Ubayd Allah ibn Jahsh
Ubaydullah ibn Jahsh عبيدالله ابن جحش | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Ubaydullah 588 |
| Died | 627 (aged 38-39) |
| Known for | One of the four hanifs mentioned by Ibn Ishaq and the earliest alleged (though not authentic story) Muslim to convert into Christian[1][2] |
| Spouse | Umm Habiba |
| Parents | |
Ubayd Allah ibn Jahsh ibn Ri'ab (Arabic: عُبَيْد اللَّه ٱبْن جَحْش ٱبْن رِئَاب, romanized: ʿUbayd Allāh ibn Jaḥsh ibn Riʾāb; c. 588–627) was a contemporary and first cousin of the Islamic prophet Muhammad following his migration to Abyssinia in around 615 AD. He is one of the four hanifs mentioned by Ibn Ishaq, the others being Waraka ibn Nawfal, Uthman ibn Huwairith and Zayd ibn Amr.[3]
Biography
He was the son of Jahsh ibn Riyab[4] and Umayma bint Abd al-Muttalib,[5] hence a brother of Abd Allah ibn Jahsh, Zaynab bint Jahsh, Abu Ahmad ibn Jahsh, Habiba bint Jahsh and Hammanah bint Jahsh, a first cousin of both the Islamic prophet Muhammad and Ali, and a nephew of Hamza ibn 'Abd al-Muttalib. He married Ramla bint Abi Sufyan (who was also known as Umm Habiba), and they had one daughter, Habibah bint Ubayd Allah.[6]
He and his wife became Muslims and, in order to escape from the Meccan persecution, they emigrated to Abyssinia.[7] In present–day Ethiopia and Eritrea, the Christian King Armah (also known as Najashi) gave sanctuary to the Muslims. There, Ubayd Allah converted to Christianity and testified his new faith to the other Muslim refugees.[8][9]
The story of his conversion to Christianity is, however, spurious, as all traditional narrations are either Mursal or go back to Al Waqidi who is traditionally not considered trustworthy, even called one of the biggest "liars" of his time. The mention of ibn Ishaq of such event does not make it authentic, and such event would contradict a traditionally authentic narration of Abu Sufyan where he says that no one was an Apostate before of Islam, knowing Abu Sufyan is the Father of Ubayd Allah's Wife, it is unlikely for Abu Sufyan, who was a polytheist at the time, to gloss over this fact.[10]
References
- ↑ Kappers, Markus (28 December 2014). Christianity in the Arabian Peninsula: Islam's Stepping Stone. Birmingham, United Kingdom: Regent College. p. 11.
- ↑ Taha Jabir, Alalwani (2011). Roberts, Nancy (ed.). Apostasy in Islam: A Historical and Scriptural Analysis. The International Institute of Islamic Thought. p. 47. ISBN 9781565643635.
- ↑ Muhammad ibn Ishaq, Sirat Rasul Allah. Translated by Guillaume, A. (1955). The Life of Muhammad, pp. 98-99. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
- ↑ Guillaume/Ishaq pp. 99, 146.
- ↑ Muhammad ibn Saad, Tabaqat vol. 8. Translated by Bewley, A. (1995). The Women of Madina, p. 33. London: Ta-Ha Publishers.
- ↑ Bewley/Saad p. 68.
- ↑ Guillaume/Ishaq, p. 146.
- ↑ Kappers, Markus (28 December 2014). Christianity in the Arabian Peninsula: Islam's Stepping Stone. Birmingham, United Kingdom: Regent College. p. 11.
- ↑ Taha Jabir, Alalwani (2011). Roberts, Nancy (ed.). Apostasy in Islam: A Historical and Scriptural Analysis. The International Institute of Islamic Thought. p. 47. ISBN 9781565643635.
- ↑ Al Washan, Muhammad ibn Abdul Allah (2008). Ma sha' wa lam yathbat fi Assirah an Nabawiyyah (in ISO 639-3). Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: Dar Taiba. pp. 41, 42.
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