Julaybib (R) - A Short Biography 

His name was unusual and incomplete. Julaybib (R) means "small grown". 
It is the diminutive form of the word "Jalbab". The name is an
indication that Julaybib (R) was small and short. More than that, he is
described as being "damam" which means ugly, deformed, or of repulsive
appearance.

Even more disturbing, for the society in which he lived, Julaybib's lineage was
not known. There is no record of who his mother and father were, or to what
tribe he belonged. This was considered a serious disability in his society.
Julaybib (R) could not expect any compassion, protection, or support from a
society that placed a great deal of importance on family and tribal connections.
In this regard, all that was known of him was that he was an Arab and that, as
far as the new community of Islam was concerned, he was one of the Ansar.

He was shunned in his society. As an example, Abu Barzah, of the Aslam tribe,
prohibited him from entering his home, and he told his wife:

"Do not let Julaybib (R) enter among you. If he does, I shall certainly do
something terrible to him."

Was there any hope for Julaybib (R) to be treated with respect and
consideration? Was there any hope for him to find emotional satisfaction as an
individual and as a man? Was there any  hope for him to enjoy the relationships
which others take for granted? And in the new society emerging under the
guidance of the Prophet, was he so insignificant as to be overlooked in
the preoccupation with the great affairs of state and in the supreme issues of
life and survival which constantly engaged the attention of the Prophet(saw) ?


Just as he was aware of the great issues of life and destiny, the Prophet (saw),
who is mercy for all humanity, was also aware of the needs and feelings of his
most humble companions. With Julaybib (R) in mind, the Prophet (saw) went to one
of the Ansar and said: I want to have your daughter married. "How wonderful and
blessed, O Messenger of Allah, and what a delight to the eye (this would be),"
replied the Ansari man with obvious joy and happiness. I do not wanther for
myself, added the Prophet (saw) "Then for whom, O Messenger of Allah?" asked the
man, obviously somewhat let down. For Julaybib , said the Prophet (saw).

The Ansari must have been too shocked to give his own reaction so he replied: "I
will consultwith her mother." And off he went to his wife. "The Messenger of
Allah, may Allah (T) bestow peace and blessings upon him, wants to have your
daughter married", he told his wife. She was thrilled. "What a wonderful idea
and what a delight to the eye (this would be)," she said. "He does not want to
marry her himself, but he wants to marry her to Julaybib (R)," he added. She
was flabbergasted!

"To Julaybib? No, never to Julaybib! No, by the Living Allah, we shall not marry
(her) to him." she protested.

As the Ansari was about to return to the Prophet (saw) to inform him of what his
wife had said, the daughter, who had heard her mother's protestations, asked:
"Who has asked to marry me?"

Her mother told her of the Prophet's request to marry her to Julaybib (R). When
she heard that the request had come from the Prophet (saw), and that her mother
was absolutely opposed to the idea, she was greatly perturbed and said:

"Do you refuse the request of the Messenger of Allah (T)? Send me to him, for he
shall certainly not bring ruin to me."

This was the reply of a truly great person who had a clear understanding of what
was required of her as a Muslim. What greater satisfaction and fulfillment can a
Muslim find than in responding willingly to the requests and commands of the
Messenger of Allah (T)! Truly, this companion of the Prophet (saw), even though we
do not know her name, set an example for all of us to obey the Quranic command: 

       Whenever Allah and His Messenger have decided a matter, it is not
       for a believing man or woman to claim freedom of choice in so far
       as this matter is concerned. And he who disobeys Allah and His
       Messenger (saw) has, most obviously, gone astray. [Al-Ahzab 33:36]

This was revealed in connection with the marriage of Zaynab bint Jahsh and Zayd
bin Harithah, which was arranged by the Prophet (saw) to show the egalitarian
spirit of Islam. Zaynab, at first, was highly offended at the thought of
marrying Zayd, a former slave, and refused to marry him. The Prophet (saw)
prevailed upon them both and they were married. The marriage however ended
in divorce and Zaynab was eventually married to the Prophet (saw) himself. It is
said that the Ansari girl read the verse to her parents and said:

"I am satisfied, and submit myself to whatever Allah's Messenger (saw) deems good
for me."

The Prophet (saw) heard of her reaction and prayed for her: `O Lord, bestow good
on her in abundance and make not her life one of toil and trouble.' 

It is said that among the Ansar, there was not a more eligible bride than her.
She was married by the Prophet (saw) to Julaybib (R), and they lived together
until he was killed.

He went on an expedition with the Prophet (saw), and an encounter with some
mushrikin ensued. When the battle was over, the Prophet (saw) asked his
companions: Have you lost anyone? They named their relatives or close friends
who were killed. Another group answered that they had lost no close relative
whereupon the Prophet (saw) said: But I have lost Julaybib. Search for
him in the battlefield. 

They searched and found him beside seven mushrikin whom he had struck before
meeting his end. The Prophet (saw) stood up and went to the spot where Julaybib
(R), his short and deformed companion, lay. The Prophet of Allah stood over him
and said: He killed seven and then was killed? This man is of me and I am of
him. 

He repeated this two or three times. The Prophet (saw) then took him in his arms
and it is said that he had no better bed besides the forearms of the Messenger
of Allah. The Prophet (saw) then dug for him a grave, and himself placed him in
it. The Prophet of Allah did not wash him, for the one slain in the Way of Allah
is not washed before burial.

Julaybib (R) and his wife are not among the companions of the Prophet (saw) whose
deeds of obedience and valor are well known. The little that is known about them
demonstrates how the meek and the humble were given hope and dignity by the
Prophet (saw) - where once there was only despair and self-debasement.

The attitude of the unknown and unnamed Ansari girl, who readily agreed to be
the wife of a physically unattractive man, reflected a profound understanding of
Islam. It reflected the effacement of personal desires and preferences, even
when she could have counted on the support of her parents. It reflected a total
disregard for social norms and pressures. It reflected, above all, a ready and
unshakable confidence in the wisdom and authority of the Prophet (saw) in
submitting herself to whatever he deemed good. This is indeed the attitude of
the true believer.

In Julaybib (R), there is the example of a person who was regarded as a social
outcast because of his mere appearance. Given confidence by his faith in Allah,
the Glorious, and encouragement by the noble Prophet (saw), he was able to perform
great acts of courage and was blessed by the most virtuous death a believer
could ever hope for - death fighting in the Way of Allah, the Supreme. This led
to the commendation which should be the desire of every believer: the
commendation of the Prophet (saw) of Allah: He is of me, and I am of him. 

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