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When Abu `Ubaidah saw the two rings of the Prophet's chain mail that had pierced his cheeks, he
rushed and held the first one with his front teeth and pulled it out. Yet as it fell, it took out his upper front
teeth as well, and the same thing happened to the lower front teeth when he pulled out the second ring.
Now, Abu Bakr As-siddiiq will narrate what he saw in a more impressive way, so let us hear what he has
to say: When the Battle of Uhud reached the apex of fierceness and ferocity, the Prophet was wounded,
and two of the rings of the Prophet's mail penetrated his cheeks. As soon as I realized what had
happened, I rushed to him. A man ran swiftly in the same direction and exclaimed, "Dear Allah, accept
this deed as a sign of obedience." Then we both reached the Prophet, but Abu `Ubaidah was there before
me, so he pleaded with me, "Please, by Allah, Abu Bakr, let me pull them out of the Prophet's cheeks,"
so I let him. Abu `Ubaidah held one of the rings with his front teeth and pulled it out along with his upper
front teeth. Then he pulled out the second along with his lower front teeth. Thus, he lost his teeth.
Abu `Ubaidah, like all the Companions, fulfilled his responsibilities and obligations with great
honesty, and trust worthiness. Accordingly, when the Prophet (PBUH) appointed him as a commander in
Al-Khabat Expedition, he had no supplies except for a knapsack full of dates. Notwithstanding the
difficult mission and long distance, Abu `Ubaidah withstood this against all odds with tremendous self-
denial and joy. He and his soldiers marched for miles with nothing to eat but a few dates daily until they
ran out of dates and had to pick up withered leaves with their bows and crush and swallow them with
water. Hence, the expedition was called Al-Khabat (i.e. The Struggle). They proceeded regardless of the
danger and the risks. They did not worry about starvation or deprivation. The only thing that mattered to
them was to accomplish their glorious mission under the leadership of their strong and trustworthy
commander.
The Prophet (PBUH) loved this trustworthy one of his nation so much that he gave him preference
over everyone else. For instance, when the Najraan delegation arrived from Yemen after they had
embraced Islam, they asked the Prophet to send someone to them to teach them the Qur'aan, the Sunnah,
and Islam. The Prophet told them, "I will send you a trustworthy man, a very trustworthy man. When the
Companions heard this praise, every one of them prayed that the Prophet meant him with this praise and
sincere recommendation.
`Umar Ibn Al-Khattaab (May Allah be pleased with him) narrated thus. I have never craved
command in my life except on that day, in hope that I would be the man whom the Prophet held in such
high esteem. Therefore, I went in intense heat to perform my Dhuhr prayer. When the Prophet finished
leading the prayer, he looked to his right, then to his left. I stood on my toes to draw his attention to me,
yet he kept on looking round until he saw Abu `Ubaidah Ibn Al-Jarraah and ordered him, "Go with them
and judge in fruth between them in the matters in which they dispute." Afterwards, Abu `Ubaidah
traveled with them.
This incident does not mean that Abu `Ubaidah was the only one whom the Prophet trusted or
appreciated. He was one of the Companions who equally shared the Prophet's invaluable trust and
generous appreciation. But he was the only one or one of few who was qualified to he absent from Al-
Madiinah for this mission of calling people to accept Islamic monotheism, for he was the perfect man for
this assignment. He maintained his trustworthiness as a Companion of the Prophet, and even after his
death, he upheld his responsibilities with admirable integrity.
He adhered to the standard of Islam wherever he went, as a soldier in command with valor and
esteem, and as a soldier under command with modesty and faithfulness.
When Khaalid Ibn Al-Wallid was the commander of the Muslim armies in one of the great decisive
battles, the first action of `Umar Ibn Al-Khattaab, the new caliph at the time, was to dismiss Khaalid and
assign Abu Ubaidah in his place. When Abu `Ubaidah received the message from `Umar he decided to
conceal its purport. He pleaded with the messenger to keep it a secret with great admirable asceticism,
intelligence, and fidelity. When Khaalid achieved his great victory, and only then, did Abu `Ubaidah
relay to him the message with extraordinary politeness. On reading the Khaalid asked him, `May Allah
bestow His mercy on you, Abu `Ubaidah. What made you keep that message from me?" The