The Most Knowledgeable in the Lawful and Forbidden

Mu'adh ibn Jabal مُعَاذ بْن جَبَل

A young Ansari of striking intelligence whom the Prophet ﷺ called the most knowledgeable of his nation in what is lawful and forbidden, sent to teach and judge in Yemen. The Prophet ﷺ told him plainly, 'O Mu'adh, by Allah, I love you.'

A Young Scholar of the Ansar

Mu'adh embraced Islam as a youth at the Pledge of Aqabah and quickly distinguished himself by his grasp of the Qur'an and the rulings of the faith. Handsome, generous, and brilliant, he became one of the few entrusted to collect and teach the Qur'an in the Prophet's lifetime.

'By Allah, I Love You'

The Prophet ﷺ took him by the hand and said, 'O Mu'adh, by Allah, I love you,' then taught him a supplication to say after every prayer: 'O Allah, help me to remember You, thank You, and worship You well.' Such direct affection from the Prophet ﷺ marked Mu'adh's special rank.

Judge of Yemen

When the Prophet ﷺ sent him to govern and teach in Yemen, he asked how Mu'adh would judge. 'By the Book of Allah.' 'And if you find nothing there?' 'By the Sunnah of His Messenger.' 'And if not there?' 'Then I will exercise my own reasoning (ijtihad).' The Prophet ﷺ struck his chest with joy — a foundation of Islamic jurisprudence laid in that exchange.

Death in the Plague

Returning to Syria, Mu'adh was caught in the plague of Amwas in 18 AH. He lost family members and then fell ill himself, welcoming death as a visitor from a beloved Lord, and died in his thirties — leaving behind a method of reasoning that scholars follow to this day.

Lessons

  • Knowledge of halal and haram is among the noblest of sciences.
  • Sound judgement rests on Qur'an, then Sunnah, then reasoned effort.
  • The Prophet ﷺ openly loved the righteous — and told them so.

Quran references

16:43