Julaybib

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Julaybib was a martyr and one of the less known companions of Muhammad in the early Muslim community. His name was acquired prior to his acceptance of Islam and is considered unusual and incomplete. In the Arabic language Julaybib means "small grown" being the diminutive form of the word jalbab, indicating that Julaybib was small and short, even dwarf-like. He was also described as being damim, meaning ugly, deformed, or repulsive.

Julaybib's lineage was unknown and there is no record of his parents or what tribe he belonged to. All that was known of him was that he was an Arab and that he was one of the Ansar in Medina.

With Julaybib in mind, Muhammad went to an Ansari man and said: "I want to have your daughter married." "How wonderful and blessed, Oh Messenger of God and what a delight to the eye (this would be)," he replied. "I do not want her for myself," added Muhammad. "Then for whom, Oh Messenger of God?" asked the man, obviously disappointed. "For Julaybib," said Muhammad. The Ansari went to consult with his wife, telling her of Muhammad's desire for their daughter to marry Julaybib. His wife was repulsed, and protested saying "To Julaybib! No, never to Julaybib! No, by God, we shall not marry (her) to him."

While the Ansari was preparing to inform Muhammad of what his wife said, the daughter hearing her mother's protestations, asked: "Who has asked you to marry me?"

Her mother communicated the proposal for her to marry Julaybib. Upon learning that the request had come from Muhammad and that her mother opposed the idea, she was immensely perturbed and retorted: "Do you refuse the request of the Messenger of Allah? Send me to him for he shall certainly not bring ruin to me."

She was married by Muhammad to Julaybib and they lived together until he was killed.

Julaybib participated in an expedition with Muhammad in which an encounter with some polytheists ensued. When the battle concluded, Muhammad asked his companions: "Have you lost anyone?" They replied giving the names of relatives or close friends who were killed. Another group answered that they had lost no close relatives whereupon Muhammad said, "But I have lost Julaybib. Search for him in the battlefield." They searched and found him beside seven enemies whom he had killed before meeting his end. Muhammad went to the spot where Julaybib lay and standing over him he said, "He killed seven and then was killed? This [man] is of me and I am of him."