Julaybib (رضي الله عنه)- 'The Lonesome One'
It is narrated in the Books of History that Julay’beeb was a Sahabī who was:
• short in height
• deformed in appearance
• his lineage was not known
• no one knew who his parents had been
• with no clan to protect him
• no tribe willing to accept him as their own
• he cut a lonely figure even the small children of Madinah would tease & mock him
• owing to his disabilities no one would allow him to sit in their company.
He survived as best he could, many a lonely night in Madinah he spent wondering the streets in despair, tears of desperation would run down his cheeks, there was no one willing to offer him love or compassion, he had no family & not a single friend in the world.
Life for him was a lonely struggle.
After the arrival of the Messneger of Allah ﷺ to Madinah, the fortunes of Julay’beeb changed.
He would go & sit in the company of the Beloved Prophet ﷺ & listen intently, rarely speaking; he would out of shyness keep his gaze lowered.
He now, had the best of friends the Messenger of Allah ﷺ; those days of loneliness & despair were over for the Best of creation ﷺ had arrived.
Julay’beeb رضي الله عنه was now a part of a community of believers.
One day as he was sitting in the Company of the Prophet ﷺ, The Messenger of Allah ﷺ asked him: "O Julay’beeb ask for something, is there anything you desire?" He raised his head slowly & said in a shy voice; "O Messenger of Allah ﷺ, Allah has blessed me with your companionship, I get to sit at your blessed feet & hear your blessed words, what more could I desire".
The Beloved Prophet of Allah ﷺ asked: "How would you like to get married my dear Julay’beeb?” He smiled shyly wondering who would want to marry him. "Yes Messenger of Allah ﷺ I would like that. "The Messenger of Allah ﷺ went to the house of a prominent & noble Companion from amongst the Ansar.
He said "I have come to ask for your daughters hand in marriage".
The Companion was overjoyed he said: "O Messenger of Allah ﷺ what could be a greater blessing than this." The Prophet ﷺ said: "I do not ask of her for myself It is for Julay’beeb that I am asking." The Companion was left stunned: "For Julay’beeb?” he asked in bewilderment. "Yes for Julay’beeb" replied The Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
He said: "Let me consult with my wife." He went & told her. "The Prophet of Allah ﷺ has asked for your daughters hand in marriage, for Julay’beeb رضي الله عنه. "She started crying & wailing: "No not Julay’beeb anyone but Julay’beeb رضي الله عنه I will never allow this." Upon hearing the commotion the daughter arrived. It is said that she was so beautiful that there was none among the women of the Ansār who could compete with her looks.
She was so shy & modest that perhaps the sky itself had never seen her head uncovered.
She had so much taqwa that she would spend her days & nights in worship. The daughter asked what was happening; she was told that the Prophet of Allah ﷺ wants your hand in marriage for Julay’beeb.
As the Mother continued her crying & wailing the daughter spoke she said: "O my Mother fear Allah think of what you are saying are you turning away the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. 'O my Mother it does not suit a believer to make their own decision once Allah & his Messenger ﷺ have decided on a matter.
Do you think that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ will disgrace us? How blessed is the status of Julay’beeb رضي الله عنه, that Allah & his Messenger ﷺ are asking for your daughters hand on his behalf. Don't you know that the angels themselves envy the dust on the feet of one who is a beloved of Allah & his Prophet ﷺ.
Ask the Prophet ﷺ, to send me Julay’beeb for there is no greater privilege than for me to be blessed by such a husband, Messenger of Allah ﷺ has arrived with such a wonderful gift yet my Mother you cry & wail."
The Mothers heart being filled with remorse said: "Stop my daughter don't say another word indeed I have erred I repent & I repent a 1,000 times over for as of this moment there is no one who I would prefer for you than Julay’beeb رضي الله عنه."
The following day the Nikāh is made.
Uthmān & Ali رضي الله عنهما present Julay’beeb a gift of money to help arrange the feast of Walīmah, & to purchase accommodation.
A short time later on an expedition Julay’beeb was martyred. On the day of the expedition his Father in law, had pleaded with him: "'O Julay’beeb this is just an expedition, it is not a compulsory Jihad, it is Fardh Kifāyah it is a voluntary Jihad, and therefore you are newly married spend some time with your wife."
Julay’beeb, the one who had spent a lifetime in despair had now found a loving wife.
But listen to his response to the Father in laws request He said "'O my father you say a strange thing my Beloved Prophet ﷺ is in the battlefield facing the enemies of Islam & you want me to sit at home with my wife, nay I will sacrifice my blood & my soul rather than see my Prophet ﷺ facing hardship while I sit at home in luxury".
The diminutive Julay’beeb was indeed a strange sight carrying a sword almost the same size as him. The Sahaba stared in wonderment at him the sweet & gentle Julay’beeb was transformed in to a Lion. "Who dare wage war upon my Beloved ﷺ?” He said as he charged into the ranks of the enemy.
After that battle the Messneger of Allah ﷺ, asked the Companions to go & to see if anyone was missing from their families & clans.
Each one returned accounting for all his family members. Then the Messenger ﷺ spoke with tears in his eyes he said: "But I have lost my Beloved Julay’beeb go & find him."
They found his diminutive body lying next to 7 enemies he had slain in the battle.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ asked for a grave to be dug, as the Messenger of Allah ﷺ held the body of Julay’beeb he said. "O' Allah he is from me & I am From Him", he ﷺ repeated this 3 times. The Companions رضي الله عنهم wept profusely "May our Mothers & Fathers be sacrificed for you O' Julay’beeb, how great is your status."
Thus a Companion who had once lived as an outcast, shunned by the society around him.
He loved Allah & his Messenger ﷺ & reached such a high status. He who was not good looking was blessed with a beautiful wife, he who was poor was blessed by a wealthy wife, he who had no family or status, was blessed by a wife with noble status & lineage he who had lived in loneliness & despair, was loved by Allaah & his Messenger ﷺ.
He had the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say: "O Allah he is from me & I am from him. "It is said: "That upon his martyrdom, that the sky itself was filled with thousands of angels who had come to participate in his Janazah”.
Julay’beeb رضي الله عنه 'The Lonesome one' had become a beloved of Allah, & his Prophet ﷺ, he was lonely no more. Such is the status of the lovers of the Prophet ﷺ.
As for his wife it is said that there was no widow whose hand was more sought after in marriage than hers.
(البداية والنهاية) Reference
