The Beautiful Qualities of Hazrat Muaaz bin Jabal (radhiyallahu ‘anhu)

Farwah bin Nawfal narrates that once, Hazrat Abdullah bin Masood (radhiyallahu anhu) spoke about Hazrat Muaaz bin Jabal (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) and highly praised him for the good he possessed. He said:

إن معاذا كان أمة قانتا لله حنيفا

“Muaaz (bin Jabal) was an ummah (a leader guiding others to the straight path), while he himself was completely devoted to the worship and obedience of Allah Ta’ala, and he remained steadfast upon the straight path, without deviating from it in any way.”

When Farwah bin Nawfal (rahimahullah) heard these great praises of Hazrat Abdullah bin Masood (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) for Hazrat Muaaz bin Jabal (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), he was surprised. He said, “I thought to myself that perhaps Abdullah bin Masood (radhiyallahu anhu) has erred (in his statement when praising Hazrat Mu’aaz (radhiyallahu ‘anhu)), as such a praise is found in the Quraan Majeed for Hazrat Ebrahim (‘alaihis salaam). In the Quraan Majeed, Allah Ta’ala praises Hazrat Ebrahim (alaihis salaam) saying,

إن إبراهيم كان أمة قانتا لله حنيفا

Perhaps, Hazrat Abdullah bin Masood (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) perceived the surprise of Farwah bin Nawfal, so he mentioned to him, “Do you know what “Ummah” and “Qaanit” refer to (as is also mentioned in praise of Hazrat Ebrahim (alaihis salaam) in the Quraan Majeed?” I replied, “Allah knows best.”

Hazrat Abdullah bin Masood (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) then said to me, “Ummah refers to the person who teaches people good (and guides them to deen); and Qaanit refers to the person who is obedient to Allah Ta’ala and His Rasool (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) at all times. These qualities were found in Muaaz bin Jabal. He was always seen to be teaching people deen, while he also constantly remained obedient and submissive to Allah Ta’ala and his Rasool (sallallahu alaihi wasallam).”

Saying these words, Hazrat Abdullah bin Masood (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) explained to Farwah bin Nawfal that Hazrat Muaaz bin Jabal (radhiyallahu anhu) resembled Hazrat Ebrahim (‘alaihis salaam) in these two beautiful qualities, and thus he was also worthy of being praised for having these two beautiful qualities in his life.