58.

Book of Journeys

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كتاب السير

Yahya bin Urooh bin Zubair narrated from his father that Abd bin Azur, Dirar bin Khattab, Abu Jandal and Suhail bin Amr drank wine in Syria. They were brought to Abu Ubaidah bin Jarrah. Abu Jandal said: “I drank it keeping in mind this Quranic verse: { لَیْسَ عَلَی الَّذِیْنَ اٰمَنُوْا وَ عَمِلُوا الصّٰلِحٰتِ جُنَاحٌ فِیْمَا طَعِمُوْٓا اِذَا مَا اتَّقَوْا وَّ اٰمَنُوْا وَ عَمِلُوا الصّٰلِحٰتِ } [المائدۃ ٩٣] “There is no blame on those who believe and do righteous deeds for what they eat, when they fear Allah and believe and do righteous deeds.” So, Abu Ubaidah (may Allah be pleased with him) wrote about their matter to Umar (may Allah be pleased with him). Then Abd bin Azur said: "The enemy is in front of us. If you give us respite till tomorrow to fight the enemy. If Allah grants us martyrdom, then it will be enough for you, you will not punish us. If we return, then whatever Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) commands will be done." Abu Ubaidah (may Allah be pleased with him) agreed, so Abd bin Azur was martyred in the battle. A letter came from Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) stating that Abu Jandal had made a mistake in giving the justification. When you receive my letter, carry out the prescribed punishment on them. Abu Ubaidah (may Allah be pleased with him) summoned both of them and carried out the punishment. Abu Jandal and his father were people of status. He started talking to himself, to the point that it was said that he had lost his mind. So Abu Ubaidah wrote a letter to Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) saying that I punished Abu Jandal, and he lost his mind. I fear that he might die." So Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) wrote a letter to Abu Jandal. After praise and gratitude: “Due to the thing that led you to error, repentance is obligatory upon you.” { بِسْمِ اللّٰہِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِیْم ۔ حٰمٓ ۔ تَنْزِیْلُ الْکِتٰبِ مِنَ اللّٰہِ الْعَزِیْزِ الْعَلِیْمِ ۔ غَافِرِ الذَّنْبِ وَقَابِلِ التَّوْبِ شَدِیْدِ الْعِقَابِ ذِیْ الطَّوْلِ لَآ اِلٰـہَ اِلَّا ہُوَ اِلَیْہِ الْمَصِیْرُ ۔ مَا یُجَادِلُ فِیْ اٰیٰتِ اللّٰہِ اِلَّا الَّذِیْنَ کَفَرُوْا فَلاَ یَغْرُرْکَ تَقَلُّبُہُمْ فِی الْبِلاَدِ ۔ } [غافر ١-٣] “The revelation of the Book is from Allah, the Exalted in Might, the Knowing, The Forgiver of sin, the Acceptor of repentance, the Severe in punishment, the Endowed with Bounties. There is no deity except Him. To Him is the destination. No one disputes concerning the signs of Allah except those who disbelieve, so do not let their [i.e., the disbelievers’] movement throughout the land deceive you.” When he read the letter of Umar (may Allah be pleased with him), his condition ended as if he had been untied from a rope.