previously Ibn Abbas gave a less strict verdict regarding ''Riba'', thus in the end Ubadah ruling regarding Riba or Usury prevailed in opinions from majority of their peers, and causing Ibn Abbas relenting his previous rulings.
Architecture
'Ubadah demonstrated his skill as an architect after the conquest of Latakia. While he administered the city, he built the Great Mosque of al-Bazaar. The mosque has two western entrances. South of the mosque, leading to its courtyard is an open space recently roofed with raspberry boards. From the eastern side, two spaces open in front of the mosque, a rectangle covered with six stone arches, and a medium-sized minaret stands on its highest base. The mosque does not contain artistic touches except for some decorations on the entrance and the minaret. On the western side of the mosque is an old bathroom.
Another example of his architecture is when he ended the conquest in Egypt with al-Aas. He was involved in planning and developing Fustat
Fustat (), also Fostat, was the first capital of Egypt under Muslim rule, though it has been integrated into Cairo. It was built adjacent to what is now known as Old Cairo by the Rashidun Muslim general 'Amr ibn al-'As immediately after the Mus ...
and in constructing the first mosque in Egypt, known as the Mosque of Amr ibn al-As, mosque of Amr bin al-Aas. He, along with other companions such as Zubayr ibn al-Awwam, Abu Darda, and Miqdad ibn Amr al-Aswad, also constructed and decided the Qibla or direction of prayer of the mosque.
Descendants and social developments
'Ubadah is revered by many Palestinian Arab communities who preserve his tomb in Ramla. Historical book author Simon Sebag Montefiore wrote that the keeper of 'Ubadah's tomb hails from the Nusaybah family, a modern Arabic family that claims to be descendants of 'Ubadah and Nusaybah, his sister. The Palestinian Arabs regard him as an influential figure as evidenced by the public sermon by Dr. Yusuf Juma Salama, one of the official khattib of Qibli Mosque, Al-Aqsa Mosque who spoke of 'Ubadah as the first judge of Palestine. A notable descendant was Sari Nusseibeh, a Palestinians, Palestinian Professor of Philosophy and former President of Al-Quds University.[.] Another prominent descendant was Sadr al-Shari'a al-Asghar, Sadr al-Shari'a al-Thani, a Hanafi scholar, and Maturidi philosophist.
'Ubadah influenced the Ansari descendants of later generations, who held elite positions in various areas, particularly Hejaz.
Regarding 'Ubadah legacy of emancipation, Mustafa al-Siba'i noted that emancipation within Islam was apparent due to the fact that there were one thousand (1,000) Dark skin, black skinned warriors under his command. 'Ubadah rebuked the Discrimination based on skin color#Africa, racist attitude shown by scared, yet scornful Muqawqis towards black peoples during the negotiation of the latter's surrender during the conquest of Egypt.
See also
* Second pledge at al-Aqabah
The second pledge at al-ʿAqabah () was an important event in Islam where 75 residents of the city of Medina pledged their loyalty to Muhammad as their leader in an oath of allegiance known as a '' bay'ah''. It preceded the Hijrah, or migration ...
* Muslim conquest of Egypt
* Rashidun Caliphate
* Muslim conquest of the Levant
The Muslim conquest of the Levant (; ), or Arab conquest of Syria, was a 634–638 CE invasion of Byzantine Syria by the Rashidun Caliphate. A part of the wider Arab–Byzantine wars, the Levant was brought under Arab Muslim rule and develope ...
* Jund Filastin
*
References
Notes
Reference list
Sources
Primary sources
* Recorded traditional oral narration of historical events during the early time of Islam of Urwah ibn Zubayr, an historian during Rashidun era.
* Earliest records of ''Maghazi'' (historical records regarding Islamic conquests) of Muhammad by Tabi'un, Tabi'in historian Aban ibn Uthman
* Recorded narrations of Maghazi Ibn Shihab al-Zuhri#Influence on hadith and maghazi-sirah literature, classifications by Ibn Shihab al-Zuhri
* ''Musnad Ahmad ibn Hanbal'', which contains many scarces of historical account regarding military activity during the time of Muhammad and four righteous guided caliphate
* ''Sahih Bukhari Chapter 57: Book of Jihad'', regarding ethics and basics of warfare according to Islamic tradition
* ''Sahih Muslim Chapter 19: KITAB AL-JIHAD WA'L-SIYAR (The Book of Jihad And Expedition)'', regarding ethics and conduct during wartime
* ''Bulugh al-Maram Chapter 10. The book of Jihad''. treatise regarding basis of military conducts and treatise attributed to Shafiʽi school, Shafiʽite scholar Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani.
* ''Siyar a'lam al-nubala'' historical and biographical accounts of companions of miasmas, authored by Al-Dhahabi.
* ''Sīrat Rasūl Allāh'' (Biography of the prophet of Allah) by Ibn Hisham
* ''Sunan al-Kubra lil Behaqi'', commonly known as ''Sunan al-Bayhaqi''; authored by al-Bayhaqi
* ''Al-Mu'jam al-Kabir (Al-Tabarani), al-Muʿjam al-Kabīr''; ''Al-Mu'jam al-Awsat''; and ''Al-Mu'jam as-Saghir'', Three compilations of Hadith authored by Al-Tabarani
* ''Masabih al-Sunnah'' contained narrations of the peoples who lived during the Rashidun conquests, including those directly involved in the conquest. Authored by Al-Baghawi
* ''Al-Sirah al-Nabawiyyah (Ibn Hisham), Al-Sirah al-Nabawiyyah (The Life of the Prophet), an edited recension by Ibn Ishaq, Ibn Isḥāq
* Historical excerpts from Abu Bakr al-Zubaydi, scholar and historian from the Caliphate of Córdoba
* ''Futuh al-Buldan, The Conquest of (the) countries'', a work regarding early Islamic conquest 9th century historian Al-Baladhuri, Ahmad Ibn Yahya al-Baladhuri of Abbasid-era Baghdad
* ''al-Waqidi, Kitab al-Tarikh wa al-Maghazi'' (Arabic: كتاب التاريخ والمغازي, "Book of History and Campaigns") by al-Waqidi
* ''The Beginning of Guidance, Al-Bidayah wa Nihayah''; authored by Ibn Kathir
* ''Kitāb aṭ-Tabaqāt al-Kabīr'' (), eight-volume work contains the lives of Muhammad, his Companions and Helpers, including those who fought at the Battle of Badr as a special class, and of the following generation, the Followers, who received their traditions from the Companions, authored by Ibn Sa'd
* ''Usd al-ghabah fi marifat al-Saḥabah (The Lions of the Forest and the knowledge about the Companions)'', a biographical work about Muhammad and 7,554 of his companions, authored by Ali ibn al-Athir
Secondary sources
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ubadah ibn al-S
Ansar (Islam)
Sahabah hadith narrators
Arab generals
Sahabah who participated in the battle of Badr
Sahabah who participated in the battle of Uhud
Generals of the Rashidun Caliphate
People of the Muslim conquest of the Levant
Muslim conquest of Egypt
Arab people of the Arab–Byzantine wars
People from the Rashidun Caliphate
Khazrajite people
Quranic exegesis scholars
7th-century jurists