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Trustworthy of the Nation answered, "I was afraid lest it should cause any confusion that might affect the
army's morale. We do not crave life or its splendor. We are brothers before Allah."
Thus, Abu `Ubaidah was assigned as the commander-in -chief in Syria. His army was the mightiest
and best equipped among the Muslim armies. You could hardly distinguish him from the rank and file of
the army. He was always unassuming. When he heard that the people of Syria were infatuated by him
and by his new rank, he asked them to assemble, then addressed them saying, "Fellow men, I'm a Muslim
from the Quraish tribe. I will follow any of you like his shadow regardless of the color of his skin, if he is
more pious and righteous than me."
May Allah greet you, Abu `Ubaidah. May Allah bless the religion that refined you and the Prophet
who instructed you. He said that he was a Muslim from the Quraish. His religion was Islam and his tribe
was Quraish. For him, this sufficed as an identification. His being the commander -in-chief, the leader of
the greatest Muslim army in number, equipment, and victory and the obeyed and respected ruler of Syria
were not privileges in themselves. He was not ensnared by the web of conceit or haughtiness. As a matter
of fact, all these titles and high positions were the means to a sublime ultimate end.
One day, the Commander of the Faithful visited Syria and asked those who were at his reception,
"Where is my brother?" They asked, "Who do you mean?" He answered, "Abu `Ubaidah Ibn Al Jarraah."
Soon Abu `Ubaidah arrived and hugged Umar, then he invited him over to his house, where he had no
furniture. In fact, he had nothing but a sword, a shield, and a saddlebag. `Umar asked him, smiling, "Why
don't you furnish your house as people do?" Abu `Ubaidah readily answered, "O Commander of the
Faithful, as you see, I have a room to sleep in and that is enough for me."
One day as the Commander of the Faithful Umar "Al-Faruuq" was conducting the affairs of the vast
Muslim world, he received the sad news of Abu `Ubaidah's death. He tried to control himself, but his
sadness got the better of him and his tears flowed. He asked Allah to bestow His mercy on his brother.
He recalled his memories with Abu `Ubaidah (May Allah be pleased with him) with patience and
tenderness. He exclaimed, "If I were to make a wish, I would have wished a house full of men just like
Abu `Ubaidah."
The Trustworthy of This Nation died in the land which he had purified from the paganism of the
Persians and the oppression of the Romans. Today in Jordan lie his noble remains which once were full
of life, goodness, and satisfaction. It does not matter if you know where he is buried or not, for if you
want to find his grave, you will need no guide; the fragrance of his remains will lead you to it.