I was just a young scribe when Muadh ibn Jabal was chosen to lead. Not many knew my name—I came from a small family in Medina—but I carried ink and parchment for those who carried knowledge. That’s how I came to travel with Muadh when he was sent to Yemen.
Muadh ibn Jabal was one of the companions of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ—the final prophet of Allah—and he was known for his deep understanding of Islam. When I first heard that the Prophet ﷺ was sending him to Yemen as a teacher and judge, I felt excited, and a little nervous. My job would be to write down his letters and reminders. I didn’t know then how much I would learn just by watching him.
Before we left, Muadh was invited to meet privately with the Prophet ﷺ. He came back with his eyes lowered, deep in thought. I asked, “Is everything well?”
He nodded. “Yes. The Prophet ﷺ gave me advice I will never forget.”
Later, as we rode out of Medina, Muadh turned to me and said, “Do you know what the Prophet ﷺ said to me?”
I shook my head. He said, “He told me, ‘You will meet the people of the Book, so call them to testify that nothing deserves to be worshipped but Allah, and that I am the Messenger of Allah. If they accept that, then tell them Allah has commanded five prayers in the day and night.’”
I had heard these words before—I learned them as part of Islam. But the way Muadh spoke, like each word was a trust placed in his heart, moved me deeply.
“He also reminded me,” Muadh said, “not to take from the people except what is fair—and to fear their dua (prayer) if they are wronged. Because there is nothing between their dua and Allah.”
That night, I stayed awake thinking about those words. I had always thought leadership meant power. But now I realized it meant care. Muadh wasn’t excited because he had been given authority—he was humbled by the weight of it.
In Yemen, I saw him live everything the Prophet ﷺ had told him. He treated people with gentleness. He taught them about salah—the five daily prayers—and explained the beauty of believing in one God. When someone made a mistake, he corrected them with patience. When someone in need came, he gave without making them feel small.
Years later, after we returned, someone asked me, “What made Muadh such a good leader?”
I remember answering, “He was afraid of causing anyone harm—because he feared the dua of the oppressed. He remembered the words of the Prophet ﷺ every day.”
And I remember them too. Every time I think of being responsible for anything, whether big or small, I remember that leadership is not about being in charge. It’s about being just. It’s about fearing Allah and serving others with kindness.
Even now, when I see someone alone or sad, I think—what if their dua reaches Allah before I even speak?
Story Note: Inspired by the hadith recorded in Sahih al-Bukhari (1380) and other authentic narrations, where Prophet Muhammad ﷺ gave advice to Muadh ibn Jabal before sending him to Yemen as a governor and teacher.
I was just a young scribe when Muadh ibn Jabal was chosen to lead. Not many knew my name—I came from a small family in Medina—but I carried ink and parchment for those who carried knowledge. That’s how I came to travel with Muadh when he was sent to Yemen.
Muadh ibn Jabal was one of the companions of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ—the final prophet of Allah—and he was known for his deep understanding of Islam. When I first heard that the Prophet ﷺ was sending him to Yemen as a teacher and judge, I felt excited, and a little nervous. My job would be to write down his letters and reminders. I didn’t know then how much I would learn just by watching him.
Before we left, Muadh was invited to meet privately with the Prophet ﷺ. He came back with his eyes lowered, deep in thought. I asked, “Is everything well?”
He nodded. “Yes. The Prophet ﷺ gave me advice I will never forget.”
Later, as we rode out of Medina, Muadh turned to me and said, “Do you know what the Prophet ﷺ said to me?”
I shook my head. He said, “He told me, ‘You will meet the people of the Book, so call them to testify that nothing deserves to be worshipped but Allah, and that I am the Messenger of Allah. If they accept that, then tell them Allah has commanded five prayers in the day and night.’”
I had heard these words before—I learned them as part of Islam. But the way Muadh spoke, like each word was a trust placed in his heart, moved me deeply.
“He also reminded me,” Muadh said, “not to take from the people except what is fair—and to fear their dua (prayer) if they are wronged. Because there is nothing between their dua and Allah.”
That night, I stayed awake thinking about those words. I had always thought leadership meant power. But now I realized it meant care. Muadh wasn’t excited because he had been given authority—he was humbled by the weight of it.
In Yemen, I saw him live everything the Prophet ﷺ had told him. He treated people with gentleness. He taught them about salah—the five daily prayers—and explained the beauty of believing in one God. When someone made a mistake, he corrected them with patience. When someone in need came, he gave without making them feel small.
Years later, after we returned, someone asked me, “What made Muadh such a good leader?”
I remember answering, “He was afraid of causing anyone harm—because he feared the dua of the oppressed. He remembered the words of the Prophet ﷺ every day.”
And I remember them too. Every time I think of being responsible for anything, whether big or small, I remember that leadership is not about being in charge. It’s about being just. It’s about fearing Allah and serving others with kindness.
Even now, when I see someone alone or sad, I think—what if their dua reaches Allah before I even speak?
Story Note: Inspired by the hadith recorded in Sahih al-Bukhari (1380) and other authentic narrations, where Prophet Muhammad ﷺ gave advice to Muadh ibn Jabal before sending him to Yemen as a governor and teacher.
