Abu
Lubaba ibn Abd al-Mundhir was a Companion of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be
upon him) from the Ansar, specifically from the Banu Umayya ibn Zayd clan of
the Aws tribe. His real name was Bashir ibn Abd al-Mundhir ibn Rifa'a ibn
Zanbar ibn Zayd ibn Umayya ibn Zayd ibn Malik ibn Awf ibn Amr ibn Awf ibn Malik
ibn Aws. He became known as "Abu Lubaba" after his famous act of
repentance following his confession to his allies, the Banu Qurayza.
Abu
Lubaba ibn Abd al-Mundhir's mother was Nusayba bint Zayd ibn Dabi'a ibn Zayd
ibn Malik ibn Awf. His wife was an Ansar woman named Khansa bint Khidham
al-Ansariyya (or al-Awsiya).
Khansa'
had been forced into marriage with a man from the Banu Awf tribe by her father.
She fell in love with Abu Lubaba and went to the Prophet (peace and blessings
be upon him) to complain about her marriage. The Prophet ordered her father to
allow her to marry him. Thus, Khansa' became the wife of Abu Lubaba al-Ansari,
and she narrated some hadiths from him along with her son, al-Sa'ib.
Abu
Lubaba had two sons: al-Sa'ib, whose mother was Zaynab bint Khidham ibn Khalid
al-Awsiya, and Lubaba, who married Zayd ibn al-Khattab. Her mother was Nusayba
bint Fadala ibn al-Nu'man al-Awsiya.
After
the treachery of Banu Qurayza and their alliance with the parties in the Battle
of the Trench, the Muslims besieged them. They sent to Abu Lubaba al-Ansari (an
ally of the Aws) to consult him about their situation, as they trusted him.
Upon his arrival, their men, women, and children wept. Abu Lubaba's compassion
moved him, and he gestured to his throat, signifying that Muhammad's judgment
upon them was slaughter. Abu Lubaba immediately realized that he had betrayed
God and His Messenger, and he deeply regretted his deed. He rushed to the
Prophet's Mosque, tied himself to one of its pillars, and declared, "I
will not leave this place until God accepts my repentance." He vowed to
God that he would never set foot on land where he had betrayed his faith, nor
would he ever live in a place where he had betrayed God and His Messenger. He
remained tied for days, neither eating nor drinking, nor sleeping except while
standing, until God's acceptance of his repentance was revealed in the words of
God Almighty: "And (there are) others who have acknowledged their sins,
they have mixed a deed that was righteous with another that was evil. Perhaps
Allah will turn unto them in forgiveness. Surely, Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most
Merciful.” (Surat At-Tawbah: 102). Abu Lubabah refused to have his chains
removed unless the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did so with his
own hand. So the Prophet came and removed his chains, and Umm Salamah gave him
the good news that Allah had accepted his repentance. Thus, his story became a
symbol of sincere repentance and remorse.
The
Pillar of Repentance (the column) or the Pillar of Abu Lubaba (may God be
pleased with him), to which Abu Lubaba tied himself, is the fourth pillar from
the pulpit, the second from the Prophet's grave, and the third from the qibla.
It is known as the Pillar of Abu Lubaba (may God be pleased with him) because
he tied himself for several nights after what he had revealed to his allies,
the Banu Qurayza, and after he regretted what he had done. His daughter would
untie him when the time for prayer came, and he swore that he would not untie
himself until the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did so.
Abu
Lubaba was one of the notables of Medina and worked in trade. He witnessed the
Second Pledge of Aqaba with the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). The
Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) appointed him as his deputy
in Medina during the Battles of Badr and Suwayq, and he participated with him
in the remaining battles. Abu Lubaba was the standard-bearer of the Banu Amr
ibn Awf clan on the day of the conquest of Mecca.
After
the death of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), he joined the army
formed by Khalid ibn al-Walid and went to the Ridda Wars in Yamama to fight
Musaylima. He then went to Iraq, Syria, Palestine, and Egypt, and was present
at the conquest of Damascus and the Battle of Yarmouk. Later, during the
caliphate of Uthman ibn Affan, he came to Ifriqiya (present-day Tunisia) and
remained there until his death during the reign of Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib at
the age of approximately 80. He died in a place called Wadi al-Ghayran in the
region of Marth, and his body was moved to the hill of Abu Lubaba in the city
of Gabes, where his shrine is located today.
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