Abu Ubaydah ibn al-Jarrah

Abu Ubaydah was among the earliest converts to Islam, having accepted through Abu Bakr. He was known for his gentle demeanour, humility, and unwavering integrity. The Prophet said: 'Every nation has a trustee (amin), and the trustee of this nation is Abu Ubaydah ibn al-Jarrah.' When the delegation of Najran came and asked the Prophet to send someone trustworthy with them, the Prophet chose Abu Ubaydah, saying: 'This is the trustee of this nation.' At the Battle of Uhud, when the Prophet's face was injured by two rings from his helmet that had pierced his cheek, Abu Ubaydah pulled them out with his teeth. In the process, he lost two of his own front teeth. Abu Bakr said that Abu Ubaydah was 'the most beautiful of people with his two missing teeth.' At the Saqifah of Banu Sa'idah (the assembly after the Prophet's death), Abu Bakr offered the leadership to either Umar or Abu Ubaydah, saying: 'I am pleased with either of these two men — pledge allegiance to whichever of them you choose.' But both deferred to Abu Bakr. He later served as the supreme commander of the Muslim armies in Syria, where he died of the plague of Amwas in 18 AH.