The Unknown Companion

Published by TPOS on 19 September, 2012 - 02:51

Quote:
Jilbab is the term used for cloth in Arabic. 
When you nickname something in Arabic 
using the same root as the word you're 
nicknaming (it's called tasgheer)
then it's either a sign of affection 
or disregard (humiliation).
This companion was called Julaybeeb. 
It was not out of affection. 

In a culture and society were lineage
and money were paramount... he was born.

Yet, we know not who his parents were. 
It's rumoured
that he was left by a caravan coming from Medina.
Dumped next to a tree in Mecca. 

His parents left him.

Julaybeeb means small torn cloth. 
It's the derogatory form of jilbab. 

He was short. 
He had a hunchback. 
He...
walked weird. 
He was described as looking repulsive.

These are the narrations that have been 
passed down to us and not a mockery of him.

No money. 
No lineage. 
No home. 
No family.
Trees provided him with shelter at night.

Men would mock him. Spit on him. 
Kick him. Insult him.

He kept the company of women,
for they showed pity. 
Pity is not as cruel as aggression.

He accepts Islam. Later on, he makes hijrah.
The Prophet, peace be upon him,
embraces him into the fold.

What does The Messenger of Allah,
The Prophet, peace be upon him,
the busiest of men in all time...
the father, the husband - to more than one wife,
the president, the leader, the general,
the friend, the imam, the advisor...

... what does a man who is so busy with priorities
and responsibilites... 
what does he do with Julaybeeb ?

He heads for the household of the prettiest girl
in Medina. The prettiest girl !

He knocks on the door. The father opens and is
overjoyed that The Messenger of Allah has
esteemed this household with a visit.

"All of dunya shines, oh prophet of Allah !
Come in"

The prophet,
peace be upon him sits down and when asked
after pleasantries, by the father, as to the reason
behind his visit... he replies that he is looking for
a hand in marriage.

The man is over-joyed: "And how can we not
give our daughter to you ?! Oh messenger of Allah"

"I have come to ask for your daughters hand
in marriage... for Julaybeeb."

What does the father say and what happens to
Julaybeeb ?

Comments

Submitted by TPOS on 19 September, 2012 - 02:54

Quote:
"Ehh. Hmmm. Let me discuss this with my wife"
 
He approaches his wife. "The Messenger of Allah
has come to ask for our daughters hand in marriage"
 
The wife's face is vibrant with joy. "of course,
of course"
 
"Not for himself".
 
"That's ok, for who ?"
 
"For Julaybeeb"
 
Her face turns dark and sour. They fret over how
to turn this approach down in a respectful manner.
 
The daughter hears the commotion and asks what
the fuss is about. They tell her that The Messenger
has come for her hand in marriage.
 
She agrees.
 
They tell her that it's not for him. It's for Julaybeeb.
She agrees.
 
She becomes angry with them: 
"How can you refuse the request 
of The Messenger
of Allah ?"
 
The Prophet hears this,
peace be upon him,
and makes dua for her and her marriage.
 
They are married.
 
Julaybeeb tastes sweetness for the first time in
his life. In stead of the scraps of food. 
The used, torn shreds of clothes. 
 
Instead of the pity, instead of
the empty smiles. He is married to the prettiest
girl in Medina... and his attorney was the best
of creation.
 
What happens ?
On his wedding night. The muslims are called to
defend justice. On the only night were he had been
accepted by society. On his happiest day.
 
He bids his wife farewell. He leaves.
 
The battle begins. 
 
Swords fly. Metal upon metal.
 
Sand. Horses. Arrows. Screeches. Screams.
 
Victory and defeat. The battle ends.
 
As all great generals, The Messenger asks if anyone
has lost a relative or neighbour. Everyone comes
back and reports their 'losses'.
 
Check the field again. They come and report a few
extra people. Check again.
 
On the 3rd bout no one reports any more 'losses'.
 
The Prophet, peace be upon him,
who was only sent as Mercy,
to complete the best of manners... says:
"NO. But I have lost Julaybeeb. Find him"
—

"How many people find fault in what they're reading and the fault is in their own understanding" Al Mutanabbi

Submitted by TPOS on 19 September, 2012 - 02:56

Quote:
They find a man.
.
.
.
.
.
.
So wounded is he, that there is not
an inch of his body intact.
 
They find a man...
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
... surrounded by 7 criminals.
 
A man that...
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
died of his own wounds after
fighting and killing 7 criminals at the same time.
 
The Messenger of Allah holds him in his lap.
 
He strokes his face. 
 
It is reported that Julaybeeb never
lay in a more comfortable place. 
It had always been
on a door step or on rocks. 
Or under a tree.
 
Even on the night of his marriage, he had not
slept.
 
The Prophet Mohamad, peace be upon him, said:
"he and I are like this"... putting his index and middle
finger together... 
 
"he was an orphan as I was an
orphan. He we was rejected by society and 
I was rejected by society"
—

"How many people find fault in what they're reading and the fault is in their own understanding" Al Mutanabbi

Submitted by TPOS on 19 September, 2012 - 02:58

Quote:
 
I heard someone else mention Julaybeeb 15 years
after hearing of him. Apart from that, I've not heard
anyone else mention him. 
 
But I'm not telling you
this story because it's rare or emotional.
 
There are so many lessons in this. 
 
What makes the
prettiest woman marry the ugliest man ?
 
What makes the busiest man in all of 
creation look after the ugliest and least 
important member of society ?
(materialistically speaking)
 
And MOST IMPORTANTLY...
what causes the lowest of the food chain
to enter eternity in such a noble and heroic manner ?
 
For me, the deepest lesson I have found so far
is that The Prophet Mohamad,
peace be upon him,
taught Julaybeeb that he was of value.
 
Of so much value that The Messenger of Allah,
sent to guide humanity, takes time out to see
to his wellbeing. Marriage and death.
 
The Prophet Mohamad,
peace be upon him,
taught him to love himself.
 
Can you see how this man was transformed ?
This is tazkiyah.
 
This is tazkiyah. This is tazkiyah.
 
And it is imperative on each and every one
of us to apply this process on ourselves and
to help enrich the lives of others.
 
In my life, as a therapist and as a graduate of
shariah, I have come to ask... how can we enrich
ourselves. How can we be stronger so that Allah
loves us more ?
 
(as per the narration of The Prophet Mohamad,
peace be upon him,
where he says that a strong believer is more
beloved to Allah that a weak one...
And that in both there is good)
 
That's how was born.
—

"How many people find fault in what they're reading and the fault is in their own understanding" Al Mutanabbi