“Even if man were to live a thousand years, he would still end up with this state that you see me in”
[Allah] will say, "How long did you remain on earth in number of years?" They will say, "We remained a day or part of a day; ask those who enumerate." Sura Al Mu'minun
Amin of this Ummah
The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, “Every Ummah has a trustee (Amin), and our trustee for this Ummah is Abu Ubaidah bin Al-Jarrah. Sahih Muslim.
With a striking appearance, he was pleasing to talk to and he had a face that was always bright and cheerful. His full name was Amir ibn Abdullah ibn al-Jarrah. Also known as Abu Ubaydah (RA). He was a close companion of the Prophet (PBUH) and one of the first persons to accept Islam, accepting Islam one day after Abu Bakr (RA). He was known as the Amin or Custodian of the community.
When a plague hit the land of Syria during the time of Umar (RA), Abu Ubaydah (RA) was leading the Muslim forces. Umar (RA) asked him to come back to Madinah, but his response was, “I am in an army of Muslims and I have no desire to save myself from what is afflicting them.”
As death was near, he spoke to his army, “Establish Salat. Fast the month of Ramadan. Give Sadaqah. Perform the Hajj and Umrah. Remain united and support one another. Don’t let the world destroy you for even if a man were to live a thousand years he would still end up with this state that you see me in.”
After he passed away, Muadh ibn Jabal (RA), who was besides him said, “O people, you are stricken by the death of a man. By Allah, I don’t know whether I have seen a man who had a more righteous heart, who was further from all evil and who was more sincere to people than he. Ask Allah to shower his mercy on him and Allah will be merciful to you.”
